1 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:07,720 As we have been loyal and pursuing his calling, God has 2 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:11,800 been so faithful and I have no reason to doubt. 3 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,560 And part of this partnership is is God's answer. 4 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:17,040 I mean the fact that I'm sitting here. 5 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:21,160 Welcome back this week on our members podcast. 6 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:23,480 We will conclude our conversation with Bernard 7 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:27,120 Cabarro and Ryan Burns. Bernard will take us inside the 8 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:30,320 Kenyan church and explain how mission trips strategically 9 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,840 support the church's work. And stay tuned because after we 10 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:36,800 finish our interview, Chris Stonecker, a member of our 11 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:39,640 Pelham campus, will give us some thoughts from the most recent 12 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:43,120 medical trip. This trip saw 30 Kenyan pastors, 13 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:47,200 served 700 members of the community and witnessed a dozen 14 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:50,080 confessions of faith. I think you were going to enjoy 15 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:52,840 her first hand experience. Thank you for listening. 16 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:59,800 Tell us just a little bit about life in the local church and how 17 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:04,440 these like medical trips can then bring some additional help 18 00:01:04,519 --> 00:01:06,280 and credibility to the local church. 19 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:16,120 Just talk about that for a bit. Good The Kenya at large is a 20 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:20,040 young nation and the Christian faith growing. 21 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:25,800 One of the challenges that we face is and part of it is a good 22 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:29,840 problem We we are seeing more church plans, so people coming 23 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:36,840 to faith but there's a challenge of of of leadership development 24 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:41,080 the the, the, the challenge of maturing the local church and 25 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:48,480 and So what this partnership has continues to be able to do is to 26 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:53,680 be able to empower the local church through training the 27 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,720 pastors but also having training seminars for the leadership. 28 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:01,480 And then some of the programs that we have like the OVC and 29 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:05,600 the medical camp come to strengthen them in the outreach. 30 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:12,120 The medical camp in particular is a critical step where we come 31 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:17,240 alongside the local church, which is part of a convention 32 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:22,080 called the Baptist Convention, and that particular local 33 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:25,040 church. We come alongside them to be 34 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:29,920 able to give them a voice, a voice to tell the community that 35 00:02:29,920 --> 00:02:36,840 we care because we have a Jesus who cares and loves you, but 36 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:42,280 also a voice to the administration as that local 37 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:45,640 pastor, for example, the upcoming medical camp. 38 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:50,760 Moser just wrote me today. And one of the things he has to 39 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:55,720 do is he has to knock on the door of the administrative 40 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:59,200 office to say we are going to hold a medical camp. 41 00:02:59,640 --> 00:03:04,200 Then he has to knock on the door of the County Medical office to 42 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:06,840 say we would like to have a whole medical camp. 43 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:09,640 Would you give us permission? So this is the this is the 44 00:03:09,640 --> 00:03:12,200 pastor of the local church. His name is Moses, and he has to 45 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:13,760 go through these steps. That's right. 46 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:16,320 In order for us to be able to come, that's right, to be able 47 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:18,160 to offer medical services. That's right. 48 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:22,600 And then he has to go to the Superintendent of health within 49 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:26,040 the hospital and say we are coming, would you provide us 50 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:32,680 with medical personnel? So as they do that, the 51 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:37,400 administration, the community, feels the presence and the 52 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:38,480 voice. They take notice. 53 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:43,080 Of the church, but also the pastors feel there's a 54 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:47,880 breakthrough to be able to influence the next level even 55 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:51,040 within the government. So they feel like they're 56 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,040 significant. They're definitely, they feel 57 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:57,760 their significance and they they take the challenge and it gives 58 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:00,920 them pride as they do that. And of course within that the 59 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:03,400 gospel is proclaimed. So yeah, definitely. 60 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:07,280 And then the other thing that is beautiful is, is then we have 61 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,600 the connection. So with the team from here we'll 62 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:13,320 come serve together, complement each other. 63 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:18,839 So our pastors are helping the logistics but also making sure 64 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:23,160 that everybody who comes in, he has the gospel three times. 65 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,400 He has the gospel of the tent of the assembly, he has the gospel 66 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:31,040 as he attends comes through the doctors and the medical 67 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:36,120 personnel and then as they wait for their meds in the pharmacy, 68 00:04:36,280 --> 00:04:39,280 then pastors are praying with them and sharing the gospel. 69 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:43,720 So it's it's it's a great opportunity and in instances 70 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:50,360 where we have been that has been instrumental not only in having 71 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:54,600 some of the personnel serving the local clinic joining the 72 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:59,560 church, but even other people within the village being able to 73 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:00,920 come and join the church. Yeah. 74 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:04,080 And this is so important for us to remember and why partnership 75 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:07,560 is important because it doesn't matter how many dozens or 76 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:10,640 hundreds of medical personnel you can take from the staff, 77 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:14,240 with however many pounds of supplies you can load up on 78 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:19,720 those airplanes, you are only bringing a limited amount of 79 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:22,000 medical care to a limited amount of people. 80 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:22,920 That's right. That's right. 81 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:26,320 There's only so much you can do and it's beautiful to show 82 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:29,080 compassion and it's beautiful to show care. 83 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:34,240 But what we are really doing is we are working alongside that 84 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:38,560 local church and the Pastor Moses of the world and the all 85 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:42,880 the work that you just described to say we are here, the local 86 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:47,920 church, we are a a major player in this community and we aren't 87 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:50,400 going anywhere. These folks are here for a few 88 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:52,720 days, but we're not going anywhere. 89 00:05:53,280 --> 00:05:56,560 And we will be here, Lord willing, generation after 90 00:05:56,560 --> 00:06:00,560 generation to see to see change. And we just need to remember 91 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:04,800 that when we think about what role we think we're gonna play, 92 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:07,560 small or great. But really we need to remember 93 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:12,440 that when we are praying for the local churches in Kenya because 94 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:15,000 that is that is the work that they are that they are doing. 95 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:17,040 And it's a blessing to be a part of that. 96 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:21,640 It it really is. Tell us a little bit more just 97 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:27,160 to kind of breakdown some of the cultural differences through the 98 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:31,240 OVC program you're providing goats. 99 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:33,440 And sometimes. Yeah, tell us about the goat 100 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:35,040 program. I love this story. 101 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:40,560 The the goat, the goat project is is part of an an economic 102 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:46,760 empowerment but also an emotional empowerment and of 103 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:50,040 course an empowerment in their stewardship. 104 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:54,720 So we goats are significant particularly amongst the coques 105 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:59,520 in the central area but across across Kenya important for 106 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:02,840 various things. One of course owning, owning, 107 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:05,920 owning livestock you have you own something and then secondly 108 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:11,480 go to help with milk but also manure that is needed for crop 109 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:16,040 but also it has an economic also part of it whereby you can be 110 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:19,000 able to sell a goat. So what we do what we realized 111 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:25,840 is if we and milk is important because Chai yeah, Chai tell. 112 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:27,360 Us a little bit. About Chai Chai. 113 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:31,200 Chai is black. Good Kenyan tea, black tea 114 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:37,680 boiled together with milk and water and yeah, nothing. 115 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:40,280 Like that. So just a little fun tidbit 116 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:43,320 here. You know, early on in met 117 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:46,800 Bernard and he just had lots of negative things to say about 118 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:48,440 Starbucks, right, Which was fine. 119 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:51,760 And there's many of us in in in the states that say no. 120 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:53,080 But things about Starbucks? Right. 121 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:56,720 But, but recently, again, having having gotten to go to Rwanda 122 00:07:56,720 --> 00:08:00,560 and realizing that it's not just against the West that he gets 123 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:02,240 against RT. Like anybody? 124 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:06,400 He takes his own tea to other African nations and then makes 125 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:09,360 it for people, tells them how to make it and shares it with them. 126 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:13,080 Well, and and people may not realize that tea is a is a major 127 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:15,960 economic factor. Absolutely beautiful tea fields 128 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:20,000 all through central Kenya, but black tea is how we make Chai. 129 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:20,760 Is that right? Yeah. 130 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:23,880 Yeah, and our tea, because of it grows up in the Highlands and 131 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:26,280 volcanic soil is smooth, is not bitter. 132 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,680 So anyway so milk therefore is critical, right? 133 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:36,080 If you go to a family in amongst the Kikuyu or even in any family 134 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:41,960 and they don't have milk to serve you, black tea is is not 135 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:46,720 hospitable and they will go to the extent of even buying milk 136 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:50,120 from anywhere to make sure you have tea with milk. 137 00:08:50,680 --> 00:08:53,880 So anyway, that goat therefore provides milk. 138 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:57,480 Generally, the kind of goats that we're talking about, if 139 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:01,120 they can be able to provide a liter of milk a day, that will 140 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:03,080 be sufficient for a family even of eight. 141 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:07,440 OK. And so we'll have a team of the 142 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:11,640 oversee families. Then we'll provide each family 143 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:14,480 with a goat, and there's a back goat. 144 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:19,560 The idea is to be able to progressively raise these goats 145 00:09:19,560 --> 00:09:21,800 to be a pedigree, to be a pure daily goat. 146 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:24,920 OK, A pure data goat is difficult to manage. 147 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:28,680 So we don't start with a pure, but the back is going to be a 148 00:09:28,680 --> 00:09:34,520 pure pedigree and so we give every household that in the OBC 149 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:38,600 a goat, female goat and they they they do take care of the 150 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:41,200 back. Now the family is responsible to 151 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:44,160 build the shed. So with that course is covered 152 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:47,600 by them. The church also organizes 153 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:52,880 training for them so that a livestock personnel can come to 154 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:56,240 train them how to take care of the goat and also how to build 155 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:58,680 the shed because one that have a special right. 156 00:09:59,560 --> 00:10:01,640 This is not to graze out there right? 157 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:06,120 So they will take care of it. The the great thing is the first 158 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:12,680 kid comes from that goat, the first female kid they raise it 159 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,960 up to a time that is wind. So it's they cannot continue 160 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:19,040 being fed on the milk. That will be about 3 months and 161 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:20,960 then they bring it back to the church. 162 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:25,280 And the church by then would have identified another needed 163 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:27,600 family. So they bring it back to the 164 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:31,640 church and there's a service, special service where they thank 165 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:38,120 God for that and the in the vulnerable family presents that 166 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:42,680 female goat to another vulnerable family. 167 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:47,240 So that's that's a great thing, that's a great empowerment for 168 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:50,720 them, a great celebration. So then any kids that come 169 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:53,760 after, they can either choose to raise them or sell them. 170 00:10:53,880 --> 00:11:00,800 Right now a goat will cost between 150 a hundred 150 U.S. 171 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:04,440 dollars, but they can be able to sell. 172 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:07,560 After six months. They can be able to sell that 173 00:11:07,560 --> 00:11:09,240 kid. If they want to raise money they 174 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:16,520 can be able to sell for about 50 to 100 so that will be an income 175 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:21,680 for for them the manure that they will get so they will can 176 00:11:21,680 --> 00:11:30,920 use that to work on the for maize or beans or green 177 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:34,120 vegetables and we encourage every family to have a kitchen 178 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:42,480 garden so so it's a it's a great way great testimony right now at 179 00:11:42,560 --> 00:11:50,800 Pondo Baptist Church they have they are on the 3rd, 4th season 180 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:56,320 of that So we're not putting any more money in that right can 181 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:58,720 undo Baptist Church we're not putting any more money but 182 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:03,000 they're still progressing right So they have now it can undo 183 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:06,960 they have 33 families that have benefited from from the initial 184 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:07,560 one. Right. 185 00:12:07,560 --> 00:12:10,080 So these churches that have started these programs, we 186 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:13,400 invested resources into and now they're self-sustaining. 187 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:14,880 Yeah, self-sustaining. Which is that. 188 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:16,960 I mean that. Is that's that's a small picture 189 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:19,200 of a of the most important goal that we're after. 190 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:21,640 That's right, right. It went both with the local 191 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:25,400 church at the the center of it, leading it and then working out 192 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:26,920 through those those partnerships. 193 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:29,360 Right, Yeah. And one of the joys that has 194 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:32,640 been if I mean of course sometimes they they will try to 195 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:38,040 organize the hand over services to to wait for one of us to be 196 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:39,360 present. And I've said no, no, no, we 197 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:41,360 don't have to be there. But the opportunity that I've 198 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:44,400 been there is, has been just the joy because they'll bring even 199 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:49,280 the kids just to to see the kids giving over. 200 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:51,920 The children, not the goats. Yeah, they're giving over. 201 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:55,480 The kids giving the kids. Yes, yes, yeah they yeah they 202 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:58,920 will bring the the family the obviously kids giving over their 203 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:02,680 baby goat, the kid goat to another needed family and just 204 00:13:02,680 --> 00:13:06,840 the joy that comes from that and and just this in the church 205 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:07,480 service. So. 206 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:09,480 So they will tie them out out there. 207 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:11,160 So bring them in. Yeah. 208 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:13,640 So one family brought to the main and then the next family 209 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:15,720 you will see them walking home with a goat. 210 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:17,520 This is one of the best. What a beautiful picture. 211 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:20,360 On that note, I think and as we were talking through this, I'm 212 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:23,440 reminded of having been at church services there in Kenya 213 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:27,720 where a family doesn't have finances to bring to give as a 214 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:30,200 tithe. So they bring it to the point 215 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:31,840 burners making of kitchen gardens right. 216 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:35,800 They bring vegetables. They bring what they have in 217 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:40,120 produce and the church body auctions it off and the money 218 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:43,200 that is received for that doesn't go to the family that's 219 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:46,120 the families ties. So to be there and be able to 220 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:50,120 say, oh, we're we're selling avocados today, those are 8 221 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:51,560 times as big as any avocado I've. 222 00:13:51,560 --> 00:13:53,920 Ever seen? I'll take that avocado back to 223 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:56,800 our hotel and we get to participate in that is is just 224 00:13:56,800 --> 00:14:00,080 an amazing way to think differently and realize that you 225 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:02,640 know that we talk about this a lot on our trips and our teams 226 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:07,280 that we go is to be careful that the context of the culture just 227 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:08,760 because it's different doesn't make it wrong. 228 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:11,000 And that's true. That goes both ways, right. 229 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,040 So, so that goes, that's true for. 230 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:16,920 For if we are doing something in in Kenya that may be different 231 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:19,400 than the way they perceive it. We want to work with the pastor 232 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:22,000 to make sure we're not offensive but also make sure we're not 233 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:25,320 judging each other right unless it is truly wrong. 234 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:26,560 And then we want to address that too. 235 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:30,880 But, but the the idea that we're able to kind of see tithing is 236 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:33,560 different. But you have these families in 237 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:36,920 generosity who are ready to give with whatever they have. 238 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:39,040 Yeah. I know that was so impressive to 239 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:42,800 to me during our church service and it became time for the 240 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:45,480 offering and there was no passing of the plate. 241 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:47,720 People walked forward and there was. 242 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:50,400 There was an eagerness, there was a pride. 243 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:53,640 There was a pride in the best sense and there was a joy in 244 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:57,360 being able to take what what God had given them and give it back 245 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:00,040 to him and for the good of the local church. 246 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:02,280 It it really was a a beautiful, beautiful picture. 247 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:07,440 Well Bernard, as we wrap up, tell us what you are excited 248 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:13,000 about What what do you wake up and gives you energy and gives 249 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:18,520 you purpose as you think about where Lefty is and the next few 250 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:23,240 years of of of ministry? As I see somebody like Stephen 251 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:30,120 Monkey who is one of oversea graduates that have been able to 252 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:34,960 come through our program. Stephen graduated with college 253 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:44,520 with a diploma in construction building and gets an internship 254 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:49,280 with the county government to be able to be an instructor in a 255 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:56,240 vocational institute. In that institute we have about 256 00:15:56,360 --> 00:16:00,320 20. We had about 20 of our kids and 257 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:05,920 Steven has sessions every once every week to meet with those 258 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:10,520 kids and decipher them. He's now done completed that so 259 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:15,840 he's moved now to Neri where in the neighborhood we also have a 260 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:18,680 vocational school and we have some students and Stephen 261 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:23,720 mentoring other of we sees to see that and knowing that 262 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:30,440 Stephen did not have a father. If this intervention did not 263 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:33,880 happen, Stephen would not have been what he yesterday. 264 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:38,800 As I see Stephen leading worship and playing keyboard with a 265 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:42,920 colonia or at near the Baptist Church now and leading in the 266 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:48,560 youth ministry at nearly Baptist Church making a difference that 267 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:53,120 that that excites me. As I think also of Stephen 268 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:59,560 Watertuma another pastor who is a part of Pastoral Institute. 269 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:06,480 And I've seen his church grow from 60 membership to now 270 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:14,599 running over 200 and daring enough to apply what he has 271 00:17:14,599 --> 00:17:18,960 learnt in the 15 years of our partnership and what is learning 272 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:22,920 today, apply it in his church and see that happening. 273 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:27,079 So within Kenya where the fellowship of about 18 churches 274 00:17:27,839 --> 00:17:32,360 there is already a movement of discipling men. 275 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:34,520 They have adopted men's routable. 276 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:39,640 So we are calling it brotherhood and adopted the logo that you 277 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:42,360 guys used to do over the authentic man the route table 278 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:45,840 and seeing that and seeing a rally of men. 279 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:52,040 And the other day I was invited to address the subject on, you 280 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:54,400 know, being a Christian and addressing the issues of 281 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:59,960 traditional Kikuyu culture and they are leading that that that 282 00:17:59,960 --> 00:18:04,680 excites me. When I think about 5 hour drive 283 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:11,520 away in Marra where we have ASAP Trevor, the Maasai and currently 284 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:15,920 out South of the Baptist Mission work started outreach there. 285 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:22,360 They're no longer there. But we have done training and in 286 00:18:22,360 --> 00:18:26,640 the last five years we have had a motive, a doubling of the 287 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:28,800 number of churches. But they're taking their 288 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:33,800 leadership that that excites me. But even what more excites me is 289 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:40,760 God's faithfulness and that God in our obedience as we have been 290 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:46,080 loyal and pursuing his calling. God has been so faithful and I 291 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:52,640 have no reason to doubt. And part of this partnership is 292 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:54,360 is God's answer. I mean, the fact that I'm 293 00:18:54,360 --> 00:19:02,840 sitting here and recovering and experience and overwhelming love 294 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:05,440 and I don't have my family. My wife is not here. 295 00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:10,400 My children are not here. But Grace family has just behold 296 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:13,880 me with their love that that excites me. 297 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:15,640 Yeah. So I have every reason, yeah. 298 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:17,800 Yeah, yeah. We may we just want to mention 299 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:19,560 that you've you had some recent surgery. 300 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:21,920 That's right. And God has provided some some 301 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:24,840 specialized care here in the US. Absolutely. 302 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:27,920 And things are going well. Praise God and. 303 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:32,240 Just another Just another reminder of just God's goodness 304 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:35,600 and God's intimacy and all those details. 305 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:38,920 And yeah, that is part of the reason why we get to have you 306 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:41,360 here 8000 miles from home. Praise God, man. 307 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:44,200 Yeah. And then Ryan, I did want you to 308 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:47,360 share, You've mentioned Rwanda a couple of times, but you, you 309 00:19:47,360 --> 00:19:51,880 saw a picture of what Bernard just said as a group of Kenyans 310 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:56,320 was even kind of transferring some of this local church 311 00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:58,160 knowledge to Rwanda. What was, what was that like? 312 00:19:58,160 --> 00:19:59,200 What was that about? Oh yeah. 313 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:02,080 Oh man, it was so we had such a great trip. 314 00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:05,080 It was first week of December last year. 315 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:08,200 We we took five Grace team members over. 316 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:13,080 So it was myself and another layperson at the David Miller 317 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:17,560 from the the Taylor's campus. We had Shannon Foster and Taylor 318 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:20,320 Sorenson from Spartanburg and then Derek. 319 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:23,120 Nelson went with us as. Well, so you know you look at 320 00:20:23,120 --> 00:20:26,720 that team and and so that we went over we had about 20 321 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:31,560 Kenyans that came took a a harrowing bus ride to get there 322 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:34,800 to join us we had is. There any other kind, right? 323 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:36,920 I think it was a lot better trip on the way back than it was on 324 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:38,840 the way there was. There was yeah so. 325 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:42,040 So that was a rough one, right. And then a gentleman from Uganda 326 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:47,120 came and then we had about 20 or so Rwandans and this was pastors 327 00:20:47,120 --> 00:20:49,720 and wives and we had a few that were just pastors that were 328 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:51,600 their wives weren't able to come for various reasons. 329 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:55,360 But so we we gather and and the focus of our conversation is 330 00:20:55,360 --> 00:20:58,960 around biblical manhood and womanhood what it looks like to 331 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:02,720 to lead a family parenting and then a little bit of a session 332 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:04,440 on marriage. And so we covered covered a a 333 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:09,680 very kind of wide range, very high level I would say of of 334 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:13,240 those topics, right, not over 2 days of teaching. 335 00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:16,080 There's not tons of time to get into the weeds of all of that. 336 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:18,600 So these are these are local church leaders who are going to 337 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:21,960 a a neighboring country to love and serve the local church 338 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:23,760 there. And so it was great because we 339 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:27,320 had the five of us kind of took a lot of that sort of topical 340 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:30,920 teaching and then our our Kenyan brothers and sisters LED they 341 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:33,400 were they were teaching and preaching in the churches there 342 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:36,760 in Rwanda they would give testimony they would lead 343 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:39,840 morning Chapel at the group. And so at that point now we have 344 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:42,240 brothers and sisters from different countries and 345 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:46,080 different cultures coming together to to teach together, 346 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:49,600 to learn together and to worship together And so it it was 347 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:52,000 amazing right. And then you got to see as we 348 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:55,200 close that that teaching session out or that institute out we saw 349 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:59,440 some really amazing worship happen and and kind of each 350 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:03,400 culture showing how they might do it with hopefully us non 351 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:05,760 dancing Americans able to get out of it a little bit. 352 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:09,440 But but it was just a great time to be partnered with our 353 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:13,400 brothers and sisters from Kenya and working towards helping now 354 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:16,400 replicate A partnership there in Rwanda. 355 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:17,720 That's beautiful. Yeah. 356 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:21,200 Yeah. Well, one thing we want for 357 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:25,920 anyone listening is for your vision of God and what it means 358 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:27,720 to be a global Christian to really grow. 359 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:31,400 That's right. And to see these men and women 360 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:35,400 that are serving around the world and we have a number of 361 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:38,760 partnerships. But to see them as family, to be 362 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:41,120 able to to hear their voice when that when we have the 363 00:22:41,120 --> 00:22:44,880 opportunity to be able to follow and and see pictures and and 364 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:47,400 hear stories. So that we would know. 365 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:50,080 So that we would know. So that we would care. 366 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:53,680 So that we would pray, most importantly, so that we would be 367 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:58,440 partners in prayer and and celebrate and grieve just like 368 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:00,240 we would our own personal family. 369 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:05,760 This is the family of faith. And Bernard, I'm so glad, so, so 370 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:08,360 glad to see you. This has been a wonderful 371 00:23:08,360 --> 00:23:10,400 conversation. We could, we could sit here and 372 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:14,080 we probably will sit here a little bit longer and just tell 373 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:18,600 stories And and you know, I've had a chance this summer to walk 374 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:21,360 and literally to walk in Bernard's footsteps as I'm 375 00:23:21,360 --> 00:23:25,160 following him down some very steep hills in the central 376 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:28,440 Highlands, going from house to house where he just most 377 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:33,200 intimately knows the families and their situations and the the 378 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:35,880 children. And we're celebrating the growth 379 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:39,280 that he's seen over years. And it's it's it's real, it's 380 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:42,280 tangible, it's encouraging. And so I just want to thank you 381 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:47,480 personally as one who's seen life transformation from the 382 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:50,440 hospitality that you and your team has provided for us. 383 00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:53,480 We're going to commit to to praying for a number of the 384 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:56,720 things that we've talked about and our church is going to 385 00:23:56,720 --> 00:23:59,480 commit to praying. But would you end our time by 386 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:00,920 praying for us? Sure. 387 00:24:01,120 --> 00:24:04,200 And and just bless us with that, please. 388 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:08,600 Sure. God our Father, you are so 389 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:14,560 awesome and we rejoice just so. The privilege that God in your 390 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:20,360 sovereign power you have chosen us as your vessels at such a 391 00:24:20,360 --> 00:24:23,480 time as this. God, you have enabled us to 392 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:27,560 relate together as their children our particular thank 393 00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:31,320 you for the Grace family. We want to thank you for the 394 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:34,840 leadership and every person that is part of this family. 395 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:37,400 We pray a very special blessing upon them. 396 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:42,440 Thank you, God, for the connection that you established 397 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:47,560 and they've continued to keep. And we give you praise even for 398 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:50,840 the fruit that continues to come out of that partnership. 399 00:24:51,360 --> 00:24:54,040 I want to thank you for everyone that continues to give their 400 00:24:54,040 --> 00:25:00,200 time and money and resources, oh God, towards this very great 401 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:05,560 engagement. And, Father, I pray that Lord, 402 00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:08,640 you will pray, bless every family, that you bless every 403 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:12,880 individual, that they will continue to grow in you, that 404 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:16,520 you favorably your favor will be upon them, and that God you 405 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:19,480 grant them the blessings that come from above. 406 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:24,240 We pray, Father, at this Church, the family that will continue to 407 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:28,240 be one, that will continue to be focused, being loyal to you and 408 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:31,320 being engaged in that which you've called them to be. 409 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:35,920 And, Father, we look forward to the day when we shall all gather 410 00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:39,960 together and a place that will never depart again, a place 411 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:41,600 where we will not have to suffer again. 412 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:45,160 We don't have to care, oh God, for the issues and the 413 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:47,240 challenges that fallenness has caused. 414 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:50,680 But we pray that Lord, you keep us faithful and you keep us 415 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:53,520 strong to the glory and honor of your name. 416 00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:55,240 And in Jesus name I pray. Amen. 417 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:57,480 Amen. Thank you. 418 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:03,600 We're here with Chris Stonecker. And Chris, you have been members 419 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:07,200 here along with your husband Bob, for 24 years at Grace 420 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:09,360 Church. But this was your first mission 421 00:26:09,360 --> 00:26:11,480 trip, so tell us a little bit about that. 422 00:26:12,120 --> 00:26:16,120 Yes, this was the first time that I've ever felt called to go 423 00:26:16,120 --> 00:26:19,080 on a mission trip. I've always felt that there was 424 00:26:19,080 --> 00:26:23,520 a lot to do in the community and church, to serve locally and I 425 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:25,760 have in various roles. But this is the first time that 426 00:26:25,760 --> 00:26:29,240 I felt the nudge or the call to go, and I just stepped out in 427 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:31,920 obedience. And it was a blessing, for sure. 428 00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:35,280 That's awesome. And so I know that as the team 429 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:37,880 comes together, there are different responsibilities that 430 00:26:37,880 --> 00:26:41,280 happened before the trip, and then different responsibilities 431 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:43,240 that happen while the trip is going on. 432 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:46,040 So tell us kind of what roles you played with this specific 433 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:50,360 team that just returned? OK, yes, our leaders on the trip 434 00:26:50,360 --> 00:26:54,240 were John Childress and Jeff Osborne and they did an amazing 435 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:56,280 job. They were wonderful leaders and 436 00:26:56,280 --> 00:27:00,000 they did a good job of keeping us Christ centered throughout 437 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:03,760 the whole before, during and after the trip. 438 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:07,240 And one of the things that they had asked me to do to take some 439 00:27:07,240 --> 00:27:10,600 weight off of them was to send out a daily reminder. 440 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:14,280 We were all asked to sign up for one day where we would fast and 441 00:27:14,280 --> 00:27:20,200 pray for our team, for Pastor Moses and Bernard and Kenya team 442 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:24,480 and the pastors that we would be working with. 443 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:28,520 And while we were praying, the other team members on our team 444 00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:33,240 would be praying for us. And so they asked if I would 445 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:36,080 send out the daily reminder and then if I would send out some 446 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:38,680 devotions. And I was saying to John, oh, 447 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:40,880 and you'll send me something and I can send it out. 448 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:42,720 And he's like, yes, but you can write them, you know. 449 00:27:43,120 --> 00:27:45,960 And so when I get off the phone and I look at the things that he 450 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:48,640 sent, I realized I just signed up to write 21 Days of 451 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:52,560 Devotions, which I panicked at first because I'm not a writer 452 00:27:52,560 --> 00:27:54,600 and I don't feel like that's really my gifting. 453 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:58,760 But after I just really prayed about it, talked to my husband, 454 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:01,440 I realized God's just asking me to be a willing instrument that 455 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:05,240 he could use. And Jeff was and John were 456 00:28:05,240 --> 00:28:08,880 really big on the whole time us abiding in Christ. 457 00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:12,440 And that's one of my favorite verses as well as John 15-5 that 458 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:16,400 he's the vine, we're the branches and we are to remain in 459 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:21,400 him and we'll bear fruit. And that dependence on Him was 460 00:28:21,800 --> 00:28:24,600 what we all were learning throughout the process of 461 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:26,600 preparing to go and while we were there. 462 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:29,080 But that definitely came true for me with the devotions. 463 00:28:29,080 --> 00:28:31,600 But I see God's hand in it because I was doing reading 464 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:34,880 through the scriptures, and a lot of the material that I used 465 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:38,600 or that God gave me for the devotions were coming from the 466 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:40,640 reading of the scriptures that we were reading. 467 00:28:41,040 --> 00:28:43,920 And I would just spend time praying and seeking the Lord, 468 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:46,920 what He would want me to say, what verse, what message. 469 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:49,120 And he was faithful to give that to me. 470 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:51,440 And then I have a supportive husband that would do some 471 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:52,720 editing for him too. So. 472 00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:55,200 But. Anyway, I think that's an 473 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:58,440 important part. As these teams come together, 474 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:02,840 they really spent a lot of time preparing for one, praying for 475 00:29:02,840 --> 00:29:05,760 one another and praying for the mission field. 476 00:29:06,280 --> 00:29:10,880 And so this is a medical trip and are you medical, Chris? 477 00:29:11,040 --> 00:29:15,720 I am not medical and so I was just a support person and I 478 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:19,280 wasn't sure what my role would be, but I was excited. 479 00:29:19,280 --> 00:29:24,440 The other responsibility that I had was I was on a triage team 480 00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:28,000 with Sydney and Sharon and myself, Sydney being the only 481 00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:32,320 medical person on the team and Sharon and I were just there and 482 00:29:32,320 --> 00:29:36,800 she trained us how to do blood pressure and temperature and 483 00:29:36,800 --> 00:29:40,800 weight and pulse. But then we also, with the 484 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:43,320 assistance of one of the pastors, we each were assigned a 485 00:29:43,320 --> 00:29:48,720 pastor that interpreted for us the top one or two medical needs 486 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:52,480 that the people had. And so it was really neat to be 487 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:54,840 able to interact with them. And I love that. 488 00:29:54,840 --> 00:29:59,120 Meet all of them, Yeah. So when Bernard was here, as we 489 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:03,480 just heard from him, he talked about the importance of of these 490 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:07,200 trips and how partnering with the local church, how these 491 00:30:07,200 --> 00:30:11,960 trips really give voice and give witness in a specific way to the 492 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:14,480 gospel to these communities. Can you talk a little bit about 493 00:30:14,480 --> 00:30:17,960 how you saw that play out between the community members 494 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:22,360 and the church members? Yes, I really feel like I got to 495 00:30:22,360 --> 00:30:24,760 see the body of Christ in action. 496 00:30:24,880 --> 00:30:30,480 I really saw how we were partnering with the pastors who 497 00:30:30,480 --> 00:30:33,320 were coming also for medical care, about 30 of them. 498 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:36,080 That is their medical care, and they come twice a year to serve 499 00:30:36,080 --> 00:30:39,080 in the medical clinics, but then they spend the night in the 500 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:42,880 church and they serve and partner with us and they are our 501 00:30:42,880 --> 00:30:46,160 interpreters for the week. And many of them are farmers and 502 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:48,920 they've left their farms to come and serve for the week, which is 503 00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:51,480 really humbling to see. You know that let me pause right 504 00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:53,360 here because that I don't know that that came up in our 505 00:30:53,360 --> 00:30:57,360 conversation with Bernard. But we have have seen that A, A, 506 00:30:57,520 --> 00:31:01,920 a major, a major component to the health of the spiritual 507 00:31:01,920 --> 00:31:06,160 community is the health of the leaders and medical care is 508 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:10,080 something that is sparse. And so as you mentioned, 30 509 00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:14,440 different pastors came and they they are seen twice a year by 510 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:18,000 the teams that go from grace, which keeps them healthy, which 511 00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:21,080 keeps them living longer, which keeps them serving and leading 512 00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:24,080 their congregations longer. That is just a unique aspect of 513 00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:27,360 what we've been able to do, you know, obviously by God's grace 514 00:31:27,400 --> 00:31:30,720 and because we have so many wonderful medical personnel in 515 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:34,320 our church. And so I didn't actually had not 516 00:31:34,320 --> 00:31:36,320 really thought about that part until you just said it. 517 00:31:36,320 --> 00:31:42,120 So then that becomes a Co labor base for you as they are 518 00:31:42,120 --> 00:31:44,400 interpreting and connecting the dots. 519 00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:45,840 OK. So continue on, yeah. 520 00:31:46,400 --> 00:31:49,640 It was surprising to learn that the people in the community, 521 00:31:49,640 --> 00:31:51,760 they do not even have access to Advil. 522 00:31:52,080 --> 00:31:55,880 And just how spoiled we are that we can just run down to CVS and 523 00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:59,640 get Advil or go to the doctor if we need to and they just don't 524 00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:01,520 have access. In fact, while we were there, 525 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:05,160 many of the doctors are on strike in Kenya right now. 526 00:32:05,360 --> 00:32:07,600 Oh wow, because they're wanting better pay. 527 00:32:08,360 --> 00:32:12,880 And so it even limits them more how they do not have medical 528 00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:15,360 care. But so it was really neat to 529 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:19,520 partner with them. And also the women in the church 530 00:32:19,840 --> 00:32:22,800 with we're spending the night and they were cooking for us. 531 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:26,080 And it was just neat to see how the whole body of Christ was 532 00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:28,200 working together. We came to serve them, but they 533 00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:30,640 were blessing us and serving us as well. 534 00:32:31,080 --> 00:32:34,120 And just how we had an instant bond with them in Christ. 535 00:32:34,160 --> 00:32:37,360 Our team had already been bonding through the praying and 536 00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:41,120 our meetings together. But how we had this instant bond 537 00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:43,360 with the people there. Because of Christ. 538 00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:44,840 Yeah. And just seeing the body of 539 00:32:44,840 --> 00:32:49,200 Christ at work was neat. Tell us a couple of the 540 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:51,680 challenges that you had and then didn't. 541 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:55,600 Tell us a few of the most memorable stories that you have. 542 00:32:55,760 --> 00:32:57,400 OK. What were some of the tougher 543 00:32:57,400 --> 00:32:59,960 parts? The challenge, the biggest 544 00:32:59,960 --> 00:33:04,200 challenge for me was we were able to go to a lot of the OVC 545 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:08,280 homes because a lot of our members were sponsoring OVC 546 00:33:08,280 --> 00:33:11,840 children and we got to actually go to their homes and it was 547 00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:16,680 very humbling to see the dirt floors, to see that they live in 548 00:33:17,040 --> 00:33:21,680 metal roofs with three rooms. Traditionally the main living 549 00:33:21,680 --> 00:33:26,080 area maybe have plastic chairs would be their living area with 550 00:33:26,080 --> 00:33:31,200 maybe a coffee type table and then a room on the right would 551 00:33:31,200 --> 00:33:33,560 be where the parents bedroom would be in the room on the left 552 00:33:33,560 --> 00:33:35,560 for the children. We did not really get to see 553 00:33:35,560 --> 00:33:38,440 their rooms. I'm not sure their conditions, 554 00:33:38,440 --> 00:33:41,320 but they do not have running water. 555 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:44,480 Many of them have to walk to a well to get the water. 556 00:33:45,840 --> 00:33:48,960 They don't have a kitchen outside that cook on a fire. 557 00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:51,360 And their sustenance is really what they can. 558 00:33:51,560 --> 00:33:53,720 Grow a lot of. It's what they grow. 559 00:33:53,720 --> 00:33:57,520 One of the pastors, that was my interpreter, Peter, he was 560 00:33:57,520 --> 00:34:01,000 sharing that the way they make a little extra money is whatever 561 00:34:01,640 --> 00:34:05,960 extra produce they have and also milking a cow and a goat. 562 00:34:05,960 --> 00:34:09,520 His wife and children will go sell at the little local store 563 00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:12,560 and then he's farming and they all farm as well. 564 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:17,360 The lady that we visited, her form of income was selling 565 00:34:17,360 --> 00:34:19,760 chicken intestines. Wow, yeah. 566 00:34:19,880 --> 00:34:24,719 Yeah, literally pennies. But but that's that's what she 567 00:34:24,719 --> 00:34:30,400 did. And so very industrious folks. 568 00:34:30,760 --> 00:34:34,960 Very industrious folks. And taking what they have and 569 00:34:34,960 --> 00:34:38,760 and so think about the story that Bernard shared earlier 570 00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:42,159 about the the The Goat project and why that is such a blessing 571 00:34:42,159 --> 00:34:44,040 to have for these for these families. 572 00:34:44,560 --> 00:34:47,719 So that's the challenge just to get to see used to that type of 573 00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:49,159 of poverty and living conditions. 574 00:34:49,159 --> 00:34:53,880 Seeing the poverty really made me realize how I've taken, you 575 00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:56,960 know, a car for granted. Most people walk. 576 00:34:57,440 --> 00:35:00,840 In fact, I met a lady at the church that walks 2 hours to get 577 00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:05,080 to Panda Baptist Church on a Sunday and I was thinking, well, 578 00:35:05,120 --> 00:35:08,080 if we all had to walk to church 2 hours, how many people would 579 00:35:08,080 --> 00:35:10,760 come, you know? And just how? 580 00:35:10,760 --> 00:35:16,080 I've taken electricity and plumbing and fresh tap water and 581 00:35:16,080 --> 00:35:19,320 furniture and floors because most of their homes are dirt 582 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:23,720 floors and metal roofs. And it was just humbling and a 583 00:35:23,720 --> 00:35:27,440 good reminder how I've taken a lot of those things for granted 584 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:29,440 and how blessed we truly are here. 585 00:35:29,520 --> 00:35:33,000 Yeah, when we were there. Passages like First Timothy 6. 586 00:35:33,520 --> 00:35:35,800 You know godliness with contentment is great gain. 587 00:35:36,280 --> 00:35:37,920 You know you brought nothing in the world. 588 00:35:38,040 --> 00:35:41,120 You can take nothing with you if you have food and clothing. 589 00:35:41,120 --> 00:35:43,840 Let us be content with that. And you would see these living 590 00:35:43,840 --> 00:35:47,160 examples of folks that would have food and clothing, and it 591 00:35:47,160 --> 00:35:51,280 might be daily bread, might be day by day, but the level of joy 592 00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:55,920 and contentment they had it was it was corrective for me as 593 00:35:55,920 --> 00:35:58,000 well. Yes, that was very inspirational 594 00:35:58,000 --> 00:36:01,000 to see the joy and contentment that they truly are depending on 595 00:36:01,000 --> 00:36:05,640 the Lord for their daily bread and they depend on him as 596 00:36:05,640 --> 00:36:08,720 farmers for rain, for their crops and everything. 597 00:36:08,720 --> 00:36:13,000 It was really neat to see and I was feeling a little bit spoiled 598 00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:17,640 or guilty and Bernard just said now don't feel guilty because 599 00:36:17,640 --> 00:36:20,440 God does ordain where we're all to be born. 600 00:36:20,680 --> 00:36:25,920 But what can you do? And so it made me really want to 601 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:30,880 pray for them for for one thing, but sponsor an OBC child because 602 00:36:30,880 --> 00:36:34,520 I realized I would love to help them all, but I could do for one 603 00:36:34,520 --> 00:36:37,640 what I wish I could do for all. And so those. 604 00:36:37,760 --> 00:36:39,640 That was probably one of the more challenging. 605 00:36:39,640 --> 00:36:43,080 And I also learned that 40% of Kenyans live below the poverty 606 00:36:43,080 --> 00:36:46,720 line. So just seeing that along the 607 00:36:46,720 --> 00:36:49,200 way, each step of the way was was humbling. 608 00:36:49,200 --> 00:36:51,440 But yeah, like you said, the joy was there. 609 00:36:51,440 --> 00:36:53,400 So they had a lot to teach us as well. 610 00:36:53,680 --> 00:36:56,280 Tell us about some of the some of the folks that you met and 611 00:36:56,280 --> 00:36:57,720 what you learned from them along the way. 612 00:36:57,880 --> 00:37:01,360 Yes. So when we went to church, of 613 00:37:01,480 --> 00:37:04,080 course Kenya time, they're very laid back with time. 614 00:37:04,160 --> 00:37:07,000 I said what time is church? And there really is no set time 615 00:37:07,280 --> 00:37:08,720 and church went for three plus hours. 616 00:37:08,720 --> 00:37:10,480 But they really worshiped with their awe. 617 00:37:10,480 --> 00:37:14,440 They were clapping and singing and dancing, and each age group 618 00:37:14,800 --> 00:37:18,200 sang for us and quoted scripture and we worship together. 619 00:37:18,200 --> 00:37:21,560 And that was also a neat glimpse of just seeing what heaven will 620 00:37:21,560 --> 00:37:25,720 be like that one day there will be every tribe, nation and 621 00:37:25,720 --> 00:37:28,440 tongue, and we're one church worshipping together. 622 00:37:28,440 --> 00:37:30,920 So that was really neat. But I did meet a couple of 623 00:37:30,920 --> 00:37:33,440 people, had some neat conversations. 624 00:37:33,440 --> 00:37:36,560 One of them was Kevin. He was a OBC graduate. 625 00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:41,600 He started the program when he was 10 years old and now he's 27 626 00:37:42,080 --> 00:37:45,240 and his father was absent. And he commented how Bernard was 627 00:37:45,240 --> 00:37:48,960 his spiritual father and just seeing how Grace and OBC has 628 00:37:48,960 --> 00:37:51,920 impacted his life, he's been able to go on and get an 629 00:37:51,920 --> 00:37:55,440 education and have now a lab technician degree. 630 00:37:56,000 --> 00:37:59,320 And he actually worked a double shift the week before so that he 631 00:37:59,320 --> 00:38:03,680 could travel by bus many miles to come and serve at our medical 632 00:38:03,680 --> 00:38:07,320 camp in the lab. And that really inspired me and 633 00:38:08,160 --> 00:38:11,640 it showed me the need and the impact that Grace and OBC is 634 00:38:11,640 --> 00:38:13,600 having. And he's really the inspiration 635 00:38:13,600 --> 00:38:15,360 of why I wanted to sponsor a child. 636 00:38:15,360 --> 00:38:18,080 In fact, I talked to Bernard about it while we were there. 637 00:38:18,520 --> 00:38:23,280 And then also Pastor Steven stood out to me, had an amazing 638 00:38:23,280 --> 00:38:27,320 conversation with him and he was just saying how Grace Church has 639 00:38:27,320 --> 00:38:31,520 impacted his marriage and him transformed his thinking through 640 00:38:31,520 --> 00:38:35,720 Men's roundtable and his wife through his there and how now he 641 00:38:35,720 --> 00:38:38,680 is passing that on to his congregation and his youth 642 00:38:38,680 --> 00:38:40,960 pastors, passing it on to the youth. 643 00:38:41,600 --> 00:38:44,920 And he was just really inspirational and very 644 00:38:44,920 --> 00:38:48,040 passionate and saying that we are standing with Grace Church 645 00:38:48,040 --> 00:38:51,880 on the word of God and we are one church and we are praying 646 00:38:51,880 --> 00:38:54,400 and caring about the things that you care about as a church. 647 00:38:54,400 --> 00:38:57,080 And he mentioned praying for Chuck Arnold and Lori Faye when 648 00:38:57,080 --> 00:38:59,760 she was sick. And that really was 649 00:38:59,760 --> 00:39:03,400 inspirational for me, to see that we are one church and in 650 00:39:03,400 --> 00:39:06,040 God's Kingdom there are no boundaries or borders. 651 00:39:06,520 --> 00:39:12,000 That's a beautiful picture and they do know us by name, we know 652 00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:15,400 them by name. It has been as we mentioned 653 00:39:15,400 --> 00:39:18,880 previously a 15 year partnership that we've been really blessed 654 00:39:18,880 --> 00:39:24,360 to have and I'm so glad that you got to go, go see and going to 655 00:39:24,360 --> 00:39:29,360 Kenya may not be for everyone. Obviously we have a number of 656 00:39:29,360 --> 00:39:33,000 partnerships both internationally and here 657 00:39:33,000 --> 00:39:36,440 locally. What would you say, Chris, as we 658 00:39:36,440 --> 00:39:40,400 kind of summarize, what would you say as an encouragement to 659 00:39:40,400 --> 00:39:45,480 someone who is thinking about should they go, where should 660 00:39:45,480 --> 00:39:48,680 they go, how would, how, how would you encourage them based 661 00:39:48,680 --> 00:39:50,920 on some of the ways that God has been teaching you? 662 00:39:52,200 --> 00:39:54,040 I would encourage everybody to go. 663 00:39:54,120 --> 00:39:57,920 It was an amazing experience. It exceeded my expectations all 664 00:39:57,920 --> 00:40:02,080 around the food, everything, the people were amazing. 665 00:40:02,080 --> 00:40:06,240 Our team was amazing. Just every aspect was amazing. 666 00:40:06,240 --> 00:40:09,720 And I would just say step out of your comfort zone and go because 667 00:40:09,720 --> 00:40:12,280 it is stretching you out of your comfort zone. 668 00:40:12,600 --> 00:40:15,840 But it's also a neat adventure with God just depending on him 669 00:40:15,840 --> 00:40:19,080 and going with him and. Seeing how he's at work all 670 00:40:19,080 --> 00:40:20,920 around the world, yeah. It's really neat. 671 00:40:20,920 --> 00:40:23,920 And it started with you just being willing to listen, right? 672 00:40:24,400 --> 00:40:26,640 Create some space and being willing to listen and hear from 673 00:40:26,640 --> 00:40:28,200 God. Yes, for sure. 674 00:40:28,880 --> 00:40:33,200 I felt the nudge and got that confirmation and I just signed 675 00:40:33,200 --> 00:40:36,120 up and was obedient to go. And it was. 676 00:40:36,120 --> 00:40:39,000 It's definitely been a blessing and I'm so glad that I went on 677 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:41,440 the trip for sure. Well, and we're glad that you 678 00:40:41,440 --> 00:40:44,920 took a little bit of time this afternoon to come in and share 679 00:40:44,920 --> 00:40:46,920 some of your experiences. Anything else you want to share 680 00:40:46,920 --> 00:40:50,200 before we go? I guess at the end of the day, I 681 00:40:50,200 --> 00:40:51,960 feel like some of my takeaways are. 682 00:40:51,960 --> 00:40:54,840 I'm definitely finding myself praying more for Kenya and the 683 00:40:54,840 --> 00:40:57,200 people there. I know recently they had some 684 00:40:57,200 --> 00:41:00,520 flooding and they lost a lot of their homes. 685 00:41:00,520 --> 00:41:03,400 A lot of people are homeless. I've been keeping in touch 686 00:41:03,400 --> 00:41:06,120 through WhatsApp with Kevin, and he was sharing some of that with 687 00:41:06,120 --> 00:41:08,240 me. And then I would just encourage 688 00:41:08,240 --> 00:41:11,160 people that they're, if you would like to do something to 689 00:41:11,160 --> 00:41:13,320 help. OVC is a wonderful program and 690 00:41:13,320 --> 00:41:16,400 there really is a need and there really is a great impact that 691 00:41:16,400 --> 00:41:21,400 you can make sponsoring a child. And then it's made me more 692 00:41:21,560 --> 00:41:24,840 grateful to the Lord for every physical and spiritual blessing, 693 00:41:24,840 --> 00:41:29,440 just daily gratitude and then be a willing instrument that God 694 00:41:29,440 --> 00:41:31,360 can use. I think that's all He's asking 695 00:41:31,360 --> 00:41:34,080 us to do. But he is so faithful and then 696 00:41:34,080 --> 00:41:37,520 just daily abiding in him. That is, what we're here for is 697 00:41:37,520 --> 00:41:40,400 a relationship with him and to know him and to make him known. 698 00:41:41,080 --> 00:41:44,520 It's a good word and we'll have some specific information and 699 00:41:44,520 --> 00:41:47,120 links in the show notes. If you are interested in getting 700 00:41:47,520 --> 00:41:51,080 more involved, we would love to help you along that journey. 701 00:41:51,400 --> 00:41:52,840 So thank you, Chris. Thanks for being. 702 00:41:52,840 --> 00:41:53,840 Here thanks for having me.