Tag Archives: mission trip

Trip 37. Update 2…Bridge for School Kids

There was record flooding in the region around the Lord’s Servants Home (LSH) in Kenya in 2022. Two of the three bridges used to cross a creek and ravine from one side of the community to the other were made of wood and washed away. The 3rd bridge was constructed of steel and concrete in a joint project between Mission Servants Ministry (MSM) and the community in 2020 and had some repairable damage but survived well.

The community requested of the Mission Team and MSM to join in a project to build a durable steel and concrete bridge again to replace the ones washed away and allow school kids to safely reach the Bridgeway Hope Academy (BHA) on the grounds of LSH as well as general travel within the community. Meetings with the community leaders yielded a bridge design, budget, and commitment from dozens of people to participate in the construction. They attacked it with a passion and quickly completed the bridge which benefits all. Helping others help themselves is good help. Community projects that grow out of mission work is a great way to show more people the Love of Jesus Christ in a practical way. People will want to get to know that Jesus Christ as a start to a relationship.

MSM provided funding for all the materials. Pastor Ken provided the construction experience and leadership. The community provided the labor and food for those working.

The best projects start with a prayer!….

Mission Trip 37 – Kitale, Kenya. Update 1

Currently Team 37…. Tony, Eldon, Phyllis, Sherry, Raymond, and Pete are visiting the Lord Servants Home in Kitale, Kenya for over a week and serving the resident children, the Bridgeway Hope Academy Primary School, several affiliated churches, and the community of Lyavo. There are repairs being made to the facilities, sewing, Children’s Bible, and Pastor’s classes being taught. All High School and older children are being visited and accessed regarding how we can help get them started into a productive and independent adulthood. Community projects were initiated to upgrade a well with a hand pump at a school, repair a bridge, and replace one that was washed away during the historic flooding this past year.

Most importantly on these trips, we pray to be used by the Holy Spirit and that usually comes in an unexpected form. Unfortunately a young boy named Amos from the 8th grade at the Academy and a resident at the Lord’s Servants Home, fell sick, was taken to the hospital, and passed away in the first few days of the trip. Incredibly sad as this is…. God’s timing is perfect, Tony and the team where there at this specific time. They are there for the family, teachers, fellow students, and staff to help and pray for God’s peace in this time. Please join us in prayer.

Amos. Too soon.

Ray, Pete, Sherry, Phyllis, Eldon, and Tony.

Prayer Answered, Trip 36 Report

We found the facilities at Child Redeemed Mission (CRM) Home in good shape except for the Solar Power collection and distribution system. We had to leave it at 50% capacity after our February trip due to battery supply issues and an apparent possible lightning strike/wiring failure in May caused enough damage to disable the system until we arrived on this trip. We brought with us spare parts and upgrades and on our way to CRM, obtained the needed batteries to return the system to 100%.

Solar Power storage and distribution system at CRM
Replaced switch, wiring, and added fuse block

The staff, kids, and church adapted over the last few months to using the generator and solar flash lights but restored power was very welcome. One main area that was especially welcomed was the evening movies the kids enjoy a few times a week using a projector and DVD player. The projector was also broken and we brought a new one. We provided one to Promise Primary for education use and entertainment as well.

This is High Def in these parts.

OK, I’m getting to the “Answered Prayer”……We also repaired a number of failed switches and lights and realized that one of the 8 batteries was in a weakened condition. Our source was unable to find one additional battery and had tried all week long. We needed a 150 amp hour solar duty battery. On my last full day of the trip, becoming desperate to not leave CRM in a less than 100% state, I traveled to the larger town of Jinja to try and make it happen with our source. Finding out that he had given up on us, I did the American thing….Googled: 150 ah solar battery supplier Jinja. Well that was silly and useless! I was with my main helper, 12 year old Joram. I said to Joram, “all I can think to do now is pray for God to lead us to find a battery”. I told God that I had no idea where to go and only have a few minutes to spare to look before needing to begin the 1 1/2 hour trip back to CRM. I’m not sure what Joram thought of that but after the Amen, I drove a few blocks one way, a few another, and saw a small electronics store. Greg had asked me to find a couple battery clips for him and I thought I might as well get them there. After paying, I showed the woman store owner a photo of the battery I hoped to find. She promptly pointed at me. I showed her the photo again and she pointed again. I cought on that she meant for me to turn around. Across the street was a solar store, I parked almost in front of it. Jinja is a big place with a thousand small stores spread over several dozens of blocks. I expect God to answer prayers but this was dramatic….almost really so…the store was out of the battery but called someone and directed me just one block away to someone that had one. This all took 5 minutes total. God is good! I made sure Joram understood what just happened. We left CRM in great shape after installing that battery. Praise God….I love that feeling.

My main “Handyman Apprentice” Joram.

Trip 36 to Uganda…Entrepreneurship Training CRM Young Adults.

The endgame for Mission Servants Ministry’s (MSM) support of Children’s Homes and Schools is to raise up healthy, loving, God Loving, educated, motivated, and productive people to improve their society and communities. Helping some to start small businesses is a great leg up to someone. Greg and I will spend much of this trip teaching Christian Entrepreneurship principles and practical business methods. We have been working with a number of kids from the Child Redeemed Mission (CRM) Home system that are ready for this training and ready to start businesses such as Hair Dressing Salon, Clothing repair and sewing, Barbering, and Food Wholesaling. We hope to launch some of these ventures on this trip.

We have launched projects in Kenya over the last year with kids from the Lord’s Servants Home system to start a Piggery, Graphics Design and Printing Shop, and other small operations. Greg and I have 70 + years combined in business, most of them for ourselves and love to teach “people how to fish!” Praise God for this opportunity. Your financial support and prayers make this happen. More updates to follow….our trip is August 3-13th.

Here is Sarah and Godsend Graphics.

Trip 33 to Kenya and Trip 34 to Uganda

God willing this Wednesday, 19 January a team of 4 leave for a 11 day trip to Kitale, Kenya to visit the Lord’s Servants Childrens Home and School supported by MSM. They have repair projects, furniture building, older children to visit, and Bible training planned.

On January 26, a team of 5 including me will leave for a 16 day trip to Bwase, Uganda to visit the Child Redeemed Mission Children’s Home and 2 Schools that MSM supports. We have many repair projects, school desk building, evangelism training, children projects, and planning for the future to accomplish. We are excited to meet 10 new children that have recently joined the CRM Home.

Please pray for all of us to remain Covid free and otherwise healthy so we can serve as we hope, that all the crazy logistics in these Covid-times happen smoothly, our families to remain safe, and for Christ to be glorified in all we do.

Let the packing begin…..updates will come. Thank you for your prayers and support.