British Pounds

Don't forget to pick up some British Pounds for when we are in London.

I would recommend about $40 US dollars

worth of Pounds.

(about $22 pounds)

If you are a member of Chase Bank you can get them within 24 hours for free.

You will need them for:

Lunch (6 - 10 pounds)

The Tube (7 pounds)

If you want to go see something that cost funds make sure you check ahead of time for the price so you have enough.

You can use your debit and credit cards.

Just remember there is a 3% foreign exchange fee.

Only 17 More Days

As we get closer to going thoughts start to come into your head:

The What if's:

What if I am not good at this?

What if I don't know what to do or say there?

What if Africa is really not safe?

What if I do or say something wrong?

What if I get sick?

What if... What if.... What if....

These questions are natural. This is my 5th trip to Kenya and I still get the

What ifs.

The trick is to remember God is in control!!

Psalm 46: 1-7

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; the lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Helpful Hints

Staying Healthy During Your Trip

Prevent Insect Bites
Many diseases, like malaria and dengue, are spread through insect bites. One of the best protections is to prevent insect bites by:

1. Using insect repellent (bug spray) with 30%-50% DEET. Picaridin, available in 7% and 15% concentrations, needs more frequent application. There is less information available on how effective picaridin is at protecting against all of the types of mosquitoes that transmit malaria.
2. Wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and a hat outdoors.
3. Remaining indoors in a screened area during the peak biting period for malaria (dusk and dawn).
4. Sleeping in beds covered by nets treated with permethrin, well-screened room.
5. Spraying rooms with products effective against flying insects, such as those containing pyrethroid.
6. For detailed information about insect repellent use, see Insect and Arthropod Protection.
   

Prevent Animal Bites and Scratches

Direct contact with animals can spread diseases like rabies or cause serious injury or illness. It is important to prevent animal bites and scratches.

1. Be sure you are up to date with tetanus vaccination.
2. Do not touch or feed any animals, including dogs and cats. Even animals that look like healthy pets can have rabies or other diseases.
3. If you are bitten or scratched, wash the wound well with soap and water and go to a doctor right away.
4. After your trip, be sure to tell your doctor or state health department if you were bitten or scratched during travel.
5. For more information about rabies and travel, see the

Rabies chapter of the Yellow Book or CDC's Rabies homepage. For more information about how to protect yourself from other risks related to animals, see Animal-Associated Hazards.

Be Careful about Food and Water

Diseases from food and water are the leading cause of illness in travelers. Follow these tips for safe eating and drinking:

1. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially before eating. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand gel (with at least 60% alcohol).
2. Drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes.

Do not eat food purchased from street vendors.

Make sure food is fully cooked.

Avoid dairy products, unless you know they have been pasteurized.Diseases from food and water often cause vomiting and diarrhea. Make sure to bring diarrhea medicine with you so that you can treat mild cases yourself.

Aug. 23rd Meeting

This is a photo of little Grace. Please keep praying for her. She will be going home tomorrow but will require a lot of extra help. Praise God she is still with us. We will all get to meet her when we get to GCC Langata.

Here is a run down of our meeting:

• We went over our final schedule. How a day will look while in Kenya.
• We talked about the last of our funds. We need them all in by next week.
• We covered each of our projects.
• We talked about packing. Sincere Love
• We all need to make sure we listen to the "Sincere Love" message: http://hv.thevillagechurch.net/sermons?kw=sincere+love&type=sermons&match=any

It was another great meeting and I love the team God has put together!! It is the last time we will all be together until we are at the airport!! Please be praying for each other!!

Safari

It is offical.... We will be at Serena Lodge for Safari!

What a great treat David and Jennifer got for us.

This lodge is hard to get into since it is the migration season.

You will be able to sit on your balcony and watch the migration happen!!

Check it all out at:

http://www.serenahotels.com/kenya/mara/home.asp

Kenya Mission Videos

Greater Things are Yet to be Done

Newest Projects

Here are the two newest projects I picked up from Oriental Trading Comp. Both at really great prices!! I will have them for our next meeting!!

We will use them in the schools and with both the girls in Makindu and the kids of Langata....

We leave in one Month!!!

This is the front entrance to the Langata compound. The building you see in the background is the church. If you were standing right in front of the gate, you would be looking directly at the front door of the offices. Inside that front door is the reception area that used to be a bar (the church was a night club.) Go past the reception area and take a left and you'll find two classrooms and the computer lab. Go straight past the reception area and there is a door to the old HIV/AIDS extension. A right after the reception area takes you to the office of David Hatley and Pastor Hassan.

If you step inside this gate and look to your right you'll see three or four classrooms in a separate building.If you could look to the right (down the gravel road we're standing on) you would see the main orphanage compound.

35 More Days

Are you getting excited!!

Are you getting worried!!

Are you getting nervous!!

Is there things in your life telling you you can't do this!!

Do you feel like it will never all come together!!

Maybe you are having second thoughts about going to Kenya!!

Don't worry. These thoughts are all normal.

You are going to do a great work and Satan will try and stop it.

I want you to remember the orphans and how much joy they have

while they have so little material possessions.

Then try to give your worries, fears, anxieties and concerns over to Jesus.

Let Him carry your burden,

Remember your joy as you see that today you don't have a horrible disease,

you have a roof over your head, you have loved ones around you

and you have a full belly!!

I am so excited to be going to Kenya with each and everyone of you.

God has great plans for us there. I can see it already.

35 more days and we are off!!

I can hardly stand it!!

For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And which one of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span? And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you? O men of little faith? ... Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. -Matthew 6:25-30,34

Love them as much as God loves you!!

I asked God to take away My habit..

God said, No.

It is not for me to take away, But for you to give it up.

I asked God to make my han di capped child whole.

God said, No.

His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience.

God said, No.

Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; It isn't granted, it is learned.

I asked God to give me happiness.

God said, No.

I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me pain..

God said, No.

Suffering draws you apart from Worldly cares and brings you closer to me .

I asked God to make my spirit grow.

God said, No.

You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked God for all things That I might enjoy life.

God said, No.

I will give you life, So that you may enjoy all things.

I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me ..

God said...Ahhhh, Finally you have the idea.

1 John 3:1

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

August 15th

is just around the corner

We are getting closer to having all our funds in

but

we still have a long way to go!!

Keep working on getting all your funds in!!

Philipians 4:12-13

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,
whether well fed or hungry,
whether living in plenty or in want.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

The Kids of GCC

Are you ready to be with the kids of GCC?
They are full of energy,
full of life,
and full of laughter....
AND THEY ARE READY FOR YOU!!

There are so many you will never remember all their names,
but you will remember many of them.
Your life will be changed after 2 weeks with them.
I have been asked many times
"Are the orphans of Kenya different then the children of America?"
The answer....
NO!!!

Then need love just like any other child,
they love attention like American kids do,
They have hopes and dreams,
they have crushes,
They care about how they look,
They LOVE candy and
They want to know they are important too.

You, O LORD, reign forever;

your throne endures from generation to generation.

Lamentations 5:19

Aug. 2nd Meeting

We had an other great meeting. What fun to meet at African Mamma... I know many of us left with not only more knowledge of Kenya but some great things from Kenya as well...

I hope you all liked the food and have a better idea of what we will be eating while in Kenya.

Here is a review of our meeting...

Our wonderful Host gave us some great pointers for while we are in Kenya.

Funds... The rest of your $3500 is due Aug. 15th!!

Langata... We went over all we will be doing while in Langata. Projects, Safari Walk, Kibera Slums, Helping the house mums out, Baseball.

Songs... We worked on them.

Projects... We went over each one again, what we need, who is getting what.

If you have not gotten your shots get them now....

Our next meeting is Aug. 23rd at my house. Everyone needs to be there.

We only have 2 more meetings.