Week 2 of Ministry

¹⁶So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Verses that I have definitely found myself repeating over the last couple of days. As we are well on our way in ministry here and settled down I have realized something, this is tough and tiring (haha). But in all honesty it has been challenging for the entire team this past week and I can see that everyone is getting warn down and tired. It has been great to be able to spend the mornings together to share and to talk about the happenings of the week. Being the leader of the trip has been so rewarding but also has presented its fair share of issues and hardships, again I keep going back to the 2 Cor verse and find strength in the fact that these are light and momentary issues that are preparing great and eternal things. Please pray for the team, that we would continue to find rest and strength not in our own abilities but in the LORD only.

Ministry hear has been very exciting. We had our second Bible Study last night and it went really well, the students blow me away by how excited and hungry they are to grow and learn and how knowledgable they already are. We went over the Bridge Illustration with all the students in the hopes that they all can practice it and use it to help better share their faith with other students. Everyone is connecting great with the students and with the staff and tonight and tomorrow night is when we go into the dorms for evangelism with the younger students. I think we are as nervous as they are, but I know we speak not as peddlers of God's word but as ones commissioned by God to speak in Christ (2 Cor 2:14-17).

For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
- 2 Cor 1:20-22

A couple of days ago we went and visited the Maasai Market, which is supposed to be the biggest and craziest market in town with dozens of sellers just waiting for 'rich' and unsuspecting Americans to come with all their money and buy touristy junk...Needless to say that was not us. It was pretty overwhelming though and definitely an interesting experience, we bought a few things and got to practice our haggling skills, which definitely do not work compared to the pros as the market, but I think we all walked away without getting ripped off. It was hard to see how desperate and impoverished a lot of people are around here and how they are so desperate for a few shillings that they will sit on a blanket in a field hoping to sell cheap, touristy, knock-off gifts to foreignors, but I think the worst part was seeing the different vendors fight and deceive just to try and get your attention from the vendor next door.

Being here I have seen just how starved and hunger the people of Kenya are for true leadership and justice. A couple days ago was independance day and since their freedom from Britain 63 years ago their country has been plagued with bad leaders and empty promises, one after the other. Kenyans love Obama, because he has heritage here, even though most of them cannot tell you anything about him, which I used to think was kinda funny, but now I understand why and my heart goes out to these people. The leaders of this country have squandered the people's power, money, and energy into enhancing themselves and furthering their own agenda...they long for somebody that will keep their promises and fight for them, a hero. Right now, the president of a country half-way around the world is all they can get. The University of Nairobi is the most prestigeous, largest, and oldest university in the country and many of the countries next future leaders are in school there right now, as were the leaders who run this country were there decades before. The Navs ministry has a unique chance to greatly affect the next generation of this country and create men and women that will build and establish spiritual generations to come. If you pray nothing else for this trip please pray for these students here that they might know Christ and make him known through out this country.

Thank you for partnering with me and for your labors in the LORD

Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. - 1 Cor 15:58