Machakos, Kenya 2009

Sorry it's taken so long for me to update. We are finally starting to get settled in our new home and I'm finally sitting down to update you on an incredible trip.

When I first met the group from Kentucky (and the one student from Illinois), I knew they were a great group of students - maybe the most mature I've ever seen. This group was so well trained and so ready to serve, I knew God was going to do great things through them because of their faithfulness to Him.

We worked with a committed, passionate, smart, loving, sweet sweet group of nationals and translators. They didn't need us, but the team that God put together between these students and nationals was exquisite. We worked together like we have trained together and worshiped together for years. We became fast friends that will pray with and for each other for years.

I think all of our expectations for what He might do were well exceeded.

324 people committed to the Lord and 4 new churches were started.

We did have some fun before we left. We went on a day safari, went shopping at the market and ate at a restaurant called The Carnivore (similar to Texas de Brazil but with wild game meat like ostrich and crocodile.) On our safari, we were incredibly blessed to see not just 1, not 2, but 3 different lioness which is not always guaranteed.


***More pictures to come as well as a Romania update from Kyle.

???????

Carrie, Why havn't you updated your blog for all of your friends to know exactly how Kenya and Romania went?

Well, we are moving houses right now, but know the trips were amazing and I will have details and pictures very soon. I have to pack!! Keep checking!!

Quick Update!

I only have a few minutes if I want to eat some breakfast before our morning begins, but I wanted to let you know how things are going as well as give a few things to be praying for.

How are things going? GREAT!

Today we start our first day of leadership training and field ministry! Pray for the following things:

1. That God would truly grab these kids hearts and continue to mold them into the leaders that they are becoming.
2. This area is rich in witchraft and demonic activity. Some of the students are nervous about it. God has given me an incredible peace about everything.
3. Lost luggage - we still have 4 pieces from our group missing including our projector and leadership videos. We are just going to have to start without them. PLEASE pray we can locate them safely.

Ok, I've got to go. I will try and update again if I get the chance!!!

I really feel that the Lord has told me that He is going to move this week. I am resting on YOUR prayers. Please please keep going before the Father for this campaign.

(Also, Kyle leaves on Tuesday for Romania. Please pray for him as well.)

Kenya and Romania

Dear Friends, Family, and Ministry Partners,

Our offices at NEXT are bustling as the excitement of campaign season has set in! Kyle and I have full couple of weeks in front of us and we wanted to ask for your prayers. We know we could not do one minute of ministry or travel without your prayers on our behalf. So we ask you to please, diligently go before us and behind us with your prayers to our Lord. We are so grateful for such an incredible group of believers that we know we can lean on – THANK YOU!

We want you to be as informed as absolutely possible, with specifics for both the Kenya campaign (Carrie) and the Romania campaign (Kyle). Listed below are specifics to be praying for both campaigns.

Travel Dates:
(both Kenya and Romania are 8 hours ahead of CST)

Kenya-
Going: Depart DFW 4:50 p.m. Thursday, June 11th, Arrive Nairobi 6:30 a.m. Saturday, June 13th
Coming Home: Depart Nairobi 11:45 p.m., June 19th, Arrive DFW 7:26 p.m. Saturday June 20th

Romania-
Going: Depart DFW 4:20 p.m. Tuesday, June 16th, Arrive Timisoara 2:25 p.m.
Coming Home: Depart Timisoara 1:55p.m. June 23rd, Arrive DFW 10:20 p.m. June 23rd


Specifics:

• Pray for safe travel. This includes (but not limited to!) no lost baggage, no flight delays or cancelations, safety in the airports, no turbulence, smooth landings, good weather, and no travel sickness! All of this is SO SO SO important and can really make a difference in our campaigns getting off on the right foot.

• Pray for the hearts of the people both in Kenya and Romania. Pray that the Lord would soften their hearts and make them ready to hear the good news. Pray in expectation with us that the Lord would truly invade their hearts and rescue them from the darkness of this world. PRAY PRAY PRAY that they would be receptive to hear the hope that we are going to share. Pray for true repentance and salvation that can only come from the Lord

• Pray for the new churches that are being planted in Romania and Kenya - four in Kenya and one in Romania. Pray that through the mother churches, we would be able to effectively work to evangelize and share the good news of a brand new church in these areas. (Remember that most of these people walk EVERYWHERE and it will be such good news to have a church in their neighborhood for them to walk to!)

• Pray for the students and their leaders coming from the following churches and cities: Eastwood Baptist Church (Bowling Green, KY), Pontiac Bible Church (Pontiac, IL), Houston, TX, First Baptist Euless (Euless, TX). Pray that the Lord would truly do a work in their lives from the inside out as they devote over a week of their Summer Vacation to study how to be a better leader, and with a boldness that can only come from the Lord, walk door-to-door to proclaim the gospel and the great news of a new church! Pray against nerves or jitters when it comes to sharing their faith. Pray that the Lord would give them the words to say and discernment for how to relate to these people of completely different cultures. Pray that the Lord would do a new work in their hearts to encourage them and inspire them to come back to their local mission fields, changed and on-mission for the Lord.

• Pray for the entire NEXT Staff. In addition to these two campaigns we have 2 other campaigns that overlap (another Kenya trip and an Ecuador Trip). Pray for supernatural energy to lead these trips. Pray for wisdom, discernment, and clear teaching. Pray for all the families at home – PRAY against the enemies attacks on our families!!!!!!

• Pray for Laura Kate who will be in Lubbock with Grammy and Papa. Pray against, teething, diaper rash, fussiness, tummy aches, and other random ailments... Pray for fun, joy, peace, good naps, lots of hugs and kisses and spoiling!

• Most of all pray for FUN, safe campaigns (Did I mention FUN?!)!!!!

Thank you so much for all that you do for us. It is an honor and a privilege to represent your families on the mission field! We COULD NOT, WOULD NOT, be able to do this without you and the many many ways that you support our family and ministry of NEXT Worldwide. THANK YOU!

Kyle and Carrie

In case your hopes were soaring with the terribly advertised "new" season of Gilmore Girls airing on abc family in June, let me burst your bubble.....It is the abc family premier of Season 7. There is no Season 8. Read the truth here....http://community.abcfamily.go.com/blogs/gilmore-girls/season-7-premieres-june

New LK Video and Pics!

We've been really busy lately, but not too busy to have some fun! We just had LK's 12 month check up and she got A+'s on her "report card" she weights 20lbs and is 19 inches tall! We started real milk and she L-O-V-E-S it! FINALLY no more formula!

Kyle and I have been so excited about getting LK a swimming pool for the backyard and we decided today was the day! We found the Fun Froggie Swimming pool at Toys 'R US (Daddy had researched online to find the best one!). Scroll to the bottom of the post for the video (remember to turn the music off at the bottom of the blog!)

Here are few pictures of our fun!


Sookie is growing and growing......she loves playing with her sheep.

LK loves to stand at the back door and point (we don't really know what she points at, just points)

We got her a tunnel for her birthday because she loves crawling in small spaces!

This is us in her new pool! I had to get in with her at first because she was a little nervous and wasn't quite sure what to do.

Even when she's nervous she's still beautiful! (Look at those puppy dog eyes!!!)

After no time at all, she decided she liked it - a LOT!

The pool has a little sprinkler that sprays water! She loved that too!

Here is a video of LK in her pool! (don't forget to turn off the music at the bottom of the blog!!)

Cardboard Testimonies

ok, I just saw the Carboard Testimonies Video from Turning Points Easter Service. It's powerful. I couldn't get the youtube video to work on my blog, but here's the link to the Turning Point blog to see it (I know it's more clicking, but you can do it and it's worth it!)

TPCC Cardboard Testimonies - Easter 2009