Camp Pictures

One of the campers I got to know, Peninah. She

had a smile that could brighten your day!

God and I Follow up time. Time for the counselors to

discuss with their campers what they learned in their devotions.

Don't remember what the name of this game

was, but the kids always enjoy it.

The guys turn at playing Big Ball Volleyball while the

girls cheered them on!

Another counselor, two campers, and myself -of course

you knew that since I am the odd one =)

Playing the piano.

My five girl campers in front of our cabin on the last day!

Camp Lukenya

I missed the first week of camp due to some teacher training classes I was doing at a Bible Institute. I did hear that there were kids saved that week! I headed down to camp for the 2nd and 3rd weeks. Since Mrs. Weaver was back in the States for surgery I was asked to play the piano for chapel and the evening services during both weeks. I was nervous about it that first week since I didn’t have much experience playing for people as they sang. I grew to really enjoy it! I thank the Lord for that opportunity. It caused me to grow and work through some things in my life. I was also lead counselor that week. I didn’t have a specific group of girls that I got to know really well, but instead I had the opportunity to mingle with all the girls and cheer for the red and blue team. =)

The last week of camp I was a counselor with five very sweet teenage girls. I had two of the girls last year as my campers. One was just going into high school at the time. This year she got to share with me how she had grown closer to the Lord, stayed strong and had become a leader in her high school. The other girl was finishing her last year of high school. She has graduated now and it was neat to see that she was still following the Lord. What a blessing these things are to hear!

One of my other girls had also graduated from high school and the other two are still in high school. God blessed me with some girls that were open to hearing God’s Word and desiring to learn. They really opened up the most on the last night. Even after the lights were out I would hear, “Tracie what about this?” They wanted to know about music, dress, staying pure, marriage, divorce, dating unsaved guys, obeying authorities even when they tell us what we don’t want to hear. It was more of a discussion time than me “preaching” at them. =) My prayer was that God would use me to make a difference in their lives, even if it was a small difference. Many times we don’t know till down the road like the two campers I had from the previous year. All three weeks of camp there were kids that got saved and kids that grew in their walk with God. Chapel and devotions were on the life of Joseph and I was once again challenged as I studied along side my campers. Thank you Lord for Camp Lukenya and the difference it is making in the lives of the Kenyan young people.

Christmas Service

Today we had our special Christmas service at church. The service went well. Even with everyone traveling to their home places for Christmas the tent was packed. It was my first time to head up a children’s program. They did a great job with their verses and song! I was so proud of them. =) I also shared the responsibility of the piano playing with another lady at the church, Stella. I really enjoyed it today!

I would like to ask you all to continue praying for the missionary’s wife, Maryann Weaver. Her surgery is scheduled for this Thursday the 18th. I would also like to ask prayer for my 6 year old niece, Esther. The doctors have confirmed that the cancer has returned. She has a mass and they are still testing to see if it is in her bones. I know that God is always in control and that brings peace to my heart, but it still hurts to get such news. As I pray He keeps reminding me that He loves her and that she belongs to him. I will praise Him whatever the outcome because He is my Heavenly Father.

Bible Institute

I had a wonderful day of ministry! I drove out this morning to one of the missionaries Bible Institutes. I was to be one of their lecturers for the day. When I got there I met up with a Korean couple I went to language school with last year. What a small world! It was so good to see them and catch up on all the happenings.

Class started 20 min. late as I waited for the students to arrive. They finally did and we ended up with 30 in attendance. I enjoyed two wonderful hours with the students. It was neat to see them get excited about teaching children. =) I only had five Bible lesson series books to give out. So, before class I put a sticky note under five chairs. At the end of class you should have seen them get excited and dive under their chairs to see if they had a sticky note. They all got to go home with a Gospel Fuzzy puppet, Wordless Book, counseling tools and childrens tracts.

I’m getting excited because I head off to camp this Monday! This week they had camp I just couldn’t be there. I was told there were some children that got saved! Praise the Lord!!!! =)

The students with their Gospel Fuzzy puppets on their hands =)

Staying Busy

We had a good day at church yesterday. I always enjoy my time with the kids in Sunday school and junior church. The practice is going well for the children’s Christmas program. Three more weeks and we get to do it for the parents! =) I had the opportunity to play the piano for church. It has been eight years since I have played for people singing. I have a habit of stopping when I make a mistake and correcting it and you can’t do that when people are singing. The Lord was good! Yes, I hit a few sour notes, but I kept going and did not stop. The whole reason for learning to play the piano was so I could use it on the mission field. I was very nervous on the outside, but on the inside my heart was overflowing with joy. =)

A missionary asked me to do some teacher training for their pastor’s wives this Friday. Then on Monday I will be heading to camp for two weeks. I am really looking forward to being with the kids those two weeks at camp! I will try to keep you updated on how things are going.

I would also like to ask you to pray for two people. One is the missionary I am working with. They are in the States right now and she will be having surgery on December 18th. The second person is my 6 year old niece, Esther. She wasn’t feeling well and they took her in for a MRI. It looks like the cancer may be back, but they are getting a second opinion.

A Road Sign

We had a great 2nd half of our Teacher training at Emmanuel Baptist today! Because of family matters and school issues only four of the ladies were able to come. I’ll meet with the two that missed and catch them up. These ladies are so sweet and I know they are going to make great Sunday school teachers! I’m so blessed to have just a small part in helping them become the best teachers they can be.

On my way home today I saw something absolutely amazing. =) We now have a road sign for our turn off of Mombasa Road, the main roadway that goes through Nairobi town and down to Mombasa! We are really coming up in this world! ;)

A couple of days ago I had a really sweet surprise. My church sent me a box for Christmas! There were wrapped packages, singing cards, red and green m&ms, and reeses peanut butter cups. Of course I don’t get to open the packages till Christmas day, but I have tried the m&ms. ;) What a really sweet surprise it was. =)

Is That Singing I Hear?

That was the question that came from my mouth this morning as I was teaching. I guess I should start at the beginning. I had a great time in Sunday school. We started a series called “Our Awesome God” and we learned today about God’s Sovereignty. All kinds of question were brought up in that one class hour.

The missionaries are gone for their son’s wedding in the States. So we had a guest preacher today. Things were going along as normal. Before the last song was sung the children were dismissed for junior church. We went out and since the Christmas program is not far away we kept the kids together for the first 10 minutes and practiced for the Christmas program. After the quick practice we split into our two junior church classes. I was 15 minutes into our class time when I heard singing coming from the church tent. I sent the assistant teacher out to check and see what was going on. She came back to tell me Church was finished. The guest preacher had cut us short by 20 minutes. =) Since I have been in Kenya the Lord has been helping me to laugh about the things that are out of my control. I don’t always pass the test, but I am getting better and better at it. The other teachers and I talked and we decided that if this guest preacher preaches again we are going to be ready the next time. =)

By the way, did you notice I mentioned an assistant teacher?! That’s right we have more teachers. I did a teacher training a couple of weeks ago and had 8 ladies show up. The second half of the training is in a couple of weeks. These ladies have been a real blessing to me and I have really enjoyed working with them.

Swallowing Pride and Dignity =)

You never know what might happen in a day. I went to the car part store to get wiper blades since mine are worn out and don’t work when it rains. In the process I locked my keys in the vehicle. =) Praise the Lord I had spare keys in my purse, but the one for the door was not unlocking it. I then realized I had a spare for the back of my Land Cruiser. So, I unlocked the back and in front of all the guys standing around I crawled into the back and over the seats to the front and got my keys out of the ignition. The look on the guys faces was priceless! I’m sure they have never seen a “white lady” do that before. =)

I am really looking forward to this weekend! I have a Sunday school training scheduled for the church that I am helping at. We have 7 ladies coming!!!! I’ll let you all know how it goes.

Super Sunday!

I had a wonderful Sunday today. The lesson we had in Sunday school was on Jesus Calming the Storm. As we were talking about Jesus caring about the disciples and why, one of my girls brought up the fact that each one of us was made for a purpose. At 11 years and younger these kids wanted to know what their purpose was and how they could find it. The Lord gave us a really sweet time together as we discussed how we can know God’s plan for our lives.

Of course there is always something cute going on in my junior church class. Ranging from 3-7 year olds, we always have a wonderful time together. These last few Sundays have been neat as we have been studying the life of Joshua. Today was the battle of Jericho. =)

The young ladies and I had our first Bible study meeting today. We stayed after church and ordered in pizza. It was great to see how the girls are enjoying the Bible study and learning from it. I also heard some beautiful salvation testimonies from them. The sad thing is the ones that I wonder about were not there today. I will just keep praying for the Lord to open up doors for me to talk to those that were not there. The girls and I also got to share some of our pizza with one of the little guys in our church who is an orphan. Praying your Sunday is as good as mine!

Ruth

“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for wither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God; Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” Ruth 1:16-17

What a bold declaration of love and undying fidelity Ruth makes not just to Naomi, but to God!

Sundays

I've been working with the single young ladies at church were I am helping. We started with 12 in the group ranging in age from 17-29 years. We now number 15 in the group. Yesterday we had our second activity. One of the girls had all of us over for lunch after church. We had a great time visiting! One of the girls will soon be finishing medical school. She was sharing some of her experiences with us. One of them was her time in the children’s cancer ward. It was neat to see all the girls decide at the same time that we should take a day and visit the children there. The family of the girl that had us over for lunch does not attend church. I was also excited to see the girls inviting her sisters to church and to our activities. As we left they promised they would come to church next Sunday. I’m praying they will.

The single young ladies also started our Bible study yesterday. It’s called “Lady in Waiting”. The focus is on becoming a lady of character and working on our relationship with Jesus Christ instead of looking for a guy to fill the longing in us that only Christ can fill.

Not only am I working with the single ladies in the church, but I also teach junior church for the 3-6 year olds. I have really enjoyed my time with them each Sunday. They always have something cute to share with me. It blesses my heart to see them learning Bible verses and right now we are learning about the life of Moses.

Today was our first warm day that we have had in a long time. It has been so cold. =( Two Sundays ago we had baptism. There were four ladies baptized and their teeth were chattering it was so cold that day.

God Is Always Watching Over Us

Before I headed out the door yesterday I made a plan of what all I needed to do. Obviously God had a different plan. Right now I am working on preparations for two all day Saturday Teacher Training classes I will be doing within a couple of weeks. So yesterday I was planning on getting the student manuals copied and pick up some lamination for my laminator. I drove downtown with a friend of mine. We parked and everything was fine. We picked up the lamination and everything was still okay. When we went to back out of the parking spot we came literally to a grinding halt. I got out of the vehicle and found the front wheels turned in different directions. =) Even though I’m a girl I know that is not how they are supposed to be and knew something was wrong with the axle.

I called the tow truck and then we began to wait. My friend and I had a great visit while we explained to people who were honking and trying to drive around us why we were sitting in the middle of the path. Three hours later the tow truck arrived. They loaded the vehicle, we piled in and headed for the shop were I take my car to be fixed. When we got there the guys took a look and informed me that the ball had come out of the joint. If I had been driving down the road it would have been a very bad accident. I thank the Lord for allowing it to happen in a parking lot.

We took a matatu home and after having had no food all day I made lasagna. It really hit the spot! I night ended with laminating, cutting visuals, calling for rides for the next few days, and thanking the Lord for His protection. =)

You Never Know What You Might See!

Today I was driving through Nairobi town on my way to church. There is this one road that I always go down. It’s a very busy road on Sunday mornings because there are so many churches (of all types) along it. Each day here in Kenya as you go out you never know what you will see or experience and today I saw something that caused me to laugh. There were men on camels traveling down this very busy road along side speeding cars and buses. I wished I had carried my camera. It was quite a funny sight!! Maybe one of these days I’ll remember to always carry my camera with me.

Three Village Schools

I went to three different village schools today. This morning I started at a school in Naibor. The kids and I had a great time together. I taught them a song and lesson in Swahili. I learned that most of the kids at this school don’t come to school with lunch because they don’t have food.

Next I went to a school way out in the bush. As I was traveling to the village I passed large groups of zebra, giraffe, and baboons. I didn’t see any elephants, but the droppings were all along the road. I had a wonderful time with the kids at this second school. It was sad when the muslim kids left before I started teaching. After I taught at the school I went and visited around the village. In this village there are many girls that have children and no husband. It was very sad to see. There are also many in this village that die from TB.

The third school was also in a village. Once again I had a great time with the kids. I am so happy to be able to teach the kids in Swahili and I really enjoy going out to the villages.

On Tuesday I will be driving back to Nairobi since I have training scheduled in June and July for some of the missionary’s churches in that area. I have really enjoyed my time here in the Mt. Kenya area with the orphans and the school kids in the villages. I’m already working on when I can come back up here. I also have some national pastors that are requesting me to come back up and do training for the teachers in their churches.

Pictures of My Time At The Three Village Schools

A First For Everything

I knew I would be going to three schools out in the bush tomorrow and since I had allowed my vehicle to reach empty I thought I would fill it today. I pulled into the petrol station and the man told me they had no petrol. I asked him why and if he was serious. He told me the petrol was finished and that he didn’t know when they would have more. He also informed me that the other stations had none. I went ahead and went to the other petrol station and I found petrol. Praise the Lord!

Then tonight I was going to cook supper and take to a friend. I had just started cooking the meat when the power went off. Thankfully I found a little gas burner in the missionary’s house that I am staying in. About 30 minutes later the power came back on and the supper wasn’t ruined. There is a first for everything!!! =)

Sunday in Timau

Teaching in Swahili! =)

I went out this Sunday to the Bible Baptist Church of Timau. I had a wonderful time teaching junior church in Swahili. After church I had lunch with the orphans and then we had a craft time. The boys made bracelets with gospel colored beads and then drew pictures of their favorite Bible characters.

I can honestly say that before today I have never truly been 4-wheel driving. On the way back from Timau it began to rain. For the first time in my life my car was sliding all around on the mud. I was grateful for the tips my parents gave me about driving on ice. I took the same tips and applied it to driving on the mud. With God’s help I made it home safely. =)

A preacher boy, Benjamin, with some of the orphans and community children. He often preaches in the nearby Bible Baptist churches.

Two of the ladies that help with the orphans.

Back to Isiolo on Saturday

I had a really good time in Isiolo on Saturday. The pastor of the church was having a couple’s conference that day. Because of the conference the community children did not come and so I got to spend the day with just the orphans, getting to know them. I taught them a lesson in Swahili and three new songs. We made gospel bracelets and then as we waited for lunch to be ready the orphans took turns quote Bible verses. The boys promised me that the next time I come they will teach me how to play football (soccer).

Teaching Chapel

Last week and this week I had the opportunity to teach in the chapel service at Mt. Kenya Baptist School. I really enjoyed teaching the kids two new songs. This Friday I taught the children about Samuel and how as God’s children we need to not just hear God’s Word, but obey it. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, . .” James 1:22. Praise the Lord 16 children got saved today! I also got to pray with some other children about things in their lives.

In the afternoon I was in the school office working on some lessons in Swahili. At lunch break a group of the children came and wanted to talk to me. They had questions about the Bible, Jesus, creation, and what do we do as God’s children when we sin. We went out and sat in the field and had a really good time talking until it was time for their next class.

Well, I need to go get ready for tomorrow and get some sleep. I will be going out to Isiolo again. Praying you all are having a great day!

Too Cute!

These guys are out every morning playing with the side mirrors on my vehicle. =)

A Village Called Ereri

I went out this morning to a village called Ereri. I have never been so far out in the middle of nowhere. =) We got to the school and found some very excited children. With only four teachers and eight grades, each teacher is responsible for two grades. Most of the classes were made up of children of all ages. The parents of these children have never been educated and the school had to beg them to send their children. When the family’s herds have no more to eat they pack up the family and move, so much for going to school. I am grateful that this Bible Baptist Church started a school out there. At least the children are getting some education.

I really enjoyed being with the children. They were very well behaved! I greeted them, told them my name, and some about myself. I taught them a song and then taught the Bible lesson. It was all done in Swahili!!!! =) The children heard the Gospel in their own language!

I had a great day! I’m now home and very exhausted!

Ereri Pictures

Traveling to the village of Ereri.

On our way we passed many zebras and camels.

The school in Ereri.

Teaching in Swahili.

The children of Ereri and I!

The view I got of Mt. Kenya as I was driving yesterday.

I Stopped Dead In My Tracks

I woke up this morning and went into the bathroom. As I was shutting the door I had a surprise visit by one of God’s creatures, a very large spider. It was three inches in diameter. I didn’t scream, but I did stop dead in my tracks! After a second I figured out what to do. Of course, it was too big to smash. I got it into a cup and dumped it outside. Then I decided to smash it out there so it would not revisit me. =) Smart huh?!

After such an exciting start to the day I packed up and took off to the orphanage in Isiolo. Missionaries can have just as much fun as anyone. I got to do a very small version of Extreme Home Makeover today. Basically I rearranged the orphans beds and trunks to give them more room. I had found scripture posters in Nairobi and had them laminated. They really brightened the orphan’s rooms up.

Last week I took a box of gifts to each of the orphanages. The boxes contained tubs of crayons, paper, and biographies of men and women of the faith for the young ones and older ones to read. It was neat to see this week that the orphans had been reading them.

On my way home it began to rain. In Kenya you are always passing carts being pulled by donkeys. This time I passed a cart covered in plastic. The head of the driver was peaking out as he reached through whacking his donkeys with a long stick. =) It was funnier than I will ever be able to describe it.

Keep me in your prayers as I prepare to teach in Swahili on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Heart Stopping Emails

You know, I'm kind of tired of getting these heart stopping emails and phone calls, but its life. By the time I finished reading the email my family just sent me I had tears of gratitude streaming down my face.

On Sunday evening as my family was going to church a Mexican man hit our family van head on and totaled it. My Mom, brother, and two sisters were in it along with my four nieces and nephews. Mom had to have 11 stitches in her knee and all the kids came out ok, just shaken up. God is so good!!!! I am told they arrested the man. He had no insurance and was not the owner of the car he was in. =( Thankfully my parents had insurance on the van so it was covered.

I am so thankful that the Lord choose to spare my family once again. I think the guardian angels for my family have been working over time for the last couple of years. =)

New Baby Nephew!!!!!

Joshua James Travis was born on 5/17/08! He was 23 inches long and weighed 11 lbs. 6 ozs.

Sunday in Naibor

I traveled out this morning to the Naibor area. The church and orphanage are actually in a little village called Tumaini. I had another young lady who is a teacher at the Mt. Kenya Baptist School and who is also from the Naibor area go with me. We attended the Sunday morning service at the Bible Baptist Church of Tumaini. Since I was a visitor I knew I would be asked to greet the church and tell them who I was. I had worked out what I was going to say in Swahili and it was very simple. The time came and I said, “Ninaitwa Tracie” (I am called Tracie) and then my mind went blank, truly blank. =) How embarrassing! I forgot the rest of what I was going to say. The minute I sat down it all came rushing back to me. “Ninaitwa Tracie. Mimi ni missionary. Ninafundisha watoto habari za Yesu na Biblia.” In English, “I am called Tracie. I am a missionary. I teach children about Jesus and the Bible.” Not very hard to say, right? =) Next time I’m going to have it written down.

After church we had lunch with the orphans and community kids. Then we went out to the field and played all kinds of games. The teenagers played volleyball and football (soccer). We played frisbee with the kids and then I taught them “Duck, Duck, Goose”. It was so much fun to watch them as they caught on to “Duck, Duck, Goose”. I really enjoyed playing with the kids and talking with them in Swahili. It’s easier to talk in Swahili to kids then when you are facing a whole church full of people.


I want to introduce you to a dear little friend of mine that I met the last time I was in the village of Tumaini. She is about 7 or 8 years old. Both her parents are drunks and so she is mom to her 3 younger brothers. Her youngest brother is a little older than 1. She watches over them and even goes down to the river and gets water for them in a 20 lb. jug. Because there is no food in the house she brings them to the orphanage so they can at least have lunch. Around this world there are many children just like her who need someone to reach out and love them. I want to challenge you to reach out to the children that are in your neighborhood and in your cities. Make a difference in their lives!

Sunday Pictures in Naibor

Bible Baptist Church of Tumaini

Sunday school children presenting some songs and scripture memory

The children filled the Sunday school room

The Orphanage

The Youth playing volleyball

Playing frisbee!

This time I had a friend take some pictures while I got to play with the kids.

She is off the ground and smiling

Duck, Duck, Goose

Pastor John Chirchir and his family.

He is the Pastor of the church and the one who started and takes care of the orphanage.