Dainag123: Kenya in January!!

First things first....I'm going back to Kenya!!
I cannot explain how excited I am that I have the opportunity to go back! It has been about 3 1/2 years since I left Kenya and I have thought about it & hoped to go back everyday since.

My boss is graciously allowing me the time off to make the trip with Pastor Steve Rutenbar from January 19-February 1, 2013.

Steve, along with some of the staff & volunteers from Saddleback Church in CA, have devoted more than 15 years to working with countless schools, hospitals, drop-in centers, refugees camps, churches, & precious individuals in Kenya. Steve will be making his last "official" trip to Kitale, Kenya as Saddleback winds down their work in the region. I am sad to see their work there phase out, but so thankful that I had the opportunity to serve alongside him and so many great people, as well as establish some amazing relationships with people in Kenya that I know I can go back anytime. I am extremely grateful to now have the opportunity to be a part of this last team he'll lead to the region... at least his last trip for now ;).

In getting prepared to go back I am praying for the people we have worked with as well as the people we have yet to meet. I am praying for safe travels for the team as we put the team together up to when we travel abroad. And, of coarse, I am praying for support, not just for myself but for everyone making the decision to go on this trip. And on that note...Brian has decided to join the team as well. I'm excited to not only have him along on the trip, I'm excited to see him involved with the Kenyan people, I know he'll be a great part of the team!

Kiddos from
Shimo Primary

If you would like to support mine or Brian's trip, either in prayer or financially, please let us know. We would appreciate either. If you want to support financially, it is a tax write off:),
You can make your check out to Saddleback Church with our trip number, 9003, in the memo line, not our names.

Please mail it to
Daina Goodwin
2208 11th Ave. S.
Nashville, TN 37204

If you want to support Brian, just include his name on a piece of paper in the envelope. I am more than happy to provide stamped envelopes to anyone who wants to support, just let me know. Our deadline for support is December 1st, 2012. I guess I should also specify how much we're trying to raise, $3,248 each. Totally do-able right?:)

If you'd like to support us through prayer, you can begin to pray for our trip & team as it comes together & the people we will work with in Kenya. I will post updates as things progress in this process. Feel free to call me with any questions or thoughts.

I can't thank you enough for taking the time to read this & I promise I'll do my best to post updates. I really wish I was better at blogging and I'm going to attempt to do better. If you have questions about anything at all please ask! Thank you again for taking the time to read this. If you want to see the places I worked and see part of what we'll be doing while in Kenya, this blog was basically my daily journal while I lived there so you can click through past posts to get an idea of where we'll be and what we'll be doing.

Those who know me, know this is a huge piece of my heart & who I am, thank you for always supporting me!

These are just some of the beautiful faces I'll get to see again soon!!!!

Chris, Benja, &Andrew