You may have heard the expression, "We've got your back." We felt like The Church in the Pines "had our back" Sunday morning as they called us up to pray for Neil's Kenya trip. Also, church members attending the Monday night small groups gathered around Neil and prayed intently for safety, health, wisdom, good connections, good relationships, good cross-cultural communication, for the anointing of the Holy Spirit to teach clearly, and for hearts to embrace those teachings. Neil also received a text message from his dear cousin Mitzi saying, "Neil, I will pray for you every day. I've got your back."
Neil often tells me that he feels the prayers of all of you on this prayer email list. There is an even more tangible encouragement and strengthening from a church body agreeing in prayer for you. Neil looked like he was floating on a Holy Spirit cloud as he walked out of the building. He takes you with him through the journal posts on his blog, so we hope you all feel part of the Kenya mission work. King David rewarded those who stayed with the baggage as much as those who went into battle. Your prayers release the Holy Spirit so we all work together.
Sunday morning, a friend at church asked if I get lonesome or worried when Neil is in Kenya. Well, I do, but I try to hold those feelings at arm's length because they don't accomplish anything. Years ago, I asked the women in our Morris church, "Why worry when we can pray?" Then my friend said, "I think I must be a prayer worrier." I took her arm, smiled, and said, "Oh, I know you are not a prayer worrier. You are a prayer warrior!" We had a good laugh.
Monday afternoon, we stopped by the church office. On our way through the building, we saw a dear friend who asked Neil what he does in Kenya. Neil mentioned preaching in several churches and interviewing the children sponsored through our missions organization, Outfitters for Adventure. Neil will also be teaching at a regional conference for pastors and church leaders. Our friend had noticed in the church announcement that Neil was called an "interviewer." So he asked what that meant.
Neil explained that there are destitute children individually cared for in Christian homes, primarily by their mothers who have HIV/AIDS. The fathers died from AIDS, and the wives were infected with the disease, which is like a bad case of flu, making it extremely difficult for the mother to work to support her children. Sponsors in the US donate funds to give to each caregiver to help provide for at least one of the children in each home. Some of the children are cared for by a grandmother, but most are cared for by their mothers in tiny mud homes.
Like so many non-profits and churches helping others overseas, we discovered that those distributing funds had been keeping (stealing) a portion for themselves even though Neil visited them each year to audit the giving. Then, during COVID, Kenya required banking to be done on individual phones. So Ruth now sends monthly funds to each caregiver through an international currency exchange company that places the funds directly into their phone's banking app. Outfitters for Adventure also helps replace leaky roofs on caregivers' houses and provides grain for destitute families through a food shelf.
Then I suggested that this friend could accompany Neil on a Kenya trip. It was as if I had just touched him with a cattle prod as he spun to the side, thinking of the sacrifice and danger in such a trip. "Oh," he said, "I have been praying about the Mexico trip, but I don't know if I can do Kenya."
"Mexico is a good beginning," we said. Neil asked if he had an up-to-date passport. He does. So Neil suggested he pray about joining Neil in August when Neil returns to teach at another regional conference and visit churches in Southeastern Kenya. Then, our friend asked if there were ways other than traveling on a team to help with the work in Kenya. "Is there a way to donate money," he asked. "I don't see anything in your announcement about helping with the financial needs." We agreed we do keep the financial needs low-key. But there are always more needy children than we have sponsors. People can visit our Outfitters for Adventure website page entitled "Helping Kenya."
https://www.outfittersforadventure.com/helping-kenya