To Africa

I know everyone is eagerly awaiting an update about our most recent trip to Africa…oh not everyone, just my mom, okay cool, no worries, here’s a little update anyway.

WE WENT TO AFRICA. What a ride folks. Not every season with the Lord is the same and just like with all relationships, there are definitely ups and downs. But currently, we are getting to experience God in such amazing ways and we want to share His goodness with you!

First of all, God’s love and joy are radical. They are transformative and extraordinary. And I pray that if you don’t know it already, He shows up in BIG ways in your life. And if you’ve known it and have lost your vigor, I pray that He reminds you. And if you are on fire, praise the Lord, I pray it spreads to so many more people, because fire is consuming.

Secondly, the people and places and things we got to see and experience in Africa were amazing. It’s truly so hard to encapsulate all that you’ve experienced and help someone else understand. So, basically, you need to go. Okay? Good, now that we’ve agreed on that, we’ll update you about our trip.

The Gospel Coffee Crew spent two weeks in Uganda and two weeks in Kenya. Our time in both countries was different from each other as AOI came alongside two different ministers, Olive and Willis.

Uganda was such a special trip. We went with a group of 10 people. And we stayed at a Skilling Institute, which is similar to a trade school or a vocational school in the United States. A unique thing about education in Africa is that many, if not all schools, offer boarding and many students actually board at their school. This means that there were students in their teens and early twenties who also stayed at the school, creating an environment ripe for intentional life and conversations as well as deep connections in such a short amount of time. God did a beautiful thing while we were in Uganda.

Over the past decade, Olive has continually poured into the community. Her testimony is a beautiful story of how God heals and redeems brokenness and brings hope and opportunity where there once was disparity. God called Olive back to the villages she was raised in. She is the Director of Kito (pronounced Cheeto) Primary School and Nile River Skilling Institute (NRSI). Kito School is a primary or elementary school for approximately 500 students. NRSI is a trade school that equips teenagers and young adults with skills they need to be able to work and support themselves financially. Along with skills, these students are getting discipled by Olive while attending the school. She also visits and cares for many widows and is extremely respected in the community. We were blessed to be a part of her life and the ministries that God has entrusted to her and we are praying for her in all that she does. She is a woman who truly loves people and actively cares for so many. So many who are hungry, homeless, or simply in need.

Thanks to you all, we were able to leave two instruments and many Bibles, as well as some clothes and shoes in Uganda! God has taught us many things. And one thing that really sticks out is how the people are so thankful for anything they have and they are extremely generous. The children, although they might not have food, will offer you gifts of fruit. The people will give up their stools or will feed you and not even eat themselves. We were blessed to be able to give a little and we received so much. Although they are financially poor, many are rich in the joy of the Lord.

Our time in Kenya was special in a whole different way. We worked alongside Willis, the international leader of Standing in the Gap Kenya and pastor of a church plant of New Life Church Ministries from Sedalia, MO. Willis is an individual with a powerful testimony of God pulling you out of the muck and mire and with his life, Willis seeks to be the hand that God uses for others battling the same issues. The ministry of his heart is to work with people battling alcohol and drugs and people in prison. He runs a discipleship program and has a half house for those in the program seeking to change their life. We were able to work with Willis. We taught and sang worship songs at prisons, schools, and conferences, we prayed with widows, visited the half houses, and met with the Deputy County Commissioner to arrange a one-day conference for educating illicit brewers and known alcoholics. Hearing Willis talk about the ministry is beautiful and his heart beats with passion for coming alongside these people to give them a helping hand and through Christ, to teach them how to be leaders. He is so hopeful. We learned that ministry to people with drug and alcohol abuse issues is not often considered very highly and is not given much credit. But we got to talk to Willis’ mentor and someone who has known him since childhood, through the ups and downs of Willis’ own life. He was so proud of Willis and remarked how God chose Willis to do what he is doing. His assignment is perfect for his testimony and Willis is eager to fulfill the mission God has called on his life.

As the Gospel Coffee Crew, we bought 200 lbs of coffee from both Uganda and Kenya. We are hopeful for the buying of coffee to be a blessing to the minister and ministries so they can focus more on sharing the gospel and making disciples. The African coffee is in a lion bag, it just seemed fitting. We aren’t sure what it looks like in Uganda. In Kenya, it is an answer to prayers. Willis is eager to plant trees and start processing coffee. If God calls him to that, we desire obedience for him and Gospel Coffee. Because God is good and He works things out, Oyugis is one of two regions in Kenya that grows coffee abundantly. Willis has multiple connections to coffee farmers. The lack comes in processing abilities. No one really is capable of doing that apart from a factory or a Cooperative. So the vision that we will be praying about is if Willis and the Standing in the Gap ministry are supposed to start processing coffee. If they were able to process and ship the coffee, it would employ so many people in their ministry and would allow them to make connections and evangelize to the coffee farmers. We would love for them to be able to do this. Prayerfully, Gospel Coffee will grow to be able to buy that much coffee from them.

Overall, the trip was a huge blessing! We got to share the gospel with around 2,000 people, if not more, throughout the whole trip and we know that God’s Word does not return void. We are prayerful about the seeds that were planted. We are praying for more open doors and direction from the Lord. We would love to return, but we are just seeking the Lord for every step. We are blessed and blown away by what God is doing and by what we get to be a part of. But thanks be to God for His immeasurable love and grace and His unstoppable power. We are thankful He chooses to use inadequate people in His plan. We are thankful that His love knows no bounds, no country lines, and no borders. We are thankful.

Shalom from the Gospel Coffee Crew