First day a success

Just wanted to let everyone know that we had a great first day! It's extremly warm here, the majority of the day was in the mid 80's. We spent most of the day at Grace Childrens Centre on the main compound with the kids and had a blast. We were able to see the new GCC building and spend the day playing with all the beautiful children, it was a great way to start the trip.

After spending the day at GCC we returned back to the college to organize the minstry stuff for the days to come. Tomorrow we'll be heading up to the church, where they will be having a 'family day'. This will be a great opportunity for our team to meet the congregation at the church and be able to socialize with the members and their families. We look forward to a great day playing games and having some fellowship with our brothers and sisters over here in Kenya.

Thanks for everyone's prayers. Everyone is healthy but extremely tired after a long day. We're all loving what were seeing over here and we know God has some great things in store for us during the rest of the trip. God Bless.

Tumefika!!!!!!

We have officially arrived safely into Nairobi. Its about 1 o'clock in the morning and were all very excited to get a good night sleep and experience Kenya. All the luggage has been accounted for and everyone is doing good. We did have quite the experience getting all the luggage on the van and shuttling it over to where were staying however. We have check in to cooperative college, where we'll be staying for the majority of our trip. Thanks for all your prayers and we look forward to what God has instore for us during this trip. Talk to you soon.

Greg

Mind the Gap

Hey Everyone, Quick update to let you know that our trip so far has been smooth sailing! (flying!) We were able to check our bags all the way through to Nairobi - huge blessing.....no British customs, no huge baggage hold fees, no strained backs :-) Easiest check in, shortest security lines, and shortest customs lines we've ever seen. We are all safely in at the hotel just a few miles from the airport in London...looking forward to a great night's sleep before continuing our flight to Nairobi in the morning.

Had a great day.....took the Underground downtown and did a speed walk taking in Big Ben, Westminister Abby, the Thames River, Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street etc.

Thanks for your prayers.....we're doing great.....will try to update again soon.

We're Off!!!

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:14-15

Thanks for being "senders." We love and appreciate all of you. The day we've all been working so hard for has finally arrived! We'd like to thank our family and friends for all your help, we couldn't have done it without you.

We'll have someone update the blog at every opportunity! Keep us in your prayers!

Love, The February 09 Kenya Team

Time Zone Conversion

The time zone difference between Seattle and Nairobi is 11 hours until Daylight Savings Time which starts on March 8. At that point the difference will be 10 hours.

Day to Day Schedule

Friends and Family....Here's a quick reference for our itinerary

Feb 25-27.....Travel to Nairobi via London
Saturday, Feb 28.....Grace Children's Center, Nairobi
Sunday, March 1.....Worship at Church on the Rock Nairobi
Monday, March 2.....COTR Academy Assembly, Travel to Girls Home - Makindu, Kenya
Tuesday, March 3 .... WCF Feeding Program - Makindu, Girls Home
Wednesday, March 4....Kisingo Pre-Primary School, Makindu Pre-Primary School, Travel back to Nairobi
Thursday, March 5.....Kibera COTR and Pre-Primary School, WCF Feeding Program, Teachers Luncheon, afternoon work projects
Friday, March 6....travel to Nakuru, visit new boys property in Njori Hills
Saturday, March 7....GCC Nakuru Boys Home all day with Martin and Jannekah
Sunday, March 8....Village churches, afternoon with boys
Monday, March 9.....Travel back to Nairobi
Tuesday, March 10.......COTR Reuben Pre-Primary school and Academy, Giraffe Center with sponsored kids
Wednesday, March 11..."tourist day" Shopping, Carnivore, Blixen, Kazuri
Thursday, March 12 - Saturday, March 14 ..... Safari
Saturday.....Pizza party with kids and head on home :-(

Friends and Family

Family members - here is our travel itinerary and blog information.....

Travel to Nairobi: Wednesday, February 25 - be at airport at 2 pm British Airways ticket counter. Check in then those who would like to are going to Zoopas at South Center for lunch, and Target for last minute forgotten items. Say goodbye to families and back to go through security to be at the gate by 5 pm. Wednesday, Feb. 25 Seattle 6:40 pm - London (Heathrow) 11:35 am. British Airways #48

Thursday - walking tour around London. Friday, February 27. London (Heathrow) 10:05 am - Nairobi (Kenyatta) 9: 35 pm (Fri) BA #65

Traveling from Nairobi to Home: Saturday, March 14 Nairobi 11:30 pm - London 5:20 am (Friday) BA #64 Sunday, March 15 London 2:05 pm - Seattle 5:15 pm BA #49.

When the team arrives home it usually takes aprox. 1 hour to go through customs and they will be entering the baggage claim area via the up escalator. The bags usually come out on #1, but there is only one escalator coming up from customs for all international flights and it's about the middle of the terminal. (always sad when all families are waiting at this point and there's no one there for you :-( We'll leave this info on the blog for future reference......will also update blog with any last minute changes in this itinerary, so you may want to check before heading to the airport on the 15th.

Blog Information
This blog will be used while we're in Kenya to update friends and family while we're away. Although Internet is rather hit and miss (but then again so is electricity) we'll do our best to keep those at home updated about our adventures. We will not be able to receive blog comments. If your family wants to get a message to you please have them e-mail you at cmiacotr@wananchi.com, and use your name in the subject line. This is David and Jennifer's e-mail address and they will be happy to print out your message and deliver it to you. Please tell them not to send attachments, photos, or any "junk mail," Internet time is valuable and we're talking basic black and white words (no fancy fonts etc. either please). Encourage family to e-mail.....it's always a treat to get an e-mail from home :-) Family members can contact one of our sons with questions. Their numbers are Michael 425-232-6789, Jon 425-890-2882, Stephen 425-736-9423. They will also be happy to answer any questions they may have, no matter how seemingly insignificant.....they've all spent significant time in the locations we're going and can pretty much answer any thing you want to know. They will have first hand information about where we are and what may be happening.......ie. they're in Makindu - no electricity so don't expect an update for a few days!

Thank You to our Families and Friends

A big thank you to friends and family who have helped us get ready for this trip. From those who've contributed financially to those who have freed us up to go by covering for us in our jobs and family responsibilities. Your help and support is so appreciated, you will never know the difference you have made in the lives of so many.

We are taking a ton (well, literally over a ton) of great stuff, thank you for your wonderful and generous donations.......school supplies, clothing, towels, sheets, backpacks, teaching aids, Bibles, sweets, prizes for games, school shoes, books, some hard to get food items, personal products, sports equipment, etc. A special thank you to FAME for the much needed medications. (there are a few needs yet unmet which are listed in a post further down the page, if you're a last minute shopper!)

I love this scripture ....

2 Corinthians 9:8-12 (The Message) God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out. This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God. Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor people. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they'll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need. Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough!

Blessings! Jean

Ballast Project

Look at these little darlins!

The paths don't look bad now, but when the rains start they can get really messy!

Contributions to the ballast project can be mailed to:
905 Cleveland Ave, Snohomish, WA 98290. Just put "ballast" in the memo.
We're at about $1,350.00 of the $2,000.00 needed.