News
The 411 on 410 Projects 11/01/08

We have some amazing milestones underway with projects in our 410 Bridge communities. We are seeing community members really step up to prioritize their needs and work to keep these projects steadily progressing. Here's the latest on our progress:

KWAMBEKENYA: The medical clinic is pictured here, and service teams, along with the community are busy on the construction. It should be completed and ready for operation by the end of this year!

KARIMA: We have just received all necessary permits to begin drilling for a borehole that will provide clean water to the people of Karima. Living Water our water partner organization will begin drilling in the coming weeks.

HAVILLA: Work on the orphanage dormitory continues to move along at a great pace. The foundation is laid, the slab is poured and walls are currently being built.

JOSKA: The borehole is in the ground and water will soon be flowing throughout Joska. The community is currently working on purchasing and laying the pipes to fill trenches that teams and community members have dug over the last several months.

NGAAMBA: The water project in Ngaamba is advancing faster than expected, the community is in the process of finishing a large concrete water tank, digging trenches, and laying pipe.

KAROGOTO: The Karogoto knitting Project has recently moved form the training stage to the production stage. 50 women have been trained to knit and know have both the hope, and opportunity to generate an income for their families. An additional facility is being rented so another 50 women can begin training in the near future.

God is doing incredible things and moving in amazing ways through the projects going on in 410 Bridge communities.

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Reflections of Kenya: Greg Douthit of the 2008 Journey Team 11/01/08

At about 1 am the day my application for the BigStuf internship was due, I finished filming my pitiable “get to know me” video, and I almost didn't get it mailed in time that afternoon. It would be a while until I found out if I got the internship. Weeks of excitement and angst built up after my phone interview. I was almost certain I would be asked to do it. I didn't know what else I would do with the summer. Of course, God knew all along.

The disappointment of not getting the internship brought me into a state of insecurity. I contemplated a few other trips, looked for some possible internships, and considered summer school at ASU. Just when every door looked closed, God made his entrance. A random e-mail from an organization called the 410 Bridge offered me a trip to Kenya (I had be referred by BigStuf to them). How little faith I have in God, it baffles me when I look back on the way God answers prayers even though I doubt him as I pray to him. I was ecstatic, and I don't show emotion too well, but I definitely was while reading that e-mail from my future friend and trip leader James Ward.

Even though my trip to Kenya was only two weeks long, it truly was the salvation of my summer. Preparation for the trip was incredible. God gave me a hunger for the Word I'd never had before. My buddy Charles from school and I were prayer partners, and we talked on the phone about once a week to catch up and find out what we needed prayer for. I also prayed for God to reveal himself to my supporters. Overall, the preparation time leading up to this trip was astronomically better than it was during my first mission trip the summer before, and I think the reason why is that God was in the center instead of me. (When God is the center of my life it makes things so much easier and enjoyable)

The preparation time with God was great, but the fact that I didn't know anybody going and had only a few conversations with the trip leader made me feel a bit uneasy. On top of that, the support raising process wasn't moving like I had planned. Let me put in another way, it was going about as smooth as a rural Kenyan road after a good rain. I really wasn't sure what I was supposed to expect from the trip. God was assembling his team, the Journey interns of 2008, just the way he wanted, lighting the path under our feet just a few steps ahead leaving the future in darkness. We all met July 17th at the 410 Bridge office. For the next two and a half weeks we would be brothers and sisters, knowing nothing but Kenya and each other.

The first community we visited was called Kwambekenya, a mountainous rural land that had a moister climate than you would imagine for a place so close to the Equator. As we were driving there we saw lots of kids and men along the side of the road. The way the kids waved to you when you drove down their street was beautiful. It's hard to explain, but there is a joy in their eyes that you just don't see very often from kids in the States. What was even more striking was that the adults greeting us in Kwambekenya had the same glow. I'll never forget when we first got off the bus. The women were beating drums, holding our hands, dancing, and singing praises to God simply because we were there. We hadn't brought lots of money, medicine, or told them we were taking them back to the U.S. They were praising God because we had come to see them. How cool is that? I didn't have to prove my godliness to them or be someone super famous or even act as excited as they were, and they celebrated. In many ways, we felt inadequate to make spiritual advancements in their lives. In missions, your supposed to feel like you always have something to offer. I mean that's why you are there right? To show them God, to show the love of Christ? Of course it is. But the truth is these people really know what it means to be dependent on God. They live in a land where, like in the Bible, they must rely on God to physically provide for them.

A man named Moses, who helps run a rehabilitation center for kids who lived on the streets of Nairobi, CCRC (Christ Compassion Rehabilitation Center), told us about how he used to stay up at night worrying about where they would find food to feed the kids the next day. He said he doesn't do that anymore because after seeing God continually provide he's learned to be content with prayer. He knows God will take care of their needs.

It's easy to overlook this. To us it's just a story like the other million we've heard about God's faithfulness, or an assurance in case we ever need to be dependent on God. As Americans we know we have food, so we don't pray or worry about it. We believe God is good to us, but we don't often go to him in prayer because we usually can find what we want on our own. In Kenya, it's not just a belief it is life. There is a level of surrender in a Kenyan Christian that you won't see in an American, unless they have seen it themselves. I feel like I have a better understanding of what Jesus meant when he said, "It is harder for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God."

I met kids who used to rob people at knife point for money so they could buy marijuana and glue to get high who are now some of the most kind, gentle, disciplined, and selfless people I've ever known. These kids are my age, in form 7 of primary school (like middle school in the U.S.). I am on the Chancellor's list at a good American university, but Boaz, Robert, Gordon, Michael, and others living at CCRC have a wisdom in them, coming from their creator, that I don't possess. I swear if you go there, whether your born again or not, there is something about their joy and the background they came out of that will make you want to cry with happiness. You won't feel pity for them. You'll feel pity for yourself. You'll see how excited they are when a new shirt arrives, so they don't have to wear dirty clothes. Then you'll remember how many shirts you've only worn once or didn't like and never wore. You'll see that they’re not hopeless, that they want to be pilots, doctors, artists, and politicians, and that they work hard. Then you'll realize that you have the opportunity to inspire them to dream bigger, and you have the resources that could help them make those dreams come true. You will feel very small and insignificant like your life is a part of a much bigger story than you could ever imagine.

Most of the physical labor we did alongside the community. In Kwambekenya, we helped move the stones that would make up the walls to the health clinic in the center of the village. In Joska and Ngaamba, we helped lay pipes that would distribute water throughout all the sub-villages in the community. We also looked at projects completed by teams that went before us and property that had been purchased for future development. See the focus wasn't our work. It was the people. It wasn't to go in, accomplish a task, and get out. It was to build relationships, to invest in their future, and to carry their burdens in our spirit. We weren't pumping in money or hygiene products. It wasn't charity. They didn't need charity. They needed mobilization and, most of all, encouragement. They needed to know that other brothers and sisters in Christ, rich ones all the way from the west, cared about them and were on their side. After all, they are better at doing the labor than we are, and they live there full time, so the actual work we completed wasn't the most important thing. It's their project, their community, their future, and they are in control. All of the leadership comes from pastors in the community. They identify the needs of their people, not us. We are just the hands and feet, enabling the progress they see for themselves.

Usually the projects in a community will be the construction of a school with books and teachers hired if needed, a medical clinic with a doctor, nurses, and supplies as needed (doctor's salary is paid by government), or a water well, several holding tanks scattered throughout the community, and piping to connect the tanks. In many cases in the communities before a project is completed, students will travel long distances (10 km or more) to school everyday. Women will travel as far as they must to find water and firewood for their home. They will carry twenty liter containers or large logs (I have a picture of a woman carrying a log that was at least 150 pounds on her back up a large hill to her house) four or five times a day for basic necessity chores like cooking, cleaning, drinking, etc. Usually the only day the family has enough time to wash clothes is Sunday, so they will miss church to make the trek to the closest water source. Development projects make life easier and safer for the community members, so they have more time for leisure, innovation (Newton discovered physics napping under an apple tree!), and God. The 410 Bridge also does training programs for Kenyan pastors on a variety of topics and provides Bibles and Bible commentaries for better understanding, if the community council identifies it as a need.

What I learned from the 410 Bridge philosophy is that mission work is not about feeling good about your self or creating immediate and drastic change. The truth is change occurs over along period of time, and it takes a lot of blood, sweat, and prayers. If the focus is on you during the trip, you will probably measure your effectiveness by how much you accomplished, the quantity of work will be your prize, but the real reward is in the transfer of thanks that happens between the hearts of the people you serve and your own. That transaction is what brings glory to God. Not a certain amount of homes built or the number of people saved, but your commitment to God and the love you have for the people you serve are measurements of the effectiveness of your work. And when God's kingdom, not personal glory, is your largest concern, quantifiable results grow in multitude anyway. Too many times in missions people walk away with a good experience when there were possibilities for life change in the people they served and lessons to be learned and applied in life back home and to be taught to others.

Our team had the chance to hike a mountain and go on a safari during the trip. I want to pass on to you from that experience that Africa is an absolutely beautiful place. The view we had from the top of Journey Mountain (that's what we named it) was breath taking. It was a 360-degree view of nothing but miles and miles of African plains, mighty mountains, and farmlands. I could have stayed up there for hours. The safari, which means journey in English, was pretty cool. Seeing the animals in the wild was something special. Each one shares a testament of how carefully and intentionally God designed the creatures of the Earth. We saw giraffes, elephants, zebras, lions, warthogs, water buffalo, wildebeest, impalas, monkeys, and some others. It was a lot of fun.

I definitely faced some physical and spiritual challenges on the trip too. We all learned quickly that when we are the most dangerous for the Kingdom, Satan is highly active in his attacks. I had spent so much time alone during the summer I wasn't used to being in the constant presence of people. I loved my teammates, but four hours a day in a tight fitting bus on bumpy roads with seven girls can try a man's nerves. I also struggled at times with feeling self-conscious. I wandered how people were sizing me up or if I was doing an adequate job portraying the love of Christ. Satan will do whatever he can to render me useless in times of ministry. I feel proud to write that he failed. God was my rock during the trip. I ran to him. One time in the middle of a field in Joska, I sat on the ground and said a prayer to God to ease any feelings of animosity towards my teammates and doubt in myself. I asked him to help me celebrate the good news with my brothers and sisters in Christ. And when I looked up, I almost got hit with a Frisbee. Boaz had thrown it at me. I got up and started playing with him.

Looking back now that I am home, I see how much I have grown from my experience. I see how much help I had from many friends during the whole process. I need to thank all my supporters, James and Jennifer Ward, Moses Zhangi, David Mugo, Leonard, Lucy, Boaz, Robert, Edgar, Paul, Bill, and all my teammates, my parents, my boys at school from CCF, Nancy Sperry, and all the others who showed me Christ's love along my journey, my safari in Africa. I will pray and try to apply the things I've learned in Kenya to life back in America, and I hope to be able to share the same love that was shown to me by the materially poor but spiritually rich Kenyans to my countrymen. I pray I never get weary of spreading the good news. I pray God enlightens others in America the way he has me. Hakuna matata. Praise Jesus. Greg Douthit

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Water Flows in Abundance 11/01/08

When the convoy of 5 trucks snaked its way through the bumpy road to the semi-arid village of Muselele, business came to a standstill.

The excitement was palpable; teachers could not contain their pupils in class and the slow Muselele, a sub-village in the larger Joska community, came to life with the villagers suspending their usual activities to come witness the long-awaited drilling of the borehole. The 410 Bridge leadership council chairman, Wallace Gitau could not conceal his joy: “This is history in the making and am proud to be associated with 410 Bridge”, he said. He thanked the community for their patience and understanding. Joska community has been digging the trenches without any prompting and even in the absence of service teams. “Joska community has very hardworking and trusting people. The way they have owned up the project even after the delay in drilling shows the trust we have with the 410 Bridge”.

Present also was the Mbukoni women group who have yet to move to Joska, but are following the unfolding developments keenly. According to the chairperson Veronica Wambui, her involvement with 410 Bridge was due to its noble course and desire to work with the vulnerable women and children. “Children especially the girls have to walk long distance to look for water instead of concentrating in their studies; my desire is to see girls competing on equal terms with the boys” said Veronica “The work done by 410 Bridge is designed to empower the people of Joska community economically. Our fears were that the project would be postponed because of the rains but God had other good plans for us” shared Elizabeth, who resides in the area. CCRC director, James Ngatia is a happy man: “Availability of water in Joska community and CCRC is a great relief for us and it’s been the best news of the year. The water will help the centre a great deal in domestic use besides helping in our expected projects. Glory to God and God bless 410 Bridge”. The children from the centre will have a reason to smile given the distance they have had to cover every day to get water from a well in the area. This consumes a lot of their time and the situation is made worse by the lack of enough wheelbarrows to cart the water to the centre. Joska community elder, Jeremiah Ongage is supportive of the initiative by the 410 bridge and has pledged his support. He shared his desire to see Joska turn green and with the borehole he said, one bridge has already been crossed.

Paul Omondi, the Community Development manager was full of praise for the community patience. “I am happy that the much awaited process has finally kicked off. We thank Joska community for their patience and the spirit of participation and involvement they have shown”, said the CDM.

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A Night for Africa, A Night to Remember 10/14/08

A Night for Africa: We laughed. We cried. We sang. We prayed. Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people came together on Friday night for an evening to lift up God's work in Kenya.

We all fought our way through Friday rush hour (which begins at noon in Atlanta.) Entering the parking lot, we were greeted by the red shirted smiling volunteers. Winding around in our snake like lines we waited for entry, actually seeing and greeting several folks we knew, and enjoying the Kenya market place set up outside the arena. The wait was short and people streamed in to find their seats. There were huge screens all around, so if the tallest guy you've ever seen sat in front of you, it wasn't going to be a problem. There was an air of anticipation as the lights dimmed and Fee took the stage. Talented, passionate musicians! My heart was beating along in tempo! Jeff Foxworthy came out and we were soon in the palm of his hand. He has a roguish, engaging way of putting things that is hilarious. I kept wondering if his mother in law actually still speaks to him.

The pictures of Kenya were heart wrenching; but behind it all you see and hear the steady drumbeat of God's people making their way into the country and into the lives of Kenyans. Real progress is being made as Kenyans come together to transform their communities. In 410 Bridge communities water projects bring hope and an opportunity to share about the living water of Jesus, children are being sponsored and barriers to education and healthcare are being torn down, and microenterprise projects bring self- sustainability to people; but most reassuring is the joy on the faces as believers of different cultures come together to work together in His name. The children have a chance to see that what has been, doesn't have to be what will be. They are loved by their Creator, no matter their circumstances; and He has sent people to tell them so.

I had heard about Jack; heard his story and worn the “Hey Jack Radio” shirt. But, I hadn't seen Jack's face. His shy smile and his powerful story took on new meaning when you actually see the epic struggle that God has brought him through. At the end of his question/answer time with Lanny, Jack made a whispered request to Lanny. He turned to the crowd and with a great smile asked us to cry out to God with a mighty voice to bring down the walls of hunger, and lack of education, and illness in Kenya just as the Israelites did with the walls of Jericho. With a mighty roar, the crowd complied!

Without question, the children of the Daraja Children's Choir stole our hearts. They sang and danced with joy and passion about the Mighty One who has saved their lives. They, who have so little as the world counts possessions, reminded us that we have so much... not the least of which is a God to serve. What great things might we be privileged to be a part of, if we will heed His call? Why not Africa? Why not now?

The sun has set on A Night for Africa, but the Son shines brightly in Kenya. May we be salt and light to a hurting world.

-Linda Calhoun - Kennesaw, GA

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Parker Hill Blesses the People of Karogoto 08/07/08

“Today is a great day for me to get shoes. If you look at my feet, you can tell they don’t know how it feels to be inside a shoe,” said Jacinta Wahito, a 90-year-old woman from Karogoto after receiving shoes from the Parker Hill service team

One thing people often learn at The 410 Bridge is to never underestimate the power of our God. What started out as a school project for high school senior, Jamie Colman, turned into the formation of a nonprofit organization that collects shoes for the needy people of Kenya.

Initially, Jamie’s goal was to collect 200 shoes to give to the people in Kenya, but when word spread among Parker Hill about her efforts, she ended up collecting over 4,000 shoes!

The Parker Hill team miraculously was able to ship 4,200 pairs of shoes all the way to Karogoto where they gave most of the shoes to the leadership council to distribute. However, they did distribute about 200 shoes to the people who were working alongside them that week helping build a house for an elderly man in the community. The team was able to personally distribute shoes to about 140 women and 50-60 men.

“There was one woman, Esther, who really took to our team and was so gracious, and she didn’t get any shoes when we were giving them out. So one of our team members took the shoes off her own feet and gave them to Esther. It was a really cool moment,” said team leader, Brian McGuinness.

Andrew Guru and the leadership council in Karogoto distributed the rest of the shoes on Sunday after the team left. Andrew expressed that everyone in the community was so amazed that people cared for them enough to bring them shoes all the way from America. The entire community wishes to thank Jamie and the team, and tell them how much their gift meant to them.

“I had given up on putting on another shoe until I die. The last time I word shoes was 5 years ago, and my feet can attest to that. They have been messed by Chiggers for many years. I walked three km. from my home, and for someone to think of us like this is a miracle from God,” said Gladys, also 90-year-old woman in the community.

The community was overjoyed and amazed at the gift of the shoes. The people expressed their wishes that Jamie and the rest of the team would soon return so that they can show their gratitude.

“Jamie’s parents must be very proud to have such a special daughter. May she live to be blessed all the days of her life,” said Jacinta.

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The 411 on 410 Projects 08/07/08

Progress, progress, progress. No other word can describe community projects better, than progress. Service teams and community members have been steadily working together this summer on community projects, and here’s the latest update on our progress:

SEGERA: Our first team returned from Segera at the end of July and worked with the community in pouring concrete floors in classrooms at the primary school, as the floors were previously dirt. The community worked alongside the team to get this project underway and the team completed four floors. The community will complete the remaining two floors in August.

HAVILLA CHILDREN’S HOME: The building permit for the new home was issued the first week of August and the contractor has moved equipment and supplies to the site to begin construction. Teams began digging for the foundation the first week of August.

NGAAMBA: The community and teams completed the construction of the gabions this summer, which are rock walls preventing water from flooding the village. Phase two of the water project will begin in August, which will feed water to the remaining 2-3 sub-villages.

JOSKA: Service teams and community members have completed some necessary repairs to the Christ Compassion Rehabilitation Center (CCRC). A borehole for water is currently under construction, and as soon as that is completed, a water tank will be installed at the CCRC, so they will have access to running water.

KARIMA: Living Water is drilling a borehole, and teams are busy working with the community to install piping and tanks throughout the community, so that water will be accessible to every homestead.

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Reflection of Kenya: Jeff Pickering 08/07/08

God does something powerful in the lives of individuals who answer his call to GO and serve with His people in Kenya. So far this year, 350 people have answered that call and gone to Kenya with The 410 Bridge. Lives are being impacted. Transformation is happening. The following is a Reflection of Kenya as told by service trip participant, Jeff Pickering, who just spent time serving in our new community, Segera.

When God speaks, be prepared to listen; even if what he has to say is in a different language in a different culture on a continent far away from home.

I couldn't stop smiling the night we first stepped into Kenya. What our BPF group had been preparing, praying and waiting for almost two years was finally a reality. And that reality was awesome, because we were in AFRICA!

Sunday morning, after a night of not near enough sleep, we got our first glimpse of Nairobi on the road to Life Reformation Church via two full buses. After worshiping with fellow Christ followers we visited Havilla Orphanage; home to the Daraja Children's Choir (coming to BPF Oct. 26th). We were given tours by the kids, did some manual labor with cows and dishes, and then danced. Before we left, they gave us a concert and you should all be very jealous.

Monday morning we journeyed four and a half hours north to Nanyuki. One word is enough to describe that scenic journey, beautiful. After arriving at the hotel, we climbed into two former military trucks of colossal proportions. This was our transportation to Segera and the Endana Primary School.

Paved roads, gravel roads, dirt roads, and no roads were all part of the ride every day. Zebras became a regular site to see and if we weren't attempting sleep we were waving and reciting, "Jambo!" over and over to people in rural villages as they watched the mzungus (white people) pass by. But what happened in that rural community and in that simple Primary School changed our lives.

Monday was a day of introductions. At the school the Maasai danced and invited Kirk (Willson) and Aaron (Sanders) to try. Girls from classes seven and eight sang praises to God, and all the leaders gave welcome speeches. We were immediately immersed in their culture. In the afternoon, we went to the Segera Mission, where the shoes would be distributed.

The rest of the week was crammed with long days. We worked hard alongside the parents and some young men getting to know them and their stories as they got to know us. Before we arrived in Kenya they had taken responsibility for their school and diligently prepared the rooms and the materials so that together we could make Endana a better place to learn.

Men and women, American and Kenyan together shoveled, mixed, and poured sand, rocks, and cement into four classrooms. Some of us who never thought we would enjoy manual labor had a smile on our face in the midst of it all. Serving God can make you feel crazy things.

Our children's activities were also bursting with great experiences. Some of the little ones experienced scissors and glue for the first time. The finished products of those arts and crafts sessions were proudly worn by everybody all week; and I have a sneaky suspicion that right now they are still dangling around their necks.

The culmination of the week came to a one on one experience with a student from Endana. Everyone on our team was paired up to plant a tree to commemorate our time together.

The trees were such a perfect example of what we want to see God do in Segera. Our friendship with the people of Kenya was planted and we look forward to watching those friendships grow and the community flourish.

If you are interested and want to hear more about all that happened on our trip, just ask any of us. God spoke there and we would be happy to tell you what He said.

Jeff Pickering

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The CCRC gets a Facelift 08/07/08

The team from North Point Community Church has given CCRC a facelift. The team composed of 38 affable young men and women painted the big stuff house, office and dormitories in a record 5 days.

Part of the team was also digging trenches and they managed to cover over 400 meters. Another team lead by Jim Mugo from the GOA church visited homes to evangelize and the report was that many had given their lives to Jesus.

Witnessing the metamorphosis the centre was undergoing was very fulfilling. The dull silver iron sheets have now been painted red on the rooftops, blue on the sides and cream doors that give the home a ‘tranquil’ feel.

Although the team from NPCC was trounced 4-2 in an interesting soccer encounter by the ever green CCRC Rangers on their first day, they redeemed themselves on the last day with a convincing showing on their last day at the centre.

The Rangers as popularly known had laughed off the challenge as feeble only to be humbled even after ’buying’ the services of Paul Omondi, the 410 Bridge Community Development Manager.

Although Paul scored the lone goal for the Rangers in normal time, Ibrahim equalized to give the visitors a glimmer of hope. The game ended in a draw in normal time and had to be settled on penalties.

The visitors tactically took their penalties and emerged the winner. Losers and winners hugged in a show of true sportsmanship. Probably what makes the match ‘memorable’ is the fact that the Rangers lost to a team that was composed of girls and some of their players had never played soccer before.

We assembled after the interesting match and we said our goodbyes. The team leader confided that they had had a lovely time at the center to our joy. The CDM, Paul Omondi who was with the evangelizing team was impressed with the week events and thanked the NPCC for their maturity, the staff and children at CCRC for their cooperation.

Joska community turned up in large numbers with some helping in evangelizing, doing the trenches and a sizeable number helping with floor repairs.

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Jack's Story of Hope 06/18/08

“I used to stare up at the planes as they flew over me in the sky, but I never EVER thought that I would be in one in my whole life! Especially a plane coming to America. I feel like I’m living in a dream,” shared Jack Odhiambo.

Meet Jack. He is a former street boy from Kenya, who lost his arms when trying to jump on a moving train in attempt to escape the police. He is a man who for many years never had any hope for a future, but God has restored him and has given him a life he only dreamed about.

Now at age 26, he is beginning to live out his dreams, and experience many firsts that he never imagined. Jack left Kenya and flew in a plane for the first time. He has come to America for the first time. He went to the beach, and felt the sand between his toes for the first time. He swam in the ocean for the first time. And just last week, he shared his story to over 1,500 American students for the first time.

“I have been given a second chance for a reason. My dream is to be able to share my story of redemption, and that God would use it to change lives,” says Jack.

Jack’s dream is becoming a reality. On June 9, he stood on stage at Bigstuf Camp in Panama City Beach and shared his story with over 1,500 students from across the country. He was welcomed with cheers and a standing ovation from students and youth pastors who were inspired by his message.

Jack’s story is one of unimaginable hardships on a journey to redemption. He grew up on the streets of Nairobi, stealing food to eat and money so he could buy glue to sniff and get high. His nights were spent sleeping on the dirt outside his family’s house, because there was no room for him inside.

He was 21 when he lost his arms. He has no recollection of the accident. All he remembers is running for his life, and then waking up in the hospital to find that both his arms were gone.

“For so long, I wished that I had died under the wheels of that train. In an instant, I went from being a tough street boy to being a baby to people. I had to depend on people to do everything for me. Every night, I would cry to God to be dead,” said Jack.

This life of hopelessness continued for the next three years, until Jack met a man named Moses at a shelter in Nairobi. Moses began to speak hope into Jack’s life, and would tell him about God’s love, and that God still had a plan for Jack, even though he didn’t have his arms. In 2005, Moses brought Jack off the streets to live in the Christ Compassion Rehabilitation Center in Joska. It was here that Jack found hope in Jesus Christ.

“The biggest lesson that I have learned is that no matter what I go through, God has a plan and He will never leave me. I just have to keep seeking Him first,” said Jack.

While at the CCRC, there was a group that was serving there with The 410 Bridge. They heard Jack’s story, and felt called to do something. So they donated money to bring Jack to America to get two prosthetic arms.

When asked if he’s scared about the surgery, he grins and exclaims, “No! I am not scared at all. I am just excited and happy to be here. I can’t wait to be able to bathe myself and feed myself. I will be able to carry my bible and turn the pages myself.”

When Jack returns to Kenya, the first thing he wants to do is show his family his new arms, and share with them his experience in America. He then hopes to enroll in bible school, so he can pursue his dream of becoming a pastor.

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Ngaamba Acts as Model 410 Bridge Community 06/18/08

The water project in Ngaamba community that commenced last year (October 2007) has finished the second phase-1B. This helps eliminate the long trek endured by villagers to fetch water.

Villagers had become wary of projects that never took off. Some of the projects died prematurely or were embroidered in political intrigues that left the community disillusioned. Stephen Mulumba from Ituumbule is very thankful to the 410 Bridge, and says the relationship has changed their lives.

“We used to walk long distances to get water for household use and for our livestock. Once we got there people would scramble for water and it was common for fights to erupt. What the 410 Bridge has done for us is incredible”, says Mulumba.

According to the chairman, Rev. Leonard Ketesi, the piping from the main reservoir to Marwa was to be executed by every able bodied person in the community. After hard work, the water project was completed last year and constituted phase 1A. Phase 1B is now complete, which provides water to two of the six sub-villages.

“The turnout and organization of the people was impressive. The people here have owned the projects, and other communities can learn a great deal from Ngaamba,” said Community Development Manager, Paul Omandi.

Rev. Leonard is upbeat that Ngaamba will be a model 410 Bridge community that will be emulated by others. The local 410 Bridge leadership council concentrated from the onset of the project to win the trust of the locals. He attributes transparency with finances and equipment as their strongest point. The fact that they also work with the administration and headsmen of the different areas makes mobilization easy.

With hoe in hand, Duncan Muthiani from Kalembwani says he knows The 410 Bridge cannot do everything for them. He adds, “Water is life and I want to benefit from it, that’s why you are seeing me here. It has been three years since it rained and it’s my hope that in the near future, arrangements can be made to use the water for irrigation.”

The community representative, Lucy Andrew says the biggest beneficiaries are the women. “In our society women do the house chores, and are expected to fetch water and look after the children. These women strap their children on their backs with a 20 liter container balanced on their heads for a 4-6 km trek. Now they can concentrate on income generating activities like weaving baskets and ropes.”

Rev. Leonard said after the water project, income-generating activities should be introduced to empower the people economically. He proposed bee keeping, agro forestry, poultry and livestock rearing as viable enterprises. He added that the people could choose what interests them.

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Daraja Interns Experience Life in Kenya 06/18/08

“God broke me in places I didn’t even realize needed to be broken,” said Hannah Woods, one of four interns with The Daraja Children’s Choir of Africa.

The summer interns for Bigstuf and The Choir walked in the shoes of our Kenyan friends, and God rocked their worlds. The interns begin their summer internship with a trip to Kenya, so they can experience what life is like for our friends in Kenya and build cross-cultural relationships.

The four Daraja interns for the summer tour are Hannah Woods, Amanda Setser, Rachel Bailey and Jackson Joyner. As they set off for Kenya, they had no idea what to expect as they had only been told by Choir Manager, Christi Baker, that this would be an “observational trip.” However, they did much more than just observe. They literally walked in the footsteps of the Kenyan people, and experienced their daily lives.

One of the challenges was walking several kilometers to the river to collect water, and then walking up the steep terrain with the heavy bucket of water strapped to their backs…something our Kenyan friends do many times a day.

“The water was so heavy! I can’t believe that these women have to do this everyday of their lives. It was such a reality check,” said Hannah.

One of the most challenging, yet eye-opening moments for all the interns was experiencing the daily 5 km trek that the children in The Choir must endure everyday for Choir practice. As the interns were walking, God opened the skies, and it began to pour down rain.

The interns expressed how this moment opened their eyes to the dedication and the lengths the kids go to everyday to be a part of The Choir. Each practice is a total 10 Km journey, and often they too, get caught in the rain.

The Choir holds their practices at the orphanage, Stars for Jesus, which is where the interns met The Choir for the first time. When the interns arrived to meet The Choir, they experienced a swarm of smiling faces that were bubbling over with questions for their new American friends.

“Meeting The Choir was like a surreal moment in time. We were all blown away by their performances, and humbled by their outpouring of love. I am so anxious to pour all of myself into these kids, and love them the way that God has loved me,” said Amanda Setser.

Jackson Joyner fell in love with the Choir last summer, as a Bigstuf intern. Returning this summer as a Daraja intern, he expresses a very different experience in Kenya.

“Last year, I was thrown in and felt as though I was watching a movie. I was just in shock at what I witnessed. This year has been a much more relational experience. I’ve loved spending time with the people and hearing their stories,” said Jackson.

Jackson’s favorite moment in Kenya was visiting Gordon, who was in The Choir last year. Gordon was a former street boy, but now after his experience in The Choir, is attending secondary school.

“Seeing Gordon and how his life has transformed after being in The Choir made me realize the opportunities that The Choir creates for these kids. That experience ignites the kids to believe that they can be something someday. It’s so cool,” said Jackson.

The interns all expressed their awe at the joy and faith that overflows from the Kenyan people. Their experience in Kenya allowed them to see God’s transformation with their own eyes, and they are eager to see God continue to use The Choir to change lives.

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The 411 on 410 Projects 06/18/08

Service teams and community members are busy working together on projects that are changing the faces of these communities. Here’s the latest progress with ongoing projects in our 410 Bridge communities:

Karogoto: Currently, we are working with the community to establish a knitting micro-enterprise for the women. We have four knitting machines installed and 50 women currently being trained by an outside knitting service from Nairobi. These women had to invest some of their own money in order to be included in the business. Once trained, they will knit sweaters for school uniforms, and then sell them to schools in other 410 Bridge communities.

Joska: The 410 Bridge, along with the community, has purchased 40 acres of land for future projects, with the first being a water project. Living Water is drilling a borehole this month, and there will be service teams working with the community to dig trenches for piping to pump water from the borehole to a holding tank in the community. Service teams and the community members will start digging the trenches in July.

At the CCRC, we have live chickens in the chicken coops that were constructed by teams last year. These chicks will be an excellent source of food and income, as they will sell any excess eggs that the chicks lay.

Karima: The leadership council would like running water for each home in the community. Currently, there are hydrological studies underway to determine the best place to drill a borehole. Living Water will be drilling a borehole this summer, and then service teams will be working with the community to install running water.

Kwambekenya: Service teams and the community will be laying the foundation for the health clinic this month. The construction is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Ngaamba: Phase 1B of the water project is complete, which feeds running water from the holding tank at Itumbule to 3 of the sub-villages. Phase 2 will begin later this year, which will feed water to the other 2-3 sub-villages in Ngaamba. Currently, teams are busy building a gabion, which is a rock wall to prevent water from the river from flooding the village.

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God's Blog from Lanny Donoho 04/14/08

As I watch while humans blog, I find it interesting that you all take so much time to write about your day and your thoughts and your feelings. I know that many of you do this just because you want to express your life… and heart… and hope that someone reads and cares.

I’m feeling that way quite a bit lately. I wrote most of what I wanted to say in the 66 books that many of you have lying on your coffee table. I wrote a lot more through the pens, typewriters and computers of many men and women who understood me to a degree and expressed their thoughts… my thoughts… on thousands of written pages.

But, if I were to express it in your terms I would say that my heart hurts… it grieves… I am sad that so many of you haven’t really heard… haven’t really absorbed who I am and what I desire for you and for your world.

So, here I am blogging… just like you…hoping, knowing …that some of you will read this and your hearts and lives will change. Oh how much I want you to discover, so you can experience so much of what I desire for you. I’ll blog on for a while and talk about my thoughts, and my desires, and I will cover lots of stuff that you didn’t even think I was interested in.

So let’s jump in... Worst things first.

My intent was never for so many of you to have so much, and so many to have so little. The most beautiful continent I created with some of the most incredible people (you’re all made with some special ingredients that make you uniquely you and wonderfully mine) is filled with chaos, and poverty, rape and AIDS and other diseases running rampant. Over 40,000 children are dying every day there. Hope seems lost to so many. Mothers like you are watching their children die every day, while fathers can find no jobs. Thousands and thousands of children are orphaned and living on the streets looking for food in fields of garbage that defile the fresh air that should be permeating the land.

Meanwhile on the other side of the earth, you are spending a hundred thousand dollars for a car! …a million for a house! … hundreds for songs you download off the internet. You spend your extra time playing golf, and going boating, and many of you retire and go on cruises and think about how you want to live now that you don’t have to work.

WHAT IS THIS????

I don’t have any problems with you having fun. I invented fun, remember?

And I don’t have problems with you taking time off work. I created the Sabbath so you could have time to rest.

Here is what I have a problem with… You are part of a world that is indeed, your family. All six billion are my kids. If you’ve been given a lot, then there is a lot required of you. As a matter of fact, I have the whole thing set up so that you can’t really find joy or peace until you figure out how to give your self away. When you are healthy, you don’t retire. You get busy! You have the ability to go and to give. And remove the obstacles that are keeping people from experiencing my glory. And when you go…and give…and remove… you experience it too.

Some of you are prejudiced. Get over that. What is the best color in the crayon box? You might have a favorite, but there isn’t a best. They’re all great colors that can be used together to create a masterpiece. I have put black and white and red and yellow and every other color in between to work together to make a masterpiece. Those of you who look down on another’s skin color; you haven’t grabbed hold of your Creator yet.

Take a look around the world. What do you think the ratio is going to be when you get to heaven?

Have you seen the statistics on the world?

Those of you, who think heaven is going to be filled mostly with folks who look and talk like you, are going to be surprised. You’re going to hear music like you’ve never heard before… from faces you’ve never seen before… in languages you didn’t know existed.

And you are going to be so filled with something that you can’t describe; you’ll feel like you are going to burst with joy. And you will be singing right along with all the rest of my creation with no thoughts of color or language.

You just have a short while here. Seems to me like you ought to figure out how to rearrange your assets… figure out whom they really belong to, and give them back… in the form of restructuring your world. You can’t wait for your government or Bono or Oprah to do it. My church is big and strong. It’s made up of millions. It’s not just the people who meet behind walls on Sunday mornings. It’s the people who love me and want to serve me and recognize the truth of this entry. Just absorbed by the wonder of it all.

You thought you were saving up money and storing it ….so you could feel safe when you’re old. You feel like “then” will be the time to get the stuff to make you happy. That will be the time that you feel like you have time…to go….and do.

Here’s the secret.

Ready?

Go now.

Serve now.

Give now.

Discover now that all the stuff you want, you can only get by living wisely.

For me… not for you!

I don’t want you (or anyone) without food or shelter, but… if the people in just one state would live like I am describing, you could feed the planet… and give them all shelter.

Come on kids, this is easier than it looks. You just need resources, a plan, and desire.

You have the resources.

The desire comes from realization of… me and you and what it’s all about.

Start working on the plan.

There are lots of people already involved that can help you.

Go do it.

Go change the world so you can look back and see that what you did made a difference. I’m right here ready to supply all your needs while you do that.

And hey… I own it all and like to give it to my children who “get it.”

See you on the other side of the planet.

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The 410 Bridge Communities Reach out to Help the Displaced 04/14/08

In the midst of desparate situations, the true character of people is displayed. The people of the 410 Bridge communities reached out to be the hands and feet of Jesus to their fellow Kenyans who were displaced in the violence that swept certain regions of the country.

The recent political unrest and violence in Eldroret forced many of the people to flee their homes with no place to go and no food, so many ventured into Kwambekenya and Karima in search of help. The people in Kwambekenya and Karima opened their homes, even to strangers, to provide food, shelter and clothes.

“It was such a blessing to witness the people in Kwambekenya and Karima joining together to pray and support one another, and to help those who were effected by the violence,” said Andrew Guru, 410 Bridge staff.

As more and more displaced people rushed to Kwambekenya and Karima for shelter, the people realized they did not have enough supplies to provide for all the people. The displaced people were desperate, and the Kwambekenya and Karima communities wanted to provide as much help as possible.

To respond to this crisis, The 410 Bridge offered to assist them in their efforts. Together, we purchased 30 large bags of beans, 30 bags of rice, 30 bags of maize meal and 150 blankets. These supplies were to be divided evenly between Kwambekeny and Karima. Because Kwambekenya knew there were more displaced in Karima, they gave more of the supplies to Karima.

“This was one of the first 410 Bridge projects in Karima, so many people came to witness the distribution. It made such a huge impact in the community,” explained Andrew.

The leadership council in Kwambekenya, along with five other community members took the supplies to Karima, and personally distributed them to the displaced people there. The message that The 410 Bridge was helping provide supplies spread all over Karima, so most of the people came to witness the distribution.

“All the people were so excited to both distribute and receive the supplies. A number of people in Karima came together with the people of Kwambekenya to pray over the community. It was a very impacting day,” said Andrew.

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Kenyan Staff Member, Andrew Guru, Reunites with Family in America 04/14/08

It was a joyous reunion for Kenyan staff member, Andrew Guru, when he was reunited with his brother and sister after 13 years of separation. This reunion occurred during his recent trip to America for The 410 Bridge’s Global Summit meeting.

“I haven’t seen either of my siblings, since they left Kenya. It was amazing to finally see them again, and hear what has been going on in their lives, and also to share with them about our family in Kenya,” said Andrew.

Plans for the reunion, actually began in October of last year, when friend of Andrew’s from Kenya, was in Atlanta and randomly saw Andrew’s sister, Monica, at the Town Center shopping mall in Kennesaw.

Andrew’s friend was able to pass Monica’s contact information on to Andrew, who immediately contacted her to tell her he would be coming to America.

“I was so excited to hear from my brother after so long, but then when he told me that he would be visiting Georgia, it seemed almost impossible that he was coming to the state where I lived!,” exclaimed Monica.

Arriving in the U.S. in 1997, Monica went to school to become a nurse, and she has a six-year-old daughter, named Michaela. Over the years, Monica has stayed in contact with their brother, Daniel, but hasn’t seen him in three years. He flew to Atlanta from Texas to reunite with both Andrew and Monica. Daniel came to the U.S. in 1995 to go to Marishi School of Business in Iowa. He now lives in Dallas working as a quality controller for a healthcare company.

“It was hard to believe that I was actually seeing my brother after so many years. I was most impressed with the work he is doing. The 410 Bridge is really helping our people in Kenya. It’s so inspiring!,” shared Daniel.

Due to cost and other personal obstacles, both Daniel and Monica have been unable to go back to visit Kenya since they left years ago. However, they are now in a place in their lives where they can go home to Kenya to visit the family, and after seeing Andrew, they were both inspired to make the trip back home in December of this year.

“It broke my heart to see Andrew go back to Kenya. I thank God for the time we were able to spend together here, and I can’t wait to take my daughter over Kenya to meet her family,” said Monica.

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The 410 Bridge holds First Service Trip Leadership Training 04/14/08

Future trip leaders from churches all over the country braved the tornados; in order to attend The 410 Bridge’s first Service Trip Leadership Training held March 14-15.

Over 25 trip leaders came together for the common purpose of being educated and equipped to serve and lead teams in the cross cultural environment of Kenya. The training was a time to be inspired by the incredible things God is doing through The 410 Bridge and to celebrate the lives that are being changed on both the Kenyan and US sides of the bridge.

“I wondered if it would be worth my time. Both Jennifer and Ashley said it would, and they were right. I enjoyed it and loved the overall vision and found the training inspiring,” said Tom MacMillan, First Baptist Church in Clinton, South Carolina.

The Training kicked off on Friday when Lanny Donoho, the founder of The 410 Bridge, shared the history of how God led him to start the organization. From there, Kurt Kandler, our executive director, spoke about God’s accomplishments in 2007 and the vision for service teams and projects in 2008.

Later that night, we were hit with the unexpected tornado, forcing everyone to take shelter. However, that did not deter everyone from returning on Saturday morning to continue the Training.

“The information was well put together and delivered. Made me fall in love with the ministry all over again. Thanks for doing what you do and making a way for others to participate,” shared Chuck Pitts, a 410 Bridge Trip Leader.

One of the highlights of the training was a service team impact video featuring interviews from our Kenyan staff explaining the crucial role that service teams play and the significant impact they are having on the lives of the people in The 410 Bridge communities.

“We’re raving fans of The 410 Bridge! You have done an excellent job coving the most important area, subjects, and questions that are crucial to leading a trip. What a gift and privilege to link arms with you as we join God in His work in Kenya! We are overwhelmed with gratitude,” exclaimed Dee Kijanko, a 410 Bridge Trip leader.

The 410 Bridge anticipates the outcome of this training to better prepare our Trip Leaders in their efforts to lead service teams this year. In spite of the weather, this first training was a huge success, and our hope is that they continue to improve.

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The 2008 Daraja Children's Choir of Africa 04/14/08

It’s official! The 2008 Daraja Children’s Choir of Africa has been finalized, and they will make their debut in June at the first session of Bigstuf Camp in Panama City Beach, FL.

Until then, they are busy perfecting their performance and preparing to come to America for this year’s summer tour. Tour Leader, Christi Baker, recently went to Kenya to meet the Choir.

“I’m excited because the kids are so excited. In Kenya, I got flooded with so many questions from the kids. The number one thing that the kids said about coming to America is that they can’t wait to make new friends and experience new things,” shared Christi.

There are 23 orphans and vulnerable children that make up the 2008 Choir, with five children returning from last year’s choir. Along with eight new children from Havilla Children’s Home, we have nine kids from impoverished families in the surrounding area of Githurai, and two from an orphanage, called Stars for Jesus that rescues street boys.

“The kids’ families are ecstatic about their children being chosen for the Choir. They know this will open so many doors of opportunity for their kids, and open their eyes to a new world of possibilities,” said Christi.

At the concerts, we will be selling African jewelry and other products made by the Mavuno women of Githurai community, with some of them being the mothers of some of the choir kids. This will provide extra income for some of these vulnerable families.

The kids have received so much favor from their schools. The schools are allowing the kids to be absent for two terms, in order for them to fulfill the summer and fall Choir tours in America. We will have two teachers joining us on the tours to tutor the kids, and keep them up to date with their schoolwork.

We also have four interns that will be assisting us with the tour. We will be taking the interns to Kenya on May 15, and will return to the U.S. with the Choir on May 26. From there we will kick off the Summer Tour at Bigstuf the first of June and will tour until August 8. The kids will then go back to Kenya for seven weeks, and will return to the U.S. October 1 for the fall tour.

We anticipate that the 2008 Daraja Children’s Choir will spread their message of hope and joy throughout the U.S., and ignite a passion in the hearts of many Americans. We are anxious to see how God will use the Choir to further His kingdom. Stay tuned at www.darajachildrenschoir.com.

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Final Safety Assessment on Unrest in Kenya 03/27/08

Dear 410 Bridge Friends,

We are please to let you know that since our last update on the unrest in Kenya, the US State Department has declared that Kenya is now a safe travel destination. The violence has subsided following the power-sharing agreement signed last month by the two feuding political parties.

The consistent report we are receiving from the 410 Bridge staff, the media and the U.S. Embassy is that Kenya is safe and at peace. The announcement from the State Department allows all US government employees and their families to return to the Kisumu area, where the violence first started. Peace Corps volunteers will also return to the country in the near future.

As unfortunate as these events were, it was amazing to witness how The 410 Bridge communities rallied together to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the displaced victims who were affected by the violence. Communities reached out to help those in need by providing food and opening their homes. God used this unfortunate incident to unite our communities to demonstrate love and compassion to one another. We are grateful to them for their commitment to each other.

With this positive news, we remain confident that God is at work in Kenya, and all trips will still proceed as scheduled. We ask that you continue to join us in prayer for the political stability and safety in Kenya.

Please know that this will be our final update since the country is now at peace and stable. We will continue to monitor the situation as to ensure the safety of our staff and service team members. Please do not hesitate to contact me, if you have any questions or concerns about this situation.

Thank you,

Kurt Kandler
Executive Director
The 410 Bridge

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Water Restores Hope to Ngaamba 03/07/08

Can you imagine walking several hours just to fetch water? How about with a three-year old child on your back? This has been a common daily chore for the women and children of Ngaamba…. until now.

As of November last year, one of the subvillages of Ngaamba has a brand new holding tank at the Itumbule Primary School, giving the people access to running water for the first time. This is the first phase of a project that will install water tanks throughout the other five subvillages in this community.

“Due to a five-year drought, the hearts and minds of the people were as dry as the land. Meeting the basic need of water has brought new life to our community both physically and spiritually,” expressed Pastor Leonard, chair of the leadership council.

With Ngaamba being in a semi-arid region, their access to water is extremely limited. Hence, clean running water has always been a distant dream they never believed would come true. Through the H2O4K project, that dream is becoming a reality, and it has motivated the entire community to work towards continued growth and transformation.

As the leadership council worked to establish a plan for transformation, the only need they stressed is “Water! Water! Water!” They could not see past this desperate need for water.

In order to make a solid impact and build our working relationship in Ngaamba, a water project was initiated. Word that water was coming spread through the community like wildfire, and the people of Ngaamba were overjoyed.

They were so motivated to see this project through, that they immediately began digging trenches for the piping. The people dug two miles of trenches in two days!

These trenches would house the piping that would pull water from the existing borehole that accessed the water underground to a holding tank at the Itumbule Primary School.

This tank is one of six that will be strategically placed throughout the six sub-villages of Ngaamba for more convenient community access. There will be two more tanks installed in the second phase of the project, and will begin this Spring.

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Extraordinary Acts for H2O4K 03/07/08

Ethos is a second venue at City Church of Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was started in January 2007 and averages 90 to 100 people on Sunday mornings. Ethos has been called “City Church for an emerging culture.” When it began, it was a desire for it to be more than just another church service. The leaders of Ethos wanted it to be a place where anyone could come, despite their background, and feel welcome and safe. It has become a community of all kinds of people with many different backgrounds and ways of thinking. And, for some reason, it works. Whether someone has been a Christ follower for many years, has just recently begun following the teachings of Christ, or doesn’t believe at all, Ethos has become a place where we can all come together without compromising the message of the greatest story ever written.

In October 2007 we began a series titled Heroes…Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things. This series looked at five different characters from the Bible…Joseph, Esther, Caleb, Ruth, and Abraham…and how they used their ordinary circumstances to do something extraordinary. When planning for this series we began to think of what we could do to get people jump started on doing something extraordinary. Several of the leadership team had been to a Big Stuf Camp in the summer of 2007 and heard about the 410 Bridge and the H2O4K project. So it was decided we wanted to challenge the people of Ethos to build one well in Africa over the course of five weeks. It seemed like an enormous undertaking, but we had confidence this is what we needed to do.

So on October 21st the initial challenge was set. We showed the video from the Big Stuf Camps and asked everyone to step out of their ordinary box to do something beyond themselves. When the day was over we had $285. A rather slow start, but a start nonetheless. As the weeks progressed we raised more money, but nothing remarkable. Week 2 = $547. Week 3 = $396. Week 4 = $570. So at week 5 we still need to raise over $1500….in one day! We asked people to give up a meal, to give up two or three meals if that was what it took! If every person in the room on November 18th could give $10-$20 we would have enough! We had prayed. We had sought God’s voice and we knew this was where we needed to be and what we needed to do with everything He had given us. When we counted the money that day we had over $4000!!!!!! We had built a well in one day!! And with the money from the other weeks our grand total was $6096.13!

It was quite an experience to say the least! We challenged the people of Ethos not to let the extraordinary acts to end there. We strive to live life in any way but ordinary. So that in everything we do and say, and every place we go, we shine the light of Christ to all we come in contact with.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to be extraordinary for Christ!!!

Sincerely,

Shannon Chapman
Ethos Pastor

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Water Flows in Karogoto 03/07/08

After much prayer and months of hard manual labor by two cultures united together in service, water is now flowing in the Karogoto Community.

“May I take this opportunity to share the joy to all those who took part and worked hard to make this project a reality. May God reward you in your abundant work,” shares Pastor Harrison Wabiru, chairman of the leadership council.

The Karogoto River, which the community is named for, runs nearby this village at the bottom of a very steep landscape. For years, water has been taken from the river to meet the needs of the community. One of the first priorities the community identified was getting the water up out of the ravine to a central location that could be more easily accessed.

This vision resulted in a water project that would install a traditional Kenyan pump that draws the water from the river by the pressure of the river’s flow. Trenches were dug and piping laid to carry the water to a stone and cement water tank in the town center.

This water project relieves many of the women and children who made the challenging trek down to the river and back up carrying the heavy buckets of water each day. This is only a first step in implementing water solutions in the community. There are plans for filtration and treatment of the water being pumped from the river to the holding tank. After treatment, the water may be distributed to other areas of the community.

The efforts of many working together brought this project to completion. A service team from Parker Hill Community Church, a Community Partner to Karogoto; as well as, a service team from Buckhead Church traveled to Karogoto last fall to work with the Kenyan community digging trenches uphill to lay the piping.

“This was an eye-opening experience for our team. The work was challenging, but at the end of the day, we realized that it wasn’t about the task itself. It was about interacting with the people,” said Matt Showers, Parker Hill Community Church.

On this side of the bridge, students from Parker Hill did a 30-hr. fast to raise funds for the water project. This fundraiser brought in $15,000, which was what got the project started.

“Karogoto is blessed in so many ways because of the part everyone is playing in our community. Bless you all!” expresses Pastor Harrison.

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Update on Kenyan Unrest and Safety 02/29/08

Dear 410 Bridge Friends,

Developments in Kenya since our last update to you have been very positive and we are very encouraged. Please take a moment to read this latest installment, providing an assessment of the current stability and safety situation in Kenya. As always, contributing to this assessment is The 410 Bridge Kenyan staff, partner organizations, media reports and Warden Messages from the U.S. Embassy.

Current Assessment We are pleased and encouraged by the recent agreement signed by the two rival political parties, President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga. We believe that this power-sharing agreement will continue to stabilize the country and allow for peace and reconciliation to continue. Current trends reflect stability and calm.

410 Bridge Communities and Travel Routes There have still been no incidents of unrest in any 410 Bridge Communities. While many displaced family members from the western part of Kenya have relocated to several of our communities – namely Kwambekenya, Karima and Joska, we anticipate many of the displaced people will now begin to return to their home communities. Travel routes remain clear, with no incidents since our last update.

Key Indicators Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, along with other international diplomats, mediated talks between the parties to form a coalition government. The parties agreed to form a Prime Ministerial position and share cabinet appointments. The general reaction to this agreement has been positive. Attention will now turn to the Kenya Parliament and their progress in enacting the appropriate legislation over the next several months. We will monitor this, and the reaction by the Kenyan people closely in the coming days/weeks.

Trips Based on our current assessment of The 410 Bridge communities and team travel routes, along with the recent signing of the power-sharing agreement, all trips will proceed as scheduled.

If you have questions, concerns, or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me personally.

Kurt Kandler
Executive Director

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Update on Kenya Unrest and Safety Assessment 02/13/08

Dear 410 Bridge Friends,

Two weeks ago we provided an assessment of the stability and safety situation in Kenya. This letter serves to provide an update on recent developments, along with key indicators that we will be monitoring in the coming weeks. Contributing to this assessment is the 410 Bridge Kenyan staff, partner organizations, media reports and Warden Messages from the U.S. Embassy.

Current Assessment
While the human tragedies of the last several weeks cannot be over-stated, we are encouraged by the recent stability and reduction in violence. The UN News Service wrote today that the security situation is easing and it is our hope that this will continue.

The 410 Bridge Communities and Travel Routes - There have been no incidents of unrest in any 410 Bridge Communities since the unrest began. In fact, displaced family members from the western part of Kenya have relocated to several of our communities – namely Kwambekenya, Karima and Joska – seeking safety and shelter.

There have been no additional incidents in Naivasha (the largest city near Kwambekenya and Karima) since the violence that occurred on 1/27. We continue to closely monitor this area and are sending a 410 Bridge Community Development Manager to Naivasha for a thorough assessment early next week. Our revised policy related to travel routes and times for Nairobi remain in place.

Key Indicators - Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is currently mediating talks between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga in an undisclosed location. The parties are expected to release the results of the mediation talks and it is widely assumed that a power-sharing agreement will be announced within a week. The results of those talks, and the general reaction to the agreement, will provide an indication of progress toward peace and stability. We will be monitoring this closely.

Additionally, we intend to continue to evaluate the recent pattern of subsiding violence. We will provide another update on February 27th, the two-month anniversary of the elections.

Trips – Based on our current assessment of The 410 Bridge communities and team travel routes, along with recent signs of stability, all trips will proceed as scheduled. We reiterate, however, our position that each trip participant must assess their own level of concern and determine if they are comfortable enough to have a positive trip experience. We will continue to provide updates and relevant information, as it becomes known, specifically as it relates to the general reaction of the forthcoming power-sharing agreement.

If you have questions, concerns, or require additional information, you are welcome to contact me personally,

Kurt Kandler Executive Director

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The 410 Bridge Communities help One Another Amidst the Unrest in Kenya 02/05/08

Our 410 Bridge communities come to the rescue by rushing to aid their fellow Kenyans affected by the recent ethnic and political unrest in Kenya.

The unfortunate situation in Kenya has contributed to many displaced families. Many of these people have fled their home communities in western Kenya to safety in three 410 Bridge Communities – Karima, Kwambekenya and Joska. Over 300 people sought refuge in Karima, 100 in Kwambekenya, and another 100 in Joska.

The communities opened their homes by providing food, shelter and clothing to those in need, but resources were limited and the three 410 Bridge communities needed more help.

At the recent Leadership Summit for 410 bridge community leaders, the topic of displaced people was discussed. The leaders in communities that were unaffected by this tragedy agreed to garner support for the communities that were. The 410 Bridge Communities all rallied together to lend a helping hand to the displaced.

The 410 Bridge agreed to match whatever support they raised and assist with logistics. It was wonderful to see how the six communities came together to support each other in this time of great need.

“We visited a home in Karima that had up 30 people living in a small home and compound,” said Kurt Kandler.

On Sunday, January 13, the community leaders announced at their church services that they were going to raise support to help the three communities affected by the displaced people, and The 410 Bridge was going to match whatever they raised.

Members from The 410 Bridge communities showed their compassion by gathering food, blankets and clothing and delivering to the displaced victims in Karima, Kwambekenya and Joska. Ngaamba raised food and supplies for Joska.

The youth started a Youth Empowerment Movement in Joska and gathered clothing for the displaced. The 410 Bridge Kenyan Staff helped the communities deliver the supplies to Karima and Kwambekenya.

To fulfill our promise, The 410 Bridge provided 30-days worth of staple food and supplies, such as rice, beans, maize meal and blankets to all the displaced people in our communities.

“It was moving to see the communities unite to help each other through this difficult situation. It was non-denominational and non-tribal effort. It was simply Kenyans helping their fellow Kenyans,” said Kurt.

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Kwambekenya and The 410 Bridge demonstrate Ultimate Teamwork 02/05/08

Inspired by the vision of their community’s future, the people of Kwambekenya and The 410 Bridge combine manpower and motivation to build a fence around the 8-acre plot of land that will eventually house a medical clinic, soccer field and community center.

“The entire project, 300 posts and 10,000 feet of barbed wire, was done in less than four hours with nothing more than machetes, hammers, one come-along, and a few iron rods. No machines. No post-hole diggers. No wheelbarrows,” said James Ward, The 410 Bridge team.

This 150 foot-wide by 1,800 foot-long piece of property was the size of six football fields, and was a joint purchase by The 410 Bridge and the Kwambekenya community. The fence was to be built as a symbol of ownership, and a promise of what is to come for the community.

Four of The 410 Bridge staff members were visiting Kenya to do leadership training and visit various communities. At the Leadership Council Meeting, The 410 Bridge agreed to partner with Kwambekenya on the fencing project, and purchase the barbed wire and nails, if each community member supplied at least one fence post and the labor.

The 410 Bridge team was on “African Time” and, as a result, were about an hour late for the start of the workday. Upon their arrival, over 200 community members were well underway, having dug nearly half of the post holes and had already started setting some of the posts.

Community members stopped briefly to greet The 410 Bridge team, but immediately got to back to work. The people worked like a well-oiled machine, with the men using machetes to dig the postholes and women carrying fence posts tied to a strap that rested on their heads.

“There was one elderly woman I’ll never forget. She couldn’t have weighed more than 80lbs soaking wet! She was carrying two freshly cut fence posts, each about 6-feet long on her head. We all thought that we’d surely be able to carry at least four posts each, but little did we know that these freshly cut posts weighed a ton!” said Kurt Kandler, Executive Director of The 410 Bridge.

Kurt describes the experience as a humbling one, as he would pass women half his size carrying heavy loads of posts. He explained that after the first trip of carrying posts 1,800 feet down the property, they realized that the posts were not only heavy, but also awkward to carry on their shoulders.

It was a challenging experience, but the team was inspired by the perseverance and teamwork of the community. Looking around, everyone present had a job, and the fence was quickly beginning to take shape. By 11:30 a.m., all the posts on one side were finished.

“It was amazing working with the Kenyans, and so encouraging to see them come together. They saw the future of their community in this land-you could just see it in their eyes and in their work,” said Adam Hedstrom at The 410 Bridge.

Once the posts were installed, they immediately began stringing the barbed wire. All working together, they would string the barbed wire, tighten it and nail it to each fence post. At 1:00 p.m., before even breaking for lunch, the last nail went into the last post, the gate was installed and the fence was completed in a miraculous four hours.

“It is wonderful for the community to see you coming from so far away to work with us. It is a great day for the community of Kwambekenya to see so many people from many different churches working together,” said Boniface, the chairman of the Leadership Council.

After the fence was complete, the whole community gathered together to hear from The 410 Bridge team. Several members of the team said a few words of thanks, read a scripture from Proverbs and then closed in prayer.

A gregarious, older gentleman volunteered himself to speak on behalf of the community. “You say that you are the ones who are blessed to be with us,” he began. “But, WE are the ones to be blessed by you and the teams that have come to our community this past year. You have shown us that we can impact our own future by working together to better our community. We are excited to have more visitors and continue more projects.” When he finished, all 200+ community members applauded and cheered.

The 410 Bridge team fully expected to work all day, hoping to get 25% of the fence done, but the entire project was finished in just four hours. Everyone was overjoyed, but most importantly, the community did it themselves. God blessed both the community and The 410 Bridge with a great day working and fellowshipping together.

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Grace Community Church joins hands with Joska 02/05/08

“I felt a burden for the people of Kenya, that I could no longer ignore,” said Jamie Kendrew, Pastor of Student Ministry at Grace Community Church, on what was the beginning of Grace Community Church joining the community of Joska as a Community Partner.

This stirring in Jamie’s heart began after hearing at BigStuf Camp about the work The 410 Bridge is doing in Kenya. He returned to Grace Community with an unexplainable desire to do something.

After sharing this burden to Grace Community, Jamie, along with Administrative Pastor, Allan Osterwise, embarked on a vision trip in November of 2007. They went to Kenya with no expectations; they only wanted to be obedient to God. During their trip they visited several 410 Bridge communities, but Joska was the community that lay heaviest on their hearts.

“Grace is a new church, and we want this relationship with Joska to be a focal point in our ministry, and use this opportunity to encourage our congregation towards service and discipleship,” explains Allan.

Several events took place on their vision trip leading up to this partnership. At one point of the trip, their bus stalled out on their way to visit an orphanage. When the team got off the bus to help push it along, Jamie took a moment to get some solitude with God and process his experience. As he was walking, a young boy unexpectedly appeared running towards him and jumped straight into his arms.

“This boy hugged me tighter than I’ve ever been hugged, even by my own son, and I just wept. I felt God saying, ‘You are right where I want you to be’,” Jamie shared.

While the team was visiting the community of Segera, Allan was feeling overwhelmed with the needs and poverty he was witnessing. He began to wonder how and where to even start with helping the people.

God then spoke to him through a fellow team member who said, “You just have to start. It only takes one person at a time. You just have to start.”

It was in Joska, where both Jamie and Allan felt the strongest connection with the people. They observed similarities between Joska and their hometown of Cranberry, such as the need to manage the rapid population growth.

They also visited Christ Compassion Rehabilitation Center (CCRC), which is the home for rescued street boys run by John Mutahi. After hearing the testimonies of the boys and the visions they shared for their futures, Allan and Jamie wanted Grace Community to be a part of helping make those visions realities. “When we were at the CCRC, talking to the boys and listening to John’s heart for the Center and the community, I heard God say, ‘This is it’,” said Jamie.

This is the first mission venture for Grace Community Church, and they want their relationship with Joska to be a focal point for the congregation. As they begin this journey, Paul Omandi, 410 Bridge staff from Kenya, will be visiting Jamie and Allan and new friends at Grace to speak to the congregation about this exciting new partnership between two communities.

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Prairie Lakes partners with Kwambekenya 02/05/08

The people of Prairie Lakes Church of Cedar Falls, IA solidify their relationship with the people of Kwambekenya as they commit to join them as a Community Partner.

The relationship began when church leaders went on a vision trip in January 2007, where they personally experienced the Kenyan culture and The 410 Bridge missions model. On vision trips, leaders visit each 410 Bridge community that is available for partnership, thus allowing leaders on both sides of the bridge to evaluate the potential for a good partnership.

During their vision trip, Prairie Lakes had a special connection with the community of Kwambekenya, and thus the foundation was laid to begin building a long-term relationship. The church first came alongside Kwambekenya when they sent a service team over in June to help with construction of the Kiambariki Primary School, and to begin building relationships they hope will endure long after the community is transformed and thriving.

Lori Nordyke, who co-led the service trip to Kwambekenya, experienced firsthand the immediate need for a medical clinic in the community, when she fell and broke her leg while crossing a bumpy road full of potholes on her way to the church. Lori experienced a painful car ride as she was driven to the closest medical clinic some 10 km away. The car ride took 20 minutes, however, this is a journey that most people in the community would have to endure by foot or by someone pushing them in a wheelbarrow, which could take hours.

“The minute I fell, I knew for some reason that it was in God’s plan, and I had to trust Him. I am now even more passionate about helping the people get a medical facility built in Kwambekenya,” said Lori.

Lori goes on to explain how she was showered with love and compassion from the people, especially from 410 Bridge Kenyan staff member, Andrew Guuru, and their team driver, Kennedy, who drove her to the hospital. She unfortunately had to leave Kenya early due to her injury, but she expresses excitement and confidence that she will return in the future to visit her friends in Kwambekenya with a Prairie Lakes service team.

“Even though I had to leave Kenya early, I was blessed to witness God turning the hearts of those in Iowa and Kenya alike, and I can’t wait to go back,” said Lori.

This partnership with Kwambekenya is ideal for Prairie Lakes, as they were looking for mission opportunities where they could focus on a particular area, and make a significant difference. Besides sending a service team to Kwambekenya, the church has also gotten their children’s ministry involved raising money for soccer balls and bibles for the children in the community.

“We have seen such a spiritual transformation in our church members that have visited Kwambekenya. This partnership will give our congregation the opportunity to serve and participate in projects that make a global impact,” said Jeff Swartzendruber, an Elder at Prairie Lakes Church.

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Primary School Sponsorships available through BrightPoint for Children 02/05/08

Quality education is a priority need for the future generation at the Havilla Children’s Home and the Kiambariki Primary School in Kwambekenya, so BrightPoint for Children has created customized Primary School Sponsorships to help provide a quality education for these children.

Havilla Children’s Home is located in the community of Githuari, and is home to many of the children in the Daraja Children’s Choir of Africa. Currently, the only available education to these children is an overcrowded school that prevents them from receiving a quality education where they can learn and pass the national exam promoting them to secondary school. With a sponsorship of $39/month, these children will be able to attend a school that will better prepare them for the national test that they must pass in order to continue their education.

“We have been very encouraged at the response of people who have committed to sponsoring the children at Havilla. We opened these 46 Primary School sponsorships in October, and all but six have been filled,” said Jane Whitehead at BrightPoint for Children.

In Kwambekenya, Kiambariki Primary School still has 30 open Primary school sponsorships. Because only 25% of the children pass the national exam that promotes them to secondary school, and only 10% of those that pass can actually afford to attend secondary school, BrightPoint has created a program that provides primary school educational support and gives them opportunities for a quality education.

The goal is to sponsor a classroom that will provide the adequate educational resources, such as books, desks, after-school tutoring programs, and teacher support that will better prepare the students for the secondary school national exam and increase the number of children promoted to secondary school.

Kiambariki Primary School sponsorships are $32/month, and while these funds go to sponsor a classroom, BrightPoint will connect the sponsor to a child from the class of his or her choice. This will allow the sponsor to build a relationship with a child, and also track the child’s progress in school.

For more information about available sponsorships at Havilla Children’s Home or Kiambariki Primary School in Kwambekenya, visit BrightPointforChildren.org or contact Jane Whitehead at jane@brightpointforchildren.org or 770.330.0483.

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Update on Unrest in Kenya and Safety Review 02/01/08

Kenya Update and Safety Review

As most of you know, the recent presidential election in Kenya has caused political instability and civilian unrest. A close election, coupled with accusations of vote rigging, has challenged the country and its people. Unfortunately, this situation has also created tribal violence in certain areas. While the majority of the country remains peaceful, it is important to continuously assess and understand all risks and safety issues.

The 410 Bridge has completed a comprehensive assessment of the situation in Kenya as it relates to 410 Bridge communities and 410 Bridge teams. Members of our U.S. staff, including myself, have just returned from an extensive visit. Time was spent with our Kenyan staff and our transportation and accommodation partners as we traveled to each 410 Bridge community. This letter provides a summary of our assessment and approach going forward. We also recommend that you consult the U.S. Citizen Services Warden Message at http://nairobi.usembassy.gov/warden_messages.html.

Current Assessment

It is important to note that the situation in Kenya has become more fluid in recent days as some new areas reported unrest. This impacts predictability, meaning that our assessment is limited to a particular point in time. As a result, we plan to update you as changes occur. Our current assessment is as follows:

• 410 Bridge Communities – None of The 410 Bridge communities have experienced violence or tribal fighting. The roads leading to each community have also been free from incidents, with the exception of Kwambekenya, as the main road leading through Naivasha was closed on Sunday, January 27th but was reopened the following day. There are no current signs of safety issues in any of the 410 Bridge communities of Kiu, Ngaamba, Karima, Karogoto, Kwambekenya, Joska or Githari where the Havilla Children’s Home is located.

• Kwambekenya – While this community has been peaceful, there were problems in Naivasha this past Sunday (01/27. Naivasha is on the route from Nairobi to Kwambekenya (about a one and a half hour drive from Kwambekenya) and teams working here typically stay in nearby Lake Naivasha. Naivasha will continue to be monitored to determine if unrest was an isolated incident, or a sign of instability.

• Nairobi – Unrest in the capital city has centered in the Kibera and Mathare slums. As a precaution, visits to these impoverished areas of Nairobi, as well as Dandora, have been suspended until further notice. While day-to-day activity in Nairobi has returned to normal, travel through Nairobi will be done on preferred roads and during daylight hours. Team hotels, including the PCEA Guest House, Sacred Heart, the Amani Center, and the ACK Guest House are safe and in preferred locations.

• Travel – Outside of Nairobi, most incidents of violence have occurred in the western areas of Kenya (Kisumu and Eldoret) with sporadic incidents in the eastern coast city of Mombasa. The 410 Bridge communities are located in the central part of Kenya, several hours away from the towns listed above. With the exception of the Naivasha unrest mentioned previously, all roads and overnight locations for The 410 Bridge teams have been reviewed and have been free from incident.

• Airport – There have been no incidents of any kind at the Nairobi airport. All airlines are flying in and out as scheduled.

Team Communication Plan

Given how fluid the situation is in Kenya, The 410 Bridge feels it is premature to determine the impact on upcoming trips. Any impact will be determined by positive or negative changes related to stability and security in the coming weeks. As a result, The 410 Bridge is committed to review the situation in Kenya at defined intervals prior to your trip dates. The purpose of each review is to assess the latest in-country developments, provide information on areas impacted, discuss risk and safety issues and answer any questions. The reviews will occur with team leaders every two weeks, starting 60-days prior to each team’s scheduled departure.

Naturally, the safety of service teams is of primary importance to The 410 Bridge. Additionally, we want each person’s trip to be a positive and transformational experience. We encourage each person to be fully informed, assess their own level of concern and determine if they are comfortable enough to have a positive trip experience.

In closing, it is clear that this is a trying time for the people of Kenya, and their faith will no doubt be tested. There may never be a more important time for mission teams to come alongside them, sharing hope, love and strength in Christ. We pray for stability and security in Kenya, allowing each of us to do the work we have been called to do.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at anytime.

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2007 Year End Review 01/17/08

We serve a God of miracles. This is a statement we hear often in the church and within Christian circles, but this year, The 410 Bridge experienced these miracles firsthand.

We entered 2007 expecting to serve in two or three communities in Kenya. God produced five. We’re now at six, on our way to ten by the end of next year!

We anticipated nine trips; God produced 20.

We anticipated 126 trip participants; God produced 305. Next year, we estimate as many as 1,000 people will travel to Kenya to serve with The 410 Bridge.

Community projects were implemented and completed in miraculous time. Growth of this magnitude could only be produced by the work of God Almighty.

Over the past year, God made it clear that He has something revolutionary to do in Kenya. Our resolve to continue to do His work has only strengthened after the tragic and unexpected violence that erupted recently. We thank God that our communities and Kenyan staff were not affected by the violence. We are also thankful that we now have an opportunity to help 410 Bridge Communities serve and administer God’s grace to fellow Kenyans in the areas that were impacted.

The 410 Bridge was also created with the vision of igniting American churches to use their gifts to build a bridge that will help the nation of Kenya transform itself. This new paradigm in missions establishes a relationship between a community in Kenya and a U.S. church, organization, or individual. Once this bond is formed, something remarkable happens. Teams go with the mission to work, but once immersed in the culture, experience a transformation where work turns into an act of love. As a result, hope is restored to the people of Kenya, and they are motivated to change their communities.

The growth that we experienced would not be possible if it were not for the network of partners that God provided. For 2007, our expectations were exceeded when an unbelievable number of churches, schools, families and individuals heard about our model and approached us with the desire to go, to finance projects and to use their gifts to serve.

God is at work, both in the lives of individuals in the American church and in the lives of our friends in Kenya. In one year, over 100 churches, individuals and organizations joined our network. Four churches have joined as Community Partners; committing to serve a community for at least three years. There are close to 100 project partners that provide funds for specific needs and projects in our communities. In total we had 20 teams that served as GO partners to Kenya. Without God’s provision through this network of people, the progress and results in our communities would not exist.

In each of our communities, we saw the people from Kenya unite with the people from America. In Kwambekenya, for example, they were in need of a primary school building. On their own accord, the people in the community rallied together to purchase land for the school building. It was expected to take four to six months to complete, but was completed in two and a half months with the help of four American teams. The people of Kwambekenya describe the progress as “nothing short of a miracle.”

In Joska, several projects in the construction and renovation of the Christ Compassion Rehabilitation Center (CCRC-The BigStuf House) were completed. Water projects have been funded, and they are in the process of purchasing land for a secondary school and a health clinic.

In Karogoto, a water project is all but complete, and a knitting micro-enterprise for the women is in development. This enterprise will provide the poorest of the poor women in the community income to care for their families. Following this project, a similar brick-making micro-enterprise for the men will commence.

Another micro-enterprise was developed in Kiu with the goal of getting over 100 youth, ages 18-30, off the streets and earning a wage. Teams from America aided the community in building a poultry house that would produce 1,000 eggs daily and provide work and income for the unemployed young people.

In Ngaamba, a semi-arid region with very limited rainfall, the people are desperate for water. Community residents donated land for water tanks to be installed in key areas of six sub-villages in the area. The first phase of the project is complete, and these people are now experiencing the joy of clean, running water for the first time.

In Kenya, clean water is not something taken for granted. In order to address the water crisis, this past summer BigStuf Camps launched the H2O4K project, which is an effort to raise support and awareness to eradicate the water problems in all of the current 410 Bridge communities. As a result, over the next 12 months all of the current 410 Bridge communities will have access to clean water.

In addition to our community projects, our partnerships with Compassion International and BrightPoint for Children will provide an opportunity for every child in a 410 Bridge community to succeed. Compassion International has projects in two of our communities with plans to grow into others next year. In the past six months alone, BrightPoint for Children has customized innovative child development programs that are eliminating the barriers to a quality education for over 1,000 children in the other three communities.

On this side of the bridge, we had the privilege of creating and hosting the Daraja African Children’s Choir, which comprised of orphans and disadvantaged children from Havilla Children’s Home. The children journeyed here to share the love and joy of our Savior through African song and dance.

Our plan was to have the kids in America by June 1st to start performing at BigStuf Camp, but we encountered several unexpected obstacles that delayed their arrival. The obstacles ranged from passport issues to our organization being questioned for suspicion of child trafficking. Miraculously, in a palm-sweating crunch to make the only available flight out of Nairobi, the children arrived in America at the end of July.

The ordeal of getting the choir children to the U.S. was not only a test of our faith, but also an example of God’s perfect timing. The children were in the U.S. for a month, which was ideal amount of time for their first U.S. tour. God used these kids to touch people’s hearts in a powerful way, and we anticipate even more lives to be effected by the Daraja Children’s Choir upon their return next year for two 2008 tours.

The largest audience for the Daraja Children’s Choir was the 3,000 attendees of “A Night for Africa” – a cooperative effort between North Point Community Church and The 410 Bridge. The night was co-hosted by Jeff Foxworthy and Lanny Donoho. The event was created to raise awareness and support for our efforts in Kenya while sharing the Kenyan culture with the American audience. The evening was yet another blessing from God.

Looking back at 2007, we are in awe of what God has started. He has blessed us with dedicated and hard-working staff, partners and volunteers, both here in the U.S and in Kenya. We prayed big, and He delivered. In spite of the magnitude of responsibility, we have the opportunity to see through the ‘busy-ness’ of our daily tasks and see the hand of God on our endeavors. As I was in the process of making the decision to join the 410 Bridge, a good friend of mine advised me, “God is at work. Don’t miss seeing Him work.”

My friend’s advice stuck with me, and there have been many moments in the midst of all the craziness where I’ve been reminded of these words. The relationships that have been formed between two cultures, the testimonies shared-by both Americans and Kenyans, and the lives restored are a continual reminder from God that His hand is on this organization. His work at the 410 Bridge is just beginning. We look forward to an exciting and rewarding journey in 2008.

Kurt Kandler
Executive Director

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Exciting Trip Updates-Vision Trips added and Spring Break trip in Kenya 01/15/08

Vision Trips

If your church or organization is interested in partnering with a 410 Bridge community, then join us on a Vision Trip. We have just added two new trips during May 8-18 and September 8-18, 2008.

Vision trips provide the opportunity to get familiar with the people and culture in our 410 Bridge communities, and how your church or organization can get involved. During these trips, you will visit several communities that are available for partnership. You will interact with the people, and also meet with the Community Leadership Council for each community, where they will share with you the issues and challenges they face, and the overall vision for their communities.

Spring Break Trip

Calling all those who desire to share the love of Christ and serve others in a different culture! Join us this Spring Break on a life-changing adventure serving with The 410 Bridge in Kenya!

Priced at only $2,500, this is our most inexpensive trip of the year, so take advantage of this great opportunity. The dates for this trip are April 3-13, which makes it ideal for families to go while the kids are out of school. We encourage you to register and turn in your $450 deposit quickly, as this trip is filling up.

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An Update on the Unrest in Kenya 01/05/08

Dear Friends,

As many of you know, Kenya has experienced a period of serious political unrest as a result of the recent Presidential election. Many of you who traveled to Kenya this year made, and have expressed concern for , new friends in The 410 Bridge Communities as well as our 410 Bridge Kenyan staff. Thank you for your prayers and support over the past week.

Our Kenyan staff, Paul, Andrew, Moses and Carolyne are all fine. Kennedy and Simon, although not 410 Bridge employees, captured many of your hearts and I would be remiss in not sharing with you that they are fine as well. We thank God for each of them, and their hard work and commitment to the US teams and the people in The 410 Bridge Communities. They are eager to see you again.

We also had two teams in Kenya this past week distributing Christmas in Kenya gifts to the children in The 410 Bridge Communities and The Havilla Children's Home. They traveled to Navaisha, Kwambekenya, Joska, Kiu, Ngaamba and Nairobi without incident. Steve Smith, the team leader said, "I don't want to minimize what is happening there in any way, however, the media is portraying an image of an entire country in chaos. This is unfair to the majority of the country that is concerned, but peaceful."

The teams returned safely on the 4th, and preliminary feedback from them is extremely positive. Thankfully, they did not witness any acts of violence in any of The 410 Bridge Communities or during their transition days in Nairobi. We know many of you were concerned and, again, we thank you.

As for the political issues facing Kenya, we can only report what we know from our staff and partners on the ground. Life appears to be returning to normal in the areas impacted by the violence - the Nairobi slums and western Kenya. In Nairobi, people are returning to work, shops are reopening, and leadership is calling for peace. Again, there have been no incidents in any 410 Bridge Communities, and life there is as normal as it was prior to the election.

It is important to recognize that the violence that occurred was not directed toward Americans, nor is anti-American sentiment prevalent. Much of the violence was racial (tribal) in nature and between two of the largest tribes - Luo and Kikuyu. It is tragic and further evidence of the need for God's grace.

It is our prayer for the people of Kenya that they recognize that their true identity can be found in Jesus Christ, not in their tribal ancestry. Again, much of the violence was based upon problems between the Luo and Kikuyu tribes because of the recent election. Any time we see problems and tension like we have seen there recently, it is certainly evident that God's grace and mercy needs to be reflected more than ever. If we can continue to walk beside our brothers and sisters there during these turbulent times and continue to reflect what the body of Christ really looks like, then we believe peace can be attained. For that reason we intend to continue to use the gifts God has given us to administer His grace to the people of Kenya. I will be traveling, as planned, on January 12th along with three other staff members and one of our partners (EQUIP) to train leaders, evaluate new communities, and meet with current community leadership. As more information becomes available, we will post it on our site.

Thank you again for your prayers and support, and we ask that you continue praying for the nation of Kenya.

Kurt Kandler
Executive Director

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Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church Adopts Kwambekenya 12/07/07

Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church of Marietta, GA anticipates life transformation in their church and in Kenya, as they commit to come alongside the community of Kwambekenya as a Community Partner.

“I am thankful that our church decided to step out and partner with The 410 Bridge, and I believe God will use us to make a difference. But I am most thankful God has led us to the community of Kwambekenya where we can all grow together in Christ,” said Carey Akin, Missions Pastor at Mt. Bethel.

The partnership came about after Mt. Bethel sent two teams to Kwambekenya this year. The first team went on a vision trip in June, where they participated in the groundbreaking for the new Kiambariki Primary School building. Following a different church team in July, the second Mt. Bethel team traveled to continue working with the people to build the walls for the classrooms. Although the Mt. Bethel teams found the school project rewarding, the most impacting aspect of their experience was the life-changing relationships formed with the people of Kwambekenya.

“We could not believe the incredible warmth and closeness we felt in the community of Kwambekenya,” said one team member.

On the June vision trip, Pastor Akin was asked to break ground on the new classrooms for Kiambariki Primary School. To describe the experience he said, “I can’t tell you the excitement we felt as the whole community stood in the rain, and everyone began to cheer as the first piece of dirt was dug out of the ground.”

The school was expected to take four to six months to complete, but with the help of Mt. Bethel and other church teams, it was completed in an astounding two and a half months. Many community members called the fast completion of the school a miracle. However, the true miracle lies in the relationships built between two cultures, resulting in Mt. Bethel making a long- term commitment to come alongside the people of Kwambekenya as they work to transform their community.

“It was obvious that God had created something special between Mt. Bethel and the people of Kwambekenya. On our second visit, we were amazed to find the building well under way, and our friends in Kwambekenya equally excited to fellowship and work together again,” Pastor Akin said.

Many team members expressed being humbled that God allowed them to be a special part of what He is doing in Africa. They all agreed that the blessings they received from the people of Kwambekenya were far greater than anything they may have given. Mt. Bethel team members were excited to hear the news that their church is going to be a Community Partner to Kwambekenya.

Another team member stated, “The 410 Bridge has created an opportunity to connect with a community in Africa in a way that would never be possible on a typical short-term mission trip. By developing strong relationships and strong leadership within the community, we were able to see how we could really make a long-lasting difference as partners in ministry.”

To begin this partnership, Mt. Bethel is sending another team to Kwambekenya in January 2008. This team will consist of a number of leaders from Mt. Bethel UMC, including the Senior Minister, Dr. Randy Mickler.

“After participating in two teams this past summer and seeing first hand the transformation that has already taken place in their lives and in the lives of our church, I cannot imagine what God is going to do as we send team after team to Kwambekenya over the next few years,” said Pastor Akin.

Mt. Bethel is looking forward to returning to their friends in Kwambekenya in January as a Community Partner, and to sharing the joy of this relationship with the leaders in their church.

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The 410 Bridge Partners with BrightPoint for Children 12/07/07

The 410 Bridge has partnered with BrightPoint for Children in efforts to provide child sponsorships to meet basic life needs and eliminate the barriers to a quality education for the children in our 410 Bridge communities.

BrightPoint for Children is a Christ-centered, child development organization that customizes each program to meet the specific needs of groups of children. They do this by building relationships with the leadership council in each 410 Bridge community and assessing the means and education the children need to succeed.

“Our organization was created to connect children in need with people who care, and we are excited to be partnering with The 410 Bridge to help meet the needs of the children in their communities,” said Steve Smith, President of BrightPoint for Children.

BrightPoint for Children and The 410 Bridge believe one of the keys to breaking the cycle of poverty is ensuring the children receive a quality education. For children in Kenya to move from primary school up to secondary school, they are required to pass a national exam issued by the government.

“One of the problems that we’ve seen is that receiving a quality education in Kenya costs money. Since most of the children cannot afford the education they need, they are not qualifying for secondary school” said Jane Whitehead at BrightPoint for Children.

To address this problem, BrightPoint for Children created Primary School Sponsorships for the children in Havilla Children’s Home and the Kiambariki Primary School in Kwambekenya. These programs provide school resources such as school fees, books, desks and teachers for after-school programs. The number of children who qualify for secondary school is the success benchmark of these programs.

In Havilla, which is home to many of the Daraja Children’s Choir, all 46 of the children are sponsored for their basic needs, which cover food, shelter and healthcare. However, these 46 children are in need of primary school sponsorships. Currently, the only available education is a school that is overcrowded and preventing them from receiving a quality education. Through a sponsorship of $39/month, Havilla Children’s Home will be able to afford to send the children to a school that will better prepare them for meeting secondary school requirements.

Kiambariki Primary School is also in need of 40 primary school sponsorships. Because Kwambekenya does not have the resources to prepare the children for the national exam, only 25% of the children are passing. With a sponsorship of $32/month, Kwambekenya will have the money for teachers, desks, preparatory tests and other resources that will prepare the students to pass the national exam.

To become a sponsor, or to learn more go to www.brightpointforchildren.org, email them at jane@brightpointforchildren.org or call 770-330-0483.

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The 410 Bridge Family Grows on both sides of the Bridge 12/07/07

With the acceleration of growth in 2007, The 410 Bridge family is growing on both sides of the bridge with the addition of new staff members. New roles have been filled to increase efficiency in the U.S. On the other side of the bridge, we have added one new staff member, and anticipate adding four to five more to assist our operations in Kenya.

Our newest Kenyan staff member is Moses Mwangi, who serves as the Logistics Coordinator in Kenya. He will oversee all of the travel logistics for the teams, once they arrive in Kenya, and will also manage the resource needs for the projects in our communities. Moses has overcome many obstacles in his life to get where he is today, including being thrown out on the streets and forced to work his way through school. His past experience includes serving under World Vision and a travel logistics company in Nairobi. Moses’ first exposure to The 410 Bridge was as a chaperone to the Daraja Children’s Choir this past summer, before joining our Kenyan staff full time.

Joining our team in April of 2007, Christi Baker is the Daraja Children's Choir Tour Leader. She also coordinated our first fundraiser, “A Night for Africa.” Her background consists of project development, public relations; lay counseling, programming and retail management, along with varied ministry roles. In 2003, Christi spent six months as a missionary in the Kibera slums in Kenya, and it was during this time, she discovered that missions-specifically missions to Kenya-was her true calling in life.

Rob Shoemaker joins us as the Logistics Coordinator, with the tasks of managing flights, hotels and transportation within Kenya. He also works with the Kenyan staff to coordinate all projects within our communities, which falls in line with his past experience managing projects in the construction industry. His missions experience in Malawi, Swaziland, Kenya, South Africa and Thailand, along with his servant's heart, makes him an ideal fit at The 410 Bridge.

Jennifer Ward has come on staff as our Service Trip Coordinator, where she oversees all service trips and leadership training. Jennifer joins us with an extensive background in program planning and development, and is currently pursuing her MBA at Kennesaw State University. Her passion for missions first ignited as a teenager during a mission trip to Guatemala. Since then, she has served in Spain, Ecuador, Costa Rice, El Salvador, Slovakia, Austria, Italy and East Asia.

Serving as our Special Projects Coordinator, Adam Hedstrom will assist in development and implementation of processes and systems that will enable The 410 Bridge to grow and to function efficiently. Adam comes to us with experience as a professional engineer, and has done mission work in Mexico, Ecuador and worked internationally as an EMT for a teen training organization. In an effort to find a career where he could use his experience to serve God, Adam was led to The 410 Bridge.

Shayla Davis is our new administrative assistant, which means she is the glue that holds all the pieces of our office together. She manages all the administrative details of the organization. Shayla has worked in numerous professions, and has always enjoyed serving those she works with in an administrative capacity. While volunteering at “A Night for Africa”, she knew God was leading her to The 410 Bridge.

It’s remarkable the growth that God produced in 2007 with only a few staff people. We anticipate that momentum to surmount in 2008 with the help of our new staff members.

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The 410 Bridge Partners with EQUIP Ministries 12/07/07

We are excited to announce a new partnership with EQUIP Ministries, an organization focused on equipping international Christian leaders to effectively serve the growing body of Christ around the world.

To be successful, The 410 Bridge model depends on strong leadership in The 410 Bridge communities. We are committed to training and developing these leaders, as well as, providing the tools necessary for them execute on their vision for sustainable transformation.

“EQUIP counts it a privilege to partner with The 410 Bridge. We look forward to coming alongside them as they transform villages in Kenya through leadership Biblical servant training,” said Tom Atema, Vice President of International Ministries & Strategic Parnerships at EQUIP.

EQUIP has committed to train the leaders from each of our 410 Bridge communities for the next 18 months. The first two-day training conference will take place in January 2008 in Nairobi at our quarterly Leadership Summit.

John Maxwell founded EQUIP as a nonprofit global mission ministry in 1996, with the vision to continually commit to developing leaders who possess great potential but have had limited opportunities for leadership development.

Tom Atema explains, “During John Maxwell’s time in local church ministry, he often visited missionaries and Christian leaders around the world. John would return from his travels grateful for these leaders’ passion for the gospel, but also frustrated that they had never had the opportunity to develop their leadership skills.”

It is John Maxwell’s conviction that in order for the Church to impa