After a long journey and some much-needed rest, I woke up on Day 2 feeling completely refreshed—finally! When I arrived in Sirende Ward that morning, our team had just finished their morning prayers and devotion. Seeing them all gathered in their Filter Project t-shirts was such a surreal and beautiful moment. It hit me just how far God has brought us in just 12 months.
I spent the day with Mercy, our campaign manager, and two of our missionaries, Moses and Jane. We visited two homes for their second follow-up visits, and I was once again blown away by how God is working through this team. At one home, a man named Peter gave his life to Christ. At the next, a man was taught a powerful lesson on building disciples. As I stood there witnessing it all unfold, I felt the Lord speak clearly to my heart: “Elliott, this is what I meant by ‘Fix This.’”
This trip has truly been an adventure—and not without a few bumps. I spent the night battling what I’m pretty sure was food poisoning. But God showed up even in those moments. Joshua arrived in the morning with my green bag (hallelujah!), and that simple thing brought such comfort.
Despite being under the weather, I headed back out with missionaries Peter and Evaline to conduct initial follow-up visits with families who had received their filters just a week ago. One visit that stood out was with Elizabeth, a mother of four. She shared how much healthier her children have been since they started using the filter. The constant coughs and diarrhea had already improved. We shared the “Identity in Christ” lesson with her, and with tears in her eyes, she said she wanted to accept Jesus as her Savior.
What a powerful, holy moment.
She then expressed her desire to be baptized—this Friday, in front of her whole community. She was excited and radiant, ready to boldly declare her faith.
Later in the day, the entire team gathered to begin distributing tickets for Friday’s filter distribution. We handed out 50 tickets. One woman we met was in the middle of boiling drinking water for her family. When we handed her a ticket, she hugged me and said, “Thank you, and may the Lord bless you and your work here in Sirende Ward.” That was humbling.
As the day wound down, I decided to follow Pastor Richard’s advice and visit a local doctor in Kitale. Though I was hesitant to go, I’m so glad I did. After two IV bags, antibiotics, and a much-needed nap—I felt like a new man.
This journey has been filled with new experiences, big and small. Some tough. Some incredible. But through it all, I feel God’s presence with me and with our team every step of the way.Thank you for supporting The Filter Project and being part of this work. Your prayers, encouragement, and generosity are making an eternal impact.
With gratitude,
Elliott