University Presbyterian Church sent a team to Kenya, Africa. This was my first time in Africa and it was an amazing experience of meeting and being with inspiring men, women and children, beautiful landscapes and cities, and seeing magnificent animals. Our team of eight members began meeting in December to learn about each other, our mission, and how to successfully work together. Our inter-generational group brought together energy and wisdom, fun and experience, along with youth and maturity. We worked well as a team and as Team-lead I had high hopes and expectations. I think our greatest compliment was that others thought our group had been together for a long time. A testament of our commitment to each other and the mission of the trip.
Ready, Set, Go
Kenya started 2008 with a very tumultuous time. After the elections, which were historically noted for its high turnout and the controversial winner was announced, the country literally went to war. Tribe against tribe, neighbor against neighbor. Hundreds of thousands were internally displaced as they were no longer safe in their own homes as they were from the ‘wrong people group’. Over a thousand were brutally killed and many more suffered violent acts against them. Homes and fields burned, destroyed, and looted. Kenya was ashamed and surprised by all of these acts – they were ashamed of what they became. The district we would be working in was not one of the most noted ‘hot spots’ but it was still hit.
Ginger. Esther, Karen, Carly, Stuart, Becky, Allie, and I made up our team. Our ministry would be to work with World Concern, care, and love on their team leaders, learn about and support the Orphans and Vulnerable Children Program (OVC) in Talek, Kenya. Talek is 160 miles west of Nairobi, located deep in the heart of the Maasai land.
