We used our own hair as an ejemplo (example); to see the kids get hands-on washing hair was so awesome! It was inspiring to see these kids get so excited over shampoo; I’m use to kids not even wanting to take a bath or brush their teeth in the morning!

Being out here is like looking through a magnifying glass and appreciating every little thing that you see. The guys finished building this huge brick wall which will be also used to make 2 more classrooms so that more students will be able to attend the school.

We played dodge balls at the kids and we all have a great time! Also we went to Pedro and Deniras church they work in the ministry we support. Cody preached while Noe translated and the congregation was blessed by it! Pedro’s 9 year old son who has a brain condition gave his life to Christ and we all just got to lay hands on him and pray which was just beautiful!

The cherry on top was when I got to pray over this pregnant woman and when I started praying over her baby, the baby just started moving inside of her belly! Like seriously!!!!! Crazy Awesome!! Like I said before God is beyond words!!! And we haven’t lost anyone…yet everyone is doing great!

We look forward to what God will being doing the last few days of our trip.

Love,

Joi

I can honestly say that I have been incredibly blessed by these students. Their smiles have captured my heart.

-Bibiana Florian

Happy birthday dad!!! I’m gonna come home (safe and sound) with stories, a birthday present for you! We’re having a lot of great experiences. Thanks for the encouragement that you were giving me before I left. I hope you had a great birthday and got a chance to relax! Love and blessing to everyone who’s, praying, reading our blogs, and thinking of us. We really appreciate it so much!

Love, stephanie

Carlos Estrada

After we were all ready to go, this amazing women named Valeria came to the house. She explained her organization regarding local sex trafficking in Granada, masaya and Managua. She shared so much about the work and the hurt in these communities.  It made all of us realize how blessed we are in The United States. God might have opened up a great opportunity for Crossroads to help in this area. After we were all done praying for her (which was insanely powerful) we all went shopping! We spent around 2 hours out in the market. When we were all done shopping, we ate lunch. As always, the food here is so good! Once lunch was finished, we went to go see the church that Crossroads helped build a roof over just 3 weeks ago.

We met Marcus’s family at the church as well as the senior pastor and his family and had such a passionate worship experience and prayer time with the families in the church. Noe preached today!  When he was done preaching, all of us prayed over the ministry, the church, and Marcus and Carlos. There were many children that were very excited to see us and wanted to take lots of pictures with us. There was this one really happy young girl around the age of 13. Her name was Maria and it’s her birthday today. She had said she didn’t get any presents which is common here, so Taylor gave her a bracelet that she had bought at the market earlier. After church, we went to a fantastic restaurant called ” El Eskimo .” It was muy delicioso! We laughed until we cried and had great fellowship with everybody and debriefed about our day.

When we got home after dinner, we found out that there is another team from a church in South Carolina staying here. Tomorrow is our first day of VBS with the school Crossroads sponsors as well as fence building and we are all excited!

Our team is one of uniqueness, yet incredible unity.  It’s only day 3 and we can’t count on our hands the number of times we have seen God move.

From Taylor Camplin and Tory Helvey

P.S. Shelby, Taylor and Tory are still alive along with Katie. Don’t worry moms.

Our last stop was amazing. Stephanie and Shelby were in need of a restroom which ultimately became a divine appointment. Being in a remote area there were no restrooms but we found a gracious neighbor, Blanca, who offered her home to us. God works in mysterious ways as this divine appointment ended with Blanca giving her life to the Lord.

While there, our team ministered to about 50 kids. Seeing them sing and dance and interact with us was precious. Having Noe and Cody tell the transformation of the caterpillar to butterfly story to the kids was a big attention getter. It not only sparked their interest but it also brought us all closer together. Our time there ended with Noe and Cody preaching a sermon to the adults on how to make Christ come alive in our lives.

We are all doing well and adjusting to the time, climate, and all of the yummy food! We thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers over us. Enjoy the attached photos of our time here in Nicaragua. God bless.

Shelby Talbert & Fernando Airada

It’s only been one day and we already have experienced SO much! We got here and let’s just say the heat hit us hard! Pretty much drained us within the hour of arrival. Luckily we had a relaxed day, and we were able to rest up get hydrated and start bonding! Our travels went surprisingly smooth! We only lost one bag! (which anyone who has ever traveled with 29 bags knows that’s a miracle) & we found the bag too!!!

We met up with our missionary Marcus at the airport and he brought us to the home we will be staying in. This family is beyond AMAZING! We walked in and they were listening to all the music we listen to at Generate just in Spanish! Immediately even those of us who don’t speak Spanish knew what songs we were listening to! They have the most amazing hearts. There is 12 kids here some aren’t even their real kids but truly say this is their family. Most of them are young girls.

The youngest is Nathali. She is only 8 and one of the strongest Christians I have ever met. She stepped on a rusted nail today and once they pulled it out a spill of red fell to the floor. She never screamed never really cried too hard. Was just calm, then her sister picked her up and rushed her home.

She wasn’t too happy when Pastor Noe came at her with medicine to clean her wound and told her she would need a shot, but she knew it was really what was best. Noe got to literally wash the feet of this young girl. John 13 moment for sure! Just as God commanded us to do we came out here and washed feet!

Once all cleaned up (which by the way she never cried or complained) I got to spend a little one on one time with my little princessá! We were about to play a game of dominoes and Pastor Cody dropped a little cutie orange in her lap. Before she stuck the first piece in her mouth she stopped and handed it to me. That was when I knew that our God truly owned the heart of this little girl she blessed me and showed me what it truly means to be a servant!

As you guys can see so much has already happened and it’s only DAY ONE!!! Can’t wait to see what else God has in store for us! Parents know we are all safe. Taylor and Shelby are having a blast and the younger girls are really connecting with them out here! Mom and Dad I love you and miss you! & to all of the people who helped get me get here know that your prayers have meant the world! Thank you guys so much! One day down! Nine to go!

Love Always

Carley Antoinette Renteria

Words can’t describe the work God has been doing here in at the school in Kiamaiko, tears come to my eyes as I think about ever moment we have spent with these kids and the community in the slums. Today was one of the hardest days of the trip by far, we came to Kiamaiko for our farewell. Our work here is done for the moment but we know God is not finished. We arrived to the school this morning and the children of Kiamaiko had prepared a farewell ceremony for us! They sang the worship songs we had taught them during our time here and it was the most amazing thing to see community surround the gates of the school! As this was all going on there was a Muslim prayer time going on just outside of the school and right when Mary Kamau came up to give her vision of the future for Kiamaiko the sun beamed and it was evident God had our favor! It was beautiful to be right there in God’s presence in the midst of a Muslim populated area. I am so blessed to be a part of this vision and to see where God is going to take Kiamaiko!

The hardest part of today was getting ready to get onto the bus to leave and the kids were just in tears. There was one boy Kevin who had his head face down on his desk just sobbing and I looked at him and just smiled and he ran to my arms and I just lost it. It amazes me how much we have had an impact on these kids but even more so they have had an impact on us. Words can’t describe how blessed we have been to spend all this time with the kids, teachers and the community. I know God is at work and these kids are going to do incredible things throughout their community because of their love for Jesus!  We are seeing a Muslim populated area coming to know Jesus because these kids are being a light for Him! Please be in prayer as God is going to do bigger and greater things!

In His Name,

Katelyn Radford

Today was such an incredible day. For the second year, I have been able to spend the week with my sponsor son Bryan. On the first day in Kiamaiko I brought Bryan his gift of a backpack with books, hot wheels, a frisbee, coloring books and crayons. He lit up so much to have a gift to himself. Not only did I get this moment with Bryan, but I was able to share it with my mom and meet Bryan’s brother Kevin. Throughout the following three days I spent every moment that I could with the two of them. I loved getting to know them. They are so smart and amazing.

After three days finally the day came to say goodbye. I thought I was doing fine until it came time to say goodbye to Kevin and he began crying in his class. Then I go to get Bryan and he begins crying too. My heart was broken not knowing when I would see them again, but I have this amazing feeling; because of the work going on in this school, my boys will grow up knowing who their savior, so if I don’t see then again here, I know I will see then in Heaven.

I am blessed to be here with this team. We leave in the morning for safari and I cant wait! Thanks for all your prayers!

-Brooke Conlin

This place has been absolutely life changing!!! I can’t imagine any of us leaving here the same. For me the experience has been full of eye opening and humbling scenarios. One of which included a day of Bring the Light where went out into the local community of Kiamaiko to share the Word of God. The first shanty I went to was with a 70 year old woman who recently lost her daughter and because of it was raising her four grandchildren. She was already a believer and we got the opportunity to pray and encourage her. After I left I kind of had a sense of unfulfillment wondering if we really had any sort of impact. That night God gently reminded me of the current season i am in which is that I actually live with a grandmother who is also raising her four grandchildren. The heavy look upon the woman in that shanty is the same I see in the grandmother that I live with. I think God was reminding me that the light of encouragement that we gave that old woman was the same I need to bring home. God says to take care of the widows and orphans and not only have we had numerous chances to do that here but we also have an amazing opportunity to bring it home in abundance and that is what I want to do. I have been so blessed to get a glimpse of Gods aching heart for this community and one of my biggest prayers is that we all leave here with much bigger hearts!!

Amy

Hi guys, so this has been one adventure so far. This is my second time being in Kenya and it didn’t make it easier but God opened up my eyes to so many things that I was completely blind to in America. We have spent our last three days in Kiamiako, which is a school for younger children. It is also where I met my sponsor kid, Josephine and she is a beautiful light to my day. Seeing her brought me to reality knowing that this girl along with many others have a hope for their future because of our hope partnership and because we have listened to God’s calling when he says every tribe and every nation. They have hope. Not only do they have hope, but an unbelievable amount of joy even though they have nothing materially they worship God with a raw passion that I have yet to see in the United States. In Kiamiako there is a gate surrounding the school and all the outside kids aren’t allowed in, but a challenge was given to us to interact with those children, so I did. God opened my eyes abundantly during this time because you could tell these kids were usually ignored, but day after day they would all my name and it brought tears to my eyes knowing that something so small as holding a child’s hands on the outside of a gate or teaching them a song could instill hope into their lives. If I were given one God given purpose on this trip to give hope to children on the outside of a fence I would be beyond blessed.

Love, Elisabeth (:

“So long fare well to you my friends, goodbye for now until we meet again.” That was the song that rang through Kiamaiko today, as we said goodbye to our beautiful friends. This week I was blessed to meet the child that my boyfriend and I sponsor. The whole experience was an emotional roller coaster, one that I wouldn’t trade for the world. The first two days I spent with her she had been super timid and kind of scared of me which was expected, but still pretty difficult to experience. Finally today when I first saw her she actually smiled at me, and waved, needless to say I was overjoyed. She sat on my lap throughout the farewell ceremony and the whole time she sat and played with my hands, studying them, holding them, counting my fingers. One of the times that we prayed she started to play with my hair, for those who know me, my hair is pretty big, perfect distraction for a 5 yr old. We danced together, sang together and finally the words I had been waiting for, ” I love you Melissa”. I was a mess trying to fight back the tears, and at last I had to take her back to class and say my goodbyes. As we loaded the bus and were driving out I prayed “Lord please let me see her face once more time.” We pulled away I saw her stick her little head out her classroom door with the biggest smile and wave goodbye. “So long farewell to you my friend, goodbye for now until we meet again.” Key words, until we meet again, I have to remember this is not goodbye, just see you later, maybe not on this earth, but definitely with our Father in heaven.

-Melissa

Faith, hope and love; words that can only begin to describe the components of my experiences over the past week in Kenya. Upon preparation and arrival in Kenya, I was completely unprepared for the life changing journey I was about to take part in.

FAITH: God is truly doing a work in Kenya that He wants those who He has called to take part in. All we have to do is continue to dream, as team member Danette Conlin says, “larger than life, and in living color.” We must also put our faith and trust in Him, knowing that he can do things that our little, boxed-in minds could never dare to imagine. As we see parts of new school facilities being erected, we see our dreams, Mary and Wallace Kamau’s dreams, and above all, God’s dreams begin to unfold.

HOPE: During our stay at the Kiamaiko center, we were able to go out into the surrounding community as a team and “Bring the Light” to various homes; this included installing skylights into the shanties and sharing the Word of God with the families. Being that the surrounding community composed of a majority of Muslims, my first trip out seemed rather hopeless. However, God began to change my view as soon as we entered the first home. The Holy Spirit moved in the hearts and minds of the team as we began to pray with an amazing Muslim woman in her dark home. As the light of the Word began to consume her heart, the sunlight began to flood into the room through the skylight; it was then that God showed me the hope He had for the Kiamaiko community.

LOVE: A common thread that has continuously woven my experiences in Kenya together has been the love of the students, teachers, as well as citizens that I have come into contact with. From the moment we walked into the first school we visited, I felt showered in a love that I could only identify as Christ’s. The love that fills the walls of the Mission of Hope schools around Kenya is a love that can easily be contracted, and when contracted, fills one with a joy inexpressible. After visiting Pangani, Joska, and Kiamaiko I have been reinvigorated by this joy and will forever see His love in a new and beautiful light.

Sitting in a chair, my feet upon the fresh Kenyan dirt, listening to the children of Kiamaiko singing at the top of their lungs in adoration of Christ, I had faith in the future of an African continent being won over with the love of Christ. Looking across the wall at a dilapidated building and hearing the Muslim call to prayer broadcasted across tin shanties, I was reminded of the Muslim women of Kiamaiko; however, after my new found faith, I had hope that those Muslim women would sacrifice their current situation to find the love of Christ. As I said goodbye to my sponsor child, Derrick, tears streaming down his face, I saw the love relationship that we had developed through our common love for Christ. A friend and I were discussing our experiences earlier this evening and she shared with me a beautiful analogy: “when I left America I was blue, when I arrived in Africa, I began to share with people who were yellow. When their yellow blood of Christ mixed with my blue blood of Christ, the combination of the common bond of Christ’s blood turned me green, and I will never be the same again.”

In His love,

Haley Rose Talbert

It really has been such a humbling experience to be here with all of these wonderful people and to have an opportunity to fellowship with them. The children will not be forgotten, and a little bit of all of them will surely be taken home in the hearts of all of our team members.

With a joyful heart,

Alex

My morning started with getting the chance to meet 80-year-old Yessenia who has lived in the slums for over 40 years making soap. She sang Amazing Grace for our whole team which was an amazing way to begin our day. I got the chance to help in snack for VBS at Kiamaiko, which was awesome. I love how grateful the kids are and how much joy the have for the simple things in life. One thing that I look forward to every day is seeing my sponsor child Anthony’s huge smile and getting to hold him. Once again I got the chance to go out into the slums and bring the light along side Joe, Carey, and Kehlie. We visited an 18-year-old girl Regina who was orphaned at age 5 and now has a 7month old baby of her own. Sadly her landlord would not allow us to install the sunlight in her dark home but after talking and praying with her for over an hour she decided to give her life to Christ. It’s been hard for me to see the horrible conditions these children live in but you can definitely see God is moving through out the slums of Nairobi. To all of our family back home, we love and miss you!

Logan Coleman Duarte

God definitely had a plan when he put Wallace and Mary Kamau together. Mary had the vision to see the children of the slums of Nairobi have a place to go to receive an education, to be fed, to receive medical attention, and to learn about Jesus by faithful, loving teachers. Wallace had a vision to bring communities together by teaching them about Jesus and planting churches in the most poverty stricken areas, churches that would show the love and compassion of Jesus, encouraging the hopeless to have hope. Missions of Hope International along with Christian Missionary Fellowship are an incredible partnership blessing the lives of so many.

It is such a wonderful blessing for me to see the work being done here in person. I have been dedicated in seeing the sponsorship of the 500 children Crossroads Church sponsors in the Kaimaiko Slum. Words cannot even describe the poverty here. Kaimaiko is mostly Muslim, yet the Muslim’s are seeing the good works that the Christian community is providing for them. We love them and their children and are bringing light into the darkness of their small shanties.

Yesterday I was able to be part of sharing the word with a 22-year-old Muslim woman who has 2 brothers that attend the Kaimaiko School.  We went into her small shanty that was pitch black. It is a very frightening feeling to walk into such darkness where you cannot even see your hand in front of your face, and to be in such a small space that is hot and stuffy, knowing there is an ally full of Muslims just outside, and you aren’t sure if they are angry that you are visiting one of their Muslim sisters.

Her name was Nasibo; she heard our testimony and the message of Jesus and said she wanted to become a Christian. Nasibo prayed the believer’s prayer and we embraced her as our new sister in Christ. It broke my heart when she shared that she would not be able to attend a Christian church because her community would not accept it. This is exactly what Wallace is working to provide people like Nasibo.  Kaimaiko School will be putting together groups for people in the area so perhaps they can be fed and taught scripture at the school, but acquiring more space to do this will be necessary.

It is already obvious that the Kaimaiko School is changing the slum area. Muslims are now waving at the Christians and coming to us for help.  The school courtyard was full of Muslims and Christians both, waiting to receive medical attention today from Dr. Don and all the others that comprise the medical team.

God is good and faithful and the miracles we have seen, words cannot express. Truly, Matthew 25:40 is being fulfilled, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

Blessings, Linda Pimental

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full if mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:17-18

So many seeds were planted today in the Lord’s name. Today not only did I have the privilege to work in games and hear the laughter and see the children’s faces filled with joy, but I also got to venture out and be involved in evangelizing in the slums during “Bring in the Light”.  My group and I visited a home of a Muslim family. The father was at work and the mother was very generous and let us into her home. Now I had been selfish the past couple days and had been asking for a “God moment”, but when realizing that it’s in God’s time not mine, decided during this bring in the light, to just pray and let the others minister. It wasn’t until I felt heaviness on my heart right when I walked in her home that I new god was stirring something in me. I watched as my team preached and I looked at this beautiful woman who kept stating that everything with her was well and she couldn’t be Christian because her and her husband were Muslim so it would never be allowed. I finally felt God telling me to ask her more about her husband, and pushed as much as he told me to. Finally she opened up and asked us to pray for her husband because he was a drunk. But I knew there was more. I studied her body language and saw that she was messing with a rubber band on her wrist, something that I do when I’m nervous. I finally felt God’s words ready to flow through me and with out her telling me anything of her past I started sharing my testimony, I told her that I knew she was in pain and that I know it hurts when he beats her and that she has to hide the bruises. I explained that she doesn’t need permission from any man to feel Gods love and live an everlasting life. I looked into her eyes and she started crying. Without the interpreter she knew exactly what I had said. Even though she had said nothing about her husband abusing her, I somehow knew…God opened my eyes to see what was not there. Ceasar, Brit, and I told her how precious she was to God and how he died for her sins so she can be saved and live eternal life with her children in heaven. Even though her husband is one of the Muslim leaders in their community, with my amazing team and the connection the Lord let me have with this woman through one snap of a rubber band, she decided to give her life to Christ and be born again. It was God’s timing. Brit lead her through an amazing prayer, Ceaser gave her an amazing gift that his mom had gave him to remind her that God is always there, and we joined in singing a song with the woman in which non if us have ever heard before, yet knew every word while singing it. This was the most amazing God moment I could ever ask for and all I had to do was give it to him. Her name is Deysha and I hope you will all keep her in your prayers.

In His name,

Kaylie Wilson

Today it was brought to our attention that we had an amazing opportunity to evangelize to the community right on the school grounds! We realized that the mothers who were waiting to seek care for their children were a perfect opportunity to plant a seed.

I was able to provide them education on malaria through a malaria cube and a translator! It was so amazing to be communicating with the women through pictures and a different language. We were also able to share a little bit of our testimonies to them and talk about how the Lord has changed our lives.

In the ladder part of the day I had the opportunity to go out into the slums and ‘bring the light’ to a dark home. I was very excited for this after hearing of the all the awesome experiences from the previous day. I was in a team of four along with our translator/social worker and construction worker and we headed out to the slums to be able to bring the light to a home not only physically but also more importantly spiritually! Our team was lead to a home of a husband, wife, son, and grandson. We were able to speak with them and find out that they were already believers and their son attends Kiamaiko. We had taken along an HIV/AIDS cube with us and got to educate them on that as well as encourage them spiritually! Although, the part that touched me the most was once the square had been cut in their roof and sunlight was beaming into their house! The man of the house was so pleased and said, “I used to not be able to see when I walked in and now I can.” This really brought the concept of ‘bring in the light’ into perspective for me.

The work that I have been to be apart of out here is amazing, life changing, and humbling. I couldn’t ask for a better team to be here with. Thank you for your continued prayers at home while we have been out on the field! Prayers are being answered, faith is being expanded, and amazing things are taking place!

With love and a blessed heart,

Kehlie

Today, I had the incredible experience of meeting two beautiful people. The first was Diana, the sponsor child of the Disabilities Ministry at Kiamaiko. She was as precious as the chosen ones who sponsor her. She and her mother send their thanks, love and prayers to Rudy and Jennifer. The second person was in the medical clinic. Joseph was 8 year old with Downs Syndrome. Sadly, there is no education of any kind available for children with special needs in Kenya so he spends his days at home with his mother in their shanty in the slums. People in developing countries who are born different are often expendable. It was extremely hopeful to see a loving mother care for her disabled son.

I encourage you to pray for the forgotten ones in third world countries all over the world.

Dianna

Dr. Don

Words can’t explain the amazing things that God has shown me, and all that He has done here in Kenya. This is my first year ever going on a mission trip and what amazes me the most is that He has been so faithful showing us amazing things each day, literally — from seeing our sponsor kids at Kaimaiko to visiting the amazing kids at Joska. But something so amazing and so powerful happened today while we were doing “Bringing the Light” at Kaimaiko. We broke off into groups of 4 with a translator and headed into a Muslim community. Before we left our group got together and prayed that God would move through us and do great things. We headed out and entered into this woman’s house, she was a mother of 5 kids of her own and 7 foster kids she took in. She used to be Christian but her husband forced her in the Muslim religion. As we sat down all of us were very unsure of what to say and how to approach her. Then, the Holy Spirit completely took over. The Lord led me to read the mom Proverbs 31 and it completely described everything that mother was. You can tell she was very touched listening. Then we shared John 3:16 and more. The whole team was a part of it. The best part was her saying thank you for sharing Jesus Christ and the joy she had. God is so good and so faithful! God is doing amazing things and He is tearing down many walls here in Kenya, including some of mine. Praise God.

Cesar Cortez

God desires an open heart and something that had a tremendous impact on me was hearing a sermon in Joska from Dan on our Kenya team. Dan encouraged the church at Joska that if your heart is right God will use you.  These words stirred a fire in my soul setting the stage for my first mission trip here in Kenya. I have experienced the greatest of joys having the opportunity to serve the people of Kenya through VBS, visiting schools, the Crossroads sponsored children, and “Bring the Light”. My team and I are witnessing in a highly populated Muslim area where there are several challenges, and at times you can sense the forces of darkness but God’s word never fades! I saw firsthand the brokenness and the longing from some of the people we ministered to and how God was on the move even in impossible situations. We spoke with a young mother in the slums today who was Muslim by marriage only and so desperately wanted to be free from the bondage of her husband’s religion. I know God saw the yearning in her soul and that He sent my team and I to her for a reason to encourage her that God does hear her cries out to Him and that He will never leave her in her time of need. We prayed with her and are eagerly awaiting updates from the social workers and the others who will continue to follow up with this woman and her family. There were so many “God moments” in the midst of extreme poverty and spiritual darkness and it is worth every minute. When we felt most vulnerable God was there and I will never be the same.

Carey Bahr

“You have to see it to believe it.” That’s one phrase that has gone through my mind the last couple of days.  Although I’ve seen photos and had accounts retold, it is definitely a mission trip to be experienced in person.  I’m so thankful to God, the G.O. team and my family for allowing me to go on this trip.  I’ve been serving on the Medical Team for the past two days and was so glad to do so.  Just by taking temperatures, blood pressures and past histories I was been able to interact with teens and young children — from the surrounding community of Joska along with their Mothers. Today while at Kiamaiko School, we saw and treated 274 patients. I really appreciated the fact that I could get “face-to-face” with the students, mothers, grandmothers, siblings and even employees at the schools.  How do you share God’s love and help them get to know Christ in that setting? After all, isn’t that what we’re here for? Then, once I remembered Matthew 25: 36-40, I realized I was. So simply by consciously being soft spoken, kind, patient, and making eye contact while serving in my capacity, I prayed that I would be Christ-like and a small difference would be made.  Those kids are so special. They “have” so little, yet smile and laugh so much.

~Kym Talbert