Kenya 2025
We're sending another team to partner with the Children & Youth Empowerment Center and AWANA Kenya to lead a sports camp for local children in the town of Nyeri, Kenya. Please check back for updates or use the link below to give towards this trip!
Sunday, July 27
Jambo Jambo Friends,
We are off on our big adventure! Thank you so much for your support and excitement for our trip. We will be flying out of JFK at about 1:30pm Lord willing and will arrive in Nairobi at 11am Kenya time (7 hours ahead of EST) tomorrow. Then we have a final 3 hour drive to the CYEC (child and youth empowerment centre) where we will be staying in Nyeri.
Please join us in praying for safe travels to the airport and to Kenya!
Looking forward to connecting when we have arrived!
Asante Sana,
Kenya Team
Monday, July 28
We have arrived at the center with few complications, praise the Lord! We had a delay to our trip because of mechanical issues but made it to Nairobi safely and the flight was as enjoyable as a 14 hour flight can be.
It has been great to see so many good friends and reconnect with people here at the CYEC. We are excited to get started with organizing materials tomorrow and brainstorming a couple fun activities to do with the kids when they get back from school.
Pray that we will sleep well tonight and adjust to the time difference quickly.
Tuesday, July 29
Today was a great productive day. Several of us walked the kids to school this morning which is always such a joy. We met with the director of the Center to talk about buying children uniforms for school if they don't already have one (thank you to those who donated to that initiative) and we went to the town to get Kenyan currency (on our way back we rode in a 15 seat matatu that they squeezed at least 20 if not more into).
We are praising God that we have been having no stomach issues (last year we had several issues) and we continue to pray that God will protect us and keep us healthy. We ask for continued prayers for our sleep at night. The time difference is quite difficult to adjust to!
We are excited to start organizing a room of donated clothes tomorrow and start planning our arts and crafts activities with the children.
Wednesday, July 30
It was another busy day here at the Center. This morning we walked some of the children to school, their last day before a three week winter holiday. After breakfast, we returned to the school to attend a parent/teacher meeting before picking up the children's end of term grade reports. It was encouraging for all of us to be able to celebrate their hard work together- and especially meaningful for the kids, as they don't always have adult representation at such events.
We spent time in the afternoon sorting clothing donations, while a few of the kids enjoyed trying on some particularly special finds (see bottom left photo).
We're praising God for another low key day investing in the kids and helping at the Center. Again, thank you to all who donated funds, some of which were used to supply the kids' art room. They were thrilled to see new markers and materials for an upcoming project.
Thank you for your prayers- we're continuing to adjust to the time difference and are feeling healthy, overall. Looking forward to touring a local farm and spending time gaming and crafting with the kids tomorrow!
Thursday, July 31
Today we had another day to serve and learn at the CYEC. Most of us had a better night except those who woke up due to Mr. Rooster who happens to be right under our window and starts his songs every night at about 3am. But there were no complaints.
After breakfast we went to visit the Ecovillage site in Othaya, about a 30 min drive from here. It is one of the other two sites besides the CYEC - the other one is the Polytechnic in Rathithi. The ecovillage is a scenic place next to a beautiful river with clear water streaming out of the Aberdare mountains. We saw the awesome work that Titus, the farm manager at Othaya, is doing with his team. They are growing tomatoes for sale to generate income, and many foods for the kids at the CYEC: corn, beans, kale, onions, swiss chard, sweet potatoes, etc. Besides agriculture, they want to use the site for tourism - there is a kitchen and dining room, and two traditional-style huts. Youth from the masonry program at the polytechnic were constructing restroom facilities. We really enjoyed the scenery and company of our friends.
Then we visited our chef David's wife, Fatuma, and their two children in their home in Othaya. It was like a mini reunion with Issa, Titus, Fatuma, David, and Laban, who all were once either students or workers at the CYEC, and some of whom Sjoerd has known since 2009.
After returning to the CYEC we played games with the kids which was great bonding time. We were reminded during our 'rose-thorn-bud' session that we are ambassadors for Christ and also of all of you who are supporting us. Thank you so much for the opportunity you give us to serve our brothers and sisters here.
Please pray for us as tomorrow Sports camp preparations will start with the arrival of Wilson, Nyeri Sports Camp Director.
Please enjoy the beautiful pictures from today!
Friday, Aug 1
Wow, what a busy day! This morning we were thrilled to welcome Wilson, the Nyeri Sports Camp Director. It was encouraging to see Wilson and catch up on what he's been doing here in Kenya since we last met. We spent some time planning for next week's camp before he and Sjoerd visited the Poly-Tech school, where the students are printing Sports Camp t-shirts. The program has been donated a printing, machine, which is rare in this area, and Sjoerd was able to see the students being trained to use the printer. This useful tool will also be a source of revenue for the school, providing much-needed support for the programs there.
This afternoon we also finished sorting clothing donations here at the Center. The clothing will then be washed and distributed to the children as needed, and unusable clothing has been separated to be used to make quilts and other bedding. Speaking of the children, they kicked off their holiday with a movie last night. Most are now here, as many of the older children have returned from various boarding schools. They are enjoying the card games we brought, and it is nice for us to connect with them through games and other activities.
Another highlight has been the food- delicious! We're so thankful to David (pictured below) for providing our meals. David is a graduate of the Center who has been regaling us with stories of 2009 Sjoerd. We've had some good laughs!
As always, thank you for your many prayers!
PS We only heard Mr. Rooster one time last night. Sjoerd grabbed a picture of the guilty culprit trying to hide behind all of the hens. #KeepPraying
Saturday, Aug 2
Thank you again for your prayers, Mr. Rooster was SILENT until 6:30am so we all rested very well! Praise the Lord!
Today we spent the morning contextualizing the huddle guides for camp on Monday and are excited to see how the activities are received by the kids! We were blessed with the opportunity to go to the nearby town and supermarket (opened 2 weeks ago, just in time for our arrival). We were able to purchase some Kenyan goodies to take back with us and even some to enjoy while we are here. On our walk to the supermarket, we got a good 3 mile walk in and got to enjoy the views of the town, (see picture below of a mango tree and the view of where Mount Kenya would be if it wasn't cloudy).
After another delicious lunch, we were invited to join in on their AWANA club meeting, the original connection between our church and the CYEC. It was such a joy to see the kids enjoying the AWANA club; singing songs, dancing, hearing a bible story, and reciting verses. We found it especially fun that they have their own teams and get points for winning competitions, following instructions, reciting the verses, and even answering quiz questions about the story. We found this strategy to be super effective here and similar to the traditional AWANA format!
Lastly, we met with Nico, who is the rally director for camp. It was great to discuss some dreams for a youth group night next week to serve the youth and college aged students here. We also talked about the songs they chose for camp this year, we are super excited to learn some new songs and routines!
Please pray for our Kenya team as they finalize the last details for camp just in two days! Pray that we would be able to shepherd them well and support them while still allowing them to take control. We are excited to meet with the whole volunteer team tomorrow at our leaders training, please pray that the meeting goes smoothly.
sunday, Aug 3
What a day full of praising the Lord and living in His provision!
We are so grateful that we were able to attend the Dominion Towers Church here in Nyeri and reconnect with many of our friends from last year. We felt most welcomed and were so blessed by the worship.
After church, we made a quick stop to visit Wilson’s sister. Standing in the home that so many of our church members helped rebuild after it burned down years ago was incredibly moving. What a blessing to sit within those walls and enjoy such warm fellowship.
Lastly, we held our training for camp tomorrow. Wilson and his co-lead Lilian did a fantastic job guiding the session, and we couldn't be more proud of them. With 28 huddle coaches, 34 runners, sports coaches, rally team members, registration staff, and many other volunteers in attendance, everyone spent time preparing their lessons and responsibilities for the big day. For those of you familiar with State College camp, you might recognize the bear who made a brief appearance today to acclimate to the weather before the big reveal tomorrow! Wilson’s daughter was especially thrilled — she’s always wanted to meet a cartoon bear!
We are so grateful to God for this opportunity to support these leaders and are excited to see how our first day of camp runs tomorrow. Please join us in praying for good rest tonight for all the volunteers and pray that tomorrow goes smoothly.
monday Aug 4
First day of camp is complete — and it was a huge success! The volunteers came ready to serve, and the campers were full of excitement to experience sports camp, some for the very first time. Having the Kenyan team lead everything made a noticeable difference, especially as they were able to speak the mother tongue of many of the campers — which helped the younger kids especially.
After camp, the volunteers gathered for a debrief and identified several areas they want to adjust for tomorrow — many of the same things the U.S. team had been thinking. It was incredible to watch their problem-solving, flexibility, and eagerness to keep improving. One of the highlights was seeing the runners, who have grown so much since last year and truly found their purpose this time around.
We’re excited to continue tomorrow! Please pray that the huddle coaches will engage well with their campers during huddle time, that the kids will stay focused during the Bible teaching, and that we will rest well tonight. Also pray for the weather — mornings have been wet and chilly for the children, so we’re asking God to warm things up a bit faster tomorrow!
Thank you for your prayers! The first big day is DONE! Praise the Lord (Bon asifiwe)!
Tuesday, Aug 5
What a long but incredibly fruitful day for the Kingdom!
We began early with our 8 AM debrief, where Sjoerd shared a powerful devotional reminding us that God can use suffering even when it feels pointless. The camp day went very smoothly, and it was encouraging to see how quickly the team implemented suggestions from yesterday — their willingness to pivot and improve has been such a gift. The bear made its first official appearance and was WELL received by the kids!
After camp, we joined the youth group as part of a panel where we answered questions about mental health, relationships, and identity. It was a great opportunity to speak the hope of Christ into areas many young volunteers are struggling with.
Please be praying over tomorrow — we’ll be presenting the gospel to the kids using the wordless book. This is the most important day of the week, and we are asking the Lord to move in power as volunteers share their testimonies and the gospel message. Pray that God’s Word would not only be heard, but truly understood and take deep root in both the children and the volunteers.
Thank you so much for your faithful prayers!
Wednesday, Aug 6
Thank you for your prayers! The weather was AMAZING and the gospel was declared with the Wordless Book presentation and bracelets made from colored beads.
We started the day off with breakfast at 6:30am, left for camp at 7:30am with all the runners from the CYEC in our trusted driver Wangila's school bus, had daily devotions at St. Mary's Boys where the camp is held at 8:20am, then camp started at 9am until 3pm. Then we had debriefing and left for the CYEC at about 4:30pm.
We had some downtime with the kids, who did Anna Raquel's hair, while Jill answered questions from the kids about America. Then sang the Star Spangled Banner on request. Sjoerd visited one of the former kids of the CYEC in a Nyeri Slum after camp. As is the case every evening dinner is prepared by our cook David and his students from the Polytechnic. This program is having a major impact. David told us all the students from the previous year found employment in a catering job which is a huge praise because jobs are not easy to get here.
It was a full day and the tiredness is starting to set in, but it was a wonderful day too.
Please continue praying for a restful night because Mr. Rooster has been testing us again in the small hours of the night.
Thursday, AUg 7
Day 4 of camp is in the books! Once again, the weather was beautiful—and the Lord held off the rain until we were on the bus heading home. Praise God!
Today was our one-on-one session day, and we were deeply encouraged by what we heard. One huddle coach shared that several of her kids admitted they didn’t truly understand what it means to have a relationship with Jesus. What an incredible opportunity for her to explain the gospel and answer their questions. Another camper said, “I hope that Sports Camp never ends!” We are so thankful that this camp is having such a meaningful impact.
Another highlight was a brief meeting we had with the core Kenyan leaders to dream about what future camps might look like. Nearly all of them shared a vision for spreading this model of camp to surrounding communities across Kenya—reaching the unreached. What a powerful praise: that a seed planted here could produce fruit in places we may never even visit!
This afternoon, we had the special opportunity to cook a traditional Kenyan meal alongside our chef—chapati, beans, and cabbage. It was absolutely delicious, and we’re excited to try recreating it when we return home!
As we head into our last day of camp tomorrow, we would really appreciate your prayers. Some of our team members and Kenyan volunteers are feeling physically and mentally tired. Please pray for renewed strength, endurance, and focus—for both body and mind. And pray, too, for continued patience and grace for one another as we wrap up this incredible week.
Friday, Aug 8
We have reached the final day of camp and the close of our journey here in Kenya. Our hearts are full of gratitude to the Lord for all He has done this week. It was a wonderful last day, and we’ve seen so much growth and improvement since day one.
Huddle time was especially strong today, and even the one-on-one sessions continued. One volunteer came to ask how to explain having a relationship with Jesus to younger children. This was a beautiful opportunity to shepherd and encourage this leader in their ministry.
We ended camp with a dancing talent show, and these kids can really dance! A couple even did flips and performed dances they have been rehearsing. What a wonderful way to end camp!
We are all feeling the effects of a full week, and one team member is not feeling well. Please pray for quick recovery so that tomorrow’s long journey home is not too difficult.
Tomorrow, we’ll wrap up our trip with a visit to a giraffe sanctuary—a stop that Anna Raquel has been eagerly anticipating since last year! Our flight departs at 11:00 p.m. Kenyan time and we are scheduled to arrive at JFK around 8:00 a.m, we then have a 4/5 hour drive home. Please pray for safety during travel and for energy to sustain us through the 15-hour flight and the drive back to State College.
Looking forward to emailing when we are back in the States!
Saturday, Aug 9
Here are a few photos from the Giraffe Center that we visited on Saturday. We arrived safely at home on Sunday, August 10th!
Thank you one last time for your prayers!
Children & Youth
Empowerment Center (CYEC)
Our team of 4 from State College Alliance Church will be working alongside staff and volunteers of the CYEC. This organization also hosts an AWANA program run by Wilson Waigwa, whom we have been supporting and connecting with for several years. Last year we sent a team of 8 to help run Sports Camp Kenya. Read updates form that trip here:
Please pray for:
