In the town of Bungoma, Kenya, there are many churches.

In those churches there are many pews.

In those pews there are many Christians.

In those Christians there are very passionate hearts.

But in those hands, there are no Bibles.

The church in Bungoma is alive and well, but unfortunately, they lack resources to get Bibles into the very eager hands.  When we were doing house-to-house evangelism, I asked the pastor if there was any way we could get Bibles to the people that just accepted Christ.  One of my biggest fears is leading someone to the Lord, and then leaving them with a serious lack of discipleship.  In the much quoted Great Commission, Jesus told his disciples to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations – not just converts.  So we set out to undertake the Bibles for Bungoma project.  Our contact knew of a Bible distributor in the area and told us that each Bible would cost around $8.  For two cups of Starbucks, we could make an eternal impact in the lives of Christians around the world.  So we began to rally our resources.  I am still amazed at the way the Lord moved so quickly and greatly.  In a matter of four days, three girls had raised almost $2,000!  That money bought over 190 Bibles and discipleship manuals for the wonderful people of Bungoma!!  The Lord never ceases to amaze me.

The wonderful part about this whole story is that all we did was simply put ourselves in a place of asking questions and letting the Lord respond.  I asked if Bibles were available, and God found a way to get them to Kenya.  We asked our friends, families and supporters if they wanted to invest in God’s Kingdom, and the Lord moved mightily!!  He is just so good!!  I will never forget the joy on the faces of the people who got to hold their very own Bible, in their own language.  They truly were in love with the Living Word.  I want to thank many of you who contributed to this project and rejoice that in a matter of a week, almost two thousand dollars were raised and the Bibles were distributed into the hands that desperately needed them.

Thank you for sewing into the Kingdom, and helping us disciple the nations.

** As quickly as the Bibles got to Bungoma, they were gone almost as quickly.  There is still a great need there, as well as all over Kenya and Eastern Africa, for Bibles.  If you are interested in investing $10 for the Kingdom, please contact me at JenniferLeeMitchell@gmail.com and we can get a Bible into the hands of those who need it!!  Thank you so much!

The day just seemed like a normal day in Kenya.  We played with the children, we shared the Gospel with people, we had about four cokes at 20 cents each…and then Martha spotted her.  Sitting in a puddle of her own urine, precious little Melissa was completely alone and scared. I first introduced you to Melissa through Martha’s blog a few weeks ago.  But I want you to know the impact this precious little one has had on my life.  We simply could not pass Melissa by.  One look at her and one could tell that something was wrong.  Melissa was seven years old, but weighs only 15 pounds – about the size of a six month old.  And yet despite her physical condition she has the most infectious laughter I have ever heard.  Upon seeing Melissa, we knew that we could not just leave her alone.  We quickly took her to the first of three doctors visits and learned that she was in dire need of nutrition and physical therapy.  On top of that, she was in the care of her father, John, who spent more hours in the bar than at home taking care of his daughter.  We were at a loss of what to do.  We could not find an orphanage that could take her, and our time in Kenya was quickly drawing to a close.  We prayed fervently for a week that the Lord would provide a way for us to help this precious little life.  The day we were scheduled to leave, the pastor we were working with said that he had found a woman from the church that was willing to take care of Melissa until she was healthy.  I was nervous because I did not want to simply place her anywhere.  However, God always has an absolutely perfect plan.

Earlier that month we had done a hospital visit where we met a wonderful Christian woman named Elika.  She led us around the hospital laying hands on people and praying for them.  She has a gentle, matronly spirit about her, and I instantly liked Elika.  The day we left Kenya, the pastor brought in the woman who had volunteered to take care of Melissa, and praise God, it was Elika!  I knew instantly that God had planned all along for us to cross each others path.  He had everything absolutely ordained since before creation.

So I am happy to report that even though it has only been two weeks, Melissa is doing wonderful!  She is taking very well to physical therapy, and the nutritious diet she is on is helping her improve greatly!  Her story is so encouraging to me because we didn’t do anything special to help Melissa, we simply stopped when we saw her on the side of the road.  God orchestrated everything else absolutely perfectly.

So how do we save a life?

Simply stop for them.

And follow the path that God has already planned since the beginning of time.

It was after dinner when Simone began her story.  I did not notice her much through the meal – she was a quiet girl, content to sit in the background while other people carried on the conversation.  It was only after the meal was over that I began to think that God had a bigger purpose for this quiet, beautiful young girl.  Simone, a 15-year-old girl, began telling us the story of her life with such honesty that I began feeling the emotions as she expressed them.  Simone is an orphan whose parents died when she was young.  Her aunt took her in, but did not have very much to help take care of Simone.  She lived her childhood with barely a full stomach, and always on faith for school fees.  Simone ended up being brought to church, and it was there that she first heard the Gospel. She quickly received and fell in love with Jesus.  She is very active in church and in her youth group.  However, at home she was constantly battling the enemy.  Her uncle is a witchdoctor, and would constantly try to curse her.  Though Simone is a Christian, I could see the fear in her eyes as she remembered evil spirits tormenting her at night.  I asked her what her burdens are and she shared about fear from her uncle and the struggle to get her school fees paid for.  She shared with me her dream of becoming a lawyer, but her doubt that she could do it because of finances.  I found out later that her school costs the equivalent of $135 for an entire year of high school.  One hundred and thirty-five dollars is the only thing that is standing between this precious girl and her dream.

The next day, our team prayed and pooled our resources and decided that we would pay for Simone’s school this year.  So Martha and I hopped on motorcycles to the girls’ school about 30 minutes away.  I then watched a quiet, small girl blossom right in front of me.  It was like a huge rock had been lifted off of her.  I watched as Simone jumped up and down and smiled bigger than her face could hold.  She was elated.  Words cannot express the joy that was in the room at that moment.

It was then that I began thinking about the situation from an eternal perspective.  It was almost like I could see God doing the same thing for us.  As sinners, we deserve nothing at all.  Our sins compile debts that we could never repay.  We were suffering and dying under the weight of it all.  Then Jesus came and completely paid our debts in full.  Now we get to live in freedom, free from that bondage and burden.  Praise God that our debts are paid in full!

And the best part is, that God removed our debts, not because of any merit of our own, but because he loves us that much.  My team was overwhelmed with love for Simone after meeting her just once.  We knew we had to do something to help her.  How much more so does God love us and want to give good gifts to his children!!  Best of all, he paid a debt that he did not owe, so we could be free – We are paid in full.

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I spotted her from a distance sitting in the sun all alone. Right away I could tell something was not right. I approached the little girl to find her sitting in her own urine, bottomless wearing only a torn, dirty shirt. She was so, so tiny. I bent down to touch her. All I knew to do was call on the name of Jesus in desperation. Her body so frail and little, I thought she was maybe between 1 and 2. Who is this little girl? Why is she all alone? Wanting to know about her we asked around the area trying to find answers to this little girl’s situation. Soon after, her father came summoned by some neighbors. We find out her name is Melissa and she is seven years old. Her mother abandoned her and her father is not able to provide the food she needs. She is literally starving to death. Later on, in desperation, I called my mother in tears, telling her about the little girl I met. She reassured me to do what ever it took to save this little girl, no matter what. So the next morning we went to where she lives, finding her sitting all alone once again, we asked her father, John, if we could take her to the doctor, he picked her up and to the doctor we went. Phillip, John, Melissa and I piled into the doctor’s office. There the doctor asked John questions.

Melissa was born a healthy baby, no health problems or complications. But due to a lack of food and nourishment her development and growth was stunted. Malnutrition caused mental and physical retardation. She can’t speak, her only words are papa, her cry is a high-pitched whimper, and she is too weak to walk on her own. Never have I seen what a lack of nutrition can do to someone’s development. Born into such poverty, the father talked of nights she slept outside in the cold. To ease the hunger pains the father admitted to giving her alcohol because that was so cheap and all there was. The doctor said she is an extreme case of malnutrition and the best thing to do is to get her into a facility where she will be taken care of and fed. He said that this is a social problem more than anything, and for her long term health it was best to get her out of her father’s care since he isn’t able to provide and into a children’s home where she can get nursed back to health. When those words were translated into Swahili for the father to understand I watched as tears welt up in his eyes and ran down his face. I will never forget the look of pure, hopeless desperation on that father’s face. This was not my purpose. I did not want to separate the child from her father. My mind and heart was racing in that doctor’s office. My heart was torn. Do we take this little girl from the only thing she has, her father who she loves to make sure she is fed and won’t starve to death? But in this facility will she feel love from the staff? Which is more important, food or love? Although it clearly pained him, the father said he is willing to give his child up so she can be taken care of and nursed back to health. It wouldn’t be permanent, but until she recovers and the father can come for her when he can show he can provide for her.

The doctor said that although she probably will never be 100% better because she is so far behind in development, with proper care and nutrition she will definitely improve. But my God is the ultimate Healer and Provider and nothing is impossible for Him! After the doctor’s visit I invited them to come eat some of our lunch. I loaded up rice on a plate and a banana and gave it to the man. He sat his daughter on the ground and put the plate in front of her. I will never forget the way that little one grabbed that food and continually shoved it into her mouth with her little fingers. She devoured the banana and almost the whole plate of rice, until we took it away so she wouldn’t get sick from eating so much. I also prepared a plate for the father and his was gone in a matter of seconds. Clearly neither of them have eaten for days. I went back to talk with the doctor to see how much we owed for the visit. He told me we owe him nothing, and he thanked me for our concern and love for the people of Kenya. Praise God! To satisfy the immediate needs of food and nourishment Phillip and I took John and Melissa shopping for some food. We stopped at a few market stands and the grocery store.

During our walk I wanted John to understand that this wasn’t being done out of pity, that he wasn’t just a charity case, but it was because of the love of Jesus. Everything was Jesus. Jesus loves him so much and wants him and his daughter taken care of. Once we got all of the food, fruits and vegetables and supplies they would need for a while, we walked back to his house. I had sweet Melissa in my arms as we walked, and she just rested her little head on my shoulder. You could tell she didn’t see the outside world much, as she was scared of the people on bikes and occasional cars that would go by. People stared and gawked at us walking, and I just cradled her in my arms and covered her head with my hand, trying to show that she was ok and safe in my arms. We got to his house and he invited me in because he wanted me to pray for him. I walk in to his house, a mud hut, all that fit in it was a spring bed frame with some ripped up foam pieces on it and a tiny walking space in between the length of the bed and the wall. The smallest room/house I have ever seen.

When we were in the house I asked him what he wanted prayer for. Phillip told me he wants to know and experience this Jesus mentioned earlier. So there in his little room of a house I walked him through prayer and he confessed to wanting and needing Jesus as tears built up in his eyes and ran down his face. He is coming to church on Sunday and on Friday we are bringing him a bible! Amidst the tragedies, the poverty, these heart wrenching situations I DECLARE that my God is good, He is faithful, He is sovereign, He is Love, He is compassionate, He cares, and He works all things for good. Today His son came home. And tomorrow is in His hands. We don’t know what to do, but God knows exactly the right steps to take. God reveal your will for us and your will for your precious daughter. Please keep Melissa and John in your prayers. God bless you.

“And the King will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” ~Matthew 25:34-36

As I was walking back to the clinic where we stay, I passed by children who don’t have shoes or pants…little boys no older than 10 begging for their next meal…sick people who cannot afford a doctor…lonely hearts without any hope.

And then it hit me…

Simply, Jesus is all around me!

I think so often we Christians like to think the Bible is more confusing than it actually is. We like to think that what the Bible actually says isn’t what it actually means. We do think so we don’t actually have to do anything about the great need that surrounds us. We use phrases like, “Don’t give a man a fish, teach him to fish” as our mantra. Our great excuse. But Jesus didn’t say, “When I was naked, you taught me how to sew.” Dear friends, there is such a great need all around us. Jesus even told his disciples that the poor we will always have among us. They are God’s heart. The lost, the poor, the sick, the broken – They are God’s heartbeat. They are Jesus.

God is calling us to a simple life. When we see someone hungry – feed them. Visit those in prison. Give clothes to people who don’t have them. How can we ever profess to love Jesus if we are unwilling to get out of our comfortable lives and clothe ourselves with the scent of poverty?

So I set out to begin living life with the eyes of helping Jesus. I never want him to say that I didn’t give him food when he was hungry. Here in Bungoma, the need is great – at times it seems overwhelming, but God is greater! So Martha, Ashley and I set our minds to always stop for the one…to look at everyone with the eyes of Christ…to not be so consumed with schedules that we pass someone by…and to seek God in every situation. We have been trying to live this way for only a week, but we have such incredible Kingdom stories so far!! I cannot wait to share these experiences with you.

May we each strive to live the Simple Life. May we not be so focused on our own plans for the day that we miss what God is leading us to. May we be willing to sacrifice our time, our money, our possessions for Jesus. There is always someone who needs the Jesus in us. May we be available so Kingdom can come on this earth!

I decided to watch the Kenya section this morning, I knew what would happen today and I wanted to see it with my own eyes. It is ALWAYS such a beautiful sight… words will never do it justice…BUT I will try.

We all know the ending to the day but even so, it is marvelous to watch it unfold. We have been waiting for Martha, Jenn, and Ashley to visit homes in Bungoma for their entire existence.  And we know that Morrine, Beva, and Hadeja are in the last house they will visit.   Our Jesus has already prepared the way and there is a crowd of angels surrounding their house and when you look around the heavens you can see the crowd of angels peering over the balcony of Heaven.

I can feel all of our hearts start to beat faster and in unison as they approach the house of these 3 girls.

They walk in and pour out the words of Jesus Christ to these women. We all marvel at Jenn as she explains who Jesus is and what He came to do and once again, we marvel at Jesus and His plan.

This moment starts with Morrine…and just as Jenn says the words “if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord…” we feel the YES in Morrine’s heart come out of her mouth. Without even waiting for the end of the word to be verbalized…a celebration begins.

OH IF YOU COULD ONLY SEE IT!

It is a music that is nowhere else found in the universe…. extraordinary colors seem to dance about the heavens, new instruments and songs are played. It is a sound so loud that if you were to hear it out of context it would be too loud to endure…but because you know a child just ran home to the FATHER…it is perfectly fitting. The sound that erupts within us is echoed out before us.

ALL IN PRAISE TO THE KING OF KINGS!!

It echoes throughout the vast expansion of the heavens that ALL may know that Christ is Lord. There is a holy uproar. Choirs start, joy is made anew, hope shines forth with a GLORIOUS light pointing to our Creator.

And I know the other two girls are about to feel the Yes. I watch as Phillip talks to them saying even if you are Muslim, you can still accept Christ and that He loves them…

Then I feel it.

I really feel it.

I cannot explain to you how it feels.

In human terms, I figure it can best be described, as losing a child, but first investing everything you have in them. EVERYTHING. Only to lose them, almost in an instance and for years you pray. ON YOUR KNEES. You sweat blood. You can sense that they are alive. But you have yet to find them. And you pray more. You pray continually. And then….one day when you feel something in your heart and you can’t explain it. And it causes you to jump up and run out of the door. And there RUNNING to you is your child. Imagine that celebration. And that…is a worldly, unexciting version in comparison to the celebration that happens in Heaven.

Just as I feel it, I know that celebration number 2 happens as Hadeja and Beva confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord.

It is a glorious celebration again. Yet it feels, as it always does, like the first time.  Like the first time we witnessed a child of God running home. And the light from the heavenly realm is SO glorious that it pierces the cloud cover and actually places itself on Kenyan soil. The music is heard high and low as we rejoice over the 3 women that have come home.

And that is only a tiny glimpse of what actually happened today. English will never be able to develop words that can explain to you how it really went down, or what the music actually sounded like, or how splendid the colors that danced around actually looked like.

And what is even more glorious is…..

This is just the beginning…

At the end, Eric asked Rachel if she wanted Jesus to come into her heart, and she said yes!  I was awestruck.  Could it really be that simple?

At the next house, I was all prepared to watch as someone else shared, but after sitting down Tim turned right to me and asked me to talk.  Evalyn and Mary had never been to church before or heard about Jesus.  Where do I possible start with someone who has never heard before?  How could I begin to make them understand the greatness of God and Christ’s incredible sacrifice on the cross?  How could I convey the amazing celebration that is the resurrection?  I was lost.  So, not knowing where else to begin, I started with creation.  I spoke about how God created a perfect world, and put us in it to have a relationship with him.  I spoke about how sin entered the world and how all of us have sinned.  I tried to outline the Gospel as best I could.  I told them how Jesus defeated the enemy on the Cross, and how his resurrection gave us all eternal life if we believe in him.  I shared with them from Romans 8 that nothing they could ever do could possibly separate them from the love of God.  I told them that God spent special time creating them, and that they were made for a purpose.  I was sure I was missing the major points and that I was doing terrible trying to talk about an incomprehensible God.  However, when I was finished, Eric told us that both Evalyn and Mary wanted to accept Jesus in their heart!  Can it be that simple?

At the end of the day, the Gospel is salvation.  It doesn’t matter how poorly it is preached, it is not my calling to save the people.  But Christ did mandate that we “preach the Gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15).  Our job is to respond in obedience and to tell those who do not know about Jesus.  As we speak about God, we release it to Him, and place the results in God’s hands.  But we are called to speak.  Paul implores Timothy, “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season.” (2 Timothy 4:2). But really, is it that simple?

“How then can they call on the one why have not believed in?  And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard?  And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”  (Romans 10:14).

It does not matter if we have a perfect sermon prepared; regardless of our experience or knowledge, “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields!  They are ripe for the harvest!”  (John 4:35).

Fields are ripe.

People are ready.

Hearts are open.

It’s just that simple.

One of the first exciting things I want to share with you is that I officially have all of my support raised!!!  Thank you SOOO much to all of you who have contributed and joined me in prayer.   Raising money was the one thing that was going to prevent me from coming on the Race, and I am so thankful that so many of you helped me achieve this goal!  It is amazing to daily watch how the Lord is using that money.  Praise him!

Since we were on a technology fast last month, I was not really able to update much.  Also unfortunately, we have been in the Middle East for 2 months, so we were not able to post much about God, ministry or Christianity.   This is mostly for our contacts protection because they live in very volatile areas that could turn dangerous if certain groups found out that they are Christians.  So I will try to summarize our time in Israel with as much discretion as I can.

Me, Martha, Lindsay and Ashley spent much of our days watching 5 wonderful children for an amazing woman named Tirza.  This woman taught us so much about trusting God and about serving others.  From the moment we entered TIrza’s house, we knew it was a divine appointment.  Israel was a month filled with much prayer, many smiles, great worship and tons of joy.  I loved the ministry we had that month.

Christmas came, and with it brought much homesickness, but also much joy because I was surrounded by the most incredible girl friends ever.  I am so blessed to have the friends that I have here on the field.  Sadly, our time in Israel had to come to an end, and the infamous 52-hour travel day began.  Yes, you heard me right, 52 hours.  But God knew that we would need some sort of incentive to travel that much, so he gave us a tour of the pyramids!   We drove all night to get to Egypt, toured Cairo all day, and then flew overnight into Nairobi. Ironically, it was cheaper to stay the day i