The 410 Bridge

Our Kenya Country Director, Andrew Guuru, was in Atlanta the last couple of weeks for staff meetings and some strategic planning. Before leaving on his trip to the US, Andrew told Kurt that he would like to get a tattoo while he was in the US. So, last week we took Andrew to get his tattoo. He got a Kenyan Shield tattooed on his forearm. Although painful, Andrew stayed strong saying, “It is not painful enough to make me cry!”. Check out the video below of Andrew getting tattooed.

IDP (Internally Displaced Person) Camp in Haiti - Photo Courtesy of Josh McKague of Whisper Productions

Want to serve the people of Haiti? We have posted projects and trips on our website…

www.410bridge.org/haiti

(Space for trips is limited, so sign up soon!)

We just put together this video from the recent trip to Haiti that James and Kurt went on. Take a look and let us know what you think!

Also, we now have opportunities for you to sign up for service trips to Haiti and to donate for projects in Haiti.

For info on service trips to Haiti, click here.
To donate to projects in Haiti, click here.

Everyone loves a good story… from the time we are little sitting captivated in our parent’s lap listening to a story book, to our adult obsessions with books and film, or to simply listening to a friend’s account of the day’s events, we are intrigued.  I think this is one of the reasons that Jesus taught in parables… something inside of us is drawn to a good story.  I love the fact that each person has a unique story, unlike anyone else’s in the entire world.  I also love the fact that there are so many layers to each person’s story and that you really cannot run out of things to discover about another person.  I believe that one of the ways God teaches us is through the experiences of others. We have so much to learn from one another and what God has done in each of our lives.  Whether through joy or pain, the stories of God’s love and faithfulness in our lives brings glory to Him and encouragement to His people.  Part of my story is how God rocked my entire world on my first mission trip with my dad when I was 14. God used that experience as a young girl to ignite a passion inside of me for the nations, and I have never been the same since.  I enjoy sharing the stories of how our Savior has transformed my world and others when different cultures collide. The great thing about my job at The 410 Bridge is that we are NEVER short on God sized stories…so stay tuned for incredible stories from both sides of “The Bridge”.

This is a photo that one of our recent trip participants, Will Rodes, took of the water flowing at Black Tank in the Segera Area of Kenya. To read about his trip experience, go here.

Photo by Will Rodes

Below is a trip story we received from Will Rodes, from NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC who traveled to Kenya earlier this month with The 410 Bridge.

Thank you, Will, for sharing your experience with us and for the reminder of God’s faithfulness.

During my trip to Kenya in June 2009, I often looked around and wondered if I would be back to see this beautiful place again. I wondered if I would see the Kenyans that I had become friends with again.

Just before I left Kenya on that trip to return to the States, I felt God tell me, “You will be back”.

When I walked out of the Jomo Kenyatta Airport in February 2010, I began to see how faithful God was. In fact, throughout the trip He reminded me over and over.

Our first day in country in February 2010, we crossed the Uaso Nyro river on the way to Segera Mission and the river was flowing unlike in June 2009 when it was only a series of puddles. It was awesome to see water flowing through this dry, dusty region. We went out to Endana to do an outreach service that afternoon and as we got off the bus, one of the guys on our team asked me if I thought it was going to rain because of the dark clouds. I responded, “No, we’ll probably be able to see where it’s raining, but I don’t think it’ll rain here.” Three minutes later, I was eating my words when big drops began to fall. We continued with outreach service in the rain.  Apparently sound equipment is more waterproof in Kenya.

As I look back on it, I lacked the faith that it could rain in the Segera area because I had not seen it rain, but just as it says in Isaiah 43:19 (NIV):

See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.

God was doing a new thing, but yet it wasn’t a new thing, it has rained there plenty. God has been making streams in this wasteland and not just literal ones like the Uaso Nyro river, but ones that never run dry, spiritual ones. It is because of knowing Jesus that these people have hope and joy, just like in John 4:14 (NIV):

“…but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Jesus says “never” thirst and because of that we have faith in eternal life because He paid the ultimate price for us. He impressed upon me through this entire trip how faithful He is. No matter what the situation or circumstances He is never failing.

Will Rodes