Heading Out...

We're counting down the minutes until we leave. Everyone on the team (I assume) is quite excited, though the travel (24 hour trip) and the immediate culture shock will most definitely leave us in need of heavy prayer. We will be constantly updating throughout the trip with pictures and details. Thank you to everyone who helped donate. God has been so very good.

As a group (and with the Kenyan people) we will be studying the Lord's Prayer. As we will be in need of immense prayer, I'll leave you readers and good people with the following excerpt from Meditations on Divine Mercy:

O Kindest Father, God of all hope and comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3), grant to me life-giving and true peace of conscience in all the difficulties of life. My heart is full of anxieties, but Your comforts are able to delight my soul (Psalm 94:19).

via Brandon Dickerson...

Brandon Dickerson sent this over to the team. He is in Kenya now paving the way for awesomeness.

Prayer

As we are heading toward the final days of preparation for the trip to Kenya, I just wanted to remind everyone that prayer really is the most important thing that we need. Everyone seems to have different things that are weighing on them as we approach. As weighty as these things may be, it is important for us all to remember the Kenyan people we will be working with in the coming weeks. Milan Cronovich (team member, thespian, all-around straight shooter) has been very good about forwarding articles that deal with the many issues our Kenyan brothers and sisters deal with on a daily basis. I'm linking one of the articles below. It is not meant to shock. It is my hope that the specifics might provide some concrete basis for the prayers that we will need for protection and that the Kenyan people need for perseverance.

Kenya's Witch Lynchings

Concert for Kenya Wrap!

Thank you to everyone for coming out to the Concert for Kenya last Sunday. The night was a success, money was raised, and fun was had by all. We are progressing in our financial goal, but could still really use the help-- so, if you feel inclined, click on the PayPal link and donate a little something.

We'd also like to extend a special thanks to Spaceland... and to rock and roll troubadours Deep Sea Diver, We Barbarians, and The Rio Bravo.

Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!

If you want to buy the ticket presale, drop me (jessegloyd@gmail.com) an email or leave a comment and we'll figure something out. We want you (the collective you) to be there!

Coming Soon!

HIV and AIDS Facts

Here are some sobering numbers related to AIDS/ HIV in the area we will be working this summer...

Kenya AIDS facts (2007):

People living with HIV/AIDS: 1.5 - 2,000,000
Women with HIV/AIDS: 800,000 - 1,100,000
Children with HIV/AIDS: 130,000 - 180,000
AIDS deaths: 85,000 - 130,000
Orphans due to AIDS: 990,000 - 1,400,000

Kibera facts:

Located in the center of Nairobi, Kenya
Largest Slum in Africa
Population is about 1 million people
The size of Kibera is about 75% of the area of Central Park
2/3 of the people living in Kibera do the "flying toilet" (which is deficating in a bag and then throwing it outside)
1/5 of Kenyans living with HIV/AIDS live Kibera