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

We Live We Love

Most of us might recognize these words from a song, but how many times do we actually apply it to our lives? Letting people know and showing our love for them. Being here in Kenya has giving me a whole new meaning to the word love. Seeing these kids and their conditions that they go through and the stories about their lives, has blown me away. They are just so open to us and are over joyed to see us. Even today at the camp their were some kids that would not let go of my hand or get off my lap. I love seeing their huge smiles and hearing them laugh. It must be also kinda scary for them if they have never seen a mzungu (white person) in their lives and yet are willing to have high schoolers hold their hand. Such a blessing, such an experience.

Right now i am missing all of my friends and family and everyone i love back in the states (mom i'm fine by the way). I love you all and will see you when i come home.

Kwaheri (Goodbye)

Bwana asafiwe (God Bless)

-Madison Rose Vujnov (Vino)

Water is life do not gamble with it

Kenya is a loving country full of passionate people. When you wave people actually wave back and not with a blank face. God is truly in this country from pastor Steve to Charles. vgbhj ,mi7nubyt that was Taylor. I will touch many lives but the lives of many will touch me. I will be changed forever and God is blessed me greatly.

Chase Webster

What up home boys and girls?! men and women?!

We have a few moments to blog so I thought we would recount on our journey to Oasis of Hope drop-in center. When we arrived at the camp we were greeted by about 130 street kids whose faces were gleaming with joy and excitement from seeing the mzungus(white people). After their warm welcome of singing and rapping we divided them up into 6 color-coordinated groups and split up to learn their names and play games. A crowd favorite is definitely "chase the mzungu". We decorated the shirts then the orange team taught a bible story and organized a game for the kids. It was so fun hanging out with all the Kenyan children, they are so lovable! It was hard to leave when they were hanging on us, holding our hands, and squeezing us tight but we can't wait to go back tomorrow! We have to get ready for the "Mercy kids" to come over for a party we're hosting so we'll blog ya later!(sew punny)

-Nicole and Dorsa

25 Random Things from Kitale

Today we start a 3-day day camp for Kenyan street kids at the Oasis of Hope center in Kitale. The number of children that live on the street is staggering, this will be by far one of the biggest highlights of the trip.

As everyone gets ready to head out and start this amazing day, I thought it might be fun to post some random stuff about our trip. Enjoy!

• Almost every meal so far has included carrots
• The local "ketchup" is called Peptang and can be bought at some Ralphs in So Cal
• Everyone is allowed to shower every other day
• You have to use bottled water to brush your teeth
• French fries are served with almost every meal
• We've seen lots of monkeys
• Kenyan church does a lot more dancing then we do
• Robby, Cody and Maddy arrived safely yesterday - they got to meet Richard Simmons on one of their flights.
• Mosquito nets cover almost every bed on the compound
• We played ping pong on the dining room table last night
• Everyone is asked to drink 4 big bottles of water each day
• The slugs here are HUGE
• We've been reading excerpts of Doug Fields' 1986 book Creative Dating and laughing out loud.
• Africa wakes up early - each day the sounds of wildlife greet us before we get out of bed
• Allison Hibbard's face keeps showing up all over the place
• Students were reminded to capture moments with their cameras/Flip videos, but to focus on people not pictures. They're doing a great job with that!
• Nothing tastes better than a ice cold bottled Coke after a long day.
• Being this close to the equator, you get sunburned pretty easily. Most people have learned this by listening to instructions, others are learning from experience.
• The internet is slow ... but we have it!
• We're hoping to visit the Kitale Club and go swimming tonight
• Some of the trees/terrain are straight out of the Lion King - and "a cunama tatta" actually means "no worries" in Swahili
• The pecking order of the animal kingdom - Lion-hiena-vulture-Phil Chenery.
• The group is divided up into 4 vans that drive us around from place to place. Each trip is an adventure, the roads are wild here!
• Saddleback is helping local churches with medical trips, clean water programs and so much more. God is doing a big work here.
• The electricity went off for brief periods about 5 times yerterday
• The official language is English, but many/most speak swahili as well
• The black mamba is one of the most deadliest snakes in the world. Haven't seen any yet!
• Sunscreen and bug spray are a kids' best friend.

No idea if that is actually 25 or not, but it is time to head out for the day!

Josh Griffin

JAMBO

JAMBO

Amazing Sunday Services in Kitale

Hey everyone,

Just jumping on quick after an amazing Sunday here in Kitale. We divided up students with leaders and went to many different churches here in the city. The experiences were amazing and made for some great stories. It was awesome to think that as we worshipped here thousands of miles away, you were doing the same thing at church this weekend.

Your kids are amazing. They are unstoppable - jet lag has been tough, but everyone is motoring through it. The spirit is incredible, they are seeing things and experiencing things that will change them forever. Lots more blog posts tonight, you will be so proud of them - not one will return home the same.

Under the African sky!

Josh Griffin

Mtoto of Tumaini

So the team just got back from our visit at Tumaini and it was most definitely the greatest and most heart wrenching experience thus far since we have arrived in Kitale. Tumaini is a place in Kitale, that is a boys orphanage for street children and orphans that was started 10 years ago that provides for the physical, spiritual and educational needs to the boys of the orphanage. Upon our arrival, we hopped out of the vans and we were all completely swarmed with awesome children! The succession of the words, "Jambo! Habari? Jina Laku Nani?" were the key to meeting all of the kids. The boys were all very nice and loving. They immediately became stuck to the hips of all of our team members. Some of the things we got to do while we were hanging out in the area included, touring the dormatories where the boys sleep each night, we got to hang out in the church and sit with all of the kids, the boys performed for the teams, a song and dance performance they had prepared for, then they had our high school team get up there and perform for them, and at the end, we got the chance to go outside with a few kids per person and pray with the kids.

For me, it was amazing to see the kids completely have the courage to come up to me and want to shake my hand and talk. While we were all sitting down getting ready to get direction as to what we were doing, I was sitting on a bench with 4 boys that were all just staring at me trying to talk! The boys names were Lazarus (12), Nadah (9), Victor (13), and Brian(7). They were all precious little guys. One of the first questions that Laz asked me was, "Camera?" I gave him my camera and his face just lit up. He was so excited to put the strap around his neck, and start shooting away! He quickly figured out all the buttons and by the end of our time together, he had taken 200 pictures! They were all really great pictures! The pictures tell an awesome story, all through the eyes of an orphaned child named Lazarus. I could honestly go on forever about the memories I have made today. I continually now look back at the pictures on my camera that he took and they are 10 times as special because of the person who took them. Victor was an awesome boy as well! He walked around with me the whole time were in the church and he was a very quiet boy, but he definitely had an awesome story. He told me all about his brother and where he grew up. He has been at Tumaini for 4 years now and his brother is just two years old. When we were about to leave he came up to our van and gave me a huge hug. Such a memorable little boy today. Nadah was one of the kids there that didn't actually live there, but he hangs out with all of the boys during the day. He was precious. Brian was the smallest little boy in the world. He has such a powerful story as well for such a young little boy.

All in all, Tumaini was an eye opening experience. I will never forget the time we spent with the boys there. Unbelieveable what God has done for all of Tumaini. So awesome that He has provided graciously for food, comfort and love for all of them. God is working so much on this trip, and I could honestly go on forever talking about this trip within the past two days. This is just a synopsis. Cant wait to tell more when we get home!

Cory Tomlinson

We MADE IT to Kitale Kenya!

Hey everyone!
Our team has arrived safely in Kitale, Kenya! Thank you so much for all of your prayers...the trip over was smooth and painless. All of the students have been so wonderful and relaxed. We are currently getting ready for lunch and our first ministry outing to the prison. Please be praying for the team to adjust to the time and for their health these first few days.
Katie Edwards

PS Students will start blogging this evening with their stories - stay tuned!

We made it to AMSTERDAM!

Hey friends!
The team has made it safely to Amsterdam. It's bright an early Friday morning...everyone is enjoying a little breakfast before we get on our final flight to Nairobi. The students are awesome...everyone is excited to get there!
Katie Edwards

Leaving tomorrow!

Ok team...the time has come! We are heading to Kitale Kenya tomorrow!
This page will be our official highlight spot for the trip! We will update it as often as we can!

12 Days till we leave!

Hey team...
A few thoughts as you are getting ready for our trip!

Don't over pack....you will feel like you need to pack everything you own plus the kitchen sink. Pack as light as you can. Your suicase can't weigh over 50 lbs...or YOU will have to pay for it to go through.

Prayer guide...I sent home a prayer guide to your parents and I will be giving you one tonight at the commissioning.If you would like me to send you an electronic copy to send out to your supporters just send me an e-mail at katiee@saddleback.com.

PRAY...In the hustle and bustle of fundraising, packing, and getting ready for our trip...don't forget to stop and surrender your trip and your heart to God. God alone has you going on this journey for a reason. Pray and ask God to reveal that reason!

Can't Wait!

Hey Team!
Team Meeting this Sunday, February 7th....10:30am-1:00pm in the Refinery Classrooms!
We will talk about the packing list, our itinerary, and your responsibities for camp.

Also, there will be a notary present at our meeting. If you need to complete the the minor consent form, bring both your parents and the form to the meeting. You do not have to do it on Sunday...but it is available and free of charge.

See you Sunday

A couple of calendar changes...

Change #1: We are changing our team dinner on January 30 to team LUNCH on Sunday, Janurary 31st. We are headed to an authentic Kenyan restuarant called The Kenyan (yep...that's the name). We will meet at the Refinery at 12 noon on Sunday and carpool to the restuarant. We will return tot he Refinery at 3pm. Please do everything you can to make it! Bring $10 to cover your lunch.

Change #2: Our next team meeting is February 7...which also happens to be Super Bowl Sunday. We are changing the time so that you sports fanatics can get to your parties on time. We are going to do our meeting in the Refinery classrooms from 10:30-1pm. This is an important meeting because we are going to plan camp and pass out the packing list. Please make every effort to be there.

Immunizations

If you have not yet made appointments to get your trip immunizations, please be sure to do that in the next 2 weeks. You want to give your body time to adjust to any shots you receieve. Make sure the physician updates your yellow immuniation card.

Also, if you are going to take Malaria medication, I reccommend Malarone. It seems to be the Malaria pill that people have had the least trouble with side effects.

Happy New Year and Back to School!

Hey team! I can't believe it is already January!! And our trip to Kenya is so close and it is so monumental that in my own life I've started marking my calendar by it! For example, I find myself saying "after Kenya I'll go home to Alabama again" or "that needs to happen at least by Kenya." I can't believe it is almost here!

I want to share with you why this trip is so important to me! A few years ago, I was volunteering at my church back in Alabama and I went to a conference/summer camp with some students. I was studying broadcasting and media in college so all of the fancy videos and camera setup that they had there really excited me. One night they showed some videos about some mission trips. I had been on a few local trips at the time but none outside of the US. These videos were so inspiring and really showed me a way that I could tie my learnings in school to a passion that I had for people. But even more than that, as I watched the people in other countries worshipping God, it brought the idea to my mind that in Heaven we are going to worship God with people from every nation and all walks of life! And then I felt God asking me, "Why are you going to wait until you get to Heaven?" I didn't have a good answer! That day God planted a new desire in my heart to visit the nations of the world and worship him alongside them. I do want to travel the world but really I just want to see God's people and see his creation!

Since that day, I have visited Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. Both countries were incredible and the love for God that the people had really impacted my life. Kenya is now the next step. I know it is going to change my life all over again! I also know it is going to do the same for each one of you!

Becka Holley

It's fast approaching!

Now that Christmas is behind us and we've begun 2010 the trip to Kenya doesn't seem like something way off into the future! This is actually happening!

I am so excited to be travelling back to Africa, I spent some time working in a township in South Africa in 2002. The thing that struck me while I was there was that the people that we met and cared for were so full of love and life for each other. They faced difficulties that we can't even imagine and had a more positive attitude towards God and faith than most people I know.

I can't wait to learn from these people again. I'm looking forward to see the impact their faith and their attitude towards life has upon our team. I'm excited to see how our experience changes our view of God and His world and how that will impact us when we return. I'm looking forward to ministering to the people we meet and make a difference there but I can't wait to see what a difference God makes in us.

Are you ready?

Phil