Naomi’s Village Day 4 – Friday, June 16

Naomi’s Village Day 4 – Friday, June 16

Our team woke at 5am this morning to prepare for a 2 hour trip to Lake Navaisha National Forest – our Safari trip for the week.  WOW!  Beautiful, majestic, breath-taking, awe-inspiring day experiencing God’s creation.  We were able to see just about everything that could be seen – 2 male lions, zebras, flamingos, wilda beast, water buffalo, rhinos, beautiful birds, impalas, more and more and more.  It was just beautiful!  So thankful we got to go.

We returned to Naomi’s Village to a room filled with joy – children playing and so happy to see us.  I think the most precious event of the day is praying over each child before they go to bed.  I mean, it is truly God’s presence in that dorm.  Bob and Julie Mendonsa are raising up young girls and boys to be future leaders of this great area called the Rift Valley!  I am so honored to be here.

Thanks for reading – please pray for Joel tonight, one of the children, who had surgery this week on his eye.  Thanks.  Talk to you tomorrow.

On Mission Team at Cottonwood Creek

Naomi's Village 2017 - Day 3

Naomi's Village 2017 - Day 3

A day to remember...

Our team began the day off by reading Ephesians 2:8-10 together, understanding that today was not about us or the good works we do, but all about the handiwork of the Lord THROUGH us for His glory.  And man, did our team experience this in a significant way today.

Safe House in Naivasha with 23 kids honestly just broke our hearts.  Yet in this place of tragedy and heartbreak, a joy rises up.  Laura lead our VBS teaching today, sharing with all of the kids how fearfully and wonderfully made we are, and wow, she did such a great job.  We sang fun songs about the joy of the Lord and played games - I think the jump rope was the greatest hit.  It was all a great morning.  By the time we left, lasting relationships were build.  We get to go back Monday and Tuesday, so we are thrilled to have more time with our friends at Safe House.

After lunch at Ubuntu, where Boniface put on a comedy show for the team, we headed to Mwi' Hanguri to see the village we have invested with over the past 3 years as Cottonwood Creek.  One of the lead families that lives in the village, Grace and David, shared with our team the history behind the 24 families that live there.  By the end of our time, everyone was broken with the devastation and tragedy this community has faced since 2007; overcoming many obstacles and hardships, trusting in GOd the entire time.  They prayed God would give them a home one day, and today we sat in one of the 24 homes build with the help of Naomi's Village to celebrate the victory of the Lord and the HOPE this community has in the Lord going forward.

God has placed our team here for a purpose, and today we experience the true HOPE of Christ and how Naomi's Village involvement with these two communities are changing a generation forever!  It is a joy to be here and I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve today.

Tomorrow - SAFARI!  Lake Nakuru!

Your OnMission Team!

Naomi's Village Day 2

Naomi's Village Day 2 - Cornerstone and Naomi's Village Worship Time

Hello friends and Family,

Our second day as a team began by gathering together for our morning devotional remembering the reason we are in Africa - to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the humble fact that God would use us for His purpose - we are reconciled in Christ for His plans!  This time really focused our attention on the day and for sharing with those we encountered, and wow, what a day it has been.

We traveled to Cornerstone Preparatory Academy to lead chapel for the entire school - the younger kids at 10am and the older kids at 11am.  With the brand new sound system we brought from Texas, Chapel was LOUD and fun.  McKinley, Jeremy and Keith led with songs, Heather and Anna Grace shared their testimony and Patti went through the Gospel Beads and every child made their own!  It was a tremendous day of sharing, laughing and learning more about Cornerstone.  Lizz got an unexpected opportunity to assess some children for the teachers.  God used our team to share Jesus with EVERY CHILD today.  Thank you Lord for that opportunity.

Our afternoon met us with an unexpected surprise when we worshipped with the staff at Naomi's Village.  Bob and Julie Mendonsa joined us as met the staff and shared life with them.  McKinley led worship as Bailey shared her testimony, then Margaret from Naomi's Village, let us in worship - AND WOW - What an amazing experience.  God is at work in their lives and the entire campus at Naomi's Village.

Our afternoon was spent playing with kids, reading to them, holding them and laughing a lot.  Bob and Julie got to hang out for a couple of hours and catching up with them and hearing stories of these children just made our hearts melt.  It has been a great day.

Tomorrow, off to Safe House and then visiting our friends at Mwi' Hanguri - with lunch at Ubuntu!!!  Please keep praying for our team!

OnMission Team!

Naomi's Village Day 1

Naomi’s Village Day 1 – Tuesday, June 13

The theme verse for our trip is from the writings of the Apostle Paul, as he instructs the people in 2 Corinthians 5:20 to be an ambassador for Christ – to lead by your example and represent Jesus wherever you go.  It is our calling as believers in Christ, and it is our calling as an OnMission Trip Team to carry this calling to anyone and everyone we are encountering in Kenya.  We ask your prayers for us as we begin this journey together.

First of all, God answered so many prayer request for this trip already – safe travels, getting through customs with all the Christmas Gifts and donations for the kids and new sound system for Cornerstone Prep. Academy; to a safe journey through Nairobi until we arrived at Naomi’s Village for lunch.  God’s hand of grace has truly been extended to us already.  We are still in awe that we are in Kenya, Africa.  We have to pinch ourselves for sure at times.

Had the opportunity to meet Steve Sisler from Cornerstone Preparatory Academy today as we toured the school and learned the valuable and life changing vision Bob and Julie Mendonsa have for this area of the world.  This school is a true beacon for the entire community called the Rift Valley.  Its desire is to raise up the next generational leader in this area and change a generation one person and family at a time.  Tomorrow we will speak into the lives of every child as we lead in chapel time for them.  McKinley and I are leading music while Anna Grace, Heather and Patti share their testimony and the Gospel to the entire school.  Cannot wait to share with you tomorrow how that went!  Lives will be changed tomorrow for eternity.

Got to see all the Naomi’s Village kids tonight and hold, hug, kiss, wrestle, poke, laugh and smile with all of them!  What a joy it is to be here.  Chapata, Lintel Beans and veggies for dinner.  The mark of a true Kenyan!  We are definitely in Kenya, my friends!

All of us are somewhat jetlagged and going to bed really early – like 9pm here.  Our younger crew are still giggling, but us older and more seasoned group are calling it a night.  Thanks for reading and caring to pray for us.  Tomorrow begins our time to share Jesus with all of these amazing lives at Cornerstone.  Please join us in prayer!

Until then, have a great day – The OnMission Team at Cottonwood Creek Church

My Dad

My Dad

Robert Dean Tyler - my dad, turns 80 years old today.  Putting this into perspective, he was born in 1936, after the great depression when unemployment continued to fall and Germany's Hitler reign was building momentum leading into World War II.  The average cost of a new home in America was $4000, a loaf of bread was 8 cents, the Studebaker Car cost $665 and life was moving right along without the internet.

Dad was born in North Texas in the town of Honey Grove.  He has always been nostalgic about his humble upbringing - my Granddad farmed the land and took care of the homestead.  He is the youngest of all his brothers, John, Ed and Charlie, but has always seemed to be that glue that brought the family together.

Dad has done the same for our family - he is the glue and the foundation for who I am today - who we are as a family!  Dad has worked diligently all his life to honor the Lord with his life - through being a leader in the church, an educator, to serving others all the time.  He has taught me the value of how a man should live his life - honor the Lord in all I do, put family first and never settle for second best.  You see, my dad loves life and loves to encourage others.  As a child, I can never remember a time that my dad was not my biggest hero - at every single game I ever played and at every single performance I was ever in.  Even when he did not agree with me, he always supported me and was my biggest fan.  I can never replace the value of having a father love me the way my dad loves me.

So, on this day - His 80th Birthday, I day to you...I love you Dad.  You have always been there for me and today I celebrate your live and the legacy you have built for me and my family to follow.  I look forward to many more great years together!  

Psalm 103:13 says, "As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him."  My father has shown this his entire life and I am forever changed.

Thanks Dad

Your Son - Keith 

Headed Home! Last Day at Naomi's Village

Day 8!  Our last day at Naomi's Village was spent on campus investing in the children on this 5 acres of land.  This is an anointed place sent by God.  Miracles happen on this campus 24/7.  The way God uses caregivers, Aunties, Uncles, leadership and more to bring honor to God is truly ordained by God.  The slogan for Naomi's Village is "Where Hope Begins".  What a privileged it has been to experience it first hand this week.

As we prepare to leave this place of hope, we ask for you to please pray for our safe return to Dallas.  It will be a grueling 22 hours of travel for our team.  We are all pretty spent, so I think we will get sleep on the plane as best as we can, but we covet your prayers.

Thank you for your investment through prayer and thoughts for us this week.  We get to lead Sunday morning worship for the children then head to Nairobi for our 4:35pm flight - 8am your time.  We cannot wait to see you all and share what God has done in our lives through this trip.

Thanks for reading - On Mission Team at Cottonwood Creek.

Naomi's Village Day 6 & 7

Day 6 - Our team went on Safari to Lake Nakuru National Park.  I was able to post pictures on Facebook.  One of the most exhilarating experiences of our lives - we were literally 20-25 feet from a family of lions.  WOW!

Day 7 - For me personally, today was both heartbreaking and meaningful.  Waking up to a chilly morning, our team spent time serving as Aunties and Uncles - holding babies, taking care of the toddlers, folding a MOUND of laundry, Matt Page mowing the grass and other odds and ends around campus, while our very own Terra Towne spent the ENTIRE DAY training all the Aunties about child development and how childhood traumas can help impact development.  It is very obvious that God specifically put Terra on this trip for this moment.  What a blessing from the Lord today.

After lunch our team traveled to the town of Longonot, Kenya - just outside of Naomi's Village, for a community outreach project. We were able to visit the home of Naomi and Joseph, whose two children attend Cornerstone Preparatory Academy.  Joseph and Naomi opened their home up to our entire team for a time of Worship.  You see, Joseph recently had both of his legs amputated because of a degenerate disease in his legs.  For 35 years he has suffered and last month, the doctors chose to amputate his legs to free him from chronic pain.  For all of his struggles, there was a true peace and joy in his life - JESUS.  He had not been able to attend a Worship Service for so long, so we brought our guitar and Bibles and had a 45 minute worship service in his front yard.  The Holy Spirit of God moved in our time together as we sang in English and Swahili.  Our hearts can break for the situation we were in today, yet in our tears, we glorified God for His goodness for the moment of worship!  Thank you Lord for this life-changing moment together.

The afternoon was spent at Cornerstone Preparatory Academy meeting children that we sponsored and playing games with the children after school.  We sang, laughed and then laughed some more.  It was a great opportunity to just "hang out" with them.  We are so connected with these children, that we are longing for time with them.

A day to remember...our hearts are deeply entrenched with the lives here in Kenya.

Blessings - thanks for reading and praying for us!  Keith and On Mission Team from Cottonwood Creek.