The latest thing around here is the Imani Interns have made their way to Kenya!! They left a week ago today, and arrived in their apartment on Tuesday morning (our time) at 9am, 5pm for them.
They have already had an incredible time and I cannot wait to see what the Lord will continue to do thru them on this trip! Please keep them in your prayers while they are there for 2 1/2 months! You can follow them by going to our FB page at www.facebook.com/imaniafrica they blog regularly and post pictures regularly!
Getting there was an adventure in and of itself! There were 5 total, with three 50lb bags, a carry on each and 2 guitars! When they arrived at the airport last Sunday there was a slight setback. The amount we had budgeted for the third bag had changed thru the airport. It was $50 more per bag than we expected! Ouch! Jenny and I scrambled to make it happen, but that also means that Imani suffered because of it. Obviously for a good cause and we are so thankful that we were able to do that, since the other option was to leave bags in the airport! But with that being said, this also means that there is concern for our other teams and the budgets already set for them. If you are able, I would like to ask that you prayerfully consider helping to support our teams by donating ANY amount towards our ministry bags and/or teams. Every little bit helps, no donation is too small!
You may ask, "why don't you just take less bags?"
Here is the breakdown of what we take when we go:
1 50lb per person for personal items (such as: clothes, shoes, toiletries etc)
2 50lb per person for ministry bags (such as: medical supplies, preventative medications, like the medication for malaria, or de worming, or even things like tylenol and motrin! toys for the children, school supplies for the children, even things like soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and personal items that the missionaries themselves cannot get, or in our teams case, homeschool supplies for the precious Segner children and items they weren't able to bring over with them when they first moved in January)
1 carryon each for personal items (cameras, change of clothes in case of loss of bag, snacks, flash light, blanket, travel pillow, toiletries etc)
Each of these bags are needed. And going for a good cause! The life change that will be made through the physical healing with the medical supplies will correlate with the life change that will happen while ministering to these precious children of God about the Master Physician, the Great Healer, our Lord of Lords Christ Jesus! The items for the missionaries are necessities because they have given a great sacrifice to move far far away from their friends and family to live in an unknown land where electricity isn't necessary and the XBox has no place. They gave up these things because they were called to spread the word of Christ to a people they don't know, and because of that I want to make sure their needs are met, which as believers of Christ and followers we are called to do:
Matt 10:9-10 Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.
Therefore I believe it is very important to support these ministries in any way we can, and sacrificing a little so they can have the things they need is something I feel called toward.
If you would like to know more about the ministries we work with, please please visit our website at www.imani-africa.com.
The interns are in Kenya visiting REAL (reach east africa lives) 4 Christ Ministries
My team is going to Uganda to visit Healing Faith
And I will soon be talking about another trip that Chris and I feel called towards, and that is in Burundi visiting The Cries of a Child ministry
So, if you have gotten this far, first thank you! I know I can be long winded sometimes!
Second, if you feel the Lord tugging at your heartstrings to support these ministries through our teams, please consider "joining" us on these trips by donating towards them! You can donate right now! I have a donate button on my blog that will take you directly to our secure donation page!
Thank you again for getting this far, and if nothing else, please support us through your prayers! Those are the most precious thing you can give us!
**All donations are tax deductible through Imani's 501c3 non profit
