Kenya Updates

We have one more meeting left, this Wed 8/1. Looking back on the last 10 weeks, I know God has blessed our team, and continues to bless our team. He has opened up our hearts through our sharing and testimonies, through bonding time during dinner, worships, and icebreakers. In short, He has prepare us for our journey to Kenya.

VBS 2007 Daily Schedule

8:00 - 9:00 am: Teachers and helpers meet for prayer and prepare for the day
9:00 - 9:25 am: Sing & play Stampede
9:30 - 9:50 am: Bible lesson
9:55 - 10:15 am: Theatre
10:20 - 10:40 am: Snacks, Crafts, Theatre rotations
10:45 - 11:05 am: Games, Snacks, Theatre rotations (fun!!! I'm assigned this role as Games Crew)
11:10 - 11:30 am: Craft, Theatre, Snacks rotations
11:35 - Noon: All go to the sanctuary for sing and play stampede
12:30pm: Children are released to go home

Team Lunch and rest

2:00 - 4:00 pm: VBS preparation and plans with everyone involved
4:30 - 6:00 pm: Rest or preparation
6:00 - 8:00 pm: Prayer meeting/rest

Activities

1. Joint preparations allow GRX and Kahawa Sukari team to know each other and strategize on the VBS
2. VBS itself is actual teaching and interaction with both teachers and children
3. Review workshops allow joint evaluation by both teams and skill development where experiences are shared
4. Closing celebrations allow more time with kids where certificates will be given
5. Children Sunday (12) will highlight the activities of the coming week. GRX will make a presentation in both services to introduce the team and help them connect with the congregation. GRX will also participate in the classes for children to see how we teach the kids. On 19 we shall have one service, with GRX preaching, which will feature children activities led by the teachers. Preparations will have been going on through-out the week.
6. We usually have a prayer meeting on Tuesday evening. GRX can share for about 15 to 20 mins. before we pray.
7. Visit to the slums will allow GRX to see the other side of Nairobi and perhaps participate in an activity there
8. Visit to an orphanage will give opportunity to GRX to serve in a different setting
9. Safari will give a countryside view of Kenya plus a little relaxation for GRX as they watch game
10. Shopping will give an opportunity for GRX to visit the city and purchase whatever one would want

Bible lessons and crafts

• We made salvation bracelets that will be used for the God is real point. The memory verse for that is: The LORD is the only God. (Jeremiah 10:10) and the lesson is Rahab protects the Israelites spies from Josha 2.
• We made bookmarks to drive across the point that God is with us. The verse is: For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9) and the lesson is the Israelites cross the Jordan River from Joshua 3-4
• We have Burger King crowns (haha) for the point God is strong. The lesson is the walls of Jericho crashing down from Joshua 6 and the memory verse is: The LORD is my strength (Psalm 118:14)
• We have chalkboards to show that God is awesome. The memory verse is: For the Lord Most High is awesome (Psalm 47:2) and the lesson is Jesus died and rose again from Mark 15-16.
• We will use stars to show that God is in charge. The memory verse will be If you love me, you will obey my commandments (John 14:15) and the lesson is from 2 Kings 5 where God heals Naaman.

I realize that there is a lot going on here, but I think one key thing to stress is that the team be flexible. So the initial prayers and taking that step of faith is now turning into something concrete and real. And as we have one more week, I am excited and look forward to what the team will accomplish when we are in Kenya.

Yeah...that's it! Thank you again for all your support. I know we are partners in this and I can't wait to tell you the interesting things we have in stores for us in Kenya.

Team Kenya 2007 T-shirts

Get your Team Kenya t-shirts!! I ordered 15 of these and I am planning to give 5 away to my siblings who supported even though they aren't Christians. I think it would be a good outreach opportunity. The rest I'm giving out to you, my supporters.

You can view the t-shirts and hoodie here. Sorry, hoodie + brown shirt = team Kenya only. But you can get your hands on these lovely sand color t-shirts by:

1. wining them here (I will draw 10 numbers randomly which matches numbers I assign to you on the excel sheet of my supporters)
2. buying them from team Kenya for ~$12.

Missions Updates:

• Fundraising: I reached my $3000 fundraising for the missions two days ago. Thanks to CL, CL, and NC for these last sets of checks which helped me reached that amount. Thank you eveyrone.
• Gifts: We made about 270+ bookmarkers with colorful ribbons and cut a bunch of stickers. Tonight we are making 240 salvation bracelets. Each bracelets have five color beads: yellow=renewal, blue=sorrow/sins, red=blood of Christ, white=salvation, green=growth. We think the kids will love these.
• VBS: We practiced five dances/body worships sets, which we will perform in front of the congregation and kids. Despite the guy's hesitations and the girls enthusiasm, we learned our dances. Who knew Team Kenya could have caught the dancing bug? Of course we still have a long ways to go to get it right, but it was definitely fun and a good workout. All for His glory.
• Prayer request: Not sure if this prayer has been answered or the update on this but someone on our team can't find his passport. Please pray that God will help him locate his passport, which is "somewhere" in his house.

Thanks for visiting and until next time...

Monthly Updates/Briefings

How is everyone doing? First a quick apology as I haven't been updating this blog as frequently as I would like or promised in my earlier post. I figured it was because I realize I didn't have much to report as well as anything interesting.

So where to start? I guess I will go back a couple months and start from there.

• Personality profile: each missionaries on our team took some personality tests to learn more about each other. If you are familiar with these I commend you. And if you're not, you could perhaps ask me and I can explain it to you. =)
  Here are my personality profiles:
  • Otter:
    •  strengths: fun loving, very verbal, visionary, enjoys people, enthusiastic, takes risk
    •  weaknesses: irresponsible, undisciplined, egotistical, emotionally explosives, exaggerates, falls short of expectations
  • DISC:
    Competent Influencing Specialist (C/I/S) like to do things right, impress others and stabilize situations. They are not aggressive or pushy people. They enjoy large and small crowds. They are good with people and prefer quality. They are sensitive to what others think about them and their work. They need to be more determined and dominant. They can do things well, but are poor at quick decision-making. They are capable of doing great things through people, but need to be more self-motivated and assertive. They are stimulated by sincere, enthusiastic approval and logical explanations.
  • Trenton spiritual gifts: hospitality, mercy, craftsmanship (artistic).
• Testimonies: I shared my testimony along with Helena Shin. I think it was a heartfelt testimony and it brought the team closer. I'm grateful how everyone is so open in sharing their struggles. It made me realize that we all have broken lives and that is why we continually need God's grace and love. Amen! I would love to share my testimony with any of you, just ask me!
• Support and finance: Thank you to everyone who supported me. I am currently at $2875. Most of the team members paid for the airline tickets ourselves ($2018) and will get reimbursement after the missions.
• Team Kenya tee-shirts/hoodies: I ordered 10 tee-shirts and one hoodie. I ordered two for myself and the rest I will give away to my supporters. Let me know if you would like a tee-shirt. They look awesome!
• Travel shots: Last friday (June 29) I went to Kaiser Permanante and took my six immunization shots. They were Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Tetanus, Yellow Fever, Polio booster. The only required shot for travels to Nairobi Kenya is Yellow Fever. I also received the much needed malaria prescriptions (Mefloquin) for mosquitos as well as antibiotics in case I get sick in Kenya. I love Kaiser. All the shots were FREE, covered by my health insurance. Yay! I'm sooo glad that is over. I have to go in at the end of July for my second round of Hep B but I'm thankful that God made it a painless experience. =)
• Fundraisings:
  • Car wash: Team Kenya raised $848, all donated from friends from GRX and strangers who were kind enough to donate for our mission.
  • Coldstone: I am selling ice-cream cakes for $20, of which $10 will go to support our missions. The cake will feed 6-8 people and come in various flavors. They are Coldstone cakes so it will be good. Let me know if you want one.
• VBS: We got our schedule for the two weeks that we are there. There will be a total of 300+ students, and with the small amount of teachers, this comes out to 30 students per teacher. Woah! I will be part of the games crew pit. This means we are in charge of coming up with the games at the game stations. I am so excited as I think I would love to interact with the kids through games and bring out their smiles.
• Praise reports: I'm grateful for the supports and prayers that I have been getting. I'm thankful that God has brought these disparate people into my life. I don't mean to brag but our team chemistry is amazing, absolutely amazing. And I thank God for that. I love my team.
• Prayer requests: I just wanted to ask that you continue to pray for team unity. Also please pray that we will have compassion and strength to lead these Kenyan children, even if we are under staff. And pray for humility at work where it has been trying at time with stressful and demanding requests. I thank you in advance for your prayers.

Thank you for reading all the way to here and for your continual prayers and support. If you have not receive a support letter from me and would like to support me, please click on Mike's Kenya Support Letter to get a PDF version. Thanks and until next time...

Your rafiki (Swahili for friend),
Mike

Hello and Thank You!

Dear Friends,

I want to personally thank each one of you for taking the time to read my support letter, and for sending in your support and encouragement. I could not have dream one and a half years ago, when I became a Sunday School teacher, what God has in plans for me. Through sharing my experiences and your many encouragements, here I am today going on my very first mission to Kenya! I know God will change lives through the gospel message, and I thank everyone of you who helped me with our shared goals.

During the coming weeks and months, you will be hearing from me on how God is changing the Kenyan team as we train and prepare, as well as our missions there. For those who wrote personal messages on the support letters, I will continue to take those wonderful encouragements with me as I prepare to go on this journey. To everyone, a sincere thank you from me. Until next time...

God bless,

Mike

Nairobi, Baby, Nairobi

As many of you know by now, I will be going to Kenya on my first missions trip from August 8-August 22, 2007. The team will be traveling specifically to Nairobi, Kenya to run Vacation Bible School, among other things. I know it's two months away but I undoubtedly expect time will fly as I and the team are preparing for this mission.

During the next few weeks and months, I will try to update this blog to fill you in on missions fundraising, team building events, training and preparing for our mission, reflections, and prayer request.

Introducing Team Kenya 2007

Here in short order is what I call the "Kenya 14" (fade up Oceans Thirteen theme music)
+ Kevin Hu (Team co-lead)
+ Anna Huang (Team co-lead)
+ Grace Kim
+ Sean Loh
+ Terrence Wu
+ Paul Chun
+ Mega Khiang
+ Helen Shin
+ Me
+ Patty Yue
+ Gina Lee
+ Melissa Fong
+ Bobby Medcalf
+ Elaine Yu

Here are few pics of the team at the GrX Missions Training.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/_mikeee/sets/72157600186282201/

And here is Sean Loh's Missions Retreat set:
http://picasaweb.google.com/loh.sean/070520_missions_retreat

Thanks for visiting and until next time...