Kenya | More Than Dodgeball

Josh GriffinMore Posts HSM Rwanda Prayer Guide 2013

If all goes well, by the time you read this I’ll be on my way to Rwanda with about 15 students and some incredible leaders. On the blog this week we’ll have all sorts of guest posts and guest editor-in-chief Geoff Stewart will be posting regularly as well. If you would, please take a second and pray for health, strength, and safe travel for our students. Excited!

Day ONE & TWO: Travel to Kigali, Rwanda
Pray for a smooth airport check-in. Pray for safe travel to Rwanda. Pray for rest and the preparation of our hearts for ministry. Pray that all goes smoothly with the logistics of travelling with a group our size.

Day THREE: Genocide Memorial and travel to our main ministry site
Pray that our students would be excited on their first full day of ministry, loving the people whom they are serving. Pray that the team has a heart of compassion and understanding as we learn about Rwanda’s history today at the memorial. Pray for safe travels to this rural city.

Day FOUR & FIVE: Church and meeting with pastors. PEACE activities
Pray for the people of Rwanda, that their hearts would be open to the Word of God as it is preached today in churches. Pray for great conversations as we meet with the pastors of local churches. Pray that we would be able to accomplish much with them in preparation for the week of ministry ahead. Pray for your student today.

Day SIX – NINE: PEACE activities with Churches
Pray for endurance for long days of ministry. Pray that our team connects with the Rwandan community, making them feel loved and cared for. Pray for friendships to be built among Rwandan and Saddleback students. Pray that the team continues to shine the light of Christ even if we are exhausted.

Day TEN: Travel back to Kigali
Pray for safe travels and rest as we return to Kigali. Pray for your students as they begin to process and debrief the trip. Pray that, as we conclude our time in Rwanda, we would be able to reflect on what God has taught us and encourage one another with stories of God’s work.

Day ELEVEN & TWELVE: Pray for safe travel back to America.
Pray that we adjust well spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Pray that God would continue to work in our hearts after we return. Pray that we would continue to remember and reflect on our journey in Rwanda. Pray for protection from sickness and fatigue.

Follow us on Twitter or Instagram for updates: @hsmrwanda

Add Comment February 7, 2013

Josh GriffinMore Posts HSM Kenya Mission Trip Promo Video

Here’s a video we used to promote an upcoming mission trip to Kenya with HSM. I’m so excited to go back again this year.

JG

1 View Comments September 8, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts HSM Kenya 2011 Highlight Video

A sweet little video made by one of our students who went on HSM’s Kenya mission trip last month. Great memories!

JG

Add Comment March 18, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts Amazing Airport Greeting Coming Home from Kenya

I shot this video on my phone as we were coming down the escalator at the airport coming home from our 11-day short-term mission trip to Kenya. I’ve never seen a welcome home like this – signs, screams, balloons and lots of love. Really incredible youth ministry moment. Made me happy.

JG

4 View Comments February 22, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts Mission Trips Effect Students as Individuals

I’ve done a bunch of short-term mission trips with students in my years of youth ministry experience. Every time I walk away little more appreciation of what happens on the trip. Here’s one big thing I learned (or was reinforced) this go round:

Mission trips effect students on an individual basis
This year we had students at many different points in their spiritual journeys. To illustrate the extremes – we found out during the trip that one student wasn’t even a Christian. At the same time we had students along who were fringe students at best, and others who were fully devoted, lifetime followers of Jesus. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this type of variation in the group of students we were taking to Kenya. Here’s what went down: the trip affected people exactly where they were in their faith.

The non-Christian was challenged to believe and saw evidences of genuine life-changing faith

The fringe students moved directly to the core insiders in our ministry

The devout had a deeper appreciation for God and His work than ever before

Based on that: it would be a mistake to limit missions to just our core students. I’m all for having requirements for students to be eligible to go on trips, and they are the most likely to go and have the planned experience – but I also believe and have seen how God can use a trip like this to remove walls and break down all sorts of barriers to spiritual growth.

JG

1 View Comments February 16, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts HSM Kenya Mission Trip 2011 Prayer Guide

For the next 10 days the blog will be filled with fantastic youth ministry voices other than mine – because I’m headed to Kenya with 30 high school students and leaders. If you would say a prayer for us as we travel and minister, that’d be great! Here’s the prayer guide we sent to parents this week:

Day ONE & TWO: Travel to Nairobi, Kenya…and then on to Kitale
Pray for a smooth airport check-in. Pray for safe travel to Kenya. Pray for rest and the preparation of our hearts for ministry. Pray that all goes smoothly with the logistics of traveling with a group our size.

Day THREE: Travel to Kitale and CHURCH…and possibly the prison.
Pray for the Congregation of Oasis of hope church. Pray for our team as we minister to the prisoners of the prison. Pray that these prisoners would hear and accept the message of Jesus Christ. Pray for the students as they share at the church.

Day FOUR: First Day of Camp
Please pray for our team as we prepare camp for 200 kids and teenagers. Pray for good connections, good conversation, and for camp to go according to God’s plan. Pray for our partnership with this ministry. Pray for the kids at camp to have open hearts to the message of Jesus Christ. Pray for the students on our team who are teaching, singing, leading and counseling the kids. Pray that we would be open to ministering outside of our comfort zone. Pray for another student on the team today.

Day FIVE: Camp & Academy
Pray that God would give opportunities to our students to share their personal faith with a camper. Pray that we wouldn’t miss any opportunities to share Jesus. Pray that God would make an impact on lives through our team. Pray for your student today.

Day SIX: Camp & High School Speaking
Pray for protection from exhaustion and the enemy as we wrap up our last day of camp. Pray that our team would have courage and be bold in sharing their faith with the street kids. Pray for the team leaders today. Pray for the teachers that they would continue the mission of bringing kids to Jesus Christ. Pray for students as they speak to students at a local high school.

Day SEVEN: Farm & Party
Pray for the our time with these precious children. They have been through so much. Pray that we can encourage them and love them.

Day EIGHT: Work Projects & City Tour
Pray for our last day of ministry. Pray that we would stay focused as team and that fatigue would not set in. Pray that we would make the most of our last day.

Day NINE, TEN & ELEVEN: Pray for safe travel back to Nairobi and then back to America.
Pray that we adjust well spiritually emotionally, and physically. Pray that God would continue to work in our hearts after we return. Pray that we would continue to remember and reflect our journey in Kenya. Pray for protection from sickness and fatigue.

JG

1 View Comments February 4, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts Why I’m Going Back to Kenya

I’m honored and excited to be going back to Kenya for the 2nd time – I figured going halfway around the world was a once in a lifetime opportunity last year, so going for a second time in 11 months is incredible. Why am I going? As I’ve prepared for our high school mission trip, I came up with two thoughts:

I’m going for our students to grow and be stretched in their faith
There’s nothing like a 20,000 mile trip to push anyone to the brink. Taking students from Orange County to Kenya is going to be culture-shocking for them. When jet lag is at is fiercest and comforts are all but gone, it seems like we respond to God’s Spirit the best. Our walls are down, we are raw. And getting to challenge students in this atmosphere in that environment excites me. I want to be their pastor, their body guard and their friend. I want them to experience the Kenyan church’s vibrant faith. I want them to wrestle with the faithfulness of God to these poor African children. This will be the time and the place.

I’m going to be a dad for a week to the fatherless street kids
I throw the football around with the boys 4 nights a week. We never miss church. We’re still an old fashioned family and eat family dinners in a culture that demands drive-thru. We go door-to-door selling Girl Scout cookies and my kids play soccer in the city league. We read the Bible and pray every night. One of my central life goals is to be a great dad to my 4 kids. And there are hundreds of fatherless little children in Kenya. My kids get me 51 weeks a year. The street kids, who lost their parents to HIV/AIDS, get me for 1 week a year. I’m going over there to be a dad.

I know you’ll enjoy the 25 amazing guest posts over the next 10 days. I’m going to the other side of the world with some students and leaders I love, knowing God will do something big in all of our hearts. See you in a couple weeks!

JG

1 View Comments February 2, 2011

Josh GriffinMore Posts Guest Posts Wanted While I’m in Kenya

I’m headed back to Kenya for 10 days this February on a mission trip with the High School Ministry at Saddleback Church. Each day on the blog I’d love to have at least one really great youth ministry guest post – I already have some solid ones lined up and would love to add yours.

Are you up for it? Just shoot me an email with your submission as well as a little bio/link you’d like at the end of the piece and I’ll check it out (get it in by February 1st to make sure it gets in). Join in on the fun – youth ministry needs your voice!

JG