Info Meeting #3

Hey everyone! We had a great meeting last night! The excitement is building and God is really pouring out blessings on this team. He has got some amazing stuff in store for us! Here is what we covered and talked about last night if you couldn't be there or if you missed part of it for some reason.

Stuff

Praise

• Everyone has their plane ticket money and most everyone is already completely DONE!!

Kenyan people

• They like to have meaningful conversations and talk. They are a slow moving culture and therefore, they like to stop and talk and get to know you and who you are. In fact, it is rude to just say hello and then move on. They have a saying that goes like this, "Americans have watches and Kenyans have time!"
• Friendship is VERY important to them. It is more important than money even. If someone is in need and they ask for help, Kenyans will give it whether they have it or not because they want to help and because their friendship means more to them than money.
• There will be language issues with the kids especially because they do not know English really well.
• Poverty is part of their life. They don't have electricity and running water. This is just life for them.

Safety

• When asked for money, your response should always be, "You need to go ask Scott"
• Women are to NEVER walk or travel alone or without a guy with them

Clothes to Wear

• Bring shoes that are comfortable because you will wear them all week (no sandals when we are out in Kenya)
  
• Wear pants (preferably khakis), Capri's, etc.

Food and Water

• When brushing your teeth, DO NOT use the water from the tap (use the purified water jug in the bathroom)
• DO NOT eat food that is not cooked at HEART or at a restaurant because it could cause illness
• If you ever have any questions, ask Scott

Backpack Update

• We had to cut off the backpacks at 1,000
• We are taking over 3,000 folders, 20,000 pens, 24,000 pencils, etc.

Ministry Schedule Update

• Backpacks might go to up to 6 schools
• We want to do home visits (20-30 minutes in each home with conversations and prayer)

President Obama

• Any questions, no matter how you feel, need to be answered by, "He's my President"
• Always be positive and answer positively

Stuff You Need to Know

Dates of the Trip: June 4-18 (Flights are still the same just date changed)Total Cost of the Trip

Total Cost of the Trip: $2,960.00

T-Shirt Design (You get two of these shirts):

Running Shirt: It is the same as above only in Carolina blue and they are $15 a piece (see Jameson ASAP if you would like to order one)

Prayer Needs

• Fundraising for everyone
• Funds to get the backpack supplies over to Kenya
• Airline to show mercy for checked bag fee

Our Next Meeting

• May 15th
• May 29th
  

Prayer Support

Here is a list of everyone who will be going on this trip. We ask that you keep us in your prayers leading up to, through, and after the trip.

If you are wondering what to be praying for, here is a list of some specifics:

1. Pray that God will prepare the hearts of those we will be working with and presenting the Gospel too
2. Pray that God will be working and preparing each team members hearts for what we will experience on this trip
3. Pray that each member of the team would rely on God for the financial and prayer support that needs to be in by March 31st
4. Pray that God would use this team in a mighty way while we are there
5. Pray that the 900 backpacks that will be given out help change kids lives for the better
6. Pray that Scott and Sylvester would be strengthened by God as this trip nears and that God would work details out as He sees fit
   

We will add more prayer needs as the time nears as well so check back!

Team Members:
Debbie Johannes
Leah Johannes
Mallory Barker
Jameson Barker
Lucas Dishong
Scott Dishong
Alisa Dishong
Olivia Smith
Michael Henderson
Laura Henderson
Genevieve Henderson
Edward Henderson
Julie Jackson
Michelle Cavanaugh
Logan Cavanaugh
Kathleen Himmelheber
Katherine Ward
Isak Morehous
Kim Morehous
Susan Clark
Casey Mackie
Riley Mackie
Christian Colson
Thomas Chesnut
Ben Benson
Gary Clark
Matt Clark
James Dishong
Robin Dishong

Info Meeting #2

These are the things we covered in our second info meeting for everyone who is going on the trip

Backpack Update
We have collected almost 900 backpacks!!!! Praise God!!!!

Tentative Ministry
Working with the FOCUS kids
Giving out blankets, mattresses, and spending time with the families of the FOCUS kids
Handing out almost 900 backpacks
Sharing the Gospel with and feeding everyone at the ceremonies for the backpacks
Taking the kids on a day trip

Cost
The total cost of the trip is going to be around $2900

Plane Ticket
You must pay for your plane ticket by March 31st

Flight Schedule

June 5th:
Leave Cincinnati at 2pm
Arrive in Chicago at 2:30pm (central time)
Leave Chicago at 5pm

June 6th:
Arrive in Brussels at 8:15am
Leave Brussels at 10:40am
Arrive in Nairobi, Kenya at 10:05pm

June 17th:
Leave Nairobi, Kenya at 10:50pm

June 18th:
Arrive in Brussels at 6:10am
Leave Brussels at 10am
Arrive in New York City at 12:30pm
Leave New York City at 3:30pm
Arrive in Cincinnati at 5:50pm

Luggage
You are allowed 1 checked bag and 1 carry on bag
Your other checked bag will be a container with backpack supplies in it

Where Are We Staying?

We stay at a place called Heart House. It is an old game lodge that was purchased by a Christian organization to house missionaries in Kenya. They have summer missionaries that come in every summer as well to serve and reach out to the local community.

The lodge has rooms (like the one to the left) and full kitchen facilities. They cook for the employees and visitors every day and the food is amazing!

The compound is composed of the lodge, two staff houses, the kitchen, and a beautiful courtyard! It is a truly awesome place to come back after serving all day and then wake up to in the morning. The whole place is surrounded by a security wall and a full-time security guard as well.

I can't wait to be back here!!

Tentative (and we mean that) Schedule

Here is a sample schedule of our time in Kenya. This schedule could, and probably will, change in the months leading up to the trip. As needs arise, we will do our best to meet them which could change our schedule.

Sunday, June 5th
Leave Cincinnati, OH

Monday
Arrive in Nairobi, Kenya (about 10pm)

Tuesday
Tour ABC Orphanage and Kibera Slum
Visit FOCUS Orphan Care Center

Wednesday
Ministry at FOCUS Orphan Care Center and local community

Thursday
Outreach to Ruiru Community
Construction and Backpacks

Friday
Construction

Saturday
Field Trip for Orphans/Ministry in Community

Sunday
Ministry at Ruiru Baptist Church
GOOD FOOD

Monday
Safari

Tuesday
Safari

Wednesday
Safari

Thursday
Ministry in Community: Blankets, Mattresses, and Mosquito Nets

Friday
Shopping
Tea Fields
Leave Nairobi, Kenya

Saturday, June 16th
Arrive in Cincinnati, OH

Info Meeting #1

These are the important notes and info from the first meeting with the team of people going to Kenya in June

Trip Dates: June 5th-18th, 2011

Total Cost: $3,000

You need to start fund raising NOW!

• Enclosed in the packet you received are multiple sample letters that you can use in preparation for writing your own support letters
• You need to send these letters out ASAP
• You can participate in and start any fundraiser you would like as an individual or group. However, we ask that you not use Graceland's name on any fund raising you do
  

Passports

• Passport Applications need to be done ASAP as well!

Shots/Meds

• Here is a list of shots that you REQUIRED to have in order to travel to Kenya: Yellow Fever
• Here is a list of shots that are RECOMMENDED (HIGHLY) for travel to Kenya: MMR, DPT, Polio, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid
• You will also need Malaria medication from your local doctor. This comes in the form of pills that you take with you and start taking before you leave and finish after you get back.

2009's Trip

• Check out the blog from our last trip @ www.kenyagbc.blogspot.com
• Check out pictures from our last trip @ www.picasaweb.google.com/chinnylates
  

Meeting Schedule

• March 6th @4:30pm
• April 3rd @ 4:30pm
• May 15th & 29th @ 4:30pm
• June 4th (luggage drop-off) @ TBD

Pray

• Please be in prayer for the finalization of details
• Pray for Sylvester who we will be working with while we are there
• Pray for all the kids we will be working with and loving on
• Pray for the team that will be going