Kenya Mission Team – An Amazing Experience!
“Wazungus!” This surprise comment greeted the Kenyan mission team from St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel several times, as they spent a week and a half in May serving and living on the eastern side of the African continent. “Wazungus” translates to “white people” – an uncommon site in the remote areas of Kenya. Fair skin, blonde and red hair, and blue eyes were fascinating especially to the children, who clamored to touch team members in an attempt to see if, indeed, their skin and hair were “real.” And yet, looking and sounding different gave the mission team the opportunity to meet and form relationships with the people of the village they served.
For 10 days after classes ended last spring, a team of students from St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel in Iowa City traveled to Kenya to serve in the village of fellow chapelite, Martin Mwangi-Thuo. The team stayed with Martin’s family in Nyacaba, which is about 90 minutes northwest of Nairobi. Martin’s mother hosted the students and did an outstanding job of organizing the team’s responsibilities and service while in Kenya. While in Nyacaba, the mission team taught religion classes at the local primary schools. Using songs, skits, and simple lesson materials, the team focused on the three Persons of the Trinity, highlighting Jesus’ death and resurrection. The team also delivered donations which they had collected, including books for the school, shoes, pens, and other needed supplies.
In addition to long hours of serving, the team was able to enjoy the remarkable beauty of Kenya. They visited The Fourteen Falls, stood on the equator, and spent time sightseeing in Nairobi. The college students were also able to go on safari just before heading back to the States, observing elephants, gazelles, zebras, impalas, and many other amazing creatures in their natural habitat.
The trip to Kenya was the experience of a lifetime, and the mission team wants to extend heartfelt gratitude once again to all the people who helped them. Many, many thanks are extended to the congregations and LWML’s of both IDE and IDW, Thrivent Financial, and the families and friends who supported this mission trip with their donations and prayers.
“Wazungus!” This surprise comment greeted the Kenyan mission team from St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel several times, as they spent a week and a half in May serving and living on the eastern side of the African continent. “Wazungus” translates to “white people” – an uncommon site in the remote areas of Kenya. Fair skin, blonde and red hair, and blue eyes were fascinating especially to the children, who clamored to touch team members in an attempt to see if, indeed, their skin and hair were “real.” And yet, looking and sounding different gave the mission team the opportunity to meet and form relationships with the people of the village they served.
For 10 days after classes ended last spring, a team of students from St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel in Iowa City traveled to Kenya to serve in the village of fellow chapelite, Martin Mwangi-Thuo. The team stayed with Martin’s family in Nyacaba, which is about 90 minutes northwest of Nairobi. Martin’s mother hosted the students and did an outstanding job of organizing the team’s responsibilities and service while in Kenya. While in Nyacaba, the mission team taught religion classes at the local primary schools. Using songs, skits, and simple lesson materials, the team focused on the three Persons of the Trinity, highlighting Jesus’ death and resurrection. The team also delivered donations which they had collected, including books for the school, shoes, pens, and other needed supplies.
In addition to long hours of serving, the team was able to enjoy the remarkable beauty of Kenya. They visited The Fourteen Falls, stood on the equator, and spent time sightseeing in Nairobi. The college students were also able to go on safari just before heading back to the States, observing elephants, gazelles, zebras, impalas, and many other amazing creatures in their natural habitat.
The trip to Kenya was the experience of a lifetime, and the mission team wants to extend heartfelt gratitude once again to all the people who helped them. Many, many thanks are extended to the congregations and LWML’s of both IDE and IDW, Thrivent Financial, and the families and friends who supported this mission trip with their donations and prayers.
