Karibu Kenya!

Yesterday was so fruitful. I saw the welcoming spirit of Kenya.

I had my first experience in Kenyan worship at the Global Outreach Center. I am even more excited than ever to go hang with these beautiful people this summer. The band was great, and despite the awkwardness of being the white girl who couldn't dance (in my defense, I CAN dance....quite well, thank you, and apparently Kenyans clap on the off-beat) I loved the way they worship.

It feels like a wave of awesomeness crashing over you.

There were definitely emphatic "hallelujah's" and "praise Jesus" but I was so struck by the utter JOY that permeated through the music. It delighted me to see it the band's jubilant faces, shining like they had personally seen the Lord themselves, stepped down from heaven, and HAD TO sing about it.

These people, these dynamic, rich, thankful, generous people have agreed, without even knowing me, to help make Upendo a great night. Pastor Ben is helping me get the word out to Kenyans, hopefully contributing a vibrant attendance of Africans to shake up the rest of the Americans clapping with the on-beat. A new friend, Lucy, wants to share her gift of dance and she'll be shaking it on the floor on the 25th.

I am overwhelmed by the generosity of people who've heard about the event. They're signing up to attend in droves (thanks in large part to Sarah's additional evite!), people want to participate in the program and food preparation, and I can feel the goodwill of prayer flooding over me.

This celebration of love, life, and Kenya is coming together, and I've got a grocery list in hand. We're making de-lish-ous traditional food, and the people will be well fed, but I hope in addition to the full tummies, everyone will leave a little more filled with love, hope and awareness.

Over the next two weeks, I'm humbly asking all of you to pray for me and this event. Pray that it will be well attended, by both Africans and Americans. Pray that people will have a great time. Pray that there will be enough food and resources for everyone. Pray that it will be successful. But most of all, pray that people leave with a greater understanding of what Kenya is like, and that God would move people's hearts to action...in whatever way he wishes.

Asante sana...(thank you!)