Tuesday, December 30--Joska!

Jambo!
We woke up this morning to another amazing Heart Lodge breakfast (we even have coffee for those of us who MUST have it!) After eating, we had our team morning devotional...this morning led by Hayden and Lisa. We all loaded onto the bus and headed to Joska for our first time. It took us about an hour and a half to get there, and the ride to Joska held indescribable images of some of the slums in Kenya. When we got to the CCRC (a children's home...where Jack lives!), we all packed more back packs with food to distribute later in the day. All of the children and community leaders helped our team pack over 80 bags. It was amazing to see everyone pull together to accomplish such an exciting task.
We then split up into smaller teams to go out into the community to distribute the gifts and visit with people in their homes. It was a beautiful picture, watching teams of American and Kenyan brothers and sisters in Christ setting out on foot to share Christ's love. Although we had different experiences during the home visits, we all noticed that although these families are under extremely difficult circumstances they have big faiths that shake and challenge ours--inspiring and changing our lives from the brief interactions we had with them. A home visit consisted of being welcomed in, sitting and getting to know the family (almost always a mother with children), and then praying over the family and the home. We would then give the family the bag with food. The home visits were truly something we will carry with us forever, remembering our new friends in our prayers and sharing their stories with all of you when we return home.
After all of the smaller teams reunited back at the CCRC, we took a quick lunch break and then had an incredible time of worship and praise with the CCRC kids and Joska community. We were able to distribute many gifts to children and adults in the surrounding area. It was a celebration--much love, thankfulness, and joy was felt in that room by everyone.
We said goodbye to our new friends and enthusiastically told them we would be back tomorrow! Tomorrow will be a great day--we are participating in a youth program, filled with all kinds of activities and opportunities to love and minister to these children. We definitely pray that the Lord open the hearts and speak to all who will be there, hopefully even calling some of them by name to receive Him as Lord.
Right now things are winding down around the Heart Lodge as we get ready to go to sleep and prepare for the last day of 2008. We are all continually in awe with how amazing this opportunity is and how thankful we are to be here. Thank you all for your prayers and your encouraging words in the comments. Know that each of you are definitely just as much a part of what God is doing here in Kenya as we are. We love you and will update again tomorrow!

In Him,
The 410 Bridge Team