Leaving the babies

We left the baby center this morning with only a few tears shed and lots of last minute hugs and kisses. It was hard to think some of us will never see these little ones again. And even those who do come back will miss those that have been adopted. Our prayers will remain with them always as we continue to pray for families to come forth to adopt them and that they know Jesus as their personal savior. We traveled to Tenwek Hospital with a stop at the Tea Hotel for lunch. The road back to the hospital is still one of the roughest in Kenya, but hope is on the horizon as there is a new road being built. It surprised the team that the area right around Tenwek is so crowded with people selling food, cooking food, etc. It was like it's own little city with a lumber yard, school, etc. The hospital even has a tailor, restaurant and power provided by a hydro electric dam. It also surprised the team that the area where the missionaries homes were was so beautiful with flowers and plants everywhere. The work that they are doing is of great value and we prayed that God would continue to bless them. We learned that they will soon be able to perform their first cardiothoracic surgery. A team is coming that will help them set up an open heart surgery suite. They will also provide education for the doctors, nurses, etc. We were able to spend some time with Jeff & Christine Stanfield, Faith Shingledecker and Anna who are missionaries at Tenwek. It was a lot of fun and a valuable experience for everyone.

Church and a cow!

Today we walked next door to the Ngata AGC Church for Sunday service. We were able to join in with the Kenyans as we praised and worshiped together. We all had to stand up in front of the church and introduce ourselves. We were all extremely happy that they didn't ask us to sing!!! Half of the group split the children up into 3 classes for Sunday School. The rest of stayed in the Church to listen to Pete talk about "Secrets Revealed." Prior to this trip God told Pete that if he was given the opportunity to share he was to say "Yes," and God even provided Pete with the topic. Isn't it amazing how God provides and knows exactly what is going to happen?!?! Pete did such a great job speaking to the whole church that you would never guess that he doesn't do this at home. All the kids thought all the white people (Wazungu in Swahili) were CRAZY during Sunday School, and ended up teaching the Wazungu songs in Swahili. We drove to Nakuru for lunch after church with Staci and her twin boys, Solomon and Gifton (former baby center residents). When we got back to Ngata, all the men piled into the Range Rover and went to visit the land where the well is going to be dug. While they were checking out the land, Brent noticed that the neighbors next door had a heifer in labor who was having some difficulty. Brent immediately went over and asked them if they needed help. In the end it took 4 grown men and a rope to deliver the calf safely!!! God always provides for those in need!!!

Jodi Polhemus & Stephanie Wong

Kenya: Baby Steps

Against Jamie's wishes we painted Margie's apartment ceiling white. We joined the Kenyan woman's meeting in a Kenyan home with 70 women in one room. Bev Lambright said it best, we no longer have an excuse that our homes are too small to invite 70 people over for tea and fellowship. No one wanted to leave becuase we enjoyed the worship and fellowship so much. Abigail has offered to be Margie's house helper and return with the March team (if she feels like it by then). The local Kenyan women prepard ugali for lunch but not many of the team enjoyed it. It rained hard again but the sun did shine for a little bit and time was spent with the babies on the playground. Another small step was taken toward resolving the water issue with a drilling permit secured at the local water ministry here. We thank you all for prayers and support. Bwana Asifiwe (which means "Praise to the Lord" in Swahili). God bless.

Jamie Lengacher

Kenya: Random Activites of the Day

• Against Jamie's wishes we painted Margie's red ceiling
• Margie's cabinets are finished and painted
• We were finally able to dry clothes after several days of rain
• We lost Kaylynn and Jodi for awhile and finally found them "organizing the baby clothes closet" but really they were playing with the babies
• It is raining again tonight as it has every night since we arrived
• Could someone let Abigail's parents know she is not planning on returning...she loves it and if anyone has a problem call Jamie (Ha just kidding!)
• Bernie found Bev hanging out a second story window and made her come in...she was washing windows...they look great!

Well gotta go the babies are calling! We are loving them and giving them hugs for all of you! Thanks for the prayers and God bless!

Jamie Lengacher

2008 10 Kenya Team Picture

Front Row: Katelyn Bussard, Stephanie Wong, Tracy Bussard, Jamie Lengacher, Abigail Carpenter (?)
Second Row: Joan High, Beverly Lambright, Pete Carpenter, Jolinda Lengacher
Back Row: Brent High, Bernie Lambright, Tina Carpenter, Margie Helmuth, Jodi Polhemus

Kenya: The Meeting

The first meeting of the AGC Baby Center board was held today at the Baby Center. Jamie Lengacher represented NMC in this meeting and spent 6 hours of his day here. Everything went well and many goals were decided for the coming year. The rest of the team painted the apartment that Jeremy and Nichole Greenly (Brad and Kelly Fishbourne's son-in-law) will be staying in January. They also did laundry and washed windows before spending more time with the babies. The most meaningful time was the opportunity to spend time in prayer for everything that is happening. God is good! God bless!

Jamie Lengacher

Kenya: What We Did Today

Things we did today...

1. Milked a cow
2. Played with babies outside
3. Made sure Margie Helmuth and Stephanie Wong's space heater was installed, the only source of heat we have, at least they are warm, ha.
4. Ate lunch in Nakuru and saw Jon Steury and Robert Langat. Both have been visible in the baby center leadership, and it was fun to spend time with them.
5. Bought 2 pineapples, 2 avocados, and a bunch of cilantro for under $3 at the market.
6. Lost power and ate by candlelight
7. Learned to bargain for souvenirs

Time for bed, goodnight, love you all. God bless!

Jamie Lengacher

Kenya: The Fever

Our whole team has come down with a fever bad, and there is no hope in getting over it. We have come to accept our fate along with everyone here at the AGC Baby Center, we have an incurable baby fever. It didn't help our cause when we held three of the babies here, Paul, Isaiah, and Abigail. Their sweet faces reminded us again what a great work God is doing here. Pictures will come later. God bless.

Jamie Lengacher

Kenya: Heading Out

I sit at Ohare airport with 13 others waiting on our first flight to London. It is exciting to see 9 first-timers on this trip. Tracy Bussard and her daughter Kaylyn, Peter and Tina Carpenter, Abigail Carpenter, Stephanie Wong, Jodi Polhemus and Brent and Joan High round out the first-timers. Bernie and Bev Lambright, Margie Helmuth and Jolinda and I make up the rest of our team. We are excited to bring new faces to the baby center. I cannot wait to watch them catch the baby center "fever".

The last two weeks has been emotional to say the least for me and my family. The sudden loss of my brothers wife at 39 is hard to understand. What I do know is God is faithful and he loves us. He also wants us to keep moving forward even when we hurt. That is why we will continue to "press on". I thank you all for the love and support you have shown my family. God bless!

Jamie Lengacher

Margret - September 2008

These pictures were taken of Margret by Jolinda Lengacher when in Kenya in September 2008 for the dedication of the baby center. She loves to dress up in cute little dresses! Margie is 2 1/2 years old.

September 2008 Baby Slideshow