Shauen and Krista's Blog

Field Film - Greeting and Update

2011-11-11T13:49:45Z

October Field Notes Published

2011-11-01T18:13:54Z

Field Notes for the month of October 2011 has been published. This issue of Field Notes included the following articles:

Kakuma Refugee Camp
When There is no Road
Congregations Planting Congregations
Photos in Focus: Pokot, Turkana, and Kakuma

Our prayer requests this month include:

For the safety and well-being of God’s people in Kakuma Refugee Camp
For the people of Naurien, that God continue to encourage and sustain them
For the continued growth and faith life of the congregation on the mountain top

And we praise the Lord:

For the successful visit of New Hope of Mooresville, NC
For Krista’s good health and the health of Baby Trump as he prepares for life outside the womb
For Shauen and the team’s safe travels to remote areas of Kenya in October

If you haven't seen it yet, download Field Notes - October 2011 (PDF format) from thetrumps.org now!

September Field Notes Published

2011-10-14T20:14:22Z

Field Notes for the month of September 2011 has been published. This issue of Field Notes included the following articles:

ELCK Partner's Consultation
Swahili Continues
A Note from Josiah (21 months)
Facts in Focus: The Swahili Language

Our prayer requests this month include:

For a successful visit for a new Congregation Connect Partner, New Hope Mission Church of Mooresville, NC
That the ELCK continue to grow and flourish as a church
That we are able to have a recognizable and excellent Thanksgiving celebration

And we praise the Lord:

For Ruth, Shauen’s Swahili teacher
For Krista’s good health and the health of Baby Trump as he prepares for life outside the womb
For the Bible Study Krista recently began attending

If you haven't seen it yet, download Field Notes - September 2011 (PDF format) from thetrumps.org now!

August Field Notes Published

2011-09-08T19:27:54Z

Field Notes for the month of August 2011 has been published. This issue of Field Notes included the following articles:

Vacation Bible School on the Kenyan Coast
Give Clean Water Now
Kentucky Fried Chicken
Photos in Focus: Josiah at VBS

Our prayer requests this month include:

That the Gospel seed planted in the children who attended VBS be nurtured and flourish
That the adults who heard of Christ and His works or saw a depiction of His Gospel in a film show come to faith
That the burden be eased for those who walk miles to fetch water every day

And we praise the Lord:

For the success of St. Andrew’s first team trip to Kenya
For the Spirit’s work in those who professed new belief in Christ and that they be encouraged in their new faith and protected from harm
For the work and vision of givecleanwaternow.org

If you haven't seen it yet, download Field Notes - August 2011 (PDF format) from thetrumps.org now!

July Field Notes Published

2011-09-04T19:50:17Z

Field Notes for the month of July 2011 has been published. This issue of Field Notes included the following articles:

Goodbye Jeff, Hello Tim and Megan
Appreciating Our Volunteer Coordinator
Pastoral Leadership Institute - International
Finally Settling in to Nairobi
Photos in Focus

Our prayer requests this month include:

For our GEO missionary Jeffrey Ross as he returns to seminary in the United States
For a successful orientation and beginning for our new GEO missionaries Timothy and Megan Dooms
For a healthy pregnancy
For a successful resolution to our ongoing conversation with the Kenya Revenue Authority

And we praise the Lord:

That Shauen has been able to begin language study again
That we are able to stay in our current home and signed a good lease
For the good work of Catherine, our Volunteer Coordinator

If you haven't seen it yet, download Field Notes - July 2011 (1.02Mb in PDF format) from thetrumps.org now!

red24: Power Rationing

2011-07-26T13:13:47Z

Red24 is our international personal security advice and response provider. They monitor security activity, incidents, and factors in the region that could have security implications. They then send notifications to their clients of any events that could jeopardize the client's security along with advice to optimize the client's personal safety. Red24 is but one of the ways LCMS World Mission keeps its people safe on the mission field. Today we received the following notification from red24:

Kenya: Authorities are set to impose rolling blackouts across parts of the country as of 27 July as a means of dealing with an ongoing energy supply crisis. The areas likely to be worst affected by the blackouts include the capital, Nairobi, as well as the Rift Valley province and western parts of the country where power rationing is scheduled to take place daily between 18:40 and 21:30. Areas in Nairobi to be particularly affected include the Baba Dogo area which will be subject to power rationing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; the industrial area on Tuesdays and Thursdays; and the North Rift area on Tuesdays and Fridays. Authorities further indicated the possibility of regular power outages in parts of western Kenya due to problems in transferring electricity to the area. Power rationing is set to remain in place until at least mid-September. A severe drought in East Africa has led to water shortages at some of Kenya's hydroelectric dams which are believed to be responsible for the bulk of the country's electricity supply. Clients in Kenya should anticipate disruptions to electronic-based services such as banking, fuel dispensing, internet and telecommunications. Furthermore, visitors to the country should be aware that the blackouts may increase levels of criminal activity, particularly in large urban centres such as the capital, Nairobi. As a precaution, travellers should refrain from walking alone after dark and ensure that their places of accommodation are secured at all times. For further information and/or advice call red24...

Overall this is a fairly mild alert - we've received far more serious ones in the past. But it's never pleasant to hear you may be subject to planned power outages in addition to all the other ones! -Shauen

Do you enjoy our newsletter?

2011-07-22T13:57:00Z

While we have many friends, family, encouragers, and supporters who receive our (roughly) monthly newsletter by email, we also have a list of about 100 people who receive it through the good ol-fashioned postal service. We've always enjoyed printing and mailing these ourselves from Africa - the sense of accomplishment is substantial when you have to lick at least 2 stamps and one flap for each of the 100 envelopes (there are no sticker-stamps here). Even though we delayed mailings to double-up newsletters the cost has become prohibitive. So we've reached the difficult decision to hand over this privilege and request help distributing our printed edition from within the United States.

We're therefore looking for someone who is willing to help us out by taking on the monthly responsibility (and costs) for printing and mailing our newsletter to about 100 addresses in the US. If this is something you or your congregation would like to do for us and our other supporters who don't have email, please send me a note to Shauen.Trump@LCMS.org. Thank you so much! -Shauen

Dooms are soon to arrive in Kenya

2011-07-19T07:31:53Z

East Africa enjoys many short-term teams that visit for one to two weeks, short-term volunteers who serve for one to six months, and GEO (Globally Engaged in Outreach) missionaries who serve from six months to two years. Part of the joy of my work is to match those willing to serve with the needs of the churches we work with.

I'm happy to share that in about one month's time we will have two new GEO missionaries serving here in Kenya. They'll be working with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya's National Project Coordinator, Rev. David Chuchu, who works out of Kisumu, about six hours from Nairobi. They'll be primarily working with the ELCK's 1001 Orphans child-sponsorship project and the Project24 program to build rescue centers. Learn more about this young couple, Tim and Megan Dooms, and their work at their website www.hujamborafiki.blogspot.com or support their work at www.lcms.org/dooms. We're excited to see them here - please pray for them and praise the Lord for the workers He raises up! -Shauen

Four Anniversaries, Four Countries

2011-07-09T07:12:00Z

A month ago on June 9th, Shauen and I celebrated our fourth anniversary. Shauen had a two-week trip to Tanzania scheduled and because it's not very fun to be left home alone with a toddler, no car, plus be alone on your anniversary, Josiah and I went with him. As we celebrated our anniversary in Tanzania, I thought back on our previous three anniversaries. Our first anniversary we visited a friend in New Orleans. Our most romantic anniversary to date. We stayed at a romantic bed and breakfast and had a wonderful time. Our second anniversary was in Uganda. I was pregnant with Josiah and still feeling morning sickness. Nothing says "Happy Anniversary" then running to throw up the lovely breakfast Shauen had made me. Our third anniversary we had just returned from our two-week trip to Paraguay. We were in Nairobi for two short weeks before leaving for Tanzania for language school. Shauen was recovering from a very bad cold/sinus infection and at the same time was trying to find and buy our new vehicle since we couldn't import our old truck from Uganda. That evening, we immensely enjoyed a No Bake Cheesecake that had been sent to us. I don't think we actually ate the whole cheesecake in one sitting, but it was that good that we certainly wanted to! It was delicious! So, after celebrating in the United States, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania where will we be for number five? I told Shauen that unless it's Paris or Rome, I don't feel the need to celebrate in a new country next year! This is one tradition that needs to be nipped in the bud. -Krista

June Field Notes Published

2011-07-06T14:25:15Z

Field Notes for the month of June 2011 has been published. This issue of Field Notes included the following articles:

1,000 Baptized Among the Sukuma People
MOST Dental Team Visits Nairobi
Baptizing a 4,000 Year-Old Sukuma Woman
Photos in Focus

Our prayer requests this month include:

For the unreached among the Sukuma people
That we make time for language study
That we find a way to meet the increase in rent at our compound
That Kenya’s IRS equivalent forgive the $115,000 in penalties and interest demanded from a 2007 audit

And we praise the Lord:

For the 1,000 Sukuma, including Esther, who heard and responded to the Gospel
For Josiah sleeping through the night
For the work of MOST Ministries around the world

If you haven't seen it yet, download Field Notes - June 2011 (988K in PDF format) from thetrumps.org now!