If you have talked to me recently, you would have heard that Kenya, month 11, was my favorite month on my World Race. I could tell you stories and stories of what God was doing that month and what He was speaking to me in my life. It was my favorite hosts, ministry, culture, relationships, and God stories of my entire race.
We got to take part in a bunch of different ministries and see God work in tremendous ways.
Ministry #1: The Prisons
For more details on that ministry, check out the blog previous to this one and read about what God through me in that ministry. We also got to travel to prisons further away to feed and encourage the inmates there (see videos below).
Ministry #2: The Baby House
The Baby House is a home for abandoned babies to be taken care of while they find them a forever home in Kenya through adoption. I got to see the ministry and pray over the property and meet the staff, but my teammates were mainly the ones to return again and again that month because God was pulling on their hearts to love these babies. It was amazing to hear my friends come home day after day and tell of their love and prayers for a certain child, or their amazement at the staff who do that day in and day out for years and years.
Ministry #3: The Preschool
The ministry we partnered with is called Glory Shiners started by Joel and Tara Beauchamp and along with their prison ministry, they and their team have a preschool they run. Our team got to be a part of a preschool graduation and a Vacation Bible School for all the kids at the end of the month.
Ministry #4: The Pokot Tribe
Joel and Tara have an AMAZING story surrounding their involvement with the Pokot Tribe with a missionary friend Teresa. Years ago God called Teresa to GO, to a remote, unreached village, who at first came at her with confusion and fear with spears in their hands, to bring the gospel. They had never seen a white person before, never heard of Jesus, and now, ten years later we got to go live with them, feed them, laugh with them, and tell them more about Jesus. Last year a world race team prayed under a tree for a church and this year I got to preach in it, hand made by the tribe. It was one of the coolest experiences of my life.
Ministry #5: The Beehive
This is where I spent most of my time. A nearby ministry, started by my friend Allen and Jane from the UK, absolutely stole my heart. Their story is also incredible: first coming to Uganda to start a ministry and God shutting door after door. They end up in Kenya where God OPENS door after door, leading them to start a home for teenage girls who have found themselves pregnant from sexual assault. I wasn’t expecting God to capture my heart with these girls, but I found myself coming back day after day. I got to sometimes just sit with the girls and get to know their stories, I got to pray with them, tell them my testimony, love on their babies, encourage them, eat with them, teach them dance, and eventually help them make a video to spread the world around their schools that sexual abuse is not okay. I absolutely love these girls and I am already praying God would send me back.
These pictures tell mostly the story about the Pokot tribe and of course our one adventure day on a safari. We were not allowed to take photos in the prison or the Beehive for protection reasons. Nevertheless, these are my favorite photos of the month! Enjoy!
AAAAAnd I did not take any videos during my time in Kenya for a number of reasons (you can ask me if you want), but my teammate and AMAZING storyteller friend Kaydan took some great videos of our road trip, prison, and time with the Pokot tribe. So please enjoy those! He is so talented and shows our experience well!
All my love,
Jamilyn Joy
