child at heart

My passport is now in my possession, and my Hepatitis A&B shots are done!! Over $1,100 has been raised! PRAISE ADONAI!

It looks like we have trip dates that we will be following..

July 2nd we will fly out of Atlanta to Chicago, from Chicago to London overnight, and London to Nairobi. We would arrive there sometime around 10.00pm that night…. at that point we will more than likely spend a couple days in Nairobi and work with an orphanage before we go up-country and into the villages , then drive to Kenya and begin our work.Then on July 30th we will leave from Nairobi and fly to London, then from London to Chicago, then from Chicago to Atlanta and I will then come back home. :( In 105 days I will be on a plane and on my way across the world!! It is so close, I cannot believe that.

By the way here is an update about the situation in Kenya/Meru and our trip in case any of you were wondering.

Update on the Political Turmoil in Kenya

We are sending out this update on behalf of the students planning to go on the mission trip to Kenya. As we were planning the Kenya mission trip this school year, things looked normal in the fall semester. However, with December elections in Kenya the situation changed as violence broke out in parts of Kenya.

Throughout the political turmoil, Meru, where the mission trip is going in Kenya, has not suffered the violent activities of other areas. Most of the violence has taken place in Western Kenya where the Kikuyu tribe borders other peoples, such as the Kalenjin and Luo. Meru is on the northeastern side of Mt. Kenya and insulated from those activities. However, to get to Meru we must fly into Nairobi where tensions and violence have occurred.

The situation in Kenya has improved, so it looks like we will be able to go forward with our plans in a safe manner. The recently brokered power-sharing agreement negotiated by Kofi Annan has brought on a more peaceful situation for those areas that were particularly affected by the political unrest. Meru was peaceful throughout the time and continues to be peaceful. Unless the political situation turns bad in the next few months, we will be able to make the trip with the students going with us. If the situation worsens, we will cancel the trip for the students. We will continue to monitor the activities through contacts in Kenya and news sources. Right now, the situation has improved to make the trip possible and safe.

We would ask for your continued prayers for Kenya and particularly Meru. Although they are not experiencing the violence as in other places, they are suffering from the effects of the turmoil by a disruption in trade, increased fuel costs, food supplies not being delivered, and high inflation at around 30%. Along with the high inflation, we are also seeing a significant drop in the exchange rate for the dollar which has lost about 15% of its value in Kenya. This is particularly difficult for the people because they do not have the resources to offset the higher cost of food items. Also, both affect the running of Kambakia Training Center (KTC) which provides both Bible and vocational training at a reduced cost for people there.

Our request from you is to continue to remember our plans in your prayers and the students as they raise funds to go. Also, please remember the Christians and churches in Kenya, and KTC. We are hearing about many Kenyan Christians who risked their lives to protect other Kenyans from the ethnic violence. This is one reason we continue to serve with our fellow Kenyan brothers and sisters in assisting them in the Christian walk which is made more difficult by the evils of the world.

Please give your spiritual and financial support to these students. The mission trip is a wonderful blessing for those who go and for the work in Meru, Kenya. For more information about Meru, go to merumission.org.

Richard & Marinda Trull