KENYA TRIP 2026 DAY 3
“We don’t view our mission trip to Kenya as an invasion into a territory, but participation. Participation into and with something that is already happening here.”
Thus began Pastor Tyler’s devotion that started our day at 9 am on Saturday February 14th. His devotion was on Psalm 110. It was a good reminder of what we are doing here. “Jesus is not trying to become King,” Tyler continued “He already is King. We are not bringing Jesus to Kenya; we are not inaugurating Him. We are not voting Him in. Psalm 110 says He is seated at the right hand of the Father. He is already in a posture of ruling. So, as we step into churches and places throughout the week, we are stepping into places where Jesus is already King. He is ahead of us and has already been working in the lives of people here. So, we are participating with Him. It is easy to think of missions as us invading this territory and giving them something they don’t have already. They may not have submitted their lives to Jesus yet, this is true. However, Jesus is already at work here. We get the privilege of participating with this work that is already going on.”
What a load off our backs that we don’t have to do everything. Also, what a joy to participate. When I think of the Openhand Children’s Home, that we are currently staying at, it is such a privilege to be one of many who have participated in establishing this life giving and life saving work to so many orphans. However, if we weren’t here in 2026, this work would still go on. God has established it, and He has found many to participate throughout the years. The original land was purchased through money raised through my Grandpa’s fundraising efforts. A group from Australia built the compound walls of this orphanage to protect the children from wild animals (after news of a nearby lion attack spurred people into action to protect these children). A German group raised the funds to build the main building of this Orphanage. Leroy Cole used his own money to build the Hospitality House, where we get to enjoy staying rent free while working in Kenya. Monroe Baptist Church in Monroe, Michigan supplied water tanks/cisterns for the property. The names and lists go on and on.
This day was also a day to spend with the children in play, teaching, gift giving, and dedication. I stated at the end of the previously overlong paragraph (sorry to my former English teachers who told me a paragraph should be 3-8 sentences only. Sometimes a paragraph just needs to be 12 sentences long) that the names go on and on. Today we added another name to the list of those who have participated in this work. Eva E. Sandberg donated of her personal funds to a playscape for the children (see picture below). In addition to the playscape we also dedicated today a new solar panel and a new water tank.
In the afternoon, all of us congregated to the main building on this property for teaching and eating. Jacque did the teaching. She led the kids in a participatory lesson. They made a beaded bracelet of varying colored beads which each stood for another aspect of our redemption by Christ.
The gifts we passed out included basketballs, soccer balls, and individual gift bags with a picture to paint, a small ball, and other trinkets. I will try to include as many pictures below to show the joy, fun, and blessing of this day. However, the pictures do not do justice to this great day of participation in this work of God.
There is much more I would like to share about today. However, as the author of Hebrews says, “and what more shall I say? For time will fail me [and my lab top will also die. I still haven’t gotten back my lost luggage where my lap top charging cord is stored] if I tell of…the best mangos you will ever eat, the great food (I love me some chapatis) and goat meat, and such beautiful children that I could spend many pages speaking about.
So, with less then 10 percent battery power remaining on my lap top, I am need of publishing this now. Please feel free to add comments or request more info and/or pics. Also, I will place a picture or link to our non-profit website (S.T.A.R.T.) and church website (Phos) where you can also participate in this work if you feel so led.
Franks Kenya trip 2026 