An E.Mail from Ryan !!!

From: Ryan
Sent: Friday, June 22, 2007 2:22 AM
To: sherrie
Subject: From your son in Kenya!!

Hey Mom!!
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I snuck away from the compound we are staying in and found this hole in the wall internet cafe to send you a line!
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Everything in Kibera (pronounced Key-bear-a) is amazing but heartbreaking at the same time. As you walk through the slum of one point something million you can see every sign of poverty. None of the streets are paved or have gutters, gutters are just trenches dug in the ground that try to funnel all of the human waste out of the slum but are very ineffective at doing so. The houses are made of mud clinging to sticks and are placed rediculously close together with 5 foot wide paths, each of these paths has their respective river of feces. But as you walk through these streets all of the kids, who have rarely, if not never, scream the only english they know at you: "How are you!?" in their fast swaheli accent.
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There is no hope for the physical condition that these people have found themselves in. This caused our team much pain and anger for the first week. But this helped us realize the importance of Jesus in this community and it emboldened the mindset of this earth being our temporary home. Jesus is the only hope for these people and we have been doing evangelism nonstop and dozens have been coming to Christ. God is growing and moving in supernatural ways here and it is incredible to be on the front lines and able to see him work.
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I miss you so much mom along with everyone else of course. I cannot wait to return to you but at the same time I don't want to leave. My prayers are with you and I thank you for all the ones I am receiving.
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Bwana Asifiwe
(Praise the Lord)
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Ryan.

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From: Sherrie :-)
Sent: Friday, June 22, 2007 7:07 AM
To: 'Ryan'
Cc: 'dave'
Subject: RE: From your son in Kenya!!
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Dear Ryan ~
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The tears just swarm down my face as I read your precious words. Before the Lord in the shower this morning I shared my agony with Him of feeling so unconnected from you and your adventure for Him in Kenya... not only how far away you are, not only the difficult worldly circumstances you are in, not only the evil of ineffective leaders that allow such a place to exist, beyond all of that to how my heart just aches in my loss of you, talking to you, hearing from you, and knowing how your heart is and knowing that Kelli must be feeling the same things perhaps even more deeply as she sees you so much more often now that you're in college together. And as I bawled to Him my deepest desire, He had already met it... and here indeed is your precious, precious e.mail. Thank you Ryan for finding a way to connect with me and thank you Lord for knowing and answering my heart's greatest longing just as I had hit the wall of "being okay"! Isn't that how God is? He does know our hearts and needs for love, forgiveness, and acceptance and has provided the solution through Jesus Christ before we recognized our need and cry out to Him in repentance and reconciliation.
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All is well here. (for this post, I have removed the details of who and what and when and where ... Drew, Trey, Sean, Dave, Robyn & Darold, Cris & Charlie, Keri & Tom, Ashleigh & Haley)
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Now back to Kenya ... I've often read that the biggest enemy of God in America is that we don't "need" Him and we can pursue lives of comfort and pleasure day-to-day depending on ourselves and our work. You've come face-to-face (or nose-to-nose) with the complete opposite end of the worldly life spectrum with people who have no hope of decent living conditions in this world. The things we share however are the big ones ... our need for eternal life with Him and our need for connection and the love of others. It is so precious that you are there providing both to these people. I am so blessed to know that you are part of and witnessing a great work of the Lord Jesus Christ in their lives. It is unfortunate that we don't have the opportunity much in McMansion world to see God doing a great work of salvation.
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We cherish you, we love you, and we are proud of you. May God honor your service to Him in Kenya and your sensitivity to His voice to sneak away to find a way to meet a great need of your own mother's heart. Our prayers continue for you, your team, and His impact!
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With big awesome love for you, Mom (& Dad)

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Some pictures from backyard bocce in May ...

Alamosa 2007 ~ Report 5 ~ Friday Morning

Friday ~ June 20th ~ 10am ~

I just got off the phone with Lisa and all is GREAT with our kids :)

They left Alamosa on schedule and are right on track for their scheduled return.

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Lisa reported the following:

Last night was awesome as the youth reflected on their time and how they want to change their lives when they get home ...It was very special having God give the team the opportunity to serve Him and that it is obvious God is working in the Alamosa community

and it was great blessing to join up with Him and witness His impact.

Some of the comments included one student realizing that Jesus died just for Him and another noting how much she really has and how she wants to think of others rather than herself.

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Lisa said that every single parent can be proud of their child ...

every single one worked so hard physically and was impacted so meaningfully spiritually.

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Thank you for your prayers for our struggling student ~
Lisa reports that he is doing AWESOME and he is so glad that he came on the trip and stayed through the end... Thank you Lord for such an great gift of comfort and growth,

undoubtedly He will use it mightily in His Kingdom building for years to come!

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As they drive home today, their discussion question will be to explore

how they can help one another follow Jesus and be close to Him once they return to their regular day-to-day lives ... what wonderful, precious memories they will have as well as opportunities to encourage and be encouraged in their walks forward.

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Much love,

Sherrie

(Lisa shared with me that Trey has been a great motivator, very energetic, and a hard worker ...
we can't wait to hear his stories of this great adventure! Love you Trey!!!)

Pix from Trey's Mission Trip to Alamosa!

Alamosa 2007 ~ Report 4 ~ Wednesday Night

Wednesday~ June 20th ~ 8pm ~

I spoke with Kaylene this afternoon and things are going well in Alamosa ...

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Here's her report:
Yesterday and Today have been very busy and fun-filled days and evenings :)

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Today the teams switched projects so that the

VBS team doing kids club changed to the service projects

and the Service Project teams changed to VBS.

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The three service projects include cleaning and painting a home, cleaning and organizing in a thrift store, and spending time with long-term patients at a hospital. Kaylene's team of 10 was part of the thrift store brigade and the operators said our team was the hardest working team of the whole year that they have had in there ... Kaylene said she was so proud of how hard-working and helpful the students are being.

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At VBS, the teams are having fun doing games, skits, singing Christian songs, reading, and sharing scriptures.

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Kaylene again emphasized how wonderful the kids are from the other youth groups, and how friendly, loving, and very well behaved they are which has provided great modeling to our youth and really blessed their hearts. I shared with Kaylene how important to me, as a parent, it is that our youth group provide an environment that (of course!) supports fun and relational interaction AND ALSO does so in an environment where respectfulness and kindness are expected / required. I am so pleased by her report of how respectful our youth are being and the appropriate mindset they have relative to the value of their service to the Lord and the people of Alamosa. And yes, they are having a lot of fun, too!

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Kaylene also shared that the evening times have been very special.

The hot springs on Monday were really fun, and on Tuesday, youth works did a "poverty simulation" that really impacted the kids with the issues that are faced by those living in poverty. They broke again into small groups by gender (which seems to help them focus more :) and the youth shared in very open and vulnerable ways as to what they were learning and they were asking great probing questions. I'm excited to witness the growth in our youth over this week and to see the changes and deepening of hearts that will come about.

As a prayer request, please pray for one of the Grace Chapel boys on the team who is struggling a bit with homesickness and tiredness. I am touched by the spiritual heart of this boy and am excited about what God is doing in his life through the uncomfortableness and stretch that this mission adventure has provided to him in his journey of faith.
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Kaylene reports that the rest of our group is doing very well. Trey has been engaging and funny and very hard-working and brought much joy to others on the team and in the community of Alamosa. Reminds me of his "idol" serving in Kenya right now!

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Please also continue your prayers for the people to whom our teams are ministering to ~ that this not be a simple time of fun and service but that they would be impacted eternally for Christ's sake and that we would be able to share the joy of their salvation together in heaven.

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Much love,

Sherrie

Alamosa 2007 ~ Report 3 ~ Monday Night

Monday~ June 18th ~ 8pm ~

Lisa called and left a great voice mail for us! Here is her report ...

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The teams had a great great day!!

They are headed to the hot springs pool for their evening activity and expecting a fun time

and were not able to pick up when I returned the call.

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But from Lisa's happy, tired, encouraged, and fun voice mail, here is our report:

Everyone is doing great and had wonderful days ...

One team did kids club

One team worked at an elderly women's home painting and scraping

One team worked did yard work and painting at an area high school

And some of the kids worked with a homeless team at a thrift store.

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The teams worked hard, everyone is doing well, and all are healthy ~ Praise the Lord!!

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Aren't Mission Trips Awesome?

Can we believe that the Lord blesses us in this way?

I love God's economy of blessing the givers!

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Joining you in missing & praying for our kids

and all whose lives they touch this week.

Dear Lord ~ We Are Excited by YOUR work for eternity, Amen!!

Alamosa 2007 ~ Report 2 ~ Sunday Night

Sunday ~ June 17th ~ 10.20pm ~

Kaylene just called to report on the wonderful evening our youth have had...
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1. There are two other church groups that will be with our Grace youth this week. They had already arrived when our team arrived and warmly welcomed our youth making a great impact of kindness and friendliness that touched our youths hearts ~ awesome modeling of reaching out in love!
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2. The three church groups will be divided and interspersed to form three Alamosa teams. Tonight to help everyone get to know each other they played games in their teams and participated in corporate worship. Then one of the staff leaders gave her testimony and talked about doubting Thomas and the difficulty in seeing God at times but the ability to readily see the effects of God and her journey of faith.
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3. The youth did a lesson individually writing down what they think of themselves, youth group, the missions trip group, the other church groups, and also what they think God will do over the course of this next week as they serve together. They broke into smaller groups and interacted with and offered great questions about faith, knowing how to know the Christian faith represents the truth, and where their hearts are with issues of faith.
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4. It sounds like it was a great evening of community and discipleship leading the way to a great week of service. Our older son (Ryan is 19 and serving in Kenya this summer) has shared with us his appreciation for those mission trips where discipleship and development of a deeper relationship with God for those serving has a great emphasis and value in addition to the service given in reaching the lost for Christ ... and at this tender age of middle school, perhaps this may be even more true! In any event, I found myself celebrating in my spirit as Kaylene shared about this first evening of sharing and challenges and strengthening of real faith issues.
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5. Prayer requests ~ two students from a Texas youth group are at the hospital tonight due to altitude sickness. Please pray for their bodies to heal and adapt to Alamosa ... where the altitude is 7500 feet above sea level!

Alamosa 2007 ~ Report 1 ~ Trey's Team Has Arrived Safely!

Tim & Kaylene have called to report that they have made it to Alamosa

and already have enjoyed dinner!

Kaylene added that the trip in her van was very fun with the kids

singing the Sound of Music as the drove over the pass

and that the staff team who they will be working with are very neat people.
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Please join me in praying for our Creator God to be REAL to Trey and his team during this trip

and for them to see GREAT things this week that only He can do!
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I'll report more as the info comes in...

In the meantime, please enjoy the pictures from earlier today :)

First Report on Ryan's Trip to Kenya

As I take warm showers in awesomely clean water, smell air that is fresh with blooms and late spring, sleep in soft covers and a sheltered room, celebrate grades for our children from highly rated schools, pay bills through a banking system that supports economic development, drive past police which create safety and calmness in our midst, prepare for church services to worship in comfort and freedom ~ my appreciation is higher than ever. Here is the first trip report from Kenya ... please pray for Ryan and the people of this slum...

Kibera

6/14/2007 By: Katy, Staff/Leader

The team made to Kibera safely, and has hit the slums ministering the Good News each day. It is difficult to process everything we have seen here. Our team is holding to the truth that Jesus is enough for any situation, problem, or curse. We desire to see Jesus victorious in this place that looks so much like the work of the enemy.

We want to give you a picture of what we are seeing, however words do no justice to what is happening in Kibera. Each day as we walk deep into Kibera we walk on train tracks on a hill overlooking the slums. The view is almost beautiful; almost. Thousands of rusted tin roofs patch together a quilt of homes. However, once inside the slums the only beautiful thing is the people.

The chaos is overwhelming; small one room houses are built right on top of each other creating a literal maze. Nothing is growing; it is surprising to see life of any kind sustained here. Small rivers of sewage break through the earth at every turn. The stench lays thick and different foul aromas assault you at each corner. Piles of trash lay four feet high in some places. The garbage is so thick at some points you feel like you are walking on pillows.

Here in the midst of the most repulsive place we have ever been lives the most welcoming people we have ever known. We are greeted warmly by each person. “Welcome to Kenya, thank you for coming to Kibera!” This week we have been ministering door to door in the slum. Each home invites us inside and we pray for and encourage the families.

This week we visited a man name Abraham and his sick wife, Margaret. Abraham was amazed that God had not forgotten him, and that God would send foreigners to his home to remind him of His love for him. Abraham and his wife recommitted their lives to Jesus. Our team is following up with this family; we hope bring them to church this Sunday.

A woman named Mary said she had heard the name of Jesus, but when our team shared with her the gospel of grace she wanted to receive Jesus. Several of the team members lead Mary and her sixteen year old daughter to Christ that day.

We spent yesterday at a school with 420 students. Their assembly hall could barely hold all of the stuents. The hall is made of mud and sticks with a large tin roof. The lighting is dim, but the spirits were high. When our team arrived we were met with a symphony of cheers. We did a bible lesson on the love of God.

Each child made a heart shaped banner and decorated it with "Jesus loves me!" I can still picture the sea of 420 children spreading across the slum to thier homes. 420 banners saying "Jesus loves me" spreading across Kibera. What a beautiful thing.

Mother's Day

We had a special Mother's Day

And I was showered with love, gifts, playtime, and laughs
Including the outdoor game of Bocce Ball (superb!)
Somewhere in there, the boys even re-did my front flower beds
And planted my new electric flowers for nighttime... woo hoo!!

Can You Spot the Loonies?

Rocky, Fries, Brit & Drew

(I know, you'd never believe it)
"Hid Out" at the Mall ...
.If you were in Youth Group, would you have been able to spot these loonies?

50 Questions ...

50 Questions to Ask Loved Ones on Their Return from Mission Trips ...

We'll get to ask Trey first since he's going to Alamosa
on his first Mission Trip next week!

1. What was the biggest highlight of your trip?
2. What was the hardest thing you faced on your trip?
3. What did that hard experience teach you?
4. What things surprised you the most?
5. Do you feel like you were prepared for your trip?
6. If you could do it all over again, what would you change?
7. Do you have any regrets?
8. What was the food like?
9. Where did you sleep?
10. Tell me about the people you met and ministered to.
11. Did you connect with anyone that you might keep in touch with?
12. Did you get a chance to share your faith?
13. Does your view of the world and your life look any differently now?
14. Do you see Jesus any differently now?
15. Did you see anything gross?
16. Did you get sick?
17. What was the scariest thing you experienced?
18. What was the weirdest thing you ate?
19. What was the church you worked with like?
20. How was their form of worship different from ours?
21. Did you get a chance to meet anyone’s practical needs?
22. Was there ever a time that you really felt like God was directing you?
23. What was the funniest thing you experienced?
24. How did you work out any differences you had with your team?
25. What was it like in the evenings? What did you do?
26. What were your worship times with your team like?
27. Did you miss me?
28. Did you pack enough stuff?
29. Did you really miss me?
30. What was the weather like?
31. Did you cry when you thought about me because you missed me?
32. Would you ever want to go back?
33. Do you think you would consider being a full-time missionary?
34. What was the biggest thing you saw God do?
35. Do you think you’ll go on a short term mission trip again?
36. What’s going to be the toughest thing about being home now?
37. Do you think anything will change with your friends that weren’t on the trip?
38. Do you think you have changed in any way? How?
39. Is there anything you smelled on your trip that you’ll never forget?
40. Are you tired?
41. Has this changed anything in your relationship with Jesus?
42. What were some of the ways you ministered on your trip?
43. Did you get to share your story of how you met Jesus with anyone?
44. Did you get any ideas of how you could minister here at home?
45. Was there anything you saw that just broke your heart?
46. Did you give anything away?
47. Is there anything you HAVE to do this week after experiencing what you did?
48. Was there ever a time you felt completely out of control in a situation?
49. What’s the number one thing you are thankful for?
50. Did you catch yourself praising God for stuff? Like what?

Ryan ~ Pix & Team Prayer Requests

Here are some pictures and prayer requests from Ryan's Kenya team
during their training in Atlanta ... very cool!

6/5/2007 By: Katy, Staff/Leader

Pray for US Pray for team unity to be built here at training camp. We desire to be unified as we minister in Kenya and we need your prayers for that. Pray for the leader team. Katy and Becca. Pray for discerment, wisdom and rest. Pray for each member of the team. Pray for spiritual growth. Pray for the ministry of the team, boldness and compassion. Pray for the host we are working with Pastor Timothy. Ask for blessings and encouragement as he has been adn will be there in Kenya long after we leave. Pray for the people that we will be ministering to. Pray that God would prepare their hearts to recieve the Good News. Pray that a generation of DISCIPLES would be raised up in Kenya.

In Today's NASCAR news ...

Pee Wee has been replaced by Junior!
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(Robyn's ecstatic ~ click the link if you're interested in the deets)

Ryan flying from atlanta to kenya...

So... based on his debit card, ryan's last meal in the states was panda express and he bought a book for the flight at hudson news ... both at the atlanta airport ... so, he's somewhere between here and there (with a couple of stops in between). i sure hope to hear from someone on the team when they arrive in kenya ... ... ...

Kelli ~ you're just the best! The path I had followed online was to empty reports and you've discovered a path with the real reports!! Thank you for your comment to this post, your big loves, and let's all go here to keep track of the team bears ~ who have arrived safely in Africa!
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Waitress & Pie Shops

Sarah and I had a great girl's night out watching the moving Waitress and then, doing what had to be done--> going out for a piece of pie (chocolate silk and triple berry were our choices although I would have loved a piece of "Lonely Chicago Pie" as the heroine Jenna had made in the movie :)

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The movie created conflict in my heart (adultery) along with great compassion for the characters and admiration for the actors. Another reminder that when it comes to marriage, it's soooo important to choose wisely!! Being with Sarah made the evening extra special and I'm glad we had this time together and look forward to more.

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Now, I want to bake... cobbler, sugar, chocolate, mashed berries, and pastry strips ... mmm mmm good!

Goodbye in a Blazing Glory of Sunrise...

This past week we took Ryan to the airport to depart on his 2-month
Kenya Mission Adventure ...

God gave us the most blazing glory of a sunrise,
And a special goodbye after an awesome trip to Lake McConaughy

The sunrise on the drive to DIAKelli, Drew, Dad, Trey, Mom, & Sean in a pre-Kenya pose with Ryan
(the tears came at the security checkpoint and final goodbyes)Ben, Ryan, Christiana & Chelsea ~ The AIM Kenya Team
Ready to rock their world with the love of ChristRyan called from Atlanta last Monday to report their week of training camp was off to a great start ~
he sounded awesome and sent his love to Kelli.

When they send trip reports, we'll be able to access them here

Posted with love, excitement, prayers,
and already missing him,
Mom

The only thing ...

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. (niv)

What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love. (msg)

Only faith activated & energized & expressed & working through love. (amp)

The only thing that really counts is faith that shows itself through love. (nirv)

For in Christ Jesus what matters is faith working through love. (hcsb)

If we belong to Jesus Christ, faith working through love is important. (nlv)

All that matters is your faith that makes you love others. (cev)

What is important is faith expressing itself in love. (nlt)

Galations 5:6b

Bolder Boulder

Take yourself, add12 great friends, a 10k jog/walk, 50,000 other people,
a beautiful town and you've got the recipe for an awesome day!

For the 2007 Bolder Boulder, we started at 5.20am at our place with omelettes,
bagels and muffins, fruit and yogurt, coffee and juice;
then we caught the bus at 6.15; hit the starting line with our wave at 9am
and finished by 11am to enjoy the Memorial Fesitivities in Folsum Stadium ...

In pictures now ~ here we go!The bus rideGet ready!The backsides of who I was always working to keep up with ...
(while Robyn & Kelli walked, I often had to trot!)And my buddy Colleen whose asthma was peaceful this beautiful dayOur team's arrival & connection in the stadiumOur star Michelle trotted in firstThen Becky with daughters Ali & Brit - rockin!Robyn, Kelli & I crossed the finish line nextAlong with Julie, Colleen and SandyAngie, Julie & Susan were right on our tailsThe parachuters led an awesome tribute to those who have given their lives
so that we have the freedom to pursue love and health with our friends!Can't Wait 'til Next Year!
Much love, Sherrie