Palm Sunday 2019

Today we remember that Jesus was honored in an impromptus parade by people who had been healed of leprosy, blindness, disease and even resurrected from the dead. The people wave palm leaves and shout, “Hosanna!” A parade that is typically reserved for conquering heroes who kill and humiliate enemies. But this parade was honoring Jesus who had healed and loved people...all people.

On this day, it seemed like all things were positive and Jesus was being recognized as the Son of God who would change the entire world. The religious leaders were outraged that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead and plotted to kill him again! They were frustrated that the people were following Jesus.

Palm Sunday with the Triumphal entry begins our commemoration of Holy Week. The week that seemed to hold such promise was heartbreakingly painful and disappointing, then miraculously turned around on Sunday morning when the tomb was empty.

On this Palm Sunday, I Practice gratitude. Grateful to God for the life He has given me. Grateful for my husband of almost 42 years, our four children and their spouses and children. Our Cypress Tribe and the amazing people that they are...Grateful for this beautiful world that God created...the flitting monarch butterfuly, the calm cooing of the mourning dove, the majesty of the trees that line our streets and protect the animals of the woods and the forests, the incredible individuals we meet as we move through each day. Grateful to God that He is the Creator, God and Ruler of our world. 

There is much today that is difficult to be grateful for...illnesses, cancer, abuse, harm, invasion of Ukraine by Putin's Russian troops. Yet, throughout all history, there is clear evidence of God's hand at work through the trauma and difficulties. No matter where you are, who you are know that God is with you. He loves you with an irrational love. 

Jesus is the overcomer. He is with you every moment. 

Cultivate Gratitude and Joy. Let go of fear of the dark and scarcity. 

God loves you. 

Goal #2 Building Our Team

This is going to be a family task for now, then we will do some whole team building when we arrive in Kenya.

·        Knowing Christ-Becoming one in the Body of Christ (Read Eph. 4:1-6; Phil 2:1-4)

·        Pray in small groups asking for God’s blessing on our relationships

·        In groups of three or four share your personal story or testimony. Use your “My Story” Worksheet. (Do this as a family...only positive feedback to your kids. This may be intimidating.

·        Use “Tips for Sharing Your Story”

Tips for Sharing Your Story

1. Limit your testimony to 3-4 minutes.

2. Use easily understandable language. Avoid Christian talk that non-believers may not understand. For example: sanctification, the blood of Jesus washed my sins away.

3. Avoid idioms and slang-they often cause misunderstanding or embarrassment

4. Begin with a greeting in the host language. Remark on something you appreciate about their country or community, the culture or hospitality you have received

5. Write out your story. This helps you cover the important points in a short period of time. Once you are comfortable sharing your story, you may not need to refer to your notes.

·        In the large group discuss the questions for Why Do I Want to Go? Collect the sheets for use later. Please send me a copy of your sheets with an overview of your discussion.

·        Brainstorm reasons for going

·        Learn about your host country:

Ask team members to gather information on Kenya to present in future sessions or while we are on our mission. Use the internet, the library or movies.

I have contacted Molly and let her know how excited we are to come.

We want to learn about Kenya and the various tribes and cultures we will meet.  We want to learn about what God is doing for them, too.

Things to look for in your research:

1.     Cultural do’s and don'ts

2.     Characteristics of a great mission team

3.     Songs

4.     Humor

Other topics to look for:

1.     Geography, demographics (population, ethnic groups, major religions)

2.     History, politics, economy

3.     Culture, customs and courtesy

Learn some Keswahili words. click on this link:

http://www.glcom.com/hassan/lessons/useful_swahili_words.html

Seek Prayer Partners for our trip.

Please be a Prayer Partner

Dear Friend,

Please consider being a prayer partner for our trip to Springs of Hope in Nakuru, Kenya from June 9-June 16, 2017.

Thank you for praying for our team and for me as we participate in this mission experience. Our main goal as a team is to do dental and eye work with the children and staff at Springs of Hope Kenya and to help complete projects that need to be done at the orphanage and at the eco-safari camp.

I would really appreciate your prayers for this trip.

(your name)

(address)

(email)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Please fill out this bottom section and return it to me. Keep the top half and post it where you will see it every day as a reminder to pray for me and our team.

·        Yes, I will pray for you and your team from now until your return from your trip to Springs of Hope Kenya, June 9-June 16, 2017.

Your Prayer Partner, ______________________________________________

Email:__________________________________________________________
Phone:_________________________________________________________

Go Kenya 2017 part 1

Let's Get Started

I am excited about the June 2017 trip. The details have come together. It is time for us to begin building our team community. This is the first blog for our team. Please work with your family so the kids are prepared for this amazing opportunity. 

Logistics

Information on the trip

1.   Review trip Itinerary

 The itinerary in Kenya follows:
June 9th USA departure
June 10th Arrive Nairobi and Stay at Premiere Best Western in Nairobi overnight
June 11th: leave from Wilson airfield at 10:30 am for Keekorok, Maasai Mara  
                Day drive for safari, arrive at Sekanani Safari camp for lunch and lodging

                Raised safari tents with ensuite

                Evening drive, then dinner
June 12th: All day safari drive, dinner at Sekanani
June 13th morning drive and leave Mara for Nakuru (6 hour road trip)
                Arrive Nakuru to stay at Kambi Amani camp with Molly
               Tent accommodation
June 14 and 15 Dental and Eye Clinic at Springs of Hope Children's Home
             Dental: Jeremy, Tom and Keri and Support:  Jacque Albert, Payton, Adam, Ella, Michael (son),
             Eye Clinic: Jacque Poole, Janine and Michael (Dad) and Support:,Alyssa, Mary, Charlotte, Aiden, Mary
             This plan has everyone on the site helping with the two clinic focuses.

Part of each day will be used to see the other ministries in Nakuru. (Bagamoyo Sewing Center, Boys House, perhaps the schools the kids attend, or take supplies to a few families living in the landfill)

June 16: AM clinic completion or trip to the crater in the morning, then lunch at Sunbird Lodge and Dental team heads to Nairobi

Projects for the kids in preparation for the trip:
1. Shoe drive at their schools. Gently used or New shoes (flip flops, sport shoes (tennies), or sandals for children ages 2 -18 years)
2. Underwear drive: new undies and socks

While the clinics are occurring the Go Kenya kids can help SOHK kids pick shoes/underwear.

2. Questions from the team: Please ask your questions in response to the blog.

3. Passports and visas.  All members have valid passports. We will have to purchase Kenyan Visas at: http://www.kenyaembassy.com/dcservices/appforvisaonline.aspx

This. is an online/paper application that you complete online then print and send the Kenyan embassy in D.C. Only children over 16 require a visa. The other children will get in on parent visa. Visa cost is $50. Complete this step by February 15^th, 2017

What do you want to accomplish or better yet what do you believe our Lord
 wants to accomplish on this mission. What would be some practical goals to set out to accomplish?

Here are my goals for our team:

1.      To begin building a team of missionaries/partners committed to answering God’s call.

2.      Build a sense of community as a team.

3.      Develop on appreciation and openness to other cultures.

4.      Practice “seeing” others through God’s eyes.

5.      Practice openness and respect toward other cultures.

6.      Become more like Jesus in our attitudes and behaviors.

7.      Develop a servant’s heart.

8.      Affirm God’s faithfulness along

We will meet about 5 times over the next few months to prepare us, as a team, to meet the nine goals. We will do some team building as we prepare for our trip.

Goal #1 To begin to build a team of missionaries/partners committed to answering God’s call

Bible Study

God’s hear for the world, God’s eternal purpose

1. Discover God’s plan for all from Genesis to Revelation. Split into groups of 2  to look up the Bible references from the list below.

Scriptures:

·        Genesis 12:1-3  Abram a blessing to the nations

·        I Chronicles 16:23-24 declare God’s glory among the nations

·        Psalm 96:1-3 declare God’s glory among all peoples

·        Isaiah 56:6-7 a house of prayer for all nations

·        Matthew 9:35-38 Jesus had compassion for them

·        Matthew 28:18-20 The Great Commission

·        Luke 4:16-19 preach the Good News to the poor

·        John 20:19-23 “As the Father has sent me…”

·        Acts 1:8 you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit

·        Revelation 7:9 all nations and languages

2. As you read the Scripture passages, respond to this question:

“How does our mission to Springs of Hope Kenya fit into the big picture of what God wants us to be doing?” (jot on your chart paper)

3. Share your thoughts with the whole team.

4. The Main Point: Reaching out to others with God’s love (Mission) is not just an idea at the end of Jesus’ earthly life! The Great Commission was God’s idea right from the beginning of time.

God’s Principles for Successful Mission Trips

  God is the Head of the Mission

·         You are not taking God to this place, rather, God is taking you! (Genesis 12:1-3; Psalm 139:1-10)

·         God has been at work in this place long before you arrived

·         God has a plan for this community, this people and this person (Jeremiah 29:11; 1 Timothy 2:3-5. 2 Peter 2:9)

·         Follow God’s lead not yours

·         God will always be with you (Matthew 28:20b; Romans 8:38-39; Hebrews 13:5)

Open Heart, Open Hands

·         An open heart is free to be filled by the Holy Spirit and overflow with love (John 14:15-17; Acts 13:2-4; Romans 5:3-5)

·         An open heart is free to be broken by the injustice and poverty of the world (Dueteronomy 15:7-8; Psalm 9:18; Psalm 82:3-4; Galatians 2:10)

·         An open heart is ready to receive

·         An open hand is a sign of good will and humility (Galatians 5:22-23)

·         An open hand cannot clutch a clock, a schedule or a stereotype .

oDoing is Less Important than Being

·         Be like Jesus, walk as Jesus walked. ( 1 John 2:6; Matthew 5:1-16; John 15:1-14)

·         Be human beings not human doings! (Thessalonians 5:11)

·         Focus on people, not just on the task (1John 3:18)

·         Work on Building relationships, not monuments (Romans 12:9-15)

·         Take a deep breath when things don’t start or end on time; there are more important things in life than sticking to a schedule

·         Be flexible-things will rarely go as planned

 A Servant’s Heart

·         Learn from your hosts; honor them and God by serving them (John 13:12-17)

·         Find out what your host prays for and then commit to praying for it, too (Js 5:16)

·         Practice humility (Luke 22:24-27; James 4:10)

·         There are many ways of doing things; yours is not the only one and it may not be right for this time and place

·         Be adaptable-try new things, set aside biases and work on fitting into the culture

the journey.

9.      Encourage one another.

  Expectations and Commitments

1. Schedule for preparation:

Team Meetings: I will send an email every 2 weeks with a new blog for you to respond to and then we can all do the tasks with our own family. Record your responses to the questions, so we can grow together. We will do at least 2 virtual meetings so we can build our team community.

2. Ask team members to identify the commitments that they expect from one another as a team

3. Get ready for the next team session

o  Why Do I Want to Go? (Questionnaire for next team session)

o  Prepare your personal story or testimony for the next team session