What a great day and a great week! Today, we had the privilege of serving chai tea, mandazi (mandazi is similar to doughnuts), and bananas to the widows. In addition to the food, we were also able to distribute Bibles to the widows. We had a wonderful time of singing, dancing, and prayer. Carol did a great job sharing about her life journey with Jesus. Our team spent considerable time visiting with children and staff. Prayer and fellowship were a dominant theme every day this week. This has been a remarkable, Spirit-filled week.
January 30th 2026 - Buffalo Covenant Mission Trip - Tearful goodbyes!
January 29th 2026 - Buffalo Covenant Mission Trip - Staff Appreciation Day
Seven dedicated building projects, a young mother group, and a talent show; today was a remarkable day! We saw God at work in so many places. Dedicating five water tanks and a kitchen was very powerful and overwhelming (in a good way). Staff appreciation is a wonderful way to build up the Shangilia staff. Our men's and women's prayer groups continue to be very successful. We also participated in a support group for young mothers. Our women did a great job. A birthday celebration and a talent show were the perfect way to round out the day.
January 28th 2026 - Buffalo Covenant Mission Trip - Mudding Day
A great day of ministry with our team. We were able to bless Betty, a widow, with a new kitchen today, and we even got to help by mudding two walls of the kitchen. Before we departed, we also prayed with Betty. The team had a muddy good time. In the afternoon we visited Veronica's home. She had previously received windows, doors, and a new roof. She has had health problems, so we wanted to visit and pray with her. We had a great time of praise and worship in the evening. Pablo and Carol did a great job including the kids in the devotion. Some of our team attended a midweek prayer service. We were also able to share the Gospel, sing, and pray with our Kenyan brothers and sisters. Such a powerful day for everyone!
January 27th 2026 - Buffalo Covenant Mission Trip - A Spirit Filled Tuesday
Today was another great day of ministry. We started the day with prayer and devotions. Our team is committed to visiting as many homes as possible of Shangilia staff members, and today we visited two more. What a joy to visit and pray with Maurine (social worker) and Samwel (cook). We had a chance to meet and pray with family members as well. Some of our team spent their morning at the Rejoice Medical Clinic, where they were able to pray for and encourage the local nurses. In the afternoon, we arranged for piki-pikis to take us to a local mountain called "Prayer Mountain". The team had a wonderful time of hiking, praising, and singing as we looked at God's creation. The evening was filled with Praise and Worship. After devotions, the team gave a presentation to the youth in grades 7-12. The topic was Jobs, Careers, and spiritual callings. Today was a very busy and Spirit-filled day for our entire team.
January 26th 2026 - Buffalo Covenant Mission Trip - Another Great Day At Shangilia
Our team had a great day of ministry today. Some of us woke up early to work in the kitchen and serve the children their breakfast. We then visited two of our six job sites, including Miriam’s and her new kitchen. We then visited the site of a new water tank, which was delivered in November. In the afternoon, we visited the Rejoice Medical Clinic and a local elementary/middle school to share the Gospel. Finishing our great day of ministry off with dinner and devotionals.
January 25th 2026 - Buffalo Covenant Mission Trip - Sunday in Kenya
Today was a great day of ministry that started with a service at the Oasis of Joy Church. Peg and Glen gave their testimonies, and Pastor Joel preached the message. The afternoon was filled with activities around Shangilia. We played soccer, ball, and a host of other fun games, as well as made balloon animals. Mid-afternoon we distributed over 100 Bibles to the children and grandchildren of the mamas. We had a great time of fellowship after dinner. We wrapped up the day with checkers, cribbage, UNO, and a game of spoons.
January 24th 2026 - Buffalo Covenant Mission Trip - Shangilia
Great day of ministry at Shangilia. Our day started with breakfast, team devotions, and a tour around the Shangilia campus. We were blessed to worship, dance, and pray with over 100 widows. After lunch, our team helped serve in the AWANA program. Everyone participated in one way or another. In the afternoon, some of us played soccer at Shangilia. Four members of the team chose to visit the homes of the widows receiving new water tanks and kitchens. The evening ended with dinner and devotions. This was a very busy day; a day in which we saw God at work in many lives, including our own.
January 23rd 2026 - Buffalo Covenant Mission Trip - Kibera
Thursday was a great day of ministry with Pastor Timothy in Kibera. We met with many children and visited many classrooms. We also had the opportunity to serve lunch to many of the students. After that, we did some home visits and street evangelism. We then said goodbye to Pastor Timothy and had lunch in Nairobi followed by a flight from Nairobi to Kisumu. The team has finally arrived at Shangilia! Our team is excited to begin ministering to the many children and widows. Praise God!
January 21st & 22nd 2026 - Buffalo Covenant Mission Trip - Departure
Our BCC team arrived at church on Wednesday, January 21, at 1:15 P.M. for a very special time of prayer. We departed the church around 1:45 P.M. traveling in ice and snow. We arrived safely at the airport where we checked in and had an opportunity to meet with one of the pilots who would be flying us to Amsterdam. We had great flights and even an early arrival in Nairobi. Checking in at the hotel went perfectly and the team settled into their rooms by midnight for a well-deserved rest. Tomorrow will be a busy day.
2025 November 27th & 28th - Buffalo Covenant Mission Trip - Thanksgiving and the Final Day
Thanksgiving Day in Kenya was filled with so many blessings. More than 150 moms came to the weekly widows’ prayer meeting. Some of the widows will walk many miles to be part of this community. After the prayer meeting, our team served bags of food that the widows could use for cooking over the next few weeks. There was so much singing, dancing, and praying. Finally, our team served over 150 widows their very own Thanksgiving Dinner - a very emotional and powerful display of love and service to a very neglected part of Kenyan society. After the team departed Shangilia, they stopped for a quick picture at the equator. It was sad to leave, but many from our trip look forward to coming back again. We made many new friends.
2025 November 26th - Buffalo Covenant Mission Trip - Kenyan Building Projects
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Our day started with a walk to the new kitchen that is being built for Betty, a widow. Our team helped mud the new structure. After our walk back to Shangilia, we rode on piki-pikis, which are basically motorcycle taxies, to Prayer Mountain for prayer and another hike. We also attended another Shangilia soccer game (they won 3-0). Following soccer, we visited the Rejoice Medical Clinic and Beauty Salon, which a staff member’s wife owns. The evening concluded with a Talent Show and prayer. A very touching end to a great and powerful day.
2025 November 25th - Buffalo Covenant Mission Trip - Prayer and Visiting Widows
Another great day of ministry for our team! The day started with a sunrise hike to Lookout Mountain. The team was able to enjoy the sunrise and spend time in prayer for the trip, our churches, and both the USA and Kenya. Following breakfast, they had another time of devotions and prayer. The team then prepared gift bags for the Shangilia staff, and a visit to a staff member’s home completed the morning. The afternoon included multiple visits to the homes of widows. The day was a blessing.
2025 November 24th - Buffalo Covenant Mission Trip - Evangelism and Soccer
The team attended a Shangilia soccer tournament (Shangilia won three to one). After the game, they shared the Gospel with many children and spectators. Many people accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. They started the afternoon with ministry around Shangilia, returning to Shangilia before evening for more soccer and evangelism. After the second game of soccer, they had a blessed time of worship, and the team led devotions. Today was a fantastic day, filled with so many blessings.
Praise God for the many, many new believers.
2025 November 23rd - Buffalo Covenant Mission Trip - Sabbath at Oasis of Joy
Great Sabbath at Oasis of Joy Church. Our team shared two testimonies (Brian and Michael), and Alex presented the message. Our team was accompanied on the walk to church by around three dozen children from Shangilia. Great afternoon with the children of Shangilia making bracelets, playing soccer, and making balloon animals.
2025 November 22nd - Buffalo Covenant Mission Trip - Widows and Whippersnappers
The team had a very powerful and busy Saturday filled with ministry. They started the day with a tour of the Shangilia facility and grounds, then had the joyous opportunity to share the Gospel with roughly 100 widows and serve them chai tea with mandazi. Mandazi is fried bread that is similar to a doughnut.
In the afternoon, the team participated in the local AWANA program. Following the AWANA program, they visited the homes of 2 widows. During these visits, the team prayed over the site of a new kitchen that was being built for a widow and her 14 grandchildren. They then visited the site of the recently completed Water Tank Project for Miriam. This new water tank provides water for Miriam, her children, her grandchildren, and even her neighbors.
God was working in the lives of each team member today. It was a great day of ministry.
2025 November 21st - Buffalo Covenant Mission Trip - In Kibera
The day started in Kibera, where the team was able to share the gospel and serve lunch alongside Pastor Timothy. After evangelizing in Kibera, the team took a relatively short flight to Kisumu and ended the day with Pastor Francis in Shangelia.
2025 November 20th - Buffalo Covenant Mission Trip - Arrival at Nairobi
After a second flight leaving from Amsterdam at 11:40 A.M., the team arrived in Nairobi, Kenya, at about 10:00 P.M. local time (nine hours ahead of us) and got to the hotel sometime around 12:00 A.M. Tomorrow will kick off with Pastor Timothy in Kibera at about 9:00 A.M. local time. The team is excited about the busy day tomorrow!
Praise God that there has been great team bonding and multiple opportunities for sharing the gospel, even during travel.
2025 November 19th - Buffalo Covenant Mission Trip - The Journey Begins
It began with a team in prayer, preparing for their flight that left the Minneapolis airport at 5:55 P.M. for Amsterdam, Netherlands. They are scheduled to arrive at 9:10 A.M. Amsterdam time (seven hours ahead of us), and after an energetic layover, leave for Nairobi, Kenya, at 11:40 A.M.
Your prayers are appreciated. God is already at work.
(The galleries are for the two different ratios - landscape and vertical. The pictures within them are in order, but the top gallery is not before the bottom gallery.)
LOVE FOR KENYA - DAY 7 & 8 MINISTRY - LAST DAY IN KENYA
Friday was our last ministry day at Shangilia and we had the opportunity to sing, dance and minister with and to the widows. We also provided food for these amazing women. Saturday… Safari day and back home on Sunday. Thank you Jesus for the amazing ministry here in Kenya!!
LOVE FOR KENYA - JULY - DAY 7 MINISTRY DAY
Thursday update… visiting the projects at the 3 widows… 2 outhouses that were built and a house, providing basic needs as we show God’s love and share the love of Jesus. We also had the opportunity to celebrates Pastor Francis’s 70th Birthday… Big Celebration!! Our ministry was also to the Pre-School children that Shagilia Family Impact that runs for the community. So many God moments all day today. Continue to pray for our team as tomorrow, Friday is our last full day of ministry
