Hello Haran: Pass the Baby, Please!

Michael, Joe Joe, and Sawyer arrived safely last night. Kevin Thomas recorded their arrival for us all to be able to see.

Remember, we need lots of Reese's Peanut Butter Cup desserts and Dr. Pepper two liters for both Saturday at the church and Sunday at Shilito.

Pictures from Africa

If you missed the service this Sunday, you missed the first report from Tanzania. A second report will be available soon. Here are some of the pictures from the first report.

Pictures are great for the website, but the lessons that they shared were largely about relationships and what is important.

• One traveler confessed apathy in the great commission and great commandment.
• One traveler recognized that they were on a daily tread mill.
• One traveler realized that life is short and out of our control.

We all are very blessed to know these three travelers. I am eager to hear from the other three.

Prayer Requests for the Aftrica Team

As the 6 Drips go on a one day safari and then begin their journey home, please keep them in your prayers. We haven't heard much from them this last week. We continue to pray that God would be glorified and we are eager to hear from them soon.

Please also keep Michael, Joe Joe and Sawyer in your prayers as they send the six drips back.

No pictures of the Six Drips

While the boys headed for a mountaintop experience, someone was able to post pictures of fruit and spice in a gameful fashion: Name that Spice!!

However, we still have no pictures of the Six Drips. Parents, spouses, youth groups, brothers and sisters all await the pictures of the Six Drips in Tanzania... We can only assume that their time ministering there is an answer to our prayers.

As you are praying for the Six Drips, please also take the time to Name that Spice!!

Six Drips from the Brook

Tonight at prayer we sought after names for the six people sent to minister with Michael and Joe Joe. The "Six Drips from the Brook" was the best we could come up with for tonight.

When I got home, I found this email from Tracy letting us all know a little more about the plans for the six drips to split up three by three. Please keep them in your prayers.

Our prayers tonight were that God would be glorified no matter who was ministering to who in Tanzania. I was excited, but not surprised to learn from Tracy's email that the whole team will be meeting with locals for discipleship and encouragement.

And remember, when assembled with other drips, a brook can become a river which can become a waterfall at the edge of a cliff.

Here's the day to day schedule:

• Tomorrow and Wednesday Evan, Josh, and I are going up into the mountains to teach Bible stories to children and play games with them and the girls are staying here in town to learn African things.
• Thursday we are prayerwalking.
• Friday we're going to Maasai land to prayerwalk and help start up a new ministry with local missionaries
• Saturday we relax
• Sunday we're going to a Maasai Church
• Monday we drive to Mngazi to do health teaching, watch Jesus film, AIDS video (This is easily the biggest day of our trip and really need prayer. This visit has been a long time coming for these people)
• Tuesday we will travel back from Mngazi.
• Wednesday we pack and visit town.
• Thursday we go on Safari.
• Friday we head back to Dar Es Salaam.

Prayer list for the mission trip to Africa

Paul Barth put together this list of things to pray for. Please keep the entire team in your prayers as they leave this afternoon at 2:30 PM.

• Safety
• Boldness
• Courage
• Humility
• That the Harringtons would be encouraged and blessed.
• Logistics and smooth travel
• That we don't get sick
• Strongholds to be broken
• Idols would be cast down
• That the light of the Gospel penetrates the hearts of those we minister to
• Group unity and cohesiveness
• Ears to hear the prompting of the Spirit and the discernment to follow Him

Travel Schedule this weekend:

• 15MAY LEXINGTON --> DETROIT 2:30P
• 15MAY DETROIT --> AMSTERDAM 7:10P
• 16MAY AMSTERDAM --> DAR ES SALAAM 10:20A
• 16MAY Arrive in Dar Es Salaam at 9:40P

Travel Schedule for the return trip:

• 30MAY DAR ES SALAAM --> AMSTERDAM 10:50P
• 31MAY AMSTERDAM --> DETROIT 8:30A
• 31MAY DETROIT --> LEXINGTON 1:10P

Members of the team:

• Paul Barth
• Evan Markert
• Erin Markert
• Tammy Markert
• Kim Hind
• Josh Covington

Mike and Lisa on their way back

Dr. Scott has reported some detail indicating that Mike and Lisa will soon be landing in London on their return trip:

I noted on Virgin Atlantic's website this am that Mike and Lisa left Nairobi at about 2AM EST and is scheduled to arrive in London at about 11AM EST today (Monday). Be in prayer for their safety, arrival of intact luggage, help with their luggage, and smooth transition from plane to hotel.

As you pray for Mike and Lisa's safe return, please also pray for Michael and Joe Joe and Mike and Cindy as they celebrate Christ's birth with child away from home. As is the case with every year, 2009 looks to be a very blessed year for our extended body.

Traveling to Morogoro

Joe Joe, Lisa, Mike and Michael all headed to Morogoro. While Mike and Lisa were traveling, they let their auto insurance lapse.

Kelley should have all the insurance taken care of before they get back, but Mike and Lisa are expanding their options.

In addition to lower insurance premiums, this Nissan has more cargo space than a Prius.

SHORTENED EMAIL FROM MIKE:

Greetings!

We are doing great. It is really hot here. Conference went great. Super kids with a passion for Jesus. Miss all of you and pray you have a meaningful Christmas.

Joe Joe said Hi and MicHAEL said nothing. Love you all

Faith is now sight

Until now, we have been relying on hearsay, but Michael has provided visual evidence that Mike and Lisa are securely grounded in Tanzania. My guess is that this is some internet cafe in Dar es Salaam.


View Larger Map

Safely in Tanzania

Good news! I got a note from Michael that our weary travelers have arrived safely in Tanzania, and it looks like all luggage made it there safely as well! (Including the chocolate bombs!) Thanks for your continued prayers for their ministry over the next week or so. I'll keep you posted on how things are going as I receive more updates.

Blessings!
Kevin Thomas

Mike and Lisa made it to London

Hey Everyone!

I just wanted to give you this update:

I talked with Mike Brady by phone around noon today (Thursday). They were safely in London (where it was 6pm local time), experiencing a layover awaiting their flight to Kenya, and then on to Tanzania. They were doing well, obviously a little shagged out from the trip, but holding up well.

One thing to pray for....Mike was concerned about some possible changes being made to their flight schedules, and how that might affect their arrival time in Tanzania, and their scheduled meeting for pick up with Michael and Joe Joe. At first one flight was cancelled and they were resceduled for a much later time than discussed with the Harringtons, but now it looks like the original flight is back on, so they are back on schedule. Anyway, he's concerned he won't be able to communicate with the Harringtons if things do indeed change. So, pray that all stays on schedule, as is currently the case.

Also, one funny story:

Mike was pulled out of line by security while checking in at the Louisville airport...his bag was searched because, according to the security officer: "These things always look more suspicious on the screen than when we open them up."

"These things" being referred to? Mike had picked up a handful of "Nutrageous" candy bars that Michael loves in the snack shop. He bundled them up and placed them in his bag, and on the security screen they looked like a bomb with wires wrapped around them!

So, please pray for "Mike the Candy Bar Unibomber" that he will be able to better conceal his highly sophisticated "weapons of mass consumption."

Thanks for all your prayers and support for this mission endeavor!

Blessings!
Kevin Thomas

Continuous prayer for Mike and Lisa

TCAT, River of Life and fellow brothers and sisters in Christ,

Mike and Lisa will be leaving for Tanzania on December 10th and returning on December 24th. The Lord has called upon our body to pray and fast for them. There will be a sign-up sheet to help in covering them with prayer for each hour of their trip available this Sunday and next Sunday. You can sign-up for as much as you like. It will be there this Sunday and next. Also, you can contact Tony Jones at 285-8501 or text him with times you prefer. The important thing is that we pray/fast. Our body knows the power of prayer and it is in His power we want to cover Mike and Lisa and the ministry God will do in Tanzania. We want to have every hour covered by someone praying/fasting for this trip. We are expecting great things to happen. Everyone can pray and/or fast. Fasting doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to give up a meal(s) for a day or the duration of the time they are gone. It could mean simply giving up something to pray for them (meal, Dr. Pepper, UK basketball, computer time, etc.). Just take it to the Lord.


Mike and Lisa’s Itinerary, Ideas and Areas for Prayer – (Always pray as the Holy Spirit leads you to).

*Pray for safety, getting through customs, rest, God encounters, strength for packing the suitcases and Lisa’s back/health/healing.

• Wednesday Dec. 10 – Travel to Chicago and London
• Thursday Dec. 11- Travel to Egypt and Tanzania

*Pray for the college students, for God to share and minister through Mike and Lisa, the language and cultural differences between Mike and Lisa and the students, for an everlasting difference being made in all of them and Lisa’s back/health/healing.

• Friday Dec. 12 – Start College Ministry in Tanzania (Dar es Salaam)
• Saturday Dec. 13 – College Ministry in Tanzania (Dar es Salaam)
• Sunday December 14 – College Ministry in Tanzania (Dar es Salaam)
• Monday Dec. 15 – College Ministry in Tanzania (Dar es Salaam)

*Pray for God to share and minister through Mike and Lisa towards Michael and Joe Joe and vice versa, pray for the fellowship time between the Brady’s and Harrington’s, for an everlasting difference being made in all of them and Lisa’s back/health/healing.

• Tuesday Dec. 16 – Morogoro w/ Michael & Joe Joe
• Wednesday Dec. 17 - Morogoro w/ Michael & Joe Joe
• Thursday Dec. 18- Morogoro w/ Michael & Joe Joe
• Friday Dec. 19- Morogoro w/ Michael & Joe Joe
• Saturday Dec. 20- Morogoro w/ Michael & Joe Joe

*Pray for safety, getting through customs, rest, God encounters, strength for packing the suitcases and Lisa’s back/health/healing.

• Sunday Dec. 21 –Travel to Nairobi
• Monday Dec. 22 – Travel to London
• Tuesday Dec. 23 – Travel to Chicago
• Wednesday Dec. 24 –Travel to Home

Michelle Jones

African Missions Fasting Challenge

During the Sunday morning service, Tony Jones told us that the men that were praying on Monday nights would like for the whole body to participate in covering Mike and Lisa, Michael and Joe Joe and the other African missionaries in prayer and fasting.

Fasting can come in many forms. Part of it is a sacrifice, part of it is overcoming the flesh, part of it is just a reminder to pray with a purpose. Knowing Michael's struggles to find as bountiful supply of Dr. Pepper as is available in the United States, I would like to suggest that every time we see a Dr. Pepper commercial or reach for a Dr. Pepper, we pray for those in Africa in December. If God leads you to drink a different beverage as a matter of sacrifice, those 23 flavors will still be there in January. This may be a bigger sacrifice for some us than it is for others.