1 Meal Every 2 Days...

Hey there!

Though we've been back from Kenya for over a month now, we can't get the kids off of our minds.  We met so many beautiful people in Kenya and we don't ever want to forget them.  

Part of that remembering them, for us, has been extremely challenging.  One of our friends, named Steve,  is a youth minister in a slum called Kiberia.  On weekends he goes to the slum and feeds the kids, plays games with them and just spends time with them.  We found out that in order to do this, Steve has to take the money that he earns during the week to pay for the meal for these kids (60-80 kids I think showed up when we visited).  Sometimes the money isn't there.  Sometimes these kids don't get to eat with Steve.

Then, we found out why that was such a big deal.  These kids get a meal maybe once every two days.

Once. Every two days.   Unbelievable.  The kid who's sitting right behind me and to my left is named John.  He was displaced by the violence in Nairobi.  John doesn't get food nearly as much as I do.

As a follower of Jesus to hear about this and to do nothing seems contrary to what Jesus teaches, so we're trying to figure out what that looks like. 

Here's what we know now:

-$60 will pay for Steve to provide food and materials for these kids for one weekend.

-With wiring fees, we need to come up with $300 to pay for September.

-Jump For Joel is awesome and is going to head this up.  jumpforjoel.org 

-We don't know where or how or when this is going to happen, so these kids are in need of lots of prayer that this can happen.

Questions?  Post a comment!

-dave

Been a long time

Wow. It has been over a month since our last post. It's hard to believe that the last time we were signed in, we were sitting in an internet cafe in downtown Nairobi.

The Kenya trip was amazing, but if I took the time to actually write about it, I'd be here for like 4 days. Maybe we'll type some stuff up later.

For now, I'd like to briefly share an amazing website. It is called noisetrade.com. It was created for musicians who do not have a huge following to get their music out there a little more, and also for music lovers to be exposed to more good music.

It's so sweet. It's set up like Derek Webb's Mockingbird, which was released for free online a few years ago. People have the option to either make a donation and/or to simply recommend the CD to three friends. After doing this, the code for downloading the CD is emailed to your inbox.

The website started right around the beginning of July. They're adding new artists all the time it seems.

So yeah. Check it out! And if you don't know where to begin, download Derek Webb's Ringing Bell, Waterdeep's Heart Attack Time Machine and William F. Gibbs' My Fellow Sophisticates .

later!
-dave

Hello From Kenya!

Hello friends!
It's 10 or so in the morning and we're at an internet cafe in Nairobi. We've had an amazing time so far. This last week has been spent in Gathiga at the orphanage. During the morning and early afternoon we've been working on the floor in the classroom building.(formerly dirt...and dust...) In the evenings we've been playing with the kids. Linds and I want to take them home. The joy that they have in the midst of such terrible circumstances is overwhelming. We want to take Maina in our suitcase, Elliot's smile doesn't get old and Joel is so much fun! All the kids are great and we can't wait to show you pictures and video footage of them.

The group has been doing well too. We're battling illness right now. Shana is staying home today while the rest of us go to Kibiria(a slum) for a feeding program and some kids activities. LInds and MIke have a cold and my stomach was doing backflips for most of the day yesterday. PLease just be praying for us to be healed and to persevere so that we can give the kids our all.

OUr hosts(Pastor Susan and Pastor Geraldine) are amazing. The stories they've shared about God working have been so amazing! Bwana Asefiwe!! (Praise the Lord! ...though I may have spelled it wrong...).

Other than that, not too much else to report. I'm preaching next Sunday. Please be praying for me for that. It'll be my first time. What a way to start!!

Thanks so much for your prayers. We love you!

-Dave (and Linds)

Kenya!!!!

We're flying out of O'Hare tonight to go to London.  From London we will fly into Nairobi, Kenya at 9 p.m. tomorrow night.  

We're going to Kenya.  

I can't believe we're actually going.  

We'll be back the 21st.  Please pray for us, our team, the orphanage and everything about the trip that God would be made known.  Praise Him with us for how He has provided everything for us to do this!  Amazing!  

later!

-dave & linds

Beardless

Take a look at the new beardless David!

Kenya update

Three weeks ago, we still needed right around $3,000 in financial support to pay off the plane ticket bill.

Two weeks ago we still needed right around $2,000 to go to Kenya

Now, I think we might need 200-300 and we're more than capable of paying off the plane ticket bill which is due tomorrow.

Is God incredible or what?

Praise God!

One Step Closer

My parents helped David and I get awesome duffel bag backpacks this weekend for our Kenya trip. It is such a blessing that we can now be hands free and that we have luggage that will last us through many trips like this summer's trip to Kenya. We are 43 days away from our trip!! We are both finished with shots and we are mailing our visa information off today. Amelia and I are going to hit the Salvation Army and Goodwill for some rockin skirts sometime soon so if you haven't made a trip to the local thrift store in awhile you should embark on this adventure with us.

- Linds