Frequently Asked Questions from Teams/Individuals coming to Kenya

This document answers the following questions:

When could we come to build a church tabernacle?

How large should the team be?

Who can be a part of the team?

What are the costs for building a church?

What is the cost of the trip?

What will the team do?

What needs to be done before coming to Kenya?

What should we pack for the trip?

How do I know what shots to get?

What about bringing medical supplies, Bibles, clothes, etc?

Where will we stay?

What about food and water?

Are there security concerns?

What if a member of the team wants to go somewhere or do something else rather than with the team?

When could we come to build a church tabernacle? Generally the dates for teams coming to build churches are February/March and October/November. These dates are necessary to work with the East Africa School of Theology (EAST) calendar. Jeff leads teams from America together with EAST mission students. Confirmation of actual dates can be obtained through an email to Jeff at jeff.nelson@agmd.org.

* Flights to and from USA generally take about 2 days (30-36 hours) travel. The dates above are the dates on the ground in Kenya.

How large should the team be? An ideal team is 6-10 individuals from a church. This team will be joined by 12 – 18 EAST students. Smaller or larger teams should discuss options with Jeff.

Who can be a part of the team? The team members need to be approved by the pastor. Consideration should be given to age, health, and maturity in Christ. The team will represent Christ to those who may never have heard of Him. Those under 18 may be considered if they have an adult responsible for them on the team. (This is at the discretion of the pastor.) Men and women are both encouraged to participate. Construction will take place, but many other opportunities are available in door-to-door evangelism, children’s ministry, music and drama, etc.

What are the costs for building a church? The minimum requirement is $7000 for the cost of the tabernacle. Churches that are able are encouraged to provide $20,000. This includes $7000 for the tabernacle, $5000 for the plot of land, $5000 for the training of the pastor and $3000 for a sound system.

What is the cost of the trip? The individuals should plan to raise $3000 each for the trip. This includes airfare, in country food, lodging and transportation and activities. If airfare costs are greatly reduced at times team members can reduce this cost to about $2500.

What will the team do? The goal of the mission is to plant/establish a strong church in a community. The USA members will join with the EAST students and Jeff Nelson to form one team to go into a village. The team will arrive on Saturday and set up. The main ministry will take place from Sunday through Sunday. The team will minister through door-to-door evangelism, crusade, and children’s crusade and revival services. The EAST students are able to translate for the USA team. The team will also build a steel tabernacle with the funds ($5000) they raised for that purpose. Monday the team will leave the village and return to Nairobi. Tuesday through Thursday the team will enjoy God’s creation at one of Africa’s finest game parks. Friday the team will shop at a souvenir market and fly back to the USA.

What needs to be done before coming to Kenya? A number of details need to be taken care of before the trip actually occurs. These include official approvals, fund raising, securing of passports, visas, insurance and medical clearance (shots/immunizations), etc. The following schedule will serve as a guide:

At least 1 year prior to the trip

· Request to go to Kenya with Jeff and confirm dates for the trip

· Pastor designates “Team Leader” (if other than the pastor) through which communication takes place

· Begin fund raising (for tabernacle and individual $3000 trip costs). Target 50% individuals’ funds raised before 6 months prior (to buy tickets). Target 100% tabernacle funds raised before 6 months prior (to buy tabernacle)

· Jeff begins process for official invitation with Assemblies of God World Missions

· Explore ticket prices and book (be sure to confirm dates with Jeff before booking)

6 months prior to the trip

· Apply for Passports

· Begin shots/immunizations

· Continue fund raising (75% before 3 months prior)

· Send funding for tabernacle ($7000) to Jeff AGWM account so the building can be ordered

· Book and buy tickets

· Upon approval from AGWM (through Jeff) contact AGWM office for team final approvals – medical insurance (or waiver), etc.

3 months prior to the trip

· Passports and medical completed

· Apply for visas (or get visas at airport in Kenya on arrival)

· Final 25% fund raising

1 week prior to the trip

· All funds in hand

· Correspond with Jeff concerning arrival details

· Collect all documents (passport, immunization record, phone contacts, etc)

· Pack

· Have the church commission the team in a public service

How do I know what shots to get?

Go to www.cdc.gov.

Then click Traveler’s Health.

Then Click Destinations.

Kenya

This page will give the vaccinations required and recommended for Kenya.

What should we pack for the trip? Clothing – generally it is very hot in the villages we minister in. Check with Jeff on the particular location. Often the teams bring work clothing/shoes and even dress clothing they want to leave with the pastor after the ministry. This blesses the church we plant and also leaves more room for souvenirs. The ladies will need to be in skirts or dresses whenever we are in the village. In Nairobi and on the wildlife trip slacks are appropriate. (On the EAST campus the ladies are also expected to be in skirts/dresses.) Sun burn can be a problem so hats, sunscreen, and other appropriate clothing is important. Shower shoes are a good thing to remember. Snacks and candy for yourself or to share are a good option (but not necessary). Sheets, pillow, blanket may be needed – contact Jeff for your team requirements. Tools for the construction will be provided by Jeff. Bug/mosquito repellent is important (but do not pack in carry on luggage). Any ministry props you have should be brought as well.

What about bringing medical supplies, Bibles, clothes, etc? Please contact Jeff before making arrangements to bring supplies into the country. Some times the government prohibits items (out dated medical supplies), and other times we can buy the items cheaper in Kenya than it costs you to bring them from the USA. Other times you may be charged duty on items when you come through customs. If you have a desire to bring anything like this for ministry, please contact Jeff first.

Where will we stay? During the ministry we generally stay very close to the church plot we are building. Often this is in a guest house. These range from a bed with private bathroom to a concrete floor with a 2 inch foam mattress and a pit latrine (hole in the floor) and bath with a pan of water. If your team has particular needs please communicate these with Jeff early so he can adjust the church planting location accordingly. While in Nairobi and on the game drive trip we will stay in nice accommodations with clean rooms and hot showers (most of the time).

What about food and water? Jeff will give an orientation when the team arrives in Nairobi. Generally speaking don’t ever drink tap water in Kenya. Bottled, boiled or filtered water is ok. Sodas or hot drinks are also fine. Cold drinks such as fruit juices or “kool-aide” type drinks must be carefully considered. When in doubt, politely decline. Hot foods are generally safe. Fresh fruits and vegetables must be carefully considered. At fine restaurants these will have been properly cleaned, but caution is in order. Culture encourages guests to try strange foods at times. Jeff will give orientation on this as well.

Are there security concerns? Kenya does have security concerns – particularly in Nairobi. Generally these will not prohibit travel, but feel free to discuss these matters with Jeff for your particular team and dates. Jeff will include this in the orientation discussion. Doors must remain locked and windows closed in the city. Rooms should remain locked. The villages are generally quite peaceful, but precautions will be given as appropriate. Certain destinations require travel in an armed convoy. This will be discussed with the pastor and team leader before the trip if it is a possibility for a team.

What if a member of the team wants to go somewhere or do something else rather than with the team? At times team members have interests that are beyond the scope of the team. We have found it best for the entire team to stay together during their time in Kenya. It is recommended that if individuals choose to do additional travel this is discussed with the pastor and Jeff prior to the trip. If agreed, these additions could be done by the individual after the rest of the team leaves the country.

Take nothing for the journey (Mark 6:8)

I should like to pose a question: why did Jesus tell the disciples to take nothing for the journey and go out without money, staff, extra coat, etc.? I think a first response is he wanted them to learn faith in him. Or could it be because Jesus knew some day there would be Christians in poor countries that wouldn’t have a second coat so he wanted his disciples to show them it could be done? Or could it be Jesus wanted them to learn self-depravation as a spiritual discipline? While I agree these might be factors, I would like to challenge our thinking to include the response and reception of the people to whom they ministered. Could it be that Jesus was suggesting this method of evangelism, missions, and ministry not so for the disciples, but so that the people to whom they came to minister would accept them in this vulnerable state?

The question could be asked of Jesus as well: why did Jesus come to earth to a poor family in obscurity rather than being born in a palace to a wealthy and powerful king? Our response this time would not be so that Jesus could learn faith because he had all faith. Again could the focus of God’s method be on the receivers rather than on the poor messenger? Jesus was the Son of God yet came humbly. He was a king yet came as a servant. He was all-powerful yet came in weakness.

What about the Apostle Paul? Why did he enter cities in weakness rather than showing his incredible credentials from the beginning? Could he have learned from his encounters with the risen Jesus and his discipleship under Barnabas that the way to approach ministry is as a vulnerable person rather than as a powerful one?

In 1 Corinthians 1: 18 – 31, Paul has a discourse on the foolishness of the message of the cross according to man’s wisdom. He explains that “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him (I Cor. 1:27-29). Could I suggest God chose vulnerable missionaries to provide inroads into villages that might not accept the powerful or strong?

There was a time for the demonstration of power, but it was God’s miraculous power rather than human strength. There was a demonstration of strong character and mighty love and devotion, but not military power, political force, economic superiority, academic credentials, or social position.

Why? Jesus taught often of the servant, the last being first, and the humble. Was this only for the Christian living in his culture or could it also have been for the missionary in another culture? And if so, why?

Allow me to divert for a while to look at the story of Ruth. Ruth came into Bethlehem as a poor widow of the despised Moabite people group. But she was later received to the point of being highly honored and accepted by the community. Eventually her descendants became kings and even the Messiah came from her. It was her noble character and the hesed (unfailing love) she had for Naomi that endeared people to her. She was not a threat to the people of Bethlehem, but rather many pitied her, came to aid, and supported her. Could her vulnerability have been a key to her acceptance in the community?

If missionaries were to understand that Christ’s instruction to go into a village humbly was for the sake of reception rather than simply developing faith or some misunderstood poverty vow, they might find valuable inroads for ministry.

When we enter a village vulnerably it is not our strength that people see. If some accept us with open and hospitable hearts like Boaz and the workers in his field then they may also receive our message and miracles. If we were to enter a village in power those same people may reject us and be turned off from the gospel.

May I suggest we as missionaries ponder the instructions of Jesus in Matthew 10:9-10, Mark 6:8-9, Luke 9:3, and Luke 10:4, we consider the possibility that the intention may be as much for the receiver as for the messenger. Then let us consider Jesus’ words and “take nothing for the journey.”