The 410 Bridge desires to invest in a community and it's local leaders with the desire that one day the community will be be able to do more for it's self and others than outside help ever could. This month they did just that!

As I mentioned Kwambekenya is a lush farming community that sits at the base of the beautiful Aberdare mountains in Kenya, Africa. Because of their location this community experiences unusual amounts of rain compared to the rest of the country and this allows for rich, fertile soil perfect for growing many different crops such as beans, onions, carrots and more!

The people of Kwambekenya got word that the community Mvukonil, which is seven hours away, was experiencing a severe drought.

The community of Kwambekenya rallied it's people and neighboring communities to fill truck loads full of cabbages, potatoes and other vegetables to send over to this community. A community full of people they have never met.

The people of Mvukoni were overwhelmed with thankfulness and could hardly believe a community of fellow Kenyans from a different tribe had decided to give freely of their resources to help them survive.

Because of this act the leadership of Kwambekenya, with the communitie's support, have made a goal for the years to come. "We commit to donating food stuffs to needy communities every year as a gesture of stewardship to others," said a local leadership member.

The people of Kwambekenya understand that God has blessed them richly in many ways and desire to use those blessings to help others in their country.

This is a HUGE step forward for Kwambekenay because THEY heard about the need of another community and THEY decided to DO something about it. They looked at what they HAD and decided to GIVE FREELY to help.

According to unicef.org, Kenya is among the world's 30 poorest countries. Fifty-percent of Kenya's population lives below the poverty line; living on less than one U.S. Dollar a day. Additionally, 50 percent of the population is younger than 15 years old, which puts a heavy burden on the nation in terms of education and health care. 

Chris Rygh, pastor of multi-site ministries, his wife, Mary Beth and their daughters, Katie, 13, and Molly, 11, and approximately 20 other Prairelakeans travelled to Kenya last summer to partner with the 410 Bridge. The 410 Bridge's core tenet, according to its website, (www.410bridge.org) “...is to identify, develop and partner with local indigenous community leadership.”

 “We were inspired by the people, especially the Kenyan leaders of our partner, 410 Bridge. These women and men are well-trained managers and exceptionally gifted communicators. They generate broad community support in communities like Kwambekenya for the five 410 Bridge initiatives: water, health, education, investment and discipleship. As a result, it is easy to see the signs of growing community wellness,” Pastor Chris said.

The Ryghs are no strangers to international mission trips. They traveled to the Czech Republic in 2009 to work with a team in the Majak Center. But going to Kenya was both sobering and inspiring.

“On one hand, it was shocking for our girls to witness firsthand the surface-level, cultural differences, for example, driving UK-style on the left side, experiencing non-western toilets, feeling like a minority. But, on the other hand, it was reassuring to see how much really unites us. At one point, we sat with a Kenyan family in their one-room home and, even without a translator, managed to connect on all kinds of topics. We laughed about our children, shared a meal. We even prayed for one another and for our churches,” he said. 

Mary Beth served in the clinic along with Kenyan and American practitioners, helping with weighing and measuring patients. Another volunteer, Lori Nordyke, distributed reading glasses to Kenyans, some who hadn't been able to read the Bible for years.

“Having new reading glasses allowed them to read the Bible again. Many people were forced to stop reading passages they'd learned when they were younger. A simple pair of cheap reading glasses reopened the world them, allowing them not only to read the Bible, but also letters, medicine bottles and stories from their children,” he said.

Katie, 13, and Molly, 11, served at the school, where they distributed special deworming medicine to all the students. Pastor Chris spent a lot of time with community leaders and pastors.

“They told me about their village, it's history and future. I saw a growing herd of cattle, started with a micro loan to a team of women; now a Co-op. I saw the plans for an eight-inch water line, trenched by hand, that will carry fresh water from a spring in the mountains, nine kilometers to fill several large, elevated tanks in Kwambekenya. I also prayed with pastors who are struggling to disciple their young men,” he said. “Overall our team turned out to be a very healthy, emotionally stable team. The younger ones did a great job of keeping up, as well as keeping us older ones from losing our perspective.”

Kwambekenya is a rural farming community in Kenya, Africa that Prairie Lakes Church has partnered with for the last five year through the organization the 410 Bridge. Every year we are able to support and empower the community as they take steps in bringing health and sustainability in these five areas: •Water •Education •Health Care •Micro-Enterprise •Spiritual Development

God has been doing mighty things in and through these people and He has let us rally around this community as we send people, funds, and prayer to help them be the people God's called them to be. Take a look at the progress in the following projects.

The Medical Clinic

The community medical clinic has amazing news! The electricity has finally been connected and turned on! This will allow the clinic to have full power to run lights, machines and more! The clinic can now stay open in the evening to treat patience after school and work hours who would otherwise not be able to use the clinic. A computer, microscope and medicine freezer can now be used to offer advanced care.

In addition to electricity the clinic gate has successfully been completed! This increases the safety of the clinic and community garden project and keeps the roaming sheep and cows out!

This gate now provides safety and as the locals say "the sheep are no longer welcome in!"


Kiambariki Primary School

The primary school construction of a new classroom block is scheduled to begin in January of 2012! Until then all 22 teachers in the school have received a comfortable plastic char to replace their hard wooden ones. This allows them to prepare and grade their students work in comfort! Kiambariki will now be able to write a better story in the lives of their children!

Teachers at the primary school try out their new chairs.

Micro-Enterprise with the United Women's Group

A project that was developed to help empower it's members economically by distributing a dairy cow to help nourish families and bring in funds is moving along well! The women in the group continue to meet to care for the cows and share life experiences and talk about how God is working in their lives. This project has helped restore families around the community.

Jecinta and her dairy calf. This calf will provide milk for the family to sell at market.

We were able to help in the preschool classroom. The teacher was teaching the students the parts of the body- head, eyes, ears, nose and mouth. She had each child come to the board and point to each body part, say the name, and then the whole class repeated the named part. Then each one of our kids Jaidyn, Jacob and Abby also got to go up to the board and the class shouted out the body parts as they pointed. They loved being included in the lesson. What was really neat was after each child had his turn at the board, the whole class cheered for them saying,”Keep it up, Keep it up, up, up, up,, a very good job.” Our kids often sing that song at home to cheer each other on and to remember Kenya.

We also got to teach a lesson that “God made you very special” and we taught them how to put their thumb on the ink pad and press their fingerprint onto the paper learning that each of them has their very own fingerprint and that they were made by God to be unique and very special.

Jaidyn, our 7 year old, got to read the class a book about Jesus and we gave the classroom board books about bible stories which they loved.

One of our favorite things on the trip was watching our children love-on and become friends with the children in Kenya. God brought their lives together so they could learn from each other and become united as friends. The Kenyans weren’t used to meeting little white kids and it was so special to see their smiles and eyes light up when they met and played with our kids.

When our kids are asked about their trip to Kenya, one thing that they always say is that they made lots of new friends. We are excited to continue the friendships that were started when we were in Kenya and plan to write, send pictures and pray for them often. We have formed relationships that will last forever into eternity.

It was so special to be able to serve the Lord together as a family. As parents we had some concerns about taking a 4, 6, and 7 year old to Kenya and a lot of what if’s but during prayer time God reassured us that He has called us to this and He calmed our fears. We made a list of concerns and requests and prayed them often before the trip. He gave us this verse: Psalm 125: Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mt. Zion, they will not be defeated but will endure forever. Just as the mountains surround and protect Jerusalem so the Lord surrounds and protects his people both now and forever.

He taught us to trust in Him and that his promises are true. He has answered our prayers, not always as we expected but His ways are better than ours. He was faithful!  Our kids did great even better than we expected and He is still mightily at work in our lives through this trip. Kenya is now and always will be a part of our lives, our prayers, and our heart! We would all love to go back.

Going on this trip, we got to see God work through and in each family member in a different way.

We saw God grow every family member closer to Him and grow their hearts for those who are in need.

Most importantly, going on this trip together gives us the chance to talk and pray about our experience together as a family. Often each person in our family will pick one or two people that we met in Kenya and we pray specifically for them at the dinner table. As a whole family we can encourage and empower each other to share our experience with others. We will be showing our pictures and talking about our trip and how we saw God work at several churches, the kid’s schools, small groups, and nursing homes as a family.

This Thanksgiving Prairie Lakes Church was able to partner with the Northeast Iowa Food Bank and the Osage Food Pantry to help provide food for over 450 families this Thanksgiving.

No matter what role you played in the process your step helped to remind a family in the Cedar Valley they are loved and cared for! You were a part of providing thousands of people the chance to come together as a family and share a meal!

Great work!

Let’s keep taking steps to build relationships as we put ourselves in positions for God to use us in the life of others!

Take a look at this thank you letter from a 14 year old boy:

On her first trip, she and other PLC volunteers built an addition to the the Kwambekenya school; the second trip, they laid the foundation of the medical clinic and on the third trip, they built a rock bridge on the outskirts of town.

“For the fourth time I stepped on the ground of Kwambekenya. It was everything I remembered; from the smell of the green onions and farms to the familiar faces that came running up to me, shouting, 'mzungu!' (which means 'white face.') To see those amazing faces that I missed so much made the journey worth it,” she said.

For this trip, the mission's focus was helping at the medical clinic. Although she had no medical background, Sara knew she had to take a step of faith.

“I’m a graphic designer with no medical background. But God placed me in a position that was true to my personality, I was the 'runner.' My job for two days was to escort the patients from registration to triage, from the nurse to the doctor. This allowed me to use my people skills rather than having to know anything medical,” Sara said.

Besides interacting with patients and the village children, Sara also experienced a “God” moment that has left a lasting impression. During her last day in Kwambekenya, she spoke with Mary, one of community's women leaders.

“We were on our way back to Lake Naivasha and Mary ran down the road, waving her hands. Mary had been gone all week to tend to other duties but had potatoes to give to our bus driver, Lawrence. We picked her up and pulled into her farm where men brought out a huge bag of potatoes. She has several kids but no husband but is one of the strongest women I know. She farms and raises these kids to know the love of the Lord,” Sara explained.

“I ask her for prayer requests and she just said, 'strength.' We talked about how hard it is to raise kids alone and make ends meet. She smiled and said, 'The Lord gave me these kids to raise. If I’m not going to do it ... who is?' I think about people God has put in my life to mentor, shepherd and lead. I think about my job as a graphic designer, attempting to communicate to our own community the heart and soul of Prairie Lakes Church. I often think about those words Mary spoke, “If I’m not going to do it ... who is?” God will provide the strength. We just need to keep shining and glorifying Him with the task He has chosen us to do.”

Our partner the 410 Bridge is starting their annual Christmas Gift Campaign called "Stories" to provide a Christmas gift for children in our community Kwambekenya.

How it Works?
This Christmas, you can send stories to inspire children in Kenya, Africa. Your gift will encourage the culture of reading and shared family time in the rural communities.

By purchasing a book through this program, you'll have the opportunity to write a special message of encouragement to the child who receives the book. The books will also include a note in the back explaining the biblical truth the story conveys.

This special gift will not only be treasured by the child who receives it, but also their family, friends and school mates. Brighten a child's Christmas and continue to instill the love of Christ in their hearts. For more information about this visit their site here.

A donation of $10 will send one book or you can send 3 books for $25.
Click on the "Send Books" icon below to give a book today.

• canned vegetable
• canned fruit
• box stuffing
• box dessert
• gravy packet (no glass)
• $25 check to purchase ham and fresh potatoes (make payable to Prairie Lakes Church)

Go to northeastiowafoodbank.com for more ways your family can serve this holiday season. 

In February of 2009 I had the awesome privilege of going to Uganda with my church back in Michigan. I had the opportunity to pour into the people there and serve them in ways that would have lasting effects, both physically and spiritually.

The capital of Uganda is Kampala and it is a crazy city! Imagine a dirtier Chicago with absolutely no driving laws, people walking through the roads as if they own them and cows standing in the middle of intersections. It was in this city that we went to pass out Operation Christmas Child gifts.

There is a huge university in Kampala and on it is a wonderful church pastored by a strong, Ugandan man with a heart for the Lord and for the people of Uganda- Micah Rowthumio.

The sanctuary was a huge tent with short walls that didn’t reach the ceiling. When we arrived to pass out the gifts, we started by setting up tons and tons of chairs. They were divided into sections by both gender and age.

Suddenly, children in little groups of two or three, by themselves or with large groups, started pouring into the building. I remember seeing all of these beautiful children with the biggest smiles in the world. They knew something wonderful was coming.

They looked so small and instantly I started praying for their futures and that they would grow strong in the Lord in a place where living righteously isn’t necessarily the normal thing. These were precious kids and I was so excited for the evening in store for them!

We helped them to their seats and they all squirmed and tried their best to be still until the program began.

Speaking of the program, that was one of the coolest parts of Operation Christmas Child! Rather that simply passing out gifts and wishing the kids a Merry Christmas, there was a whole service. Fun, energetic worship was led as the children were engaged in dancing and singing.

Also, inside of every box for the children was the story of Jesus’ birth and what His resurrection means for us-the gospel. The kids all received these booklets in their native tongue, and a man explained it to all of them from the front of the stage. The kids were captivated.

We began to call up the children by sections. You have never seen more joyful, thankful, humble hearts than in these kids. They each bowed to us and said ‘thank you’ in that precious Ugandan accent that makes you want to record it and play it over and over again!

Then the wonderful chaos ensued. Children ripped open boxes, squealed and talked as fast as they could about their gifts. They were yelling across the large room to their friends about what they had received. Sunglasses, little balls, stuffed animals and tools were among some of the favorites.

Don’t ever doubt the power of these boxes. The boxes give children-children who have names and personalities and are not simply the check of a pen on a paper saying ‘Boy’ or ‘Girl’- a knowing that they are cared for. It gives them joy and is most likely the first present they have ever received. Imagine the joy that they had!

But the impact of the boxes goes even deeper! The booklets explaining the gospel- in their native tongue nonetheless- is a way for these kids to hear about Jesus’ love for them and how they can trust Him and know He will carry them through this life into eternal life.

Operation Christmas Child is meeting the immediate desires of these kids through the gifts in the boxes- but the eternal impact is so much greater!

Continue, or start, packing boxes! What we do in a little room in a church in Iowa may seem like a single act to you. You go to church, pack the box and leave. But know that that box is going to be opened by a precious child who may be without family, may’ve never received a gift, may be a refugee, and is now seeing real love in action.

It is making a difference and these boxes are a huge tool in spreading the good news... one child at a time.

--Rachel Schultz :: Osage Campus