Church services

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Today our group broke into three smaller groups and went to three different small Masaii churches out in a rural area.  Jon and I and our kids were with Nicholas and Felix at the Mission International Christian Centre Church.  We discovered they had a number of people in the area with various disabilities.  One eight year old boy named John caught our attention immediately as it was obvious he had cerebral palsy and was being carried around by his mom and dad.  Others had some eye problems which appeared to be River Blindness...a result of something in the waters of their river.

They first brought us to talk with their children’s group.  I gave a brief testimony of our own kids disability and how God can use anyone, no matter what they are like to bring glory to Himself.  Jon then told the story of David and Goliath and how they should always be courageous knowing that the Lord will always help them through hardships.  We then went indoors for an amazing worship service full of singing and dancing.  It was really beautiful to see how they all worship.  Jon brought a message about loving your neighbors and told them how we have been praying for the Masaii tribe since we met Mama Ruth’s tribe back in Kenya in 2009.   He encouraged them to keep evangelizing to the Masaii and draw even more of their people into their small church to receive Christ.  This small little church was established in 2005 with only 2 adult believers and 2 children.  They now have about 40 adult believers and 20 children.  Please keep praying for them as they have many needs ...a roof for a permanent building they have been working on for about 10 years, instruments, an orphan center for the many orphans in their area, a bathroom, and other basic needs of the church.  Their pastor has to come from far away since they are in a remote location and the roads are very “interesting”.  We promised to meet an immediate need and bring back a wheelchair for the 8 year old John, so pray that we will find and purchase one before we leave and continue to pray that the Lord will provide for them.

We came back around 2 after the church services and had a quick lunch.  The group then went to a local market to shop for the afternoon and relax a bit.  This evening we had dinner and then practiced the music and skits for our VBS, which will start tomorrow.  Tomorrow morning we will be going back to the Leganga School for Disabled, where we worked last year.   Jon and I will be speaking to the parents of the disabled children while our students paint, play some games, and do some VBS songs and activities with them.  In the afternoon, we will be going to the Arusha Evangelical Lutheran Church to host a VBS.

We are all doing great, just a little worn out from early mornings, all day activity, and late evenings.
Thank you for the continued prayers, and Happy Fathers Day to all of you dads!

Sincerely,

Jenni Millet

Day two at Kindness Orphanage

    
Today was another great day at the Kindness Orphanage.  We started out our day with breakfast and a devotional about our purpose in life...to bring glory to God in whatever we do.  We then headed over to the orphanage for our second and final day there.  Brielle and Brooke took photos of all the children while the Millet kids got them all to smile.  Later I printed them out for them to keep.  They crowded around the printer and watched as each one came out.  It was really sweet how excited they were about having a picture of each of their little family to look at.

Most of our boys spent the morning with Brian and Steve using pick axes to chop through a concrete slab to put in posts for the awning we are putting over their outside kitchen area.  At some point, someone hit a water main, which was more like a black garden hose, so we had to make sure that was repaired.  In our teams defense, the water line was not marked and had a kind of loop in its path so nobody expected it to be there where it was hit.

Caroline, Nicholas, and Brielle spent most of the day painting a quick mural with a Psalm 139:14.  They also painted an acacia tree near the front doorway.  The rest of the team painted black footers around the inside of each room and played with the kids.  I did another short VBS story about Mary and Martha and how we should not get bogged down with worry.

The most exciting thing that happened today was when Brielle accidentally dropped her phone down the latrine and Steve just reached right down and grabbed it for her.  He’s such a missionary!  Haha.  Brielle might never be the same.

After lunch, we had a special treat that our friends, George and Felix arranged just for our son Marshall.  Most of you probably know that our kids have a disability and that Marshall has always loved fire stations.  Everywhere we go, we always have to stop at the local fire station so he can tell them hi.  So George and Felix had arranged with the local fire chief to do an official tour at the station.  He got to see all of the trucks and equipment, and officially sign their guest book.  They let the TCA students climb up on their practice tower for a photo and ended by shooting their water cannons off for Marshall to see.  It was such a treat for him and he was all smiles.

The team then went back to the orphanage and finished putting up the awning and gave out gift baskets to all of the kids. Candace Redden and her sweet class from TCA generously gathered beanie babies and school supplies so we were able to give each child a basket full of small toys and crayons, candy, and toothpaste and toothbrush kits.  Mostly, we hoped we left them reassured that Jesus loves and cares for them.

We then came back for dinner and our evening devotional.  The students are working so hard and are having so much fun loving on the kids here.  Thank you for allowing them to come with us!  Tomorrow we will head to 3 different Masaii - Christian churches where Steve, Jon, and Brian will each preach.  In the afternoon we will have some free time to go to the local market and relax for a bit.

Thank you so much for continuing to hold us up in prayer!

Sincerely,

Jenni Millet

Kindness Children Care Orphanage

Jambo!  Today was our first real day of ministry.  We all woke up feeling much better after a good nights sleep and a good breakfast.  Jon led our morning devotional and then we headed out on our team bus.

We spent today at the Kindness Children Care Orphanage.   They currently house about 40 kids aged 2 - 25 in a very small facility with only 4 bedrooms.  Each bedroom has two sets of bunkbeds and sleep as many as 14 kids in one room.  (2-3 Children per Bed).  The property they are on is rented so there is not a whole we can do to help with space, but we were able to paint all of the walls inside each of the bedrooms.  We broke into teams and the students took turns either painting with Jon and the other adults or outside playing with the kids with me.  We did a shortened version of our VBS programs teaching about the parables of the lost sheep, the woman with the lost coin, and the prodigal son and told them that if they have Jesus, they are never alone.  We played with the parachute, sang some songs, played lots of games like the old favorite, Bada Bada Goonie (Duck, Duck Goose), and mostly just loved on the kids.

Our students have been amazing, jumping right in to their work with great attitudes and helpful spirits.  They finished painting the inside walls and will be painting a mural tomorrow inside the main living area.  We have also agreed to help them place a metal awning roof across an area in the back where they cook and eat so they are able to eat and cook shielded from the elements.  Tomorrow will be our last day there as we will be focusing on the schools for Disabled next week.

Everyone is still doing well.  We celebrated Nicholas Wong’s birthday this evening after dinner but we did not request a “cake” because the last time we were offered Tanzanian cake it turned out to be a roasted goat staring at us.  It was delicious, but not the traditional birthday cake we are used to.  Nicholas graciously came along with our group as a TCA graduate sponsor this year since we needed more adults and he has been a fantastic help to us already!  Happy Birthday Nicholas!  Also, happy Birthday to my brother, Kelly Green back in Dallas.

I don’t know how many know this, but this year we were scheduled to have one of our long time favorite sponsors, Ty Westfall, go along on the trip as our one and only additional sponsor from home.  But just 3 weeks ago, he came down with some health issues and was told by the doctors he could not travel.  So Jon put out a call for help and we ended up getting 3 fabulous people to come along, including Nicholas, Brian Millet (who has been with us 7 times before), and my sweet friend, Tammy Carroll from our Adult Bible Study class at our church in Rockwall.  We are so grateful for their willingness to rearrange their schedules on such short notice and come along with us, especially since it was at their own expense!  Of course, we are also happy to be joined by Jon’s cousin Steve (who has been a missionary with AIM in Africa for many years), as well as our good friend, George Ndungu, who has spent countless hours making arrangements for us before we got here, and our local host, Felix Mwetha, from the Arusha Evangelical Lutheran Church.  We also are joined by our interpreter from last year, Joyce, and our driver, Charles.  All work right alongside of us painting and give of their time, taking leave from their own jobs while we are here for almost two weeks.

I am trying to get pictures on this blog but I’m having some technical issues.   Hoping to have some added tomorrow when I have more time to look into it.

Thank you so much for the prayers and please keep them coming!  We are honored to be representing our TCA community, our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and so many of you who have supported us and entrusted us with your resources.

Sincerely,

Jenni Millet

Made it to hotel

We have finally arrived at the hotel and are settled into our rooms.  Thank you for the prayers for safe travel.  All of our luggage is here and only one bin was squished in the flight.  Jon and a few of the adults went to check out the orphanage where we will be working tomorrow and get some supplies from the store.  When they come back we will have dinner, a short devotional and an early night to bed.  Most of us are having trouble staying awake but it’s daytime here so we are trying to get on their schedule quickly.  Everyone is well...just tired.  More tomorrow.

Sincerely,

 Jenni Millet

Safe in Nairobi

We made it safely to Nairobi.  Waiting on our last flight to Kilimanjaro airport.  Great flights so far!  And special shout out to Philip who has been rolling Marshall’s carry-on around for him in all airports.

Airports

Currently in London waiting on flight to Nairobi!

Today's the Day

Well, today is the day we leave for Africa!  Please pray for safety for our group as we travel.  Thank you so much to all who are partnering with us on this mission trip!

Jenni Millet