SUMMER MISSIONS AT IAA
The volunteers who have visited IAA write such beautiful and wonderful words about their visits with our children, but as I was reading through them I thought of all the blessings they bring to us: inter-cultural learning; building relationships; receiving affirmation; training in scripture; modeling service; providing unconditional love and attention; encouragement. I could go on and on. Thank You!
INTO ABBA'S ARMS
Indiana, West Virginia, Georgia & Pensylvania
Mission Team - June
Front row: Philip Koech (driver), Bill, Tarin
Our June team spent a very busy two weeks in Kenya this year. We spent four and half days at IAA visiting with the staff and children while working on various maintenance projects around the site. As always, it was a blessing to spend time with the children. One of the highlights of our stay was a Bible lesson and craft project led by Meredith Lydick and Carey Bailey. The girls taught the children a scripture lesson followed by a mosaic project illustrating how God can make something beautiful from things (and people) that are broken. The girls also enjoyed a regular story time in the evening with the children. Our ministry projects took us to areas outside Kinangop as well. With the help of April Lingle, our IAA intern, we assembled and distributed new mother kits in a nearby IDP (Internally Displaced People) camp. While at the camp, we had the opportunity to minister to and read Scripture with some of the women in the camp. It was a blessing to visit with them in their homes and hear them speak of the Lord’s goodness despite their dire circumstances. But perhaps the most exciting aspect of the trip was working with One Hope Ministries, whose vision is to place the gospel in the hands of every child on earth by 2030. Using teaching programs created by One Hope, our team went into the public schools of Kinangop presenting the gospel to students and teachers a total of 19 times in 8 different area schools. We were overwhelmed to see the power of God’s word at work as we witnessed many children accept Christ during those two days.From there our team moved west and then south as we delivered food and supplies to widows, churches, and a children’s home in Ahero who were all suffering from a food shortage brought on by the recent drought. I am amazed at how quickly our time in Kenya passes No carry out, we are blessed anew as God continues to find new and exciting ways for us to minister to our brothers and sisters in Kenya.
Tarin Paradise
“I will praise You forever for what You have done; in Your name I will hope, for Your name is good. I will praise You in the presence of the saints.” Psalm 52:9
Woodsedge Church Missions Team-July
The Woodlands, TX
Kim NeeleyCaitlin Chalfant
Kent Anderson
Andrea Shannon
Allie Dorsey
Ashley Markgraf
Hannah Novelli
Austin Rumpel
Corrie Sharpe
Allison Shrimpton
Paul Lassalle
Gretchen Schneider
Elissa Adams and Kathleen Wilson
Sugar Land, TX Mission Volunteers - July & August
"I was so blessed to be able to visit IAA again this summer! I had been counting down to my return since the day I left last year, and it was such a great feeling to be welcomed back to IAA with open arms. As soon as I was reunited with everyone, it felt like I had never left. I was overwhelmed with joy to finally be a part of that wonderful family again! I was especially excited to be reunited with 4 year old Martha, who I grew very close to last year. The first time I was there, she had been very clingy and in need of extra love and attention. I am so excited to report that although we still had a close connection, she was much less needy and more independent than she had been a year ago. I couldn’t have been happier to see how much she had grown and matured! This year I was able to stay at IAA for the first half of August, when all of the children were home from school. I was so excited to be able to get to know some of the boarding school students that had not been home the last time I was there. It was so much fun to be there during the vacation month because we were able to do special activities such as take the kids swimming, go hiking with the older boys, and have a sleepover party with the older girls! The Lord has blessed IAA in such an incredible way, and has blessed me with the opportunity to learn from and be inspired by His wonderful work in Kenya. The children and staff at IAA are a huge part of who I am today, and I am so grateful to have been able to spend the last two summers with them. Although I’m not quite sure of when God will lead me back there, I am very much looking forward to another reunion with all of the people I love and miss so much!" Elissa Adams
"Being back at IAA this summer was a true blessing. After I left last summer, I knew I would be back some day, but I never imagined God would be guiding me back there just a short year after my first visit. I felt overjoyed as I was reunited with all the wonderful kids at IAA. I quickly learned that some of the toddlers I grew very close to last year were more independent and didn't need quite the same love and attention they needed last summer. At first this was hard to take in, but it was truly a blessing for me to see that the kids were happy, content, and able to be more independent and self-fulfilling. Milka, the little girl my family sponsors, grew a lot closer to me this year! I really enjoyed spending a great deal of time with her. She has multiple moods ranging from being a complete diva to being the sweetest, most loving little girl in the world. There wasn't a day that went by that she wasn't making me laugh. I also had the opportunity to grow closer to some of the older girls and boys during their month off from school. Theresia taught me a lot about myself and made me realize the importance of providing the older children with just as much love and attention as the toddlers. Spending time with these beautiful children of God was absolutely incredible and indescribable in ways. As I reflect on my time at IAA, I am continually amazed at how much love and support is in this organization. I commend Jane for her hard work and dedication to such a successful orphanage. I do not know when I will be back to visit IAA next, as I am preparing myself for the working world, but I have no doubt the Lord will lead me back into his wonderful home for these children one day. I have so many wonderful memories from my six weeks at IAA that I will forever cherish."
Kathleen Wilson
Kathleen Wilson
Kelly Klein, Kristin Klein and Amanda Cook
Summer Volunteers - August
The moments I spent at IAA this summer were filled with more joy than I knew was possible. Carina captured my heart on the first day and throughout my experience, she continued to make my heart soar. Listening to the sound of her laugh, holding her hand, making noises with her, seeing her face light up, playing our monkey and telephone games - everything about those moments just felt right; nothing else seemed to matter but loving her in that moment. Running around with her on my back, her hugs and kisses, tickling her, dancing with her, and seeing her giant smile could make my heart warm in an instant. Every moment I spent with her I felt peace in my heart. I felt that in loving Carina, I got a new glimpse of God’s love for us – a perfect love. It is almost impossible to imagine that God loves me even more than how much I love Carina. I know this story hasn’t ended yet... this is only the beginning." Kelly Klein
"The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."
Frederick Buechner
River Cities Community Church Mission Team – August 2011
Huntington, WV
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| Top row: Dave Calvert; Tom McGahan; Mary Jane Amos; Jean Howison; Sandy Carroll; Jan Boyd. Bottom row: Beth Calvert; Garland Bowen; Brenda McGahan; Steve Graves; Kristina Hamilton; Kevin Hamilton. |
One year ago the Lord confirmed that it was time to take a group from River Cities Community Church to IAA. Twelve of us linked with others from our congregation and community purposed to:
1. Provide five days of Vacation Bible School.
2. Provide learning materials for the IAA
preschool.
3. Provide curriculum for the Sunday chapel services
The Lord worked through His people who generously gave and the goals were met.
The Lord worked through His people who generously gave and the goals were met.
VBS would officially begin at 10 AM and last until 2 PM. The Kinangop kids were so excited they began coming at 8:30 AM and left when they had to. The theme of the week was “How to Roll with Jesus”. Using songs, skits, teaching times, games, and activities they learned how to enjoy the basic Christian disciplines of prayer, time in Scripture, being with other believers, fighting temptation and obeying the Lord with the Holy Spirit’s leadership. Over 250 participated.
Our free time was spent enjoying the IAA family life. As one of our couples spent time talking with some of the older youth, they perceived the need to have some Bible study time with the IAA older fellows. Three evenings included our men having a discussion from a Biblical perspective answering questions the IAA guys had.
For more about the VBS visit Beth's Blog at:
Beth's Blog Post
For more about the VBS visit Beth's Blog at:
Beth's Blog Post
Engineers Without Borders
Engineering Team- August
Engineering Team- August
Syracuse University Enginerring Students
Syracuse, NY
Chuck Brooks (professional mentor), Lesen Haracz, Isaac Allen, Scott Ranthes,
and Erin Zeqja with IAA children on the kitchen project site.
Janet Brooks was present, but taking the photo
The Syracuse University Engineers Without Borders team had a fantastic time during our stay at Into Abba's Arms. We were greeted with such warmth and friendliness by everyone at IAA. The children, staff, and community members were all so welcoming. We enjoyed every aspect of our trip, whether we were working with the construction team, playing basketball or soccer with the children, or spending time learning about their schooling and interests after dinner. The children were eager as to spend time learning about our lives as we were to learn about theirs. They were a truly inquisitive, intelligent and amazing group. We are incredibly blessed to have gotten to know them and we cannot wait to go back!
Scott Ranthes
