Rachel’s Amani Ministry Update
November 22, 2007
It has been some time since I last wrote to you, so I pulled some photos together for this little-longer-than-usual letter! I want to share with you highlights from our missions trip to Nairobi, as well as a brief update of what I’m doing this Christmas!
The DC Amani Safari to Nairobi
We flew into Nairobi, Kenya on July 16th, and hit the road running the next morning!
As the first
Amani Mission’s trip, our group was the first to have a schedule that focused solely on learning, experiencing, and growing together with the Amani ya Juu ministry. We entered the Amani Center on Riverside Road Nairobi, and were greeted with hugs and smiles from our friends at Amani who had been greatly anticipating our arrival!We started off the day, as we would every day at the Center, with group prayers, thanksgiving, and worship as we welcomed the Lord into the midst of all our activities at the Center. As always- the singing was a most joyous and welcomed sound. Even when I don’t understand all of the Swahili lyrics, the posture of worship and adoration to the Lord always moves my heart and soul- to me the sound of my Nairobi home at Amani!
Learning about the Ministry...
We soon met with Mary Maina, Deputy Director at Amani ya Juu, who explained the ministry of Amani and how she focuses on bringing the ministry to every program of Amani. From devotions, to cafe, to stitching room, to shop, to export, the Amani family is constantly ministering to one another.
This started us off with a comprehensive understanding of the multi-faceted aspects of the ministry. We had many more “meetings” throughout the 2 weeks which focused on ministry programs, outreach, mission and vision, US ministry, and African Cultural Knowledge.
Ministry Partners
I think the most favored activity was time with our Amani ministry partners. Each team-member was paired with an Amani woman who shared similar interests. We wished we had more time with our partners, as this was one of the most personal and fun aspects of the trip.
Debbie Noetzel was paired with Elicah to work on a quilting and sewing project, Sharon was with Josephine planning art projects for the next Amani Watoto chil-dren’s camp, Lou Ann
worked with Simprosa on product costing and with other women on learning to type on a computer. Miriam worked with Rose in Export, Jessie was with the Tie and Dye department and bonded quickly with Anne. Betty helped with typing as well as taught a parenting seminar with the Amani momas. Brittany rotated to develop writing of stories from Amani women for the website. In addition to this we all split up to visit our Amani host’s home, as well as attend church with our new friends on Sunday. Everyone came away with wonderful friendships!
End of the trip...
You can see we packed everything in, but the time with our hosts and visiting homes, although tiring, was so impacting.
Through these personal relationships I think our group came to understand the ministry to the fullest. Amani is often difficult to explain, as it has so many facets. It is primarily a relational ministry, so experiencing relationships within the community really ends up being the best way to understand! I think we all walked away in awe of the Lord’s healing power and peace that the Amani community is a testimony of!
After months of long distance planning through emails, as administrators we were all thrilled with the outcome of this inaugural Amani Safari “Trip of Peace.” The women of Amani Nairobi so appreciated the time the team spent with them.
We learned that in Africa you come to know a person by knowing their face, by feeling their hands, and exexperiencing time in their presence. We women of global Amani came to “know” each other well through this trip! Each team member has an open invitation to come home to Nairobi, where their Amani family will be thrilled to embrace them once again.
I have been told by a friend in Amani Nairobi, that Africa and especially Amani, has a way of bringing healing and rest to our souls. My prayer is that we all received this gift from the Lord this summer.
Right now... I am in the midst of planning for Christmas country wide volunteer sales and outreaches. It is incredible to see our calendar filled to the max with volunteers hosting events to share about the Amani ministry. It will keep me busy until the new year! I am thrilled to now be working with Debbie Noetzel, who came on after the Amani DC Safari to help coordinate our many Amani volunteers.
This year I will be bringing Amani to the “Peace Bazaar” at Church of the Resurrection in Washington DC, and McLean Bible Church’s “Evening in December.” We are thrilled to be involved in both of these ministry outreaches to individuals in the DC area.
Please join me in praying that through the dozens of outreaches where Amani is present this Christmas season that the truth of the Gospel will be shared with those who need Him. This is the best gift we can offer to anyone this year!In His true peace,
Rachel Kistner
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