Note from Carl Burkybile: Life in Kenya is hard. The people are poor. They live with hunger. Life is a focus on day to day survival. Good jobs are scarce. Education is expensive. Health care is difficult to obtain. In spite of these things I observe the joy and happiness of these Kenyan People. They have so little in the way of material possessions but realize what is truly important. Jesus is their Lord and Savior. I am humbled when I see their joy and commitment to serving God. When we left at the end of the last trip the people gave us handmade gifts and one person said “the most important gift we can give in our love.” They help me realize how blessed I am. We in America are blessed and take so much for granted … clean fresh water, quality health care, an abundance of food, houses, cars, electricity, indoor plumbing, etc.

During my trips to Kenya I have been amazed how small simple things like the gift of a used sweatshirt can mean so much. I am humbled by hundreds of children who simply reach out to touch my hand. I am humbled when people say that God through our visit has changed their lives. I am touched by the hospitality of the Kenyan people. They make life fun in spite of the extreme hardships they face. I see the impact that our support and encouragement has had on the Kenyan people. Great things can happen when we join hands and heart in service to God.

Note from Erastus Kavuti: I greet you in the name of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. I trust that all is fine and you are still in the Lord. We all ought to thank our God for He has kept us alive. It seems to me that every new year is harder to live. We hope life will favor us in the future, however being sure of our salvation is better than all. We hope that we shall make it to Heaven at last. PRAY FOR US. Let me thank you again for your kindness to us. I personally do not have any better words for saying it. Anyway God will reward you.

Note from Wayne Bailey: Prior to going to Kenya, I wrote a bulletin article entitled, “Would you Feed Jesus?” using selected verses in Matthew 25:35-40 (NIV). Jesus speaking said, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, …” The disciples then asked, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

I knew our brothers and sisters in Kenya were suffering due to a terrible famine caused by a continuing drought. I asked all Philo Road Church of Christ members to donate money for Kenya to “feed Jesus.” I discovered that many loved Jesus and contributed to this worthy cause. The contributions came from all over: Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Michigan. God works in mysterious ways and his power is awesome. Through God’s power we were able in 2006 to send $9000 in famine relief funds to purchase food, pay hospital bills, purchase an artificial leg, help pay secondary school fees, and purchase hybrid seed. What was the impact? The impact was overwhelming. Everyone I met in Kenya expressed his or her appreciation and I had the chance to see the man with his artificial leg helping construct a new church building at Masaani. He was climbing ladders, walking on scaffolding and helping put the final touches on the walls of their new building. If David with his artificial leg could help with the construction of a new building, then I don’t really have any excuse, health or physical discomfort, not to labor in God’s Kingdom and seek the lost