24 Days and Counting

As the day of departure approaches, I thought I would share some details about our trip to Meru.

The team for this trip consists of 8 excited travelers:

Karen Lau, retired, and ever diligently keeping track of all our sponsored kids, their names, their sponsors, their special needs. Because she handles most of the administrative duties of Cherish Ministry, she is very much looking forward to seeing the nuts and bolts of the Kenya side of ministry first-hand. Her big project for this trip is to take notes and pictures from every sponsor to their kids in Kenya, and then retrieve notes and pictures of every kid to take back home to sponsors. With 130 sponsored kids, this is no small task!

Bob Mohr, retired, is a Missions Elder at UPPC, and is circling the globe this summer, participating in several of the UPPC mission trips. Kenya has been on his list for some time, and this year he finally is able to join us. Bob will be our treasurer for the trip, which will simplify purchases of meals, accommodations, and transportation for the team.

Greg & Peggy Yuckert, both retired, are long-time participants of Cherish Ministry, sponsoring several different children. Greg is also a member of the UPPC Kenya Ministry Team. Both have traveled internationally before, but are expecting Kenya to be an eye-opening experience. Greg will be our videographer, and Peggy our team devotions/debriefing facilitator.

Peter, Josephine, & Joy Mburugu are Kenyans who live in Tacoma, are a part of the UPPC family, and are responsible for inspiring the creation of Cherish Ministry (and partner ministry, Hope International, in Kenya). Peter and Josephine believe deeply in caring practically for the poorest and most vulnerable children in their country. Their passion for following Jesus this way has rubbed off on their children, Justin and Joy- two of the most compassionate and caring kids I have ever met. Justin, who just graduated from high school, is unable to join us on our trip this year; but Joy will be with us, leaving a bit early to get back to the States for the start of the school year.

And of course myself, Emily Bosh, mom and dietitian. I will serve as team leader, and hopefully get a chance to be a nutrition speaker at the student seminar we plan to assist with. I am hoping my tidbits of Kiswahili will come in handy, if nothing else than to greet friends, and bless them as we part ways.