We are in the final stages of preparation. The team has assembled. The give-aways have been streaming in. What a blessing to be a part of such a journey.
This journey has many small stories and life changing events that led up to this moment. But for the purpose of brevity I have just one that I will share. In October of 2007 I was driving Pastor John Okinda on the back roads of Northwestern PA taking him from one speaking engagement to another. I looked at him and felt impressed to ask him what it was that the people in his town needed the most. Thinking that it would be food, clothing, buildings or something along those lines I was ready to offer the assistance of our church no matter what he said. As he began to speak about a "great" need that his people had I was floored at how basic it was. He said, "Pastor Phil, what my people need the most is clean drinking water." He explained that the water was a major contributor to their disease and early death rate. They have many problems that drinking clean water would solve. I could feel the tangible presence of God urging me to join with him in prayer that this would come to pass.
A few miles down the road I looked at him and spoke a sentence that would change my faith and my ambition for his ministry forever. I said, "Pastor John I know that God will provide this well through Grace Fellowship church and we will see this well drilled within a short time." Spontaneously we began to thank the Lord for this and we both prayed aloud thanking Him. My next question was, "Well John, what have I just committed myself to?" The cost for the well is $20,000.00! Wow...I pastor a congregation of 120. That is about 45 - 50 families. This is a major deal! This must be something that the Lord wants me to coordinate within the community, certainly this is too big for our own fellowship.
Today I write this posting 4 days before a team of 7 from our church and community leave to dedicate a well that is already drilled, flowing with water, and PAID IN FULL. From October 2007 to the first week in March 2008 our church members contributed $20,000.00 for this project. That is above their tithe and above their offering. None of our church's finances were affected. We still paid our bills and operated our facility. God is the God of Supply.
I pray that you would join with us in prayer support for this effort. We are leaving April 10th. This is a trip of great importance to us. I look forward to sharing this trip with you. I have set up a page on Facebook that will allow me to post emails and photos while we are there. The group is called "Kenya Trip 2008". Please feel free to join this group and stay current with our trip.