Wow, been a while since I posted on here. Since it's been so long I think an update on both what I've been doing and where I am going from here is in order. 

Our family arrives back in California on November 4th, actually only four of us do, the other six will arrive on the 5th. Once in the US our family is there to stay! Sort of. 

In January (I'm super excited to announce this) I'll be going to a six month Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Discipleship Training School (DTS) called "Voice for the Voiceless". The focus of this school is documentary filmmaking and showing the plight of those who otherwise wouldn't be heard. 

Three months are spent in Kona (really tough, I know) and the other three months are spent putting everything I've learned to use. I'm really excited to see what this has in store for me and all the possibilities for God's work. 

I'll get back in late June, but then it's off to college that fall for me! Still praying on where the Lord would have me go, but I know it's all in His hand. 

Enough of the future, what have I been up to? 

Other than helping out at Agape with work projects, loving the kids, and Saturday morning bible study and activities, I am also tutoring some of the kids from a local international school. The most recent "trip" I went on was down to Agape's Farm, the vocational training center. 

It teaches three different professions: carpentry, masonry, and mechanics, in addition to farming skills. 

Plus it's right on the shore of Lake Victoria and has amazing sunsets. 


In addition to all of that, I've been working on a promotional video for an organization based outside of Kisumu. It's a great ministry with lots of different areas it works in. I'll be sure and post the finished video when it's ready.

Overall it's going well here and I am thankful for all that I have, seen and learned. 

In Christ,
Nick

I figured it's about time I shared some of the highlights from living in Kenya, and by highlights I mean some of the hilarious things that have happened to us. You may, or may not, enjoy these. 



Number one. The Sugar Cane Incident
As we were finishing up dinner one night Charlie, my carrot-topped 6 year old brother, decided that he wanted to share a treat he had with everyone. Steve, another missionary living on the same compound as us, had purchased some sugarcane as a treat for the boys at Agape, and had kindly given some to Charlie. He was so excited as he ran outside to get this special treat to share with us. 

Now before the next part of the story you need a description of our dining area. It's in a large(ish) room with two couches and 3 comfy chairs plus our table and the benches on either side of it. 

Anyways, he runs in, sits on the bench and holds it up for everyone to see! Actually, he was starting to hold it up when Matt, my 12 year old brother who was sitting next to Charlie, looked at it and screamed. When Matt screamed Charlie dropped the sugarcane under the table and started yelling which made my mom sprint across the room and jump on top of one of the couches, as she started running pretty much everyone else decided that whatever this monster was we better get away from it. So Kate, 16 year old sister, ran and jumped on the other couch, I jumped up on top of the bench I was sitting on, and everyone else either grabbed something to kill the monster or ran away from it. 

As things started calming down we couldn't find any "monster", not even a mouse or a snake as some people thought it was. We asked Matt why he yelled and he said there were a ton of ants on the sugarcane. Sure enough, this chain reaction was all started by some ants. 

Proof that fear is contagious. 


Number two. Fidel Castro.
We bring boys off of the streets of Kenya to Agape pretty much every day. The first place they go, after the showers, is to our transition class where we teach them basic manners, cleanliness, and about Christ. One day we brought in a kid named "Fidel Castro" (there is also have a "Hilari Clinton" at Agape) and put him in our transition class. The next day Charles, head of the transition class, calls a boy over for counseling  and Fidel ran after him as well regardless of us telling Fidel to stay. Charles looks around and goes, "That is what is wrong with Cuba". 



There have been some other hilarious moments, but I'm blanking on what they were. Most of the time it's oneliners such as when we're playing Five Crowns, Kate says "Fives are wild everyone!" and then when we finish the hand she says "What?! Why didn't anyone tell me fives were wild??". It's been a fun time so far and I'm looking forward to the next 8 months here. 

I'm also going to throw a plug in here for my documentary, though I'm sure you've probably heard of it by now. We have 45 days left of our fundraising campaign and are still stuck at under 10% of our funding. Please share the video below and help share the stories of boys living on the streets of Kenya, The Forgotten Children.

Nick, The Towheaded Rambler