Hey friends & family,
We have arrived safely in Amsterdam. We are getting ready to board our last flight of the trip!
The team is doing great - the students are tired and worn out - but everyone is traveling like a veteran at this point!

We arrive on KLM flight 0601 at 1:25 pm. We need to clear customs first before we can see you...which could take anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes.

Like I said up top...the students are coming home tired...and not just sleepy, but emotionally, physically and spiritually drained. They have poured out their hearts and souls in Kenya. It definetely could take a few days for them to be 100%. Make sure they hydrate, sleep, and eat well their first few days back. IN fact try to make them stay up until at least 8pm for the first few nights to help them get back on America time.

We are so proud of your students...they exceeded our expectations in every way. They were a joy to lead and do ministry with. Thank you for sending them! See you soon
Katie Edwards

PS Sorry about not being able to communicate more. Kenya internet is not the most reliable!

Quick Update Via Katie

Just got a phone call from Katie in Kenya. They were having a dance party.

She wanted me to let all of you know that the internet has been down for a few days and they are sorry they haven't been able to post on the blog in awhile. They had a great time in Kitale and are gearing up to head to Nairobi tomorrow. They will post when they are in Amsterdam on their way home.

Parents...Just a reminder that you need to pick your student up AT THE AIRPORT this Sunday. The team will be flying into LAX on the KLM flight from Amsterdam, and will be arriving at 1:25pm (make sure you account for the time change this weekend!).

Thanks!

Ryanne

The Second to Last Day

I can't believe it has already been a week. An entire week away from home, family, and friends. All familiarity has been gone but it has probably been the most powerful experience of my life. Today we visited Purpose Driven Academy and Discover to Recover which were both filled with the most amazing and godly people. The most powerful lesson has definitely been what real love is and how true it can be. Just holding the little ones from the "baby class" at P.D.A. and listening to them squeal and giggle as our team members wrestled, and played, and loved on them. Simply holding them tight was enough love to bring a smile to their little faces. Kenya is a country filled with love unlike any other and genuine god-following people, its going to be a tough time leaving all of this behind.

Love you all!
Brooke Tsuyuki

JAMBO

Jambo!

It has been such a blessing to get here in Kenya! Yesterday was the first day of camp and it was so amazing to see how many children came to the camp and the way they were dressed and how they were acting, it was something I had never seen before. I really can't explain. I met my two favorite little boys ever yesterday name Thomas and Charles! They are so cute and Charles was stuck to my hip. His english is so good and I can't wait to show the pictures and videos. Today we went to Sister Freda's hospital and we went into her house. She was such a sweet lady, her husband Richard is so old but he is just as great as well. I told her that I wanted to be a nurse and then she took my hand and gave me a tour of the entire hospital. She showed me the baby that was born yesterday, she was so little, there were so many people there I couldn't even fathom how they could help so many people... I also got to see the "operation" room. It looked nothing like what we would have in America. I am so happy that I got to come here and I cannot wait till I can tell you so many more stories in person. I love and miss you all! Thank you to everyone who supported me on this trip.

Mariah

Would Love Your Prayer in a Specific Area

Hey family & friends...

Please pray for the health of our team. We have a few team members who have come down with a little flu bug and dehydration. We have a nurse, a doctor, a dentist and an eye doctor on the adult team traveling with us...so we have all of the medical attention we need! No big issues, just minor stuff...but I would love for you to pray specifically for our health. The team is doing awesome! They are exceeding all of our expectations...your students are incredible servants!

Katie Edwards

Camp update!

The past two days at camp have been amazing. It has been very difficult for the team to learn all 200 kids names, but we are definitely doing our best. Yesterday, there was a very interesting visual that the team noticed. Upon arriving at the Oasis of Hope Compound, all of the kids wanted to shake our hands and say, "Jambo!", to all of us, but they were a bit hesitant at first. When we walked into the main room, the kids were all keeping there heads down and not really making eye contact unless we stuck our hands out to shake, or to pull them onto our lap. By the time Tea and toast break came after we had become a bit more comfortable, all of the kids had completely different manurisms towards us. They wanted to hold hands with us, they wanted to hug us, and take pictures with us. It was a huge change from the beginning of the day. It was exciting at the end of the day to say, "see you tomorrow", to them and know that we will be back the next day to continue loving on them. The whole team has been doing really awesome with communicating with the kids and getting to know there stories. God has been doing some awesome things through all aspects of camp and I know he will continue to as we spend our last day at camp tomorrow!

Cory Tomlinson

Second Time Around

Being back in Kenya is definitely a different experience than last year. Yes we are doing the same things but they are having a different effect. It is so cool to see kids that we met last year and actually have them remember us. Like today for instance, the Mercy Kids came to the compound and hung out with us and I saw a little boy Joseph and as soon as he saw me he remembered me and said "its you, its you!" and we hung out the rest of the day. The first time we met he didn't really want to tell me his story, but this time he was willing to tell me some of his story. Kenya is definitely an amazing experience for all of us. I can't wait to see all the amazing kids tomorrow at the Oasis of Hope camp. I know that these kids are changing our lives and that we are changing theirs.

-Sarah Olson