TAMBIRA….TAMBIRA…TAMBIRA JEHOVAH!  That’s right. I am steadily learning more and more Swahili,
but let me back up and start from the beginning. From the moment I stepped foot
on Kenyan soil………I was soaking wet. (You thought it was going to be a
heartfelt, inspirational moment didn’t you). Being the only guy in my group, I
was somewhat delegated to luggage duty. 
Of course I didn’t mind helping the ladies in the pouring rain even as
they ran to the bus while the driver and I crammed the bags in the back. 

We stayed at Milimani Backpackers Hostel in Nairobi where
some of us met with our groups, and we were served a mini-training camp for one
day to help us prepare for the next month of ministry. There were tons of
awesome, true, genuine, loving, fun, exciting, spiritually strong…(the list
could go on)… young adults and college/ex-college students to interact with and
just get to know before parting paths. 
The only person from my group was Brian. Me and Brian came to know each
other on a deeper level over the next day or so which was really cool, and I have appreciated his acceptance.

Around noon on Saturday June 05, Brian and I met up with two
other members of the team, Erin and Drew, and we caught a twenty minute taxi
ride to “Lagata Southlands� just south of Narirobi. This is when I finally met
the full team that I would be spending the entire month with. First Impression
: amazing people of God. They were so accepting and excited to see me. I was a bit nervous prior to meeting them but they are just what I had hoped for in a team. Thank God. (more on them later).  We are posted up in a Pastor’s residence. His name is Joseph
Mwangi, 34 years old, and is the pastor of a sister church called “Deliverance
Church Southlands�. What a great name right? He just moved into a house and we
did not immediately have running water. He said that the local government is
somewhat corrupt, which is apparent all over Kenya, and they will only provide
1.5 days of water. However, we soon had running water which is  blessing, especially for the rest of my
team who has been on this journey for much longer than me.

Almost immediately after arrival, I had mentioned that I
sang at church back home and Drew has led worship for a number of years, so
pastor Joseph invited the two of us to worship practice at his church. Pretty
cool right. So sure enough, come Sunday morning, me and Drew were up on the
little stage in the church.  One of
the songs we sang was Tambira Jehovah. Also we sang I surrender all, Praise
Adonai, and other Swahili worship songs. 
Just for the record, in case you didn’t know, I can’t dance, but these
Kenyans sure can and those moves mixed with amazing beats and outstanding
vocals made well for an amazing time of such joyful, happy, God-filled worship.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO KNOW THE WORDS OR EVEN THEIR MEANINGS TO FEEL THE PRESENCE OF
GOD. That rang true to me as I was singing on stage. Sure I knew the words, as
we practiced the day before, but I didn’t know their meanings and I still felt
the presence of Mungu (God).  The
pastor has an amazing turn out for such a small church and has an amazing
vision for its expansion. After the first service we joined in on some Sunday
school with the kids. The pastor rents out a small shack/school near by and we
sang, danced, and listened in on the children’s lesson.  Amazingly hilarious are the words that come
to mind.

SO YOU GUYS SHOULD BE JEALOUS? After church Me, Drew, and
Brian, accompanied by Pastor Joseph, went to see the KENYA vs UGANDA football
match. It was nothing short of amazing. The crowds and the chaos of such
numbers in a small area were almost overwhelming but you could feel the
excitement of the crowd.  Awesome
time. This is what I refer to as an “INSTA-BLESSING�.

I have found that God brought me here to show me something.
He brought me here to show me…ME. Yes, God is revealing to me the man that I am
and the man he has planned for me to become. This trip is of course about
reaching out to others, but in doing so, God is and will this month reach into
the deepest part of my heart and soul to show me who I am and what his will for
my life is.  I was part of a
prophecy the day of our training camp and the prophecy was

“ Hunter….you have
a boldness that you do not yet realize.

And when you get
home, you will lead a generation of men.�

Powerful stuff right? You better believe it. I believe God
has brought me here so that I can find that boldness and a profound trust in
Him. I will forever trust in you Lord, you only will I trust.

Love you all and I will blog within the next few days. I
have so much more to say but I want to build the anticipation.  Mungu Akibariki (God Bless You).

                                                                                                Hunter