How Do I Begin?

Every day in Kenya has been amazing.  We have been getting up early and drinking in all that Kenya has for us.  When I say drinking, I also mean a lot of water.  It seems our thirst is sometimes unquenchable. 

We have been in the bush in Maasai country for the last four days.  We traveled about 90 miles from the Cassell home, and we first spent time at a School for primary boys and girls started by a Korean missionary 12 years ago.  His name is Elder Caleb, and his story is amazing.  He believed he was called by God to come to Kenya when he was 58 years old.  He was an architect in Korea, and after some time his wife agreed that this was God's calling on their lives.  He came to Kenya and through a series of circumstances ended up in Maasai country.  After much prayer and patience support began to come in for the mission from other Koreans, and worked with the African Inland Church to begin building the school.  He did this in an area that was about 6 miles from the nearest main road, and in very rough country where there were still lions, hyenas and the like.  God blessed his efforts, and he found favor with the Maasai people.  Eventually, the Maasai elders gave Elder Caleb an Elder's stick, which was a great honor.  We were with the Canaan Mission for two days, and we taught English to children from grades two through eight.  It was an amazing experience, and we have much more to share regarding this great work of God when we get home.  We will be posting pictures on our time there before we leave to come home.

We then spent time with Pastor Kiroka and his wife, Mary.  Pastor Kiroka is a Maasai, and he met Pastor Cassell about 20 years ago in a leadership training seminar.  Both Pastors Kiroka and Cassell have served in the African Inland Church, and they have partnered together on many important projects.  One of those projects was putting a Bore Hole in the ground, which is a well, and it supplies water to many in the area.  The cost of doing this is about $15,000, and there is an amazing story as to how this came to be.  We will be telling the full details of that when we do our presentation upon coming home.  We were able to go to the Bissel Primary and Secondary School with Pastor Kiroka and Pastor Cassell.  We had an amazing time with 300 primary age children, teaching about Joseph and singing songs with them.  The children were filled with joy, and our hearts were filled with love for them.

Pastor Kiroka's wife, Mary, had just found out that her father had died just prior to our arrival.  She showed an amazing amount of love for us, providing hospitality even in the midst of her sorrow.  On Sunday morning we participated in an amazing worship service with the congregation Pastor Kiroka serves.  Mark had an opportunity to preach from Matthew 11:28-30, and the entire Corbin family was able to lead the congregation in song.

We arrived home from this amazing experience to celebrate Moi Cassell's birthday.  He is the 5th of the Cassell's eight living children.  Their oldest, Eugene, died in 2001 from leukemia.  Sheila Cassell cooked an amazing dinner.  Our hearts are filled with hope for what God will do here in Kenya as well as at home in Pittsburgh and beyond.  - Mark