Leaving for Kenya
Leaving home is hard. Leaving my wife, Katy, and children, Laurel and Grant, behind is hard. I think it is probably more difficult on them than it is on me. I hope to be able to share this experience with them one day. They know what The Filter Project is and have been my biggest encouragement as God has been preparing all of us for this new journey. I am blessed to be taking this trip alongside my dad and serving the Lord with him is something I will always cherish. This is the first of hopefully many more trips to Kenya to come as The Filter Project grows into adulthood.
We’ve carefully planned and coordinated this visit with our incredible partners at The Bucket Ministry and cannot wait to greet them face to face. Our team has prayed and prepared for this trip more than any other trip I have ever taken.
Last Friday, we gathered with a group of 18 men and women including our Board of Directors and others who have helped launch The Filter Project. What a great time and blessing it was to gather with these people as they prayed over our trip.
We are rested and ready. I’m sure that will wear off quickly. Flying to Kenya is like a marathon in a confined space. It will be 30 hours before our heads hit the pillow in Nairobi on Tuesday at 10:00 PM (local time). Then a short nap and up by 5:00 AM to start our day with the team in Kibera.
As uncertain and weary as travel can be, we are encouraged and inspired by the testimony from Rose Kwamboka who received one of our very first filters. “No month could pass without taking my kids to the hospital suffering from Typhoid or Amoeba, especially my 2 year old boy. But since I received this filter, it’s now 2.5 months without visiting the hospital. Of all my five kids, none have fallen sick of disease resulting from dirty or contaminated water. Thank you for the filter. I don’t see myself visiting the hospital soon. I am now a church member.”
I cannot wait to share more about the people we meet and all that we learn on this trip. Please pray for our safe travel, for our partners in the field, and for those that will be receiving the filters and hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
-Elliott