Rock Church mission team returns from Kenya

THIKA, KENYA – A team of nine women from a local church recently returned from a two-week mission trip to Africa.

Colleen, Wendy, Kayla, Sara, Jessi, Sarah, Ellerie, Adalai and Sadie – members of The Rock Church, located at 1775 Kaphaem Rd. in Tomahawk – departed from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Wednesday, July 8, destined for Thika, near Nairobi, Kenya. The team arrived back in Tomahawk on Wednesday, July 22.

While in Kenya, the team served women, children and families through music, teaching and speaking.

Jessi Mueller, a member of the mission team, highlighted the impact the trip had on the group.

“We expected to go and serve the people of Kenya and change hearts,” Mueller said. “We just didn’t know that the biggest hearts to be changed were ours.”

Mueller said the Tomahawk team worked alongside fellow Christians “who are showing the love of God to their communities every day – serving meals to homeless people, creating safe schools for children and investing in their leaders.”

“They worship God with their whole hearts and truly have the Joy of the Lord,” she stated.

The Rock Church group served in schools and churches, as well as an orphanage, Muller said, noting that the team provided crayons and craft supplies – items that are easy to find in the United States, but are “special treasures to the children of Kenya.”

“The children were so grateful and happy to learn, play and create with our team,” she said.

Mueller said the Tomahawk team was “moved by the faith and dedication of those who have so little and yet give everything – in particular, The Ark Children’s Home – an orphanage that is so much more than that.”

“It is a home for children where they belong to a family, where their needs are met – food, clothing and shelter – and their hearts are loved well by Caroline Gichuhi,” Mueller stated. “The children sang a song about how they are thankful for shoes on their feet and food to eat.”

What the children at The Ark do not have is a well, Mueller noted. A well would allow The Ark to have its own water for cooking, cleaning, sanitation and hygiene.

“Our team has been so moved by this great need, that we are hosting a fundraiser at The Rock Church to help them raise money for their own well,” Mueller said.

The fundraiser will be held on Friday, Aug. 21 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event, titled “Taste of Kenya,” will feature authentic Kenyan food, stories and music.

“Everyone is welcome to attend to see and feel the joy of the Kenyan people that the mission team encountered during their time in Thika, Kenya,” said Deb Jensen of The Rock Church.

“The people of Kenya are beautiful and generous, and our team was honored to partner with them,” Mueller said.

For more information on the fundraiser, contact The Rock Church at 715-203-0789.