This blog is about the Memorial Baptist Church of Columbia, MO mission trip to Kitale, Kenya from July 30th to August 9th of 2008. This is in a partnership with Buckner Orphan Care International. We will be taking a medical team and a children's ministry team.
CBF of Missouri made their 2nd trip to eastern Kenya in 2 years. Rand Swanigan and Melissa Hatfield with First Baptist Church of Jefferson City were with this group. Rand, who is my brother-in-law, made some observations in the following blog: First Baptist Church Missions blog. I told him before he left that it would be life changing.
Scott Collin's Blog Entry #2. I just finished reading this blog entry and what's been put in place in Russia is what we want to help out in Kitale, Kenya. We saw a number of teenage children who in a few years would be leaving the "Seed of Hope" orphanage. We're not certain exactly the form it's going to take, but we have started fund raising for it. Everything must have a name and so we're calling this REACH for Realizing Education And Career Hopes. Be in prayer for direction.
I read on Ken Hall's, the President of Buckner, blog about one of the many "Shoes for Orphan Souls" trips Buckner makes around the world. This one was in Russia and Scott Collins, a participant, was the guest blogger. Scott, as you remember, spoke at our church in November 2007. You may also remember that he is a "Show Me" guy, growing up in Moberly. Make sure and read all of his entries at:
As stated in an earlier entry, what we saw and participated in at the Ecclesia church was quite an experience. This video clip was taken at the end of the service. I should have taken one earlier, but I was hestitant not wanting to be disrespectful. The 75 pictures are representative of what we did at the Seed of Hope. My son, Michael, put this together, and we showed it during the offetory for the service where we did our mission trip presentation.
This story begins 2 years ago on our Buckner vision trip to Kenya when Naomi took a few small balls to give to the children we would see. They were the type that if you bounced them, they would bounce high. We're talking small balls, about 1 inch in diameter. But instead of bouncing them after we gave them to the children, they placed them on the ground and started kicking them like soccer balls (or football as they and the rest of the world calls it). Fast forward a few months. Todd Pridemore, Minister of Recreation and Outreach for Memorial Baptist Church, asked Naomi what they do as a mission project for the 2008 Upward Basketball program. Naomi, remembering what had happened with the small balls, suggested giving soccer balls. She was thinking a few balls, but by the end of the season every team had collected at least one ball and had the children sign them. In total, they collected 46 balls! Also, Christian Chapel Academy had donated about 50 small Upward Soccer balls. In order to transport that many to Kenya, they had to be deflated. We took them to the Seed of Hope orphanage where Terry Dykes, one of our team members, used a few of them in recreational games during our VBS with the children. Phil Brinkmeyer, a Dallas Buckner employee, and Dickson Masindano, a Kenya Buckner employee, were leaving so that Dickson could show Phil around, this being Phil's first trip to Kenya. Since they were using Dickson's truck to get around, Naomi suggested to Phil that he take about half of the balls to give to other children. Phil thought this was a good idea and was more than happy to be able to distribute them to the various places they were going. Phil later joined us on our Masai Mara safari. Phil told the story about the balls and we were spellbound. Later, as we discussed the story, we said that we had to tell others. But if we told it, it would be second hand. Naomi suggested that we video Phil telling the story. We approached him and at first he wasn't sure. After much thought, he agree to be videoed. The following is his story.
I videod Phil while at the lodge and Phil later provided the photos and the short embedded video clips. My son, Michael, a film editing major in college, put it all together.
We arrived at the lodge after landing on the the dirt airstrip and getting into safari 4 wheel drive jeeps and driving about 15 kilometers in the Masai Mara. One individual somewhat excitedly asked, "I suppose that was only a taste of what we will be seeing". I could only nod my head in agreement. It's hard to describe going on a safari, but we will try with pictures and videos. This is beautiful country and the animals are magnificent. And to be here during the "Great Migration". There literally were thousands of zebras and wildebeasts. Enjoy what you see. We did.
Today was the last day with children. We had fun activities for the morning and we were to leave that afternoon, but we didn't know exactly the time. The foster children left around 11:30 am in order to be able to drive them all home. One of the big activities was the craft to build a handbag out of duct tape. All ages enjoyed that. When it was time to leave, we all gathered in a circle. Terry presented a soccer ball that had been donated by the MSHAA (Missouri High School Athletic Association). Rose then introduced and thanked the Seed of Hope staff. She then personally thanked our mission team and also thanked the interns. We left knowing that these children were in good hands. We headed back to the Kitale airport and later that afternoon we were flying back to Nairobi. We made it to the Methodist Guest House for a well deserved night of rest. But more excitement awaited us. Tomorrow.... Safari!
We took them to the Seed of Hope orphanage where Terry Dykes, one of our team members, used a few of them in recreational games during our VBS with the children. Phil Brinkmeyer, a Dallas Buckner employee, and Dickson Masindano, a Kenya Buckner employee, were leaving so that Dickson could show Phil around, this being Phil's first trip to Kenya. Since they were using Dickson's truck to get around, Naomi suggested to Phil that he take about half of the balls to give to other children. Phil thought this was a good idea and was more than happy to be able to distribute them to the various places they were going. Phil later joined us on our Masai Mara safari. Phil told the story about the balls and we were spellbound. Later, as we discussed the story, we said that we had to tell others. But if we told it, it would be second hand. Naomi suggested that we video Phil telling the story. We approached him and at first he wasn't sure. After much thought, he agree to be videoed. The following is his story.
Rose then introduced and thanked the Seed of Hope staff. She then personally thanked our mission team and also thanked the interns. We left knowing that these children were in good hands. We headed back to the Kitale airport and later that afternoon we were flying back to Nairobi. 
We made it to the Methodist Guest House for a well deserved night of rest. But more excitement awaited us. Tomorrow.... Safari!
