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

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