Youth Group Overnighter

We’re started the help out with the youth group at Ngata AGC where we go to church, and we’ve really enjoyed it.  The youth were planning some overnighters and asked if they could come to our home for one.  There was going to be another overnighter before ours, so we figured it would be OK since we’d be able to see how it went before we hosted one.  Well, that Sunday at church, the people who were supposed to host the first event cancelled, so we were told that we were hosting an overnighter that Friday.  A little shock to the system, but we (for the most part) took it in stride. :  )

As Friday approached, we coordinated with some of the youth and with Chip, the interim youth pastor, about the details.  Some of the youth leaders came over early that Friday to assist Colleen with shopping and cooking, which was such a big help.  We’d been saying all week that we didn’t have enough beds/cushions/pillows/towels for 20+ people, but we were told not to worry about it… most people wouldn’t be sleeping anyway. :  )

We ended up having 26 youth + the two of us in our house – we ate a combo American/Kenya dinner (roast, potatoes and vegetables plus ugali, chapati, and "green grains"), played games, had a great Bible Study/discussion on temptation, used our new rope swing (which  was a huge hit), watched movies, and didn’t get much sleep…  It was so much fun and we were so impressed with the spiritual maturity of some of the youth.  The discussion on temptation was especially good, as we talked about way to avoid vs. overcome different temptations, like planning ahead, memorizing scripture, and praying about it daily.  HERE is the album of pictures from Friday night.

Even though most had hardly slept, they were up with the sun wanting some breakfast.  Colleen made cinnamon rolls, which was also a first for many of the youth and another big hit.  Pastor Chip led a devotional and we sang praises to the Lord outside in the beautiful morning.  The rest of the morning was spent fellowshipping and playing outside.  I got out an American football and some frisbees which were fun to toss around.  Kenyans don’t plan many sports where they have to throw and catch… so throwing the American football around was interesting.  I might be the Peyton Manning of Kenya!  Click HERE to see the album of pictures from Saturday. 

There were a few interesting/funny cultural things that took place, like the fact that our bathrooms were kinda disgusting and we wonder if everyone knew how to use a standard toilet…  we also found that some of our American candy just happened to disappear as the night went on.  :  )  They also had Kenyan music playing all night, and tried to teach me to dance… which I’m glad was not recorded on video.  But it was a great time, we had so much fun getting to know the youth better, and we are excited about continuing to be involved in the youth group. 

Please pray for these youth, that they would grow into mature believers in Christ and would avoid the many temptations that they face as 18-20somethings in Kenya. 

We’re going to be out of town at Tenwek this week for meetings from Wednesday – Sunday.  It is budgeting time, alot of which is my responsibility, so pray I get all of my work done timely and correctly!

Thanks for reading our blog!