Jambo! (Hello in Swahili)
We leave today for Kenya. Please pray for our team of 28 as we travel - that British Air won't go on strike and that the volcanic ash situation would not affect our travels. It is obvious that God has something powerful going on because of the potential satan has created to prevent us from doing our work.

This team has worked hard and raised over $90,000 to be ambassadors the next 2 weeks for Baylor and moreover for the cause of Christ. Here is the link to the KENYA SPORTS MINISTRY TEAM BLOG.
Enjoy our daily reports.
With love from a grateful heart,
Kim

New Lily

Every Friday beginning January 22nd, I have met with Yang "Lily" Huo. She is an international student from China who was in my graduate class in Facility and Event Management last fall. We have talked about Jesus and His Love each week. In week two, I gave her a Bible and she began to read in John. The Friday before Spring Break, I asked her if she wanted to pray to receive Jesus. She said "no" and told me that the next day was her birthday and the next day (Sunday) she would have a "new birth day." (Sidenote: after our meeting, I sent her an Facebook message in Chinese - thanks to Google translator :) ). This is a picture of Lily and me and below is the email I received on the following Monday.

Hey Kim, I follow Jesus last Sunday you know. I prayed to God "I am a sinner, I want you to save me and give me a new life. I know I still need to face lots of difficulties, but I am afraid anymore because I know you love me." A little boy baptized that day I am not. My friends said it is okay. So I think Jesus is already in my heart. But I still confuse about I am a Christian or not since I haven't baptized.


You are really amazing! You typed Chinese! How did you do that!? I love it! Thanks for your love! You are very important to me! I don't know why this happens in Waco, TX. I hated TX last semester. I didn't have friends and nobody cared about me. I suffered the most darkness life in my past 22 years. Every day , I dreamed to back to California where has many people love me. (I never homesick since I get 100% independence in US! My mother is a helicopter mother. HAHA) But new Lily was born in Waco, TX where she hated for a long time. But now, I don't hate Waco, TX anymore. I think God gave me that period of time is to build my personality for preparing step into the fierce society. And after suffering those painful life, I know what is the most important thing and cherish what I already get.

The new life is really warm and light. Thanks God's plan! Looking forward to seeing you after the break!
Lily

LENT 2010

Today is the day...the first time I have ever observed Lent. I have attended a Baptist church all of my life but never learned the "seasons of the Church" with regard to things common to the Catholic faith such as Advent, Epiphany, Fat Tuesday (which I commonly attached to Mardi Gras followed by Ash Wednesday (which is today) Lent, etc...so as we approached the Advent season (prior to Christmas) I began to wonder what it was really all about and began to study what I could find.

There are 40 days and 6 Sundays of Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday and climaxing during Holy Week with Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday), Good Friday, and concluding Saturday before Easter. It is widely considered a time of prayer and preparation prior to celebrating Easter. Forty represents the number of days Jesus walked in the wilderness and endured the temptation. My "lent partner" is MJ Jones...who introduced me to Catholic worship several weeks ago and coached me up on what is common practice and why. I have also enlisted several accountability partners just to check in with me. Accountability is the only way I know how to walk.

So, for my first year of observing Lent I chose the traditional fasting from desserts and sweets as a worshipful act of sacrifice. I also decided to forego all music and talk radio in the car when I am driving alone (to and from work or wherever). This silence will give me additional time to pray for those I do life with....family, friends, students, etc. As this came about I realized that I really rely on talk radio since I have a 25 minute commute to and from work. So, to replace that with prayer time will be a challenge but I am confident it will reap benefits far greater than being in the know on sports or politics or news. I am expectant and excited to see what all the Lord will do this season of Lent.