Things I’ve Learned

A few things I’ve learned during my time in Kenya.

1. The sweet Kenyan tea that locals so graciously offer us every chance they get is better than any tea in the states.
2. Every single person in Kenya, children alike, are way better dancers than me.
3. God is ALIVE in Kenya.

I don’t mean he pokes his head around every once in a while on Sunday mornings. I mean God is ALIVE in Kenya. When I pass Kenyan’s on the street, I see it on their faces, I hear it in their voices, and I feel it in their actions.

Why is it that God feels so much more alive in Kenya? Is it because we as Americans have all of our basic needs and necessities taken care of, most of us having wealth in relative excess, why would we ever need God? Or is because we don’t give God anytime. If he doesn’t move in the hour and a half church service or our ten-minute devotion every morning then we don’t have time for him. One verse that keeps coming back to me during this trip is: 2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. “ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ power may rest on me.

I think if we as Americans could lift the figurative curtains from our eyes and acknowledge our own weaknesses that’s when we grow and learn from God the most.

Peace,

Lauren Wilkins

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Are We Really That Different?

When most people think of Kenya, some of the first thoughts to go through their minds consist of things like poverty, sickness, sadness, and despair.  When I first made plans to go on this trip, it was amazing to watch people’s reaction when I told them where I was going. I even had one person ask, “Why would you ever want to go there? It just seems like such a horrible place.”

After spending the last 2 weeks in this fascinating country, my answer would be this: “The reason I am going to Kenya is because of the wonderful people, the precious orphans, and the amazing future that I envision for this country.”

One of the most interesting things I am taking away from this adventure has been that even though we live thousands of miles from this country, the people are very similar to us.  Their geographical surroundings, culture, history, and standard of living are different. However, they still love, laugh, cry, have fears; they experience failures and disappointment, as well as victories and happiness.  That is what makes being a human being so great.  We all have so many differences, but when you stop and look at the things that really matter in life, we are not very different at all.

I want to challenge you to look at the things in you life that truly matter to you and enjoy them completely today.  Don’t be fixated on tomorrow or sit regretting what happened yesterday.  Focus all of your energy on living today and loving every minute of it.  You are truly blessed and that is something to celebrate!

Nate Yokers

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Futbol

 

Prayer Caves

Nakuru

 

Here’s some video of our time in Nakuru. We spent a lot of time engaging in some serious dialogue with the youth. Trying to learn as much as we could about the challenges that come with being a young person in Kenya. Luckily we were able to explore a large portion of Kenya while doing this. All in all it was a great time and we took a lot away from the experience.

 

Here’s a short video of our arrival to Kenya as well as some clips of our time spending the day at a local orphanage called Happy Life.  Hope you enjoy it and get a small glimpse of the trip.

We hope to have more videos posted throughout the duration of the trip. So keep checking back to see everything that happened during our visit to Nakuru!

God Bless.

The First Week in Kenya

Sorry this blog has taken so long to make its way on the World Wide Web. We have been extremely busy meeting numerous people and organizations and havn’t had a lot of time to post a blog.

We hope to have a short video posted in the next day or two and then continue to provide short clips throughout the rest of the trip (internet willing).

The first week has been amazing. We have been so blessed to be able to spend time with Nathaniel and Kristin Avery and their family, not only learning from them, but also taking part in  some of their work around Nairobi. Along with spending time with the Avery’s the team was able to experience a lot of firsts. Their first Matatu ride (the local way of transportation via mini-bus) and their first lunch of Ugali (the Kenyan staple food) as well as seeing the Rift Valley.

We are currently in Nakuru, Kenya, spending time with local youth from Grace Children’s Center. We spent the whole day today, walking up to some of the prayer caves located just outside of the city and have had a great time of fellowship and relationship building during the journey to and from. Tomorrow we will be spending the majority of the day visiting with more of the local youth and participating in a futbol match.I would say pray for victory but I don’t think there’s enough prayer in the world for us to have a chance at winning.

Again, sorry for the lack of blog postings. But again we hope to have a video up soon. Thanks for the continued prayer and support. Check back soon! You won’t be disappointed!

And Away We Go!

Come tomorrow afternoon (depending on when you read this) we’ll be boarding a plane, our ultimate destination of Nairobi, Kenya, a mere nineteen hours and nine thousand miles away. I’ve traveled a fair amount in my adult life, but for me, this trip trumps all others.

There’s a bundle of emotions that accompany each one of us as we gear up for this journey. I’ve been mentally sifting through that pile of emotions over the past several days while in the midst of packing and planning. As final details get ironed out, some of the anxiousness and uncertainty has faded as well. I think I speak for the entire team when I say that heading into tomorrow, the overwhelming emotions that have taken hold of my heart are those of excitement and hopefulness. 

Going into this trip, I’ve been so encouraged by the support of our friends and family. All of your prayers have been hugely important to us, and we are all so grateful that each of you has chosen to partner with us.

Many of you have been following TFP from the start, and are more up to speed than others on the specifics of our purpose in taking this trip. And even beyond this trip, some of you may be wondering what the ultimate goal of TFP is.  Let me answer those questions for you now.

TFP was started out of a desire to help the youth of Kenya. Specifically, this calling was put on Stephen’s heart after years of witnessing the struggles that many of Kenya’s orphaned youth are confronted with when it’s time to leave the orphanage and step out on their own.

Growing up in the western world, we enjoy a level of education and upbringing that equips us with the necessary tools to make that often tenuous jump from childhood into adulthood. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case in most third world countries. The primary goal of TFP is to address issues that have handcuffed much of Kenya’s  youth and kept them from reaching their potential.

This trip to Kenya will mark TFP’s first official visit to the country as an organization. This is a fact finding trip. Our main objective is to build strategic alliances and learn how we can be most effective in helping the underprivileged youth. We want to get to know the youth, gain a better understanding of their plight, and forge relationships with people living in Kenya who have a desire to help.

Please continue to follow our progress through this blog and pray for us as we spend the next three weeks in Kenya. We’ll be updating the blog regularly to keep you all up to speed on events as they unfold over there.

Aaron Sawyer