Male and female lions relaxing in their territory...the Masai Mara Game Park!

Don called Sunday after Josh and I had just gotten home from church. The connection was terrible. He couldn't hear me well, but I could hear him, so he just began to talk and I wrote as quickly as possible. Josh and I had plans to go hiking with Uncle Tim and Popa Dale for the day, so I didn't post the info. Late last night when I was finally able to post, I discovered Gary had already posted, so I went to bed. But this morning I decided I'd post some of the things Don said that Gary hadn't been able to mention. So here goes...

As Gary said there was a vast difference between the slums of Kampala and the slums of Nairobi. Not only in size, but in the spiritual feel...opression and darkness reigned in Nairobi. Don said if you gave a child a water bottle in the Kampala slums that child would share it with his friends. Not so in Nairobi, they would fight over it hurting each other. It's very rough in the Nairobi slums. Surrvival of the toughest, meanest and strongest. Franklin, who grew up in that slum, has only been working there for 2-3 years. There's so much to do. Don was so happy to be able to talk about he and his wife and what they are doing in the slums in front of Franklin's church when Don and the team were introduced Sunday morning. This will give Franklin credability, respect and hopefully the help he needs. Don said the Nairobi slum...Mukuru was overwhelming and depressing.

Garrett said "It is so emotionally draning here, but God shows up and shows us the miracle of his salvation each time. These people are an unreached people group all their own!"

There were a couple of drunk men in the area, which "freaked" out Jubilee and Kristin. Jubilee said later she was so glad for the "BIG" boys who are on the team! Theo, Eric, AJ, not to mention the adult men...Don, Gary, Jim Band, & Jim B.

Kristin shared how she began to judge that drunk man, but she clearly heard God say, "Don't judge. He is my creation! I love him!"

Samantha said, "I want to always be doing ministry, because I want to be experiencing God this way everyday!" Don mentioned she was sharing Christ with a man in the Yaya Market in Nairobi when they went shopping.

Both Hannah and Janae agreed that they appreciated home, their beds, 3 meals a day and two loving parents so much more now!

Ruth has always known that she is good at serving. "I like to serve, but I find it hard to talk with people." So Ruth shared Christ with 2 Africans on her flight from Entebbe to Nairobi!!! Way to go , Ruth!

Don finished by saying how proud he was of these JNB kids. "I have pushed them hard, worked them hard and they haven't given up...they haven't quit! They are an awesome group of kids!"

They are at the Game Park now and I pray they have an awesome, relaxing time seeing a lot of the amazing animals that God created! Pray for safety as they travel back to Nairobi and onto London, then Chicago and finally Portland, Oregon!

Have a happy 4th of July!