Saying 'KWAHERE' to KITALE

BY ASHLEY AUSTIN,

I have been to Ukraine with Pastor Steve twice before and this year was asked to go Kenya. It has been such an amazing experience! I am a newer nurse and have wanted to use my skills in mission work. While in Kenya I was able to work with Sister Freda, who is an amazing nurse living by faith. We did a medical clinic in the Kipsongo Slums and it was definitely eye-opening for me. I assisted with giving shots and IV medications. That day they were also testing for HIV and 10 were found positive. :( Every moment with Sister Freda was amazing. I was able to observe and assist with a woman's delivery of a beautiful baby boy.

This was a picture that Steve took in the early morning before I had brushed my hair. It is my crazy Africa look ;)

I hope someday to come back to Kitale, Kenya and continue to work with Sister Freda and the various hospitals in the area. Also while in Kenya, I fell in love with the children. I was able to work with Oasis of Hope, Shimo Secondary High School,

Music Festival at Kitale Academy

This week there has been a gigantic music competition at the Kitale Academy campus, to see who represents our province (Rift Valley) in the National Music competitions...in Nairobi...

Through the week we got to see solos, choral groups, indigenous dance and drum, trios and every kind of tribal dance and musical instuments...Fascinating...and the most fun was wading through the thousands of kids and just talking with them...like these kids from Narok that Melissa Ray met...

And this incredible boy from Samburu...

Then, out of nowhere pops up LILAC LETTING...singing for Singore Girls High School , outside ELDORET, who we all met when she was about 5 years old at Tumaini...she is now in Form 3 (Junior in High School) making great grades and making us all so proud...she's the girl in the green uniform on the very left...with two of her choir members.
I just had to take these three girls pic after they sang in the trio competition...you can see in their eyes that they were excited about doing so well and hoping to go to nationals.

Kenya Believe I'm Back!?

Me at Oasis...

It’s so great to be back here! I instantly felt at home & I have absolutely loved seeing old friends at Oasis of Hope and throughout Kitale. Today I went to a new High School in Shimo as well as Discover to Recover. I will be spending the majority of my days at these 2 places. We have been here for nearly two weeks and each day has had something I could write about. One of my favorite moments since I’ve been here has been seeing familiar faces at Oasis. Last fall I taught some kids the Macarena and as soon as I walked on the Oasis compound several kids ran up to me gesturing for me to do it again. It was like I never left! This week, I’ll start teaching at the high school and helping out at Discover to Recover…more to come later! Love, Breanna Marie Dougherty

What a Godsend...the Larkins...

Pat and Kris Larkin are a dream for team members on a mission trip.

They recently sold their family business and their Tustin home and have joined our summer leadershp team in Kitale as:

HOUSE PARENTS

GOURMET COOKS

INSTRUCTORS at Oasis of Hope in SEWING

Professors of Management to who ever will listen

LAND ACQUISITION EXPERTS to the Purpose Driven Academy team, who are looking to relocate after their dorms recently burned down.

There are about a thousand other wonderful attributes the Larkins add to this team, but the ones I appreciate most are...loving concern, kind encouragement, calm presence, and spiritual mentoring by deed and word...they simply get up each morning and live for Christ...

Pat and Kris came on an awakening team to Kitale in 2006 and have been thinking how they can move from post-trip 'personal adjustment' to life-advocacy for the lost and suffering...the sick and the impoverished.

Well this summer is a big step on that journey...please pray that Pat and Kris will hear and obey the Lord's word to them in the days ahead.

Check out their blog...PKDISCOVERYTOUR.COM

Not much is good when you have TB

Meet Alice...she is 7 yrs old, and lives on the streets of Kitale Kenya.

She comes to Oasis of Hope drop-in-center each day for the free breakfast and lunch.

Normally she would also love attending classes and singing and playing with the 150+ kids Oasis serves every day.

But tuberculosis has robbed Alice of her ability to enjoy group activities for the time being...

She sits and watches the kids play and hears the songs and then the staff bring her meals to her...TB is common among street kids in Kitale and is sadly very contagious...

So Alice sits...and watches...and listens...and WISHES...that life could be different...somehow...

Back to Oasis

It is so good to be back to Kitale. I missed it so much and it is great to see many faces, both new and old. Being back I am rediscovering how easy it is to create relationships with all of the children at the ministries that we are visiting. I am suprised by how much of an impact a person can make by simply just being available. As I visit these places and spend time with the kids after I use the five Swahili phrases I know to say hello, ask their name and age there is little that we can say after that. At Oasis, I was playing with the kids while they were out at their recess. The interaction was as simple as just sitting there, taking pictures and showing them the pictures. I did this for about an hour and a half. I was talking to the kids in English and they were talking to me in Swahili, not understanding a word, but its the time spent that makes the difference. While I was sitting with the kids on the grass different kids came and went over the course of the hour. I just sat there and spent time with various kids. One boy in particular stayed on my lap the entire time and even got into mini fights with the other kids when they tried to steal his spot. His name is Peter, I met him last year and the other kids told me that he sleeps in town with his dad. He is always dirty from head to toe, but he is one happy kid. While he sat with me he kept taking my arms and wrapping them around him. He even dozed off a few times. Its times like these that remind me that its all about simply being available to give these kids the love and attention that may not be given to them at home. It doesn't require some grand gesture, just simply passing on God's love to them.

Better Late Then Never...

I apologize for the delay in this blogs creation, but just as the title states, better late then never. The whole team has arrived safely and our first week together has been amazing. I am so impressed with the eagerness of each of the team members to serve the people of Kitale, as well as each other.

Today is the first day that each of them are out on their own and I am so excited to hear about their experiences. Please pray with me that they will be safe and that the LORD would strengthen them, and that all of us would be obedient to His will.

Keep checking back each day for posts, to get updated information from each member of the team.