Africa Mission Team Updates
Thank you for your support and prayer for 5 of our Christ Church family members on their mission trip in Kenya, Africa. Click below to read their journal entries, see photos, and hear how you can specifically be praying for our brothers and sisters across the globe!
Jambo!
Today is our travel day as we begin the 30-hour journey home with hearts that are incredibly full. What a gift it has been to spend this week serving, worshipping, and building relationships with the remarkable people of Kahuria.
Thank you to everyone who prayed for our team and generously gave to make this trip possible. Your prayers sustained us, and your support allowed us to be part of what God is doing in this incredible community. It has been an honor to witness and celebrate God’s faithfulness throughout the past ten years as Kahuria has partnered with 410 Bridge.
If this trip has inspired you, one of the most meaningful ways to continue supporting the work in Kahuria is by sponsoring a child through 410 Bridge. Child sponsorships help provide opportunities for education, essential needs, health, and spiritual growth.
Click here to learn more about sponsoring a child through 410 Bridge.
Thank you for following along on this journey. As we travel home, please continue to pray for safe travels and for the people of Kahuria as they continue the work God has begun in their community.
We are so grateful for you, church family.
Asante sana! (Thank you very much!)
Love, Amanda
Not a moment was wasted today as we prepared for our final day with the people of Kahuria.
We began the day by spending time in the homes of Kahurian families. We split into three different groups, with Kari and Nora joining one family, while Alicia, Amanda, and I spent the morning with homeowners Joseph and Mary.
Joseph was so excited to show us around his property. He owns 10 acres of land, much of it beautiful farmland! It was such a joy to sit outside together shucking corn, peeling potatoes, and learning how to prepare traditional African dishes such as ugali, mukimo, and chapati. We also made a delicious side dish of fresh cabbage, carrots, and green onions. Every ingredient came fresh from the farm, and it was so good!
We then gathered inside to enjoy the meal we had prepared together. I loved hearing more about Joseph’s family history and learning about the history of the community as well. We concluded our visit by praying for prosperity, peace, and good health for Joseph and his children.
The warmth and love we experienced are difficult to put into words. We made connections and memories that will last a lifetime. I am so thankful for the time we shared together and for the many lessons I learned.
In the afternoon, we visited the children at Kahuria Primary School, where we were able to officially donate the instruments gifted by our choir. The school leaders were incredibly appreciative and excited to continue sharing these instruments with the students.
After leaving Kahuria Primary, we traveled to Mekaro Primary School for the closing ceremony. During the ceremony, the ladies were gifted traditional African wraps, while the men received traditional hats. Each of us was also given a traditional African name, thoughtfully chosen with a unique meaning specific to each person. Here are the names that were chosen for us…
Amanda - Wambui - it means “song leader, loves to sing”
Alicia - Nyambura - it means “brings the rain”
Alannah - Klaithera - it means “greeter"
Kari - Makena - it means “joyful one, brings warmth”
Nora - Muthoni - it means “sister in their community”
We concluded the ceremony by praying for the community and for Kenya as a nation.
The people of Kahuria have a beautiful way of making every individual feel special, welcomed, and deeply loved. I pray they know just how special and important their community has become to each of us.
Please join us in praying for:
- Joseph and his wife Mary, that they will remain healthy and live long lives to be able to care for their first-born and second-born who have mental challenges.
- Mary, age 21 (Joseph and Mary’s granddaughter) - for her education and that doors of employment will open for her.
- Another Mary! - for healing for her hand that has left her unable to work.
- Tabitha and Eunice - for their husbands who are battling drinking problems, and for God’s peace and strength in their relationships.
It is truly incredible to see how God is moving through Kahuria. The sense of community here is both inspiring and encouraging. The Lord has taught me so much through these beautiful people, and I will carry these memories with me for the rest of my life.
Love, Alannah
Today was a full and unforgettable day at Mekaro Primary School! We started the morning by meeting the school's new headmaster, who welcomed us and shared how excited she was to have our team spend the day with the students. Before heading into the classrooms, we also met with a representative from 410 Bridge who was leading a training session for recent high school graduates, helping equip them with practical skills to prepare for future employment. It was encouraging to see the work being done for the younger students and the next generation of leaders.
After that, we split into three groups to experience different classrooms. One group joined the preschoolers, where they spent the morning coloring and playing with clay. Although the children didn't understand much English, they lit up every time they heard "WOW!" and crowded around us to show off their colorful art and clay creations. We wrapped up our time in class playing games like “Red Light Green Light”, and “Duck Duck Goose.”
Another group visited the sixth-grade class, learning about agriculture and touring the school's gardens. They also learned what animals the kids considered domestic. Of course, cows and sheep were the top choices, and cats and dogs made the bottom of their list. The third group joined the seventh graders for a science lesson, where the students were super excited to help in any way. They were especially excited lighting the Bunsen burners during their experiment.
The afternoon was packed with even more fun as we spent time playing games with the students. Some gathered to sing songs and play instruments, even teaching us one of their favorite songs!
Click here to watch a video of them playing instruments!
Others jumped rope, and many of the boys couldn't wait to play soccer. Later, we switched things up with bracelet making and temporary tattoos, which quickly became a huge favorite. At one point, nearly a hundred kids packed into a small classroom for bracelets, and I found myself backed against the wall as everyone reached for beads! It was a little chaotic, but seeing their excitement made every moment worth it.
As the day came to an end, we said our goodbyes, got back in the bus, and watched as the students walked alongside us, waving until we were completely out of sight. It was a hectic, joy filled day full of laughter, learning, and meaningful connections. We are so thankful for the opportunity to spend time with these incredible students.
Please continue to keep us and the community of Kahuria in your prayers!
Love, Nora
Muriega!! (The traditional greeting of the Kikuyu people who live in Kahuria)
It was a great day to worship in the house of the Lord, and we were privileged to get to do just that in Kahuria this morning. Church is very important to the people in this community and many walk several miles each Sunday morning to worship. Our group divided and attended three different churches in the community. All three focused much of their time on praise and worship with jubilant singing and dancing…for a full two hours in a couple of the churches! There was no doubt the joy of the Lord lives in the hearts of these people!!
After hearing messages from the pastors and a quick boxed lunch on our bus, we all headed to Makaro Primary School, one of the two schools in the community. Once there, kids of all ages started walking into the backyard of the school (which is where the sheep are typically grazing), and we had an amazing VBS-style afternoon with around 100 kids from across the community. We broke off into several groups, and jumped into activities such as jump roping, Frisbee, soccer, and, of course, music! As part of our mission, we had asked the Christ Church choir members to donate instruments for us to take to the schools in the community, and the kids today had so much fun with tambourines, maracas, egg shakers, triangles, and rhythm sticks! There's a few ukeleles that will also be donated. Thank you Choir!!
We taught the kids a few new songs, and they were all smiles…singing and playing away! So much fun for us! A few kids tried to teach us a new dance, but let's just say they were much better dancers than we were!!
We had to say some hard goodbyes at the end of the afternoon, as only one of the schools is on the schedule to be visited again. While a few of us were taking a photo with several of our young friends, one sweet girl, Mary, said, "This is a picture of our big family." The love we feel from them and for them is so hard to put into words. They have touched us in ways we'll never forget. And we're not leaving yet!!
Please join us in praying for God to pour down His blessings on this very special community. Also, pray that we at home in America might become more like the people of Kahuria in the way they live together as a community, caring for and sharing with one another, and in how they freely pour out their love on everyone they meet, without any judgment.
We're all feeling so blessed to be here. Thank you for keeping us in your prayers!
Love, Kari
Jambo!
Today was another beautiful day spent with the incredible people of Kahuria!
We started the day with our bus ride into the community, and it was yet another experience in increasing our prayer lives! 😊
When we arrived, we split into two groups for a walking tour of some of the local farms. Our group had the opportunity to visit Pastor Francis' home and farm.
With so much joy, he shared the lessons he has learned through the education provided by 410 Bridge in raising livestock and growing crops. We walked through fields of snow peas, potatoes, cabbage, and kale.
Next, we visited a family farm whose primary income now comes from raising and selling chickens. The wife of the family completed the one-month 410 Bridge business training and chose this path in part because there were no other families in the community selling chickens. It was inspiring to see how they are thriving on just a quarter acre of land while also raising 12 children!
The last thing shared with us was the incredible improvement in water security throughout the community. Several wells have been dug, and mountain water has now been piped throughout the area, providing access to tap water.
It was such a special day to see and hear about all the ways this community has grown and flourished. We also had the opportunity to ask how we could specifically be praying for them.
Please join us in praying for these requests:
• Pastor Francis – for the financial resources and workers needed to build a solid home for his family and a place where friends and community members can gather.
• Hannah – for employment opportunities.
• The chicken farm family – for the ability to continue expanding their business.
Thank you for following along with us!
Love,
Alicia
Jambo!
What an amazing first day!
We started the day with a three-hour drive from Nairobi to Kahuria, the community we will be with all week. First, let me just say…Kenya traffic is WILD! No stoplights, no stop signs, no lanes, and seemingly no speed limits. We did a lot of praying, to say the least. 😊
About halfway there, we stopped at an overlook to see the Great Rift Valley, which stretches from Mozambique all the way to Syria in Asia. It was absolutely breathtaking.
As we turned into the Kahuria community, we were greeted by around 100 children waiting for our bus to arrive. They ran alongside the bus, so excited to see us. The moment we stepped off, we were surrounded by sweet smiling faces, children hugging us, asking our names, and telling us how happy they were that we had come. It’s hard to put into words what that feels like.
Kari and I were able to connect with the children we bonded with last year. There were tears all around!
The community had prepared a beautiful welcome ceremony for us that included singing, dancing, and a short message from one of the community pastors. The people here are filled with so much joy.
After the ceremony, our team met with the Kahuria leadership council, which includes community elders and pastors. They shared about the incredible work that 410 Bridge has partnered with them on over the past decade and highlighted the four main areas of focus: sustainability, water, education, and Living Seed, an agricultural program.
If you would like to learn more about 410 Bridge and the work they are doing around the world, please visit www.410bridge.com. They truly are an amazing organization.
Please pray for restful sleep for our team and for the people of the Kahuria community. God is doing a mighty work here, and we are grateful to witness it.
Praise be to God.
Love,
Amanda
The 410 Bridge partners with communities experiencing extreme poverty to build lasting change through clean water, strong families, economic opportunity, and the local Church leading the way. The goal is to create flourishing, self-sustaining communities that reflect the hope of Jesus.