Kenya Day 1

Ok...here goes the journal for Kenya. Remember you can get a play by play as we were there from the Kenya Sports Ministry Blog that the students wrote...this will be my own thoughts on several days.

Wes Yeary had a contact through the International Sports Coalition named Walter Machio. He has started this ministry and is walking day-by-day in faith that the Lord will provide what he needs. Here is a picture of Walter and me after one of our clinics.

Walter has contacts in schools, churches, and orphanages around Nairobi. We started our first day with a stop at the Maximum Miracle Children's Home in Katawa Sitdura. We met about half of the 64 orphans that live there. They each stood up to introduce themselves followed by "I love Jesus Christ" or "I know Jesus as my Savior & Lord." They were not ashamed to let Jesus Christ define who they are...unlike those of us who merely tell what we do.

He also has begun the Afrikan Junior League. It costs $100 for three months of soccer training for young boys (ages 4-12) - sort of like the American version of "select soccer." They strive to transform youth through whole life coaching...equipping them with positive living values building character and confidence. All coaches are unpaid volunteers that feel they have a duty to "give back" to the younger generation. They have begun a revolution to change the question
FROM "How smart are you?"
TO "How are YOU smart?"

We played for the better part of two hours leading clinics and classes at the Search Comprehensive School and then after school hours with the Afrikan Junior League boys.
Thanks to many generous donors in America we were able to give some balls to the school and some cleats to the boys (some of whom had played barefoot!).

My QT verses for this first day were:

Ps. 145:18
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in Truth.

Ps. 134:5
Thou hast enclosed me behind and before and laid thy hand upon me.

Almighty God, you certainly have your hand on Walter. Protect and provide as he gives and teaches and leads these young boys off the streets and into lives rich with possibility.

Joy Down in my Heart

This is JOY down in my heart deep deep down in my heart
She's from Kibera Slums which is deep deep down in my heart
Jesus keeps her there so nothing can destroy her
He protects her there and shows HIS JOY through her
This is JOY down in my heart deep deep down in my heart


I have so much on my heart to share about my experiences in Kenya with the BU Sports Ministry Team...and there is no doubt that I am still on Africa time...
so for now I will give you two teasers...

1. It is amazing how many doors one soccer ball can open

2. This is the first time I have been on a mission trip that I truly felt like we left something behind that will grow bigger and deeper for the cause of Christ...not just a one night stand or one hit wonder...this was the real deal and we have made friends not only for life but for all eternity.

STAY TUNED!
More to come.

Hujambo! Kenya or Bust!

Hujambo means Hello
in Swahili which is spoken in Kenya.



I leave tomorrow on a 2-week mission adventure to Nairobi, Kenya with 15 others on the Sports Ministry Team from Baylor University. Our team consists of 2 BU football players, 2 BU women's basketball players, 5 BU soccer players, 2 student trainers, 2 club soccer players, 1 strength & conditioning coach, Baylor's Sports Chaplain (Wes Yeary), and me. WES and I went to Baylor at the same time. He returned last year to become the first full-time sports chaplain. Click here for the Baylor Magazine article. I didn't join the team until about a month ago but am so excited to be a part of what God has going on in Africa. I went to Kenya in 2005 with a Leadership Team. We will be staying at the Gracia Guest House in Nairobi. Baylor groups have staned here every year we have brought teams to Kenya. I took a sports and education team to Rwanda last year. If you want to keep up, Brian Swindoll, one of the football players has created a blog for our team. I am not sure who will post but at least it will give you an idea of what we are doing. (hint: if it is underlined, I have linked to more information :) for you to explore)

Here's our itinerary:

May 17-18 travel from Waco to Dallas, fly to London and onto Nairobi on British Air
May 19 work with walter Machio at Kenyatta U and Daystar U, hold soccer clinics at Kahawa Sukari Children's Home



May 20 work with Walter Machio at Coka Cola Stadium to hold basketball and soccer clinics for SOS children's Village-BuruBuru, soccer players will scrimmage Keyan National Women's Soccer Team
May 21 work with Walter Machio and International Bible Society to hold sports clinics outside Kibera Slums



May 22 work with Pastor Boniface to feed street children and paint Boy's Home of Omega Kids
May 23 work with Tone la Maji to hold all day multi-sports clinic



May 24 worship at City Harvest Church and picnic with believers, go to Maasaih Market
May 25 go to Orphanage Kikuyu, Amri Best Care/St. Kizito home-based Care Aids Orphan Suport Program (Pastors Joel Amutabi and Jonathan Wonjohi)



May 26 work with Pastor Boniface to feed women and children who live on the street, visit Amani-Auji and Elephant Orphanage
May 27 return to Orphanage Kikuyu, Amri Best Care/St. Kizito home-based care for Aids orphans



May 28 Go to Safari House - go on safari then begin the debrief process (what? so what? now what?)
May 29 Continue Debrief - help students craft their stories as they return to their teams and families - return from Safari House ro Gracia Guest House
May 30-31 fly from Nairobi to London and back to Dallas on British Air

So, there you have it...plenty to pray for the next two weeks. In addition to that, pray for safety and health for our team. Also pray for unity and growth as we "see the needs of the world" and ask ourselves "what can I do about it?" It was only three years ago that a BU volleyball player, Jenne Blackburn, from Southern California visited Kenya and asked herself this same question. Since then, she has started the Omega Kids House...we really can make a difference.

Ps. 139:5,10
Thou has enclosed me behind and before, and laid thy hand upon me. Thy hand will lead me and thy right hand will lay hold of me.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ at my right hand, Christ at my left.
(St. Patrick)

Spring into Track

Spring time is known for two things in Texas, that is when the Bluebonnets come out and the prime time for track season. I have officiated track since I graduated from Baylor. Baylor Track is known as "Quarter-Mile U" because of our legendary track coach, Clyde Hart, and some of his star athletes who later enjoyed Olymipc fame. Michael Johnson. Jeremy Warriner. Reggie Witherspoon. I enjoy the individual effort it takes and it is a joy to see the human body in its prime. The PR - or personal record - will trump the place within the race. For the past four seasons, I have been one of the starters. For those who don't frequent the track...that is the one who starts the race - by shooting a gun. Here is a picture of me with Joe Moore, a long-time friend, at the 3A district track meet.

The picture below is in front of my cabin...such a great sight to wake up to or wind down with!

4 yr olds & King Jesus

Ok...so yesterday is Easter Sunday. The Kingdom Kids Ministry was in dire need of help for the first service, so I agreed to be in room 112 with the 4 year olds. I arrived a little before 9:00 am prepared for and hour and a half of "small talk." We played, talked, had a snack (hhmmm cookies with sprinkles - but nothing to hold the sprinkles on the cookies! :) ) and then came the craft! If you know me, I know you are laughing.

We had a transparency sheet with the outline of a cross on it. Imagine 4 year olds and a bottle of glue (remember they have no frame of reference and they think the more the better)...lots of "globs" up and down the cross...and they were to tear (or cut neatly - ha!) off tissue paper (color of their choice) and glue it onto the cross to make a stained glass cross. So they did.

We were at a lull in the class after snack, after craft, with 20 mintues to go before pick-up time. So, I held up the cross and said "does anyone know what this is?" Small talk did not ensue. Like popcorn testimonies I heard "that's the cross that Jesus died on!" As I turned to acknowledge the first answer another yells, "yeah, and they nailed him with nails in his hands and there was blood." A little surprised and taken back, I took a breath to try to tie the two together, when another says, "and he had a crown on - but it was the wrong kind of crown." I said, "what do you mean?" The 4 year old boy said, "it had those things on it that are like stickers!" I said, "you mean thorns?" He said, "yes and they hurt - but it was still a crown." Now mind you that all of this popcorn conversation was in a group setting - after snack...they were fully engaged. I said, "well, who wears a crown?" To which the entire group yelled out, "KINGS" and I asked, "who is this king?" To which they yelled, "King Jesus!" Of course remembering pep rally days I said, "who is YOUR king?" Their response, "King Jesus!" What a precious uninhibited moment of praise from 4 year olds. As I made my way to the second service after the reinforcements arrived, I thought to myself, "will the adults in this service be as demonstrative as those 4 year olds yelling 'King Jesus'?"
HHhhmmm what is holding me back?

Bride & Bridegroom

Well, Saturday was a first. This is going to be as vulnerable as I have ever been on this blog.
I went to the wedding of Erika Walter and Chris Snapp.
It was at University Baptist Church...filled with white candles.

They started with the Steven Curtis Chapman/Geoff Moore song, "Listen to our Hearts" and Erika came down the aisle to "In Christ Alone." I have cried many times at weddings over what I do not have (a husband) but this was the first time that I cried at a wedding over what I do have - Christ as my Bridegroom. This wedding was so worshipful to me. Thank you Erika, Chris, Logan, Megan, Mason, Jeff, and Teri for letting me participate in this union for all eternity.

Lady Bears Big 12 Champs

The Lady Bears defeated Texas A&M, 72-63, to claim the Big 12 tournament title game today in Oklahoma City. Baylor beat the Aggies for the third time this season.



This is so exciting since we lost our leading scorer two weeks ago. The team has pulled together to make this a true TEAM sport. They will find out their fate in the NCAA tournament Monday night on the selection show.



Kudos to the BU "Man Bears" who had a great run through the men's tournament by beating Nebraska on Wednesday, top-ranked Kansas on Thursday, texas on Friday. They lost in the Big 12 Championship game to Mizzou. They will most likely go to the NIT and will also find out for sure tonight.

The good thing about the NIT is that we can bid to play at home for the first two games. The semi-finals and finals are played in NYC at Madison Square Garden.