Let's get this train wreck-a rollin'!

Well, it seems like the time has finally arrived. Our big trip to Samburu lays just ahead of us, and we couldn't be more ready for it. The truck looks better than ever, our planned lessons are complete, we have cut our hair short, and we have had plenty of time to adjust to life here. Both Bryan and I feel like we have been here for a lot longer than a month (in a good way) and are very happy to be here. And tomorrow, when we wake up early in the morning to ensure we leave at a good time, we will only have excitement for the journey ahead. Let me once again highlight what we will be doing there for those who may not have a clear idea.
Eric's main ministry in Kenya is done in Samburu, centralized from a small town called Wamba. There is no electricity, running water, and very few cars there. He has a small house that works as an effective sauna (though it more like a big cellar above ground compared to any house you may know) which entertains few guests, although he has plenty of flies and mosquitoes to keep him company. He works with a couple churches in Wamba, and has been focusing on discipleship: equipping the baby churches there with the ability and knowledge that they need to operate as effective Christians. He makes frequent trips out of Wamba town to the surrounding area, particularly to a place called Nkiseu (pronounced Engisayu) where he has built a small structure- the only one for miles. There isn't a church there, and many still don't know the name Jesus, but perhaps this small roof on sticks will someday become a beacon for the area. We will be working with him to teach and mobilize the Christians in Wamba, minister to the small churches in the surrounding areas, and also witness to the locals with our testimonies, teachings, and through the Jesus Film.
The closest thing I'll have to a computer out there is my digital watch so you won't be hearing from me until we get back one month from now. I have no doubt that this is going to be one of the coolest months of my life, probably because it will be so filled. It will be filled with good, hard, fun, crazy, different, scary, hungry, tired, and many other extremes. And the cool thing is that I have heard from so many people that we are being prayed for that I hardly feel like I have to ask. You have no idea how cool that feels, so thank you for the support and for reading my thoughts here.
I thank the Lord for what he has put in our hearts, I pray that it will be by His strength that His will is accomplished, and I hope it will be clear that all we do is for His glory.

Sudan, here we come.

Yesterday we traveled to Nairobi and back, mainly to meet with Lilly Klepp, the women who founded an organization called Harvesters with her husband, Dennis. They have been living in Southern Sudan for six years now, and have had a very fruitful ministry. We had lunch with Lilly and a friend of hers, and they told us some amazing stories about their ministry. They run a compound similar to the Hope Centers that Shane's Special Ministries creates. The orphanage in Yei consists of the orphanage itself, a full school, church, and clinic, where they minister to over 500 people on a regular basis. All of the buildings and interior were done by themselves (everything from chairs to bricks). When they first arrived there was nothing there, but they now have a massive support base and even recognition from some non-Christian companies in the states. One group even paid to have a dish installed there for internet service! We had a great time talking with her, and they are happy to have us come. We'll be there for a little over two weeks in the middle of April, and we are really looking froward to partnering with them and doing some evangelism in the area.
We really feel called to go there. The way everything has been working out and how well meeting with Lilly went, we can't wait to see what God has for us there. We were expecting a small orphanage run by five to ten people, but what we found was an amazing place that God has greatly blessed, already transforming the area. This connection could be used as a launching pad into all sorts of other ministries in Sudan, and we are so glad that the Lord has opened this door for us. I encourage you to spend some time on the Harvesters' website for more information, because they can report their work better than I can. Click here to go to their site.
There are two things we've learned could pose a threat to us. One is malaria. There it's really bad and they say we would be sure to get it if we didn't take pills, so we'll start taking them before we go (the malaria isn't bad here and we don't bother with medicine). The second danger is the LRA, who have recently had a presence in Southern Sudan. Lilly told us that one night they were actually urged to evacuate the area, although they never did.
Because the LRA controls the North of Uganda and South of Sudan, we probably won't be driving, and even taking a bus is dangerous. Our best bet is to fly, but we still need to do some work to find the cheapest way to do that. Thanks for all your prayers and support. I'll update again soon.