Community/World » africa

Uganda Summer Tour 2010

khardy — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:27:34 +0000

Uganda Summer Tour 2010. We are looking for host families for the summer of 2010 who are willing to provide a loving home for an orphan from God Cares School in Uganda. Approximately 10 children will be traveling to California for a performance tour and cultural experience. Stop by the Mission Counter during the International Child Sponsorship Fair on October 25 after each service to learn more about hosting or adoption. For more information contact Karen at KarenDHardy@aol.com

Orphan & Adoption Seminar 9/26

khardy — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:48:39 +0000

Be a part of the dawn for the 143 million orphans worldwide by finding out how at the Orphan and Adoption Seminar presented by Dark to Dawn, a ministry of Calvary Chapel of Thousand Oaks. The purpose of the Orphan and Adoption Seminar is to inspire you through God’s Word and to introduce you to several ways you can get involved in caring for orphans, regardless of your season in life.

Please join us if you have ever considered becoming an adoptive or foster parent. Your heart breaks when you hear how HIV/AIDS has devastated the lives of children. You want to experience an unprecedented joy. You feel called to minister to orphans or foster children, but don’t know where to start. You want to meet people and ministries who share your passion. Your finances are the reason you have not yet taken action.

International Child Sponsorship is partnering with other churches in the community to provide this opportunity. Our very own, Deanna Bjork, founder of Miracle House in Kenya, will be the keynote speaker. Come out and support our two African child sponsorship ministries – Miarcle House and God Cares School, Uganda.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

EV FREE Church of the Conejo Valley

FREE Registration at DarktoDawn.org

Free Childcare while you attend the seminar. Registration required by Friday, September 18, 2009.

For more information and to preregister click here.

I Need Africa More than Africa Needs Me

Brian — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:57:46 +0000

First & Last Uganda Update

khardy — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:29:51 +0000

We unfortunately did not have Internet access while in Uganda and Ive
got a lot to squeeze in before we board our plane in Uganda. Bottom
line, it’s been an amazing week of ministry and we have all been
stretched in new ways.

Sunday: I preached both services at Kabalagala Pentecostal Church
while the rest of the team ran children’s ministry. It was a great
morning and our understanding of worship and liturgy were really
broadened. Inthe evening we participated in another service called
“Love Night” where we exchanged gifts with local youth and shared
testimonies, dramas, and worship. It was a FULL Sunday.

Monday and Tuesday: We traveled into a local slum and partnered with
Ever Increasing Miracles Church where we did door to door evangelism
and afternoon church services. We were really stretched out of our
comfort zone but it was amazing to see students share the gospel with
people who had never heard about Jesus, to Muslims, and to those who
laughed at us. I had an encounter with a lady who was suffering from
demonic influence. Claire Adams was leading a women named Rose to
Christ and the lady was yelling and saying confusing things about
Jesus. She started to confront me and it startled me when she started
calling me by my given name “David.” There was no explanation for this
and when I confronted her she told me that she walked with Satan and
he dwelled in her. Not used to that! We laid hands on her and started
praying and when we were done she ran off. I was honestly shaken up a
bit that she knew my name but praise God that He carried us through it
and Claire ended up leading Rose to Christ. It was a great 2
days…very challenging, but great. In those 2 days, over 50 people
came to Christ and were assigned to contacts in the church so they
could be followed up with.

Wednesday and Thursday: we did a mixture of street evangelism, chapel,
children’s ministry, and helping the staff at God Cares School. Brian
and I were able to meet with the leaders of Africa Renewal Ministries
and Bethany Village. We even met the on-site leader for Acres For
Life. It was a great two days and over 30 people came to Christ and
will be followed up with by the local church members.

Friday: after spending the morning at God Cares School we traveled to
Kawempe where we did door to door evangelism. It was a heavily Muslim
area and there was even a shrine in the village where people came from
all over Uganda to practice black magic. There was a spiritual
heaviness to the place and we felt a lot of resistance to our sharing.
There was another encounter with a girl who was experiencing demonic
influence, there were many Muslims who laughed at the thought of Jesus
being more than just a prophet but God in the flesh, and many who did
not care to hear what we had to share. It was by far the hardest time
sharing the gospel but I was so impressed and proud of the students
who continued to share te hope and joy they have in Jesus despite the
continual rejection. We were able to plant many seeds and hope and
pray that the Holy Spirit would lead them to choose to follow Jesus.
10 people chose to follow Jesus and will be followed up with. We ended
with a church service where a handful of students and leaders shared
their testimonies and I preached. At the end of the service, they
presented generous gifts to us of sugar cane, bananas, and pineapples!
Truly a humbling experence as we received so much generosity from them.

Saturday: we visited the new 14 acre satellite site for God Cares
School. We heard Pastor Dongo’s vision for the land and prayed that
God would continue to bless the entire process. We returned to the
school and said our tearful goodbyes to the new friends we made and
the existing friends that some had met on previous visits. As I type
this in the Entebbe airport in Uganda I look around at a team that has
been challenged, stretched, and used in tremendous ways over the last
2 weeks. They are filled with so much joy, compassion, and boldness
and I am honored to be one of the leaders of this team.

We look forward to getting through the long journey home because it
means that we will be home with our loved ones. Please pray for our
last leg of the journey and we loom forward to sharing more details
with you face to face!

Drew
To view archived blogs click on africa below. KH

From Kenya to Uganda -HS Update

khardy — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:19:53 +0000

Hello friends, family, and supporters,

Wow, our time in Kenya has been an amazing experience!

On Wednesday morning, we were able to drive out to Nakuru (two hours north of where we are staying) to visit and pray for the expansion site of Miracle House, our missionary partner here. Leaving after breakfast, we boarded our vans in the crisp morning air (high 50s in the morning) and started making our way towards Nakuru. The elevation is much higher than I anticipated and we even past a sign at a lookout point over the Great Rift Valley that was 8000ft high. We descended into the Great Rift Valley and it was hard not to be caught with a sense of awe as we became surrounded by a geographical wonder that spans over 9000 kilometers. We drove past Zebras, gazelle, and monkeys and were thankful that we had digital cameras or we would have burned through a few dozen rolls of film!

When we arrived at the site in Nakuru, many of the students after said they felt a strong sense of peace as we drove onto the property. 10 acres in total, the Nakuru property was breathtaking. After learning the history of the property from Deanna, we spread out as individuals and as groups and prayed for the future of the property for over an hour. To think that this site will one day raise up the next generation of Kenyans for Christ…and that we were able to be there and pray…was truly remarkable. It reminded me of the moment before a film starts, a film that you have been looking forward to seeing and you know will be good. That moment when the lights get dark and the audience cheers with anticipation because they know a great story is about to unfold. That’s what it felt like as we looked forward to a great story unfolding on that property.

We then traveled back to Misri Slum where we prayer walked the streets, visited homes door to door and shared our faith and prayed, and invited children to our afternoon children’s ministry. There were some amazing moments as we watched our students step outside their comfort zones and pray with boldness for healing and blessing on the people that we met. We were a LONG way from home and each student on our team didn’t let that hinder them in any way. I was so impressed by their attitudes. They are quick to encourage one another, quick to help out, quick to keep a positive attitude, and quick to pray and thank God in the midst of each circumstance.

We have been spoiled with the food here. Breakfast includes a short order chef making omelettes and dinners have been buffet-style traditional Kenyan food…so good!

On Thursday we had our busiest day yet. In the morning we visited a Christian school and encouraged the staff and teachers in their work. We worked alongside of them and did children’s ministry for an hour. Meredith Reiten and Martha Davis both shared their testimonies and did a phenomenal job. Parents, you would be so proud!

We then returned to Miracle House where students played with kids and assisted the teachers in their programming while a group of us went to the streets of the slum again for prayer walks and door to door evangelism. I probably had one of my most memorable moments as we were invited into the home/shop of a tailor named Jackson. A few of us had met him on Tuesday and were immediately struck by his generosity and bright smile. Making good on our promise to return to him on Thursday, he invited us in and offered us every chair that he owned (two) so we could be comfortable. He offered us soda pop and we felt like it would have been too much money for him to provide soda for our entire group of 15 crammed into his 10 foot by 10 foot shop. We didn’t want to refuse his generosity so we thankfully asked if we could share one Coke. He sent his wife Joanne to the store (no more than a dilapidated shack) where she bought a half liter of Coke and upon returning poured a few ounces into a hodge podge collection of cups. As we sipped our Coke and talked with him in the cramped room as sunlight poured in through the doorway, I was struck by God’s goodness and presence in the midst the smell of cow dung and flies. Courtney Germann prayed for Jackson, Joanne, and their son Elvis (really). As a Christian family they were encouraged by our visit and Jackson kept repeating that he felt that it was God’s providence that set up our meeting one another. We gave him a new bible and in return he gave me a traditional Kenyan shirt that was the perfect fit (amazing since I am taller than most Kenyan men). I was overwhelmed by his generosity and I will never forget that moment. He also gave Garrett Hart a pair of trousers that fit him perfectly (though the style was really baggy!)

We met many more people including an older lady named Helen that Brian Field initially met the first day. He returned and gave her a bible and she immediately opened it up. It was humbling to see her excitement over holding a paperback New Testament that many of us take for granted.

The day ended with another hour of children’s ministry in a field located in the heart of the slum. A hundred or so kids showed up and we did skits, worship, games, and testimonies. Claire Adams and Garrett Hart both shared their testimonies and did a phenomenal job. Parents, I wish you could have been here to see them share with confidence, eloquence, and boldness.

Friday morning we got up early and made our flight to Uganda. We were greeted at the airport by Darren Yui and Pastor Dongo. It was great to see the familiar, welcoming faces. We spent the afternoon at God Cares School and then went to celebrate Paige Smith’s birthday at the Pearl Restaurant – owned by the mother of Calvary member and Ugandan Julius, a close friend of Paige’s.

We appreciate your continued prayers and will continue to keep you updated!

Drew

To view archived blogs, click on Africa or Kenya Tags below. KH

Kenya Update Days 2 and 3

khardy — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:20:24 +0000

Hello Family, Friends, and Supporters,

Internet has been spotty today so this email will be short. You can
expect a larger update with photos tomorrow.

In summary, there has been some amazing ministry that we have had the
opportunity to be a part of including:

Prayer walks through the slum
Prayer healing
Children’s ministry
School visits
Our students sharing testimonies, leading dramas and skits, leading
worship, and preaching

J.D., Kyle Kazmer, and Dominique Groll felt a little under the weather
earlier today but are now feeling great. (great answer to prayer!)

It has been amazing seeing the students step outside their comfort
zone and boldly proclaim Jesus…i have been so impressedand am so
proud.

We fly to Uganda tomorrow and will have Internet where we are staying
so we’ll give you more details tomorrow.

Until then, we appreciate your prayers!

Drew

To read HS Africa Trip Archives, click on Africa or Kenya below after Tags. KH

H.S. Team First Day in Kenya

khardy — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:03:53 +0000

Hello friends, family, and supporters!

We arrived at Nairobi International Airport early Tuesday
morning…and with all of our luggage!

Exhausted yet excited after 36+ hours of travel, we loaded up the bus
and vans and drove through the heart of Nairobi to our hotel in Limuru
through heavy traffic and street vendors selling everything from
newspapers and soccer balls to a 3D version of the “Last Supper.”

Deanna Bjork, the founder of the Miracle House Orphanage and our host
while in Kenya, was a great tour guide as we drove north through the
city. The Nairobi University, Embassy Row, Parliament, and the sky
rises of Nairobi gave way to corn fields, rich red soil, and tea
plantations as we continued traveling north to our destination.
Monkeys in the parks and gigantic scavenger birds on billboards
reminded us that we were a long way from home.

We finally arrived at the Conference Center that we will be staying at
while in Kenya and were able to freshen up and drop our bags off in
our rooms before going through an orientation, led by Deanna and her
staff.

After a history of the Miracle House (which can be viewed at http://miracle-house.org) and some essential safety guidelines we prayed in anticipation for God’s guidance and boldness.

15 minutes later, as we were winding through tea plantations in our
vans, we rounded a bend and were confronted with the stark reality
ofthe Misri Slum.

The 10 acre shanty village is the home to a few thousand
residents…including roughly 500 orphans. We were greeted with broad
smiles and questions of “how-you?” as we navigated down the narrow,
red muddy roads on our way to the Miracle House in the center of Misri
(an appropriate name for the slum as it means Egypt – specifically the
Egypt in which the people of Israel were slaves and cried out under
the heavy hand of their oppressors.)

As we we reflected on the story of the Exodus, we were reminded that
God hears the cries of the oppressed and asks us to seek justice.
Isaiah 58:10, which I asked the high school students back home to read
daily while we were in Africa became very tangible as we stepped out
of the vans and into the slum. Orphans were everywhere running up to
us, holding our hands, and chanting over and over “how-you, how-you,
how-you?”

Over the next 2 hours we rotated as teams between leading children’s
programming inside the orphanage and walking the streets of the slum,
going door to door and talking with and praying for everyone we came
into contact with. Generally, people were thankful that we were there
and appreciated our prayers. A young Taylor named Jackson said that he
felt like our meeting was a divine appointment from God as he had been
discouraged lately. Our arrival, he said, was a reminder that God
hears prayers.

The students on our team were amazing as they led prayers, asking
questions, giving hugs, and playing with the young kids.

It was apparent that their maturity and subsequent months of training
had prepared them for this moment. I was so impressed by each of them
and I am proud to be one of their leaders. I wish that each of you
could be hear to witness it all unfold.

Continued prayers are appreciated…everyone is healthy, happy, and
excited for another day of joining God in what God is doing here in
Kenya.

Drew

East Africa HS Team departs this Sunday

Brian — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:13:07 +0000

Please be praying for the East Africa HS Team as they depart for Kenya & Uganda this Sunday. Check back over the next few weeks for trip updates!

First stop Miracle House in Nairobi, Kenya.

East Africa HS trip (June 28-July 12)

Brian — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:19:05 +0000

A team of 25 high school students and leaders will be heading to East Africa this summer to spend time at Miracle House in Kenya and God Cares School in Uganda. Many will be returning to visit friends they have made from previous trips and all will be going to build new friendships and share in the hope of Jesus. Please be praying for the team in their travels and all they will be doing while there. They will have the opportunity to speak in front of hundreds of children in schools and show love to orphans and those affected with HIV. They will also come back with new perspectives and a greater passion for Jesus.