Written by Natalija Gligorevic
It has been over a week since the Travel with Purpose team arrived in Nairobi, Kenya. There, the group of Garden Spot Village residents and staff are learning about the Missions of Hope International (MOHI) program, which strives to enrich the lives of families and children through education, service, and worship. Since the team’s initial days in Kenya, they have had many more exciting and heartfelt experiences.
On Sunday, September 10, the group gathered for worship at the Outreach Hope Church Mathare North in Mabatini, where the service was a vibrant mix of Swahili and English. Brandon Adams delivered a moving sermon titled: “Building Stronger Families: Nurturing Love and Grace,” and Evie Hershey shared a powerful anecdote on the triumphs and challenges of caring for older children.
Wednesday, September 13 was a busy, exhilarating day for the Travel with Purpose team. They divided themselves into two groups; the first group spent the day at the Pangani Centre, leading an in-service class for teachers from different MOHI programs. They discussed incorporating new techniques into the teaching of reading and vocabulary skills. Meanwhile, the others finished a mural, titled “HOPE,” to symbolize the team’s hopes and dreams they shared on the trip. The rest of the day they dedicated to the MOHI Technical Training Institute (MTTI), where MOHI members learn how to prosper after their training, and home visits of families touched by this powerful mission.
The next day, September 14, the group visited a sewing, marketing, and training project, Amani ya Juu—or “higher peace” in Swahili. The women involved use their faith in God to transcend ethnic differences, work together, and create beautiful crafts and textiles.
After attending the Church at Pangani on Sunday, September 17, the following day was dedicated to a field trip with the MOHI sponsored children. They ventured to the Elephant Orphanage, located in Nairobi National Park, where both the children and adults fed the animals, took pictures, and shared a delicious meal together.
For more updates on the Travel with Purpose team’s adventure in Kenya, follow Garden Spot Village on social media.