Dear family & friends,

Let me begin by saying we are all safe and sound and praising God for the grace He has poured out in our lives the last few days!  We’re in AFRICA!  It still feels surreal, but part of that may be due to jet lag:) During our first flight from San Diego to Seattle, Leo & his 12-year-old daughter Emily shared the gospel with a young woman named Pavla.  After explaining what it means to have a genuine relationship with Jesus, Pavla realized she didn’t really know God and prayed to receive Christ! She left the plane full of joy!  The rest of our 26 hour journey went smoothly, and we arrived in Nairobi late Saturday evening.  Our team member, David Brown, had arrived the day before and was at the airport to greet us with smiles and warm hugs.  We spent the night at Mayfield Missionary Guest House and enjoyed a good night’s rest under mosquito nets:)  Sunday was the most amazing day…seriously!  It worked out so beautifully to be able to visit my (Kristina) good friend, Francis Ngugi, who is a local pastor in a community just outside Nairobi called Limiru.  My dad’s church (Calvary Chapel Johnson City) has been supporting his ministry for the past five years, and it was such a blessing to come and see the great work that God is doing in and through Pastor Francis.  We drove through lush green hillsides and farmland, watching people walk to church in their Sunday best, on our way to Limiru. He greeted me like a long-awaited sister.  The congregation at Sword of the Spirit Bible Church welcomed us as honored guests and showed us so much love, it was overwhelming.  First, Josephine Schmidt led us in a powerful time of worship, and the church worship team also led us in a time of praise “African style”–so full of joy and passion and dancing!  Then, Leo had the blessing of sharing the message from 1 Corinthians 15, with Francis serving as his translator.  The Word was well received, and we were all challenged and encouraged to testify of Christ’s death & resurrection.  David also shared a powerful testimony of how Jesus transformed his life and has made him a new creature!  It was really cool to hear the message being spoken in two different languages!  The service was 4 hours, and every minute was beautiful!  We need to learn how to worship like the church in Kenya! Francis and his family invited us to their apartment for a delicious Kenyan feast and we spent the whole afternoon having sweet fellowship.  It is a precious gift to worship alongside and experience the love of Christ with brothers and sisters on the other side of the world.  Our hearts our truly knit with theirs through the blood of Jesus!  Our time in Kenya was so annointed, and we feel privileged to have begun our time in Africa with such an outpouring of God’s love.  

      The next step of our adventure began this morning with a five hour flight to Tonj, Sudan, where we will be spending the next 16 days serving with In Deed & Truth Ministries.   Our MAF (Missionary Aviation Fellowship) cargo plane touched down on the dirt airstrip of Tonj, stirring up a cloud of dust and attracting a large crowd of curious onlookers.  The Dinka children were the first to approach us cautiously with shy smiles and extended hands.  Their ebony skin is beautiful, making their smiles contrast brilliantly. Suzy and Sabet were their to greet us along with all the native pastors at the training school, singing & chanting as they drove up!  Africa is different from any place I have ever been.  In short time I have been here, I have seen the signs of struggle and suffering that many people face on a daily basis.  Life is hard here, making the hope of the gospel a very present reality.  Please continue to pray for us as we begin a full schedule of working in the clinic, teaching in the pastor’s school, going on outreaches, and serving the Kuj family at the compound.  God is SO good, and His love endures forever!   “For I will pour on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.” Isaiah 44:3    WE LOVE YOU!!   

Love,

Kristina, Leo, Josephine, Natasha, Emily, Kristi, and David