Hi all,
Sorry that this is so late in coming, but things at HDC have been busy as usual. The time just keeps flying by, and I'm sure that the weeks are getting shorter as they go on. It is both really exciting and saddening that training is coming to an end. We have really had a good time building relationships with the other teams here, and it will be sad to part. But it will be really nice to see family again over Thanksgiving and to have a little personal space that isn't easily available with 50 people in the house!
Our outreach at CFC is almost over, even though it seems as if we've just begun. It's been really neat to see the relationships that are being built with the kids. We are planning to lead a chapel sometime next week in which CFC will commission us and say goodbye. We led a chapel this week which turned out really well. As we were planning, we were trying to come up with a way to keep all of the kids focused and quiet, which is a huge challenge with these kids. At times they can be really frustrating and disrespectful, but when you break through, they desire so much love and attention. We ended up singing with Cory and his guitar, and then performing a modern version of the Good Samaritan. At the beginning it didn't look too promising, but they really got involved as we kept going. It was so funny to watch their reactions to the skit, and I don't think that I have ever sung "I Am A C" so many times in a row!
This morning our friend and language teacher, John Mutisya, left to return back to Kenya. A group of us dropped him off at the airport this morning before church. It was sad, but at least for those of us is the Kenya team, we knew that we would see him again. It was amazing the timing of John's arrival. It was such a "God-thing" that he was here when our outreach switched to Kenya, and the teaching of language and culture that he could provide. He not only was a great teacher, but became a good friend to each of us. On Friday night, our team to John out to supper at Texas Roadhouse and then distracted him until 9pm. We brought him back to HDC for a surprise going-away-party. He was so shocked! The party turned out to be a lot of fun.
Half of the training is in NYC this weekend. The rest of us, Kenya, Israel, and the Balkans will be going to Camp Hebron tomorrow. It sounds like it is going to be a challenge with little sleep and a lot of team-building activities.
Our half of training was in New York two weeks ago. We did a lot of sight-seeing, prayer walking, got to go to an African church, etc. We stayed with Harv and Robin and Kendy in their apartment in the Bronx. It was a lot of fun, and the area we were in actually felt safer than where we are in Harrisburg. We also got lots of good food and got to watch movies!
The speakers lately have been really good. I know I have been learning a lot of practical things that will help me in life. It's training not so much just for our trip, but for life. I've been really blessed with our worship times, as well, and have really felt God's presence. It's neat how He has been touching so many here.
Thank you to all who have been keeping us in your prayers! It has been really good to see how God has been working through the process of changing outreach locations and length of time. It was official this week that we will be on outreach for 8 months. We are all happy about it, although sometimes it is a little overwhelming, and feel that it is where God called us to be.
God bless,
Monica Stoltzfus for the Kenya team
