As I process and look back on the past month in Kenya and think about all the amazing ways I saw God move I keep coming back to the word community.
“Community means caring: caring for people. Dietrich Bonhoeffer[1] says: "He who loves community destroys community; he who loves the brethren builds community." A community is not an abstract ideal. We are not striving for perfect community. Community is not an ideal; it is people. It is you and I. In community we are called to love people just as they are with their wounds and their gifts, not as we would want them to be. Community means giving them space, helping them to grow. It means also receiving from them so that we too can grow. It is giving each other freedom; it is giving each other trust; it is confirming but also challenging each other. We give dignity to each other by the way we listen to each other, in a spirit of trust and of dying to oneself so that the other may live, grow and give.” Jean Vanier, From Brokeness to Community, pp 35-36
I love the line: “In community we are called to love people just as they are with their wounds and their gifts, not as we would want them to be.” That is true love!
This summer I was blessed to be a part of an amazing team that understood community. In just four weeks I saw them grow both together and in God in ways you would expect only from a team who had been together for 6 months or more.
Jesus said, "Just as I have loved you, you should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples." John 13:34-35
I believe a powerful ministry the team took part in was exactly that…loving each other. It not only strengthened and encouraged individuals on the team itself but it spoke volumes to the people who witnessed it, especially those we were with everyday. Mama Ruth, our amazing chef told me how blessed she felt to spend three weeks with such a good team, who really loved and respected each other and the culture and people around them. Actions speak louder than words. I don’t think we will ever fully know to what extent the love our team showed toward each other impacted the people around us but I know it did because I saw Jesus in my team this summer in the way they lived in community so I know others did too.
As I process and look back on the past month in Kenya and think about all the amazing ways I saw God move I keep coming back to the word community.
“Community means caring: caring for people. Dietrich Bonhoeffer[1] says: "He who loves community destroys community; he who loves the brethren builds community." A community is not an abstract ideal. We are not striving for perfect community. Community is not an ideal; it is people. It is you and I. In community we are called to love people just as they are with their wounds and their gifts, not as we would want them to be. Community means giving them space, helping them to grow. It means also receiving from them so that we too can grow. It is giving each other freedom; it is giving each other trust; it is confirming but also challenging each other. We give dignity to each other by the way we listen to each other, in a spirit of trust and of dying to oneself so that the other may live, grow and give.” Jean Vanier, From Brokeness to Community, pp 35-36
I love the line: “In community we are called to love people just as they are with their wounds and their gifts, not as we would want them to be.” That is true love!
This summer I was blessed to be a part of an amazing team that understood community. In just four weeks I saw them grow both together and in God in ways you would expect only from a team who had been together for 6 months or more.
Jesus said, "Just as I have loved you, you should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples." John 13:34-35
I believe a powerful ministry the team took part in was exactly that…loving each other. It not only strengthened and encouraged individuals on the team itself but it spoke volumes to the people who witnessed it, especially those we were with everyday. Mama Ruth, our amazing chef told me how blessed she felt to spend three weeks with such a good team, who really loved and respected each other and the culture and people around them. Actions speak louder than words. I don’t think we will ever fully know to what extent the love our team showed toward each other impacted the people around us but I know it did because I saw Jesus in my team this summer in the way they lived in community so I know others did too.
The Team has arrived in Kenya. They are a day later than planned, but the team is very excited to be in Kenya--and ready to start ministry. They thank everyone for their prayers while they were traveling.
The Kenya team is doing well in Amsterdam, which will be a 24 hour delay in travel. They are staying in a nice hotel and eating really well--joking about it being the lap of luxury! They will have to fly through Paris on the way to Nairobi and will get there tomorrow night--June 23.
When the Kenya team arrived in Amsterdam, they found out that their flight to Nairobi was cancelled. But the airlines hooked them up--they were able to stay the night in a SWEET hotel and have a flight scheduled for later today.
So moms, dads, families, and friends--the team will arrive later than originally planned. Please do not worry. They are safe--ready to be in Kenya--but otherwise doing well!
Everyone is here… healthy, safe, and excited! We ate a delicious dinner and now are gathered for worship. The energy in this room is incredible. It’s a wonderful thing to see a room full of teenagers sold out for Christ!
We’re gearing up for our first Training Camp of the summer. Leaders are now arriving, excited about what God has in store. We cannot wait to see what God does in the nations this summer!
This is the biggest year yet for the Ambassador program! We have 176 students, 45+ leaders, a serve crew numbering close to 30, and AIM staff Don Rock, Connie Rock, Kristen Torres-Toro, Amanda Bryant, and Traci Derington.
Remember, when you get to the airport, go to the Atrium. Look for the dinosaur statue. That’s where we’ll be. And we’ll be easy to spot. All of your leaders and the AIM staff will be wearing these shirts, as modeled by some of the serve team, staff, and leaders below:
Here’s some of the information you’ve been anxiously awaiting:
Your itinerary for your flight to/from Kenya:
Departure:
DL 1650 21Jun10 Atlanta-Detroit 355P 558P
NW 234 21Jun10 Detroit-Amsterdam 715P 905A
KL 0565 22Jun10 Amsterdam-Nairobi 1015A 710P
Return:
KL 0566 14Jul10 Nairobi-Amsterdam 1020P 530A
KL 0621 15Jul10 Amsterdam-Atlanta 150P 515P
Before you ask—yes, these dates are right! Your team will fly out on June 21stand return to ATL on July 15th for a Debrief in Atlanta. Then you fly home on July 16th!
Your Debrief site is:
Clarion Hotel Atlanta Airport South
6288 Old Dixie Hwy
Jonesboro, GA. 30236
Here you will get to meet up with other teams from your Training Camp and spend one final night with your team before you return home.
Some other things you need to know:
-Don’t forget your visa fees ($25). It is important that you bring this in cash to Training Camp. Please bring the exact amount. Put $25 in one zip loc bag (marked “visa”). We CANNOT make change, so please bring EXACTLY $25. Also, please make sure that all bills are not torn or ripped in any way. Governments are picky about foreign currency—they want “fresh” bills. They need to be newer than 2004.
