Journeying to East Africa

We are heading out to Kenya soon. Mark, Kimberly, and I (Cathy) will leave Pennsylvania on Saturday June 27, arriving in Nairobi after nearly 25 hours in the air on three different airplanes, jumping over 7 time zones, crossing the equator, and hopefully getting some sleep along the way. We'll have two days in Nairobi to meet with some Kenyan friends and see where I worked in Africa's largest slum, Kibera. After that we'll spend a day traveling 'up country', re-crossing the equator, before our arrival in the village of Kipkaren. This village in western Kenya, between Eldoret and the Ugandan border, will be 'home' for us until July 24. We are very excited to experience life in Africa as a family!

Together....Pamoja

"Pamjoa" is a perfect term to describe what we'll be doing in Africa. We were attracted to our mission organization, Empowering Lives International, because ELI seeks to do things in partnership with local leadership. In East Africa relationship is the driving force behind so much of life. Together as a family....together as a community....together as different cultures.....together as brothers and sisters in Christ. We hope to use the 'together-ness' factor to equip and empower people to know and serve God. 

Empowerment is a challenging process. Uniting national leadership with God's vision is key. Located in rural areas, ELI works to impact the poor, local pastors and church leaders, village alcoholics, orphans, youth, and vulnerable children. Through demonstration farms and biblical training, ELI brings hope to the hungry. Through AIDS awareness campaigns and sharing God's plan for all people, ELI raises the value of life. Working alongside national educators, ELI seeks to give spiritual and intellectual purpose to the next generation. Ministering to over nine hundred orphans and vulnerable children, the fatherless are introduced to the Father. Together...pamoja....people recognize their importance in the eyes of God!