Aj Schwanz

Kelly Bean is an amazing woman I connected with through a F/friend, and then we actually met in Connecticut for the first time, even though we only live 30 minutes from each other.  She is a contributer to Off the Map and a codreamer for Northwest Emerging Women Leaders and an amazing woman who brings creativity, care, and beautiful atmosphere wherever she goes.  Kelly and her family are part of a faith community that looks nothing like traditional church, and despite (or potentially because of ) the lack of “hierarchical organizational structure”, they have organized an amazing trip to bring supplies and help meet needs in East Africa.  Please send prayers out for her and her group as they are Light bearers in their journey.

Dear Friends

It is with great excitement that I update you…  Our East Africa adventure is 5 days away! {note from Aj:  Okay, so I’m late in posting this  :)}

Depart Portland for Seattle Monday Nov 5

Arrive Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday 6th (via Amsterdam and London, Ken travels through London and we are flying through Amsterdam)

Visit projects in Nairobi area 7th, 8th

Friday to Rwanda for one week

Friday 16th fly to Burundi through Monday 19th

19th return to Nairobi for flight home

20th pm home

The 7 of us traveling from Portland, Vancover and Seattle have been happily overwhelmed with the generosity of our communities, friends, families and networks…

Because of you we will carry with us all this and more:

• Specially printed team shirts for the Gasogi Village “football” team of 35 in Rwanda, 15 Excellent quality soccer balls, ball pumps and ball needles, new soccer socks for the whole team, some soccer shoes and shorts
• Two laptops and women’s clothing for HIV treatment ministry in Kenya
• Clothing and shoes enough for three orphanages
• Toys, books, treats, stickers, toothbrushes
• Books, notes from kids in our communities and school supplies for a school
• Money to help support the school lunch program at the Mathare Mennonite school (.03 a day for lunch, only 1/2 the kids can afford to eat lunch)
• 15 soccer balls to distribute to kids in various locations
• Courier service to Americans living in Kenya and Rwanda bringing their Christmas gifts from their families
• Gifts of encouragement for the African leaders who will be hosting us
• Elliot raised 340.00 at his school to help with school for the Batwa/pygmy children in Burundi! (good job Elliot!)
• Funds to purchase food for Africans in need
• Funds to help with ARV’s for a group of HIV positive kids
• Donations to cover the excess baggage charges.
• Donations toward microfinance projects

THANKS TO EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR CARE FOR THE CHILDREN OF AFRICA and for these amazing projects we will visit

We would be grateful for your prayers for our good health, safe travel. We will be joined by 19 friends from South Africa in Rwanda and are looking forward to this aspect of our cross cultural experience as we team build all together.

We would be very grateful for your prayers for our girls at home.

If you have not had the chance to give yet and would like to, these are the needs that remain . . .

1.  Contributions to help cover trip expenses are welcome

2.  Donations to deliver directly to the ministries and projects. More on that also when we return!

{Sidenote from Aj:  contact me if you can contribute in any way}

With Full hearts and Full bags!

Kelly, Ken and Elliot Bean