June 2011 - Friday - "Hit The Ground Running"

We "hit the ground running" when we finally landed in Nairobi. Our flight had some mechanical difficulties and after sitting on the runway for awhile we were forced to return to the gate to fix it. We finally left 1 1/2 hours later, so we were late getting into Nairobi, We went straight from the airport to Missionary Robyn Moore's home. We joined a graoup of nurses who ere serving short-term with Robyn and the Least of These Ministries. Three of the girls were from Indiana Wesleyan University! We then headed to the slum to serve in an orphanage there. The older children were in school so we performed a skit for the preschoolers. It was difficult in the room we were in because the sound echoed and it made it hard to hear what the team was saying. The teacher did a good job of explaining that the skit was about forgiveness. We then sang some songs with them - Deep and Wide and Father Abraham. The coloring page we brought for them had Colossians 3:13b "Forgive as the Lord forgave you." The children really enjoyed coloring and spent a lot of time making their pictures look "just right"! We then played a game where a small group of chilren held hands and tried to keep a balloon off the ground by kicking it with their feet. It was a little bit hard for the kids to understand the concept and soon it was a "free-for-all" in which anyway you kept the balloon in the air was acceptable! An extra challenge to the game was working around the desks in the middle of the room and the chicken tied up in one corner and a large pile of fresh green beans in the other corner. I'm afraid a few of the beans were flatter when we left then they were before we came! Before we left the children washed their hands and then sat in a line in the open air hallway between the classroom and the main building. They were each given a children's vitamin (thank you to those who donated those) and a peanut butter sandwich (thank you to those who donated peanut butter as well!). This was a special treat they all enjoyed and some of the slower eaters soon found themselves surrounded by many "friends" who would gladly finish whatever they "couldn't" eat! The team did an excellent job of coming alongside the Least of These minsitries to serve the children of Kenya. And they had the following comments:
Ally - They were all so beautiful!
Brittany - I hope that in the future they remember someone came because they cared about them.
Brooklyn - I was tired from long flight but the kids being so happy to see us made me forget that.
Cassie - Seeing that they were so happy even though they live so differently than I do brought perspective.
Danae - Loved hearing them laugh, hated leaving because they were holding on to me.
Hillary - We take the simple stuff for granted. Loved playing the balloon game with them.
Inger - This was an "eye opener" for me. I loved how happy they were.
Kiersten - They were amazed by my braces. I loved how happy they were to see us.
Taylor - I think it changed us. It was worth it. I loved seeing them smile.
Phil - It was easy to see the joy of God in them. It made me thankful for my own parents.

June 2011 - Thursday - "Long Layover in London"

Our flight went smoothly from Chicago to London. We were so thankful that the staff of the airline was very helpful and switched our seats so that we could all sit together instead of singly all over the plane. An answer to prayer! The long flight was made easier by watching movies and playing computer games on individual screens on the backs of the seats. Some of us were even able to sleep some. And there are some good videos to prove it! Our red Global Impact shirts made it easier to stay together and prompted questions from several people. Christians and non Christians alike. Going through customs went very smoothly and we were soon on a train to the middle of London. Unfortunately the leaders of the team were trying to cut corners and made a bad decision to not use the subway system. We walked from Paddington Station all the way into town. We don't know exactly how far that was, but we think it was approximately 2.5 miles. We then walked to many of the major sights such as Buckingham Palace (where we saw the changing of the guard ceremony), Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the House of Parliament, the London Eye and many, many statues. Everyone was so exhausted at lunch that many of them laid their heads on the table to sleep. Then we walked all the way back to Paddington Station. We were all so exhausted that the next 8 hour plane ride was actually sounding good! Unfortunately, the plane had a minor issue and had to go back to the gate where we sat for over an hour. Many of us slept through it though and all of us were able to get a good amount of sleep on the flight to Nairobi. We are so excited to finally be on our way to Kenya!

June 2011 - Wednesday - "Ready to love on some babies..."

The team is excited and ready to serve God by holding, rocking, playing and loving on the babies of the AGC Baby Centre. Pictured above bottom row: Kiersten Lehman, Cassie Dyksen, Inger Yoder, Taylor Stutzman, Allyson Jenkins and Jolinda Lengacher. Top row: Brooklyn Moore, Danae Ehret, Hillary Lechlitner, Brittany Lengacher, Phil Ummel and Jamie Lengacher

Wednesday - How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!

Great day at Salgaa. We had a great testimony from Alyssa. We handed out Bibles, shawls and blankets. We also visited in many homes. We then went to the IDP camp. We took water for them and we did a bible story and coloring page. Anne did a wonderful job on the story with Mesh. We visited in the tents with many of the residents. It was a very moving time. We then stopped at the well and prayed over it. The trees all have fruit! And there is a greenhouse full of tomatoes. Thanks to all the NMC family for your prayers they are felt and much needed. We are all very tired. Pray a special prayer for strength as some team members are feeling exhausted.

Tuesday - Each one Reach one

Tuesday we spent all day at the baby centre so the team was able to really
connect with the children and they all have fallen in love with the babies.

What a huge difference between what we saw at Mathare and the AGC Baby Centre.
It really opens our eyes to the miracle of what God will do through people when
they are obedient. Thank you so much to all at NMC for listening to Gods call.

Monday - Jesus loves the little children

Monday we headed to the Baby Centre. Staci took the team on a tour. Then they
were able to spend some time with the babies and get to know all 50 of them!
We've spent a lot of time organizing, sorting, helping with the laundry, and
playing with the babies.

Sunday - Give me eyes for the brokenhearted

We spent Sunday with Robyn to Mathare and then at Huruma. It broke everyones
heart to see how these children live and to experience all the poverty. No one
should have to live like they do. Yet these children are full of smiles and
just happy with what they have. Everyone could learn something from those
children.

That same day we had the opportunity to meet the newest addition to our Baby
Centre family, JJ. He is an adorable little 16 month old. The team had lunch
with JJ and his foster parents and Robyn. After lunch JJ was handed off to
Margie for her to take him a day ahead of time to the Baby Centre.

Friday - On Their Way!

The April 2011 Team left Nappanee Missionary Church at 11:30am Friday morning. They will arrive in Nairobi late Saturday night. Team members are: Front - Linna Sommers, Angela Walters and Talia Jacobs. Middle - Anne Hemminger, Tonia Rensberger, Rochelle Sharick and Kelsey Christner. Back - Margie Helmuth, Tracy Bussard, Carson Jacobs, Dana Jacobs, Dan Jacobs, Tony Hemminger, and Michelle Sharick. Please remember them in prayer as they begin their ministry in Kenya.

Update from the Director - December 2010

“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten….You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you, and my people shall never again be put to shame.” ~Joel 2:25-26 (ESV)~
This last week of 2010 has been a whirlwind for us at AGC Baby Centre—but in a blessed way! It seems that every time I sat down to write an update, a new phone call would come that would change the course of the week. Last Friday (Christmas Eve), we received precious Maria, a nearly-two-year-old girl who had been abandoned by her mother in the middle of the night nearly a year ago, and then was essentially kicked out of another children’s home for “staying too long.” My heart aches for Maria as I try to imagine what a tough couple of years she has had!
Monday we were blessed to see baby Mercy adopted into a new family! She was the baby that our family picked up on the way home from vacation back in April. She had been abandoned in a courtroom and discovered after the crowd cleared out. What an amazing work of God that she already is blessed with a mama and daddy, a big brother, and THREE big sisters (one of whom is an AGC Baby Centre alumnus)!
Today we received a call about another precious baby girl of about 15 to 18 months of age who had been abandoned. We named her Noel since she has arrived at this festive season as we continue celebrating the newness of life that comes from Christ’s birth. Noel today is struggling and needs our prayers. When I first met her, the caregivers said she regularly calls for her mama. She was crying a little, so I picked her up and just held her close like I do my own daughter of almost the same age. Since she was crying, I asked her, “What do you want?” My heart broke when she simply answered, “You.” She is definitely in transition, needing the love of a mama and not understanding why she’s not getting her own mama.
It’s always a struggle to see these bigger kids like Maria and Noel go through the transition. For them, it has been a tough time— what most likely have been years that the “locusts” have eaten up until their little spirits feel damaged and broken and empty. But just as we have seen Jesus redeem and restore Mercy’s life, we believe He will do the same for Maria and Noel…and for all 44 other babies still with us at AGC Baby Centre. We believe He will restore to them all the years the “locusts have eaten”, because it’s a promise of His Word.
What an honor and a blessing that we get to be a part of what Jesus is doing in restoring these precious lives! Thank you to those of you who continue to pray for each precious life that appears before you in these updates! Thank you to each one who has given over this year (and other years) to see this ministry continue to meet the needs of children in Kenya! Thank you to all who have visited and held these babies, who have encouraged our staff, and who have shared with others about this ministry! Each one of us is a part of the restoration process that is essential to the lives of these babies.
In 2010, 35 precious little ones were welcomed into AGC Baby Centre, where the process of restoration can begin! As we step into a new year, the need continues to be great, and we continue to welcome people like you to be a part of the ministry here. May Jesus continue His great works of restoration in this place through people like me and you!
So thankful for His restoration,
Staci Keter
Director

Back in Nairobi

We're nearing the end of our stay here in Kenya. The time has gone extremely fast and although we are looking forward to going home, we will be so sad to leave this beautiful country. God has been so good to us. He has gone before us in areas of ministry and has shown Himself to be faithful and powerful. He has answered prayers on the spot and He has changed hearts (ours as well as those we were ministering to). He has given us a renewed sense of compassion for those who don't know His love and provision for their soul. He has shown us areas of our lives that we need to change. He has provided rest and allowed us to witness the beauty He has created. We believe that greater things have yet to come... greater things are still to be done here! For all of us we know - there is no greater God than our God! Blessed be the name of the Lord!

2010 10 Kenya Team Picture

Front Row: Colleen Sweeney, Steve Widder ,Ezra Schmucker, Stephanie Wong
Middle Row: Donna Rohrer, Don Rohrer, Cassie Lengacher
Back Row: Jeff Simpson, Jamie Lengacher, Jolinda Lengacher