In thinking of that, I thought it might be interesting to lay out some information to you about making something like this a possibility for your own family. Now, this is just a suggestion of a few ideas and definitely not an exhaustive list of all we do or that you could do if you decide to lead your family to Kenya within the next year.
What might our family do if we came to Kenya this year or next?
First off, the cultural education and experience your family would gain is invaluable. Seeing and interacting with another culture helps build a stronger understanding of the world, plus it gives you a platform to strengthen the Christian worldview that you are fostering in their hearts and minds. Some specific "things" or projects you could do together include:
Food Distribution - Each week our ministry is responsible for the delivery of food supplies to various elementary schools within the Nairobi slums. Over 1000 children are fed through the supplies given each week.
School Visits - Each of the schools we deliver food to enjoy visitors stopping by for encouragement, testimonies, presentation, games, or even a full day of activities brought for the school to participate in (like a mini Vacation Bible School clinic).
Street Evangelism - Parents are certainly welcome to walk with us as we conduct street evangelism within the slums. Once a week, we work with our team to take the gospel to those who need it. (what a great model this could be for your children to see and to bolster your faith!)
Orphanage Visits - There is an orphanage where guests are welcome to come, help feed babies, play with toddlers, love on children, and ease the work load of local mama's who volunteer their time to care for a multitude of abandoned children. Children would be encouraged to interact with these orphans. This is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon (or two).
Saint Boys Project - Plan to spend a day with the boys in our Saint Boys program. These are boys who live in the streets of Nairobi. They come during the week for food, education, games, and love. Play soccer with them. Lead them in songs. Prepare a devotion for them. Take them for ice cream!!!
There are several other projects and things you can do as well. How about having your children collect clothes they don't wear (and you too). Bring them to give to the street boys. Contact your neighbors and collect old books to donate to the slum schools. Got an old laptop??? It could have a use in a Bible College for students to do work on.
What other activities would be recommended for my family to do together?
There are safaris at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro amongst lions and elephants, 7-mile craters and lodges on the edge, trips to massive tea plantations, coastal visits to beaches and abandoned forts, animal orphanages and petting centers, restaurants IN trees, museums, village-life educations, horse-back riding, paintball, open-air markets, and hundreds of things between. There's food from almost any culture imaginable. There's worship services with multi-cultural attendance, and opportunities to simply climb beautiful mountain ranges right out our back door.
What kind of preparations would we need to make in advance?
You do need to be educated on what you need before you make preparations, however they aren't difficult. Here is a quick list of preparations you should consider:
1. Passports for each family member - $100 for children under 16 / $130 for adults.
2. Shots - Yellow Fever vaccination is the ONLY required vaccine mandated from the US. (runs $111 through the Health Dept., or is $23 in Kenya; where we got ours)
3. Proper packing for more sunlight and rough terrain (aka: good shoes)
4. Good Camera - Don't come with an old 1985 camera that takes 11o film! You will regret it!
5. Healthy amount of time together as a family in prayer, preparation, discussion, and communication with us.
What kind of costs are involved?
This is an area that I know many people get discouraged by and even rule out coming. But I don't think that's fair. I have never ever met anyone who has been to Kenya, returned, and then told us or others, "It was just too expensive. I wish I wouldn't have made that investment." That's because no one ever sees it as a "bad" investment.
Therefore, let me give you a summary of the various costs involved:
1. Airfare - Depending on when you are looking at traveling, the airfare could be as much as $2100/person to as little as $1300/person. (June-Aug is expensive / Oct, Nov, Jan, Feb, and March are typically on the lower side)
2. Lodging - Staying at a hotel or other guest accommodations in Kenya could get pricy (like $60-$100/night). But if you stay at the beautiful Livingstone House (shameless plug; I know), it would cost you $40/night (that includes all your meals there at the house. If you stay longer than 9 days, we could make you a deal too!)
3. Entry Visa - $25/person to enter Kenya. Yeah, it's government mandated. Not much we can do about that.
Other than those areas, the only other "real costs" you'll need to consider is spending money, dining out funds, and game park visits (we can talk about that because each one varies).
I can't think of a better investment for your family to do together than taking them and getting them involved and participating in missions. The guest house is just like a large home. Imagine sitting down to discuss the day each evening after spending it in the slums or holding babies. Think of the "freshness" of scripture that would be fleshed out in your family time. Wow! ... Think of the impact that it will have on their futures for years to come; where they might be led as a direct result of their time in Kenya. Time that YOU invested. Think of the impact for your own life! Start praying. Start talking. Start saving. Start sacrificing. You don't need to go out every week. You don't have to have the top-of-the line cable package. You can wear those pants a bit longer and drive that car a bit farther. It all adds up!
So, when are you coming?
