Africa Expedition 2025
Today started off in true Kenya fashion, one hour late and then thirty minutes later…it did however turn around pretty quickly.
Door to door evangelism went well for our team. Rachel, Faith, Uriah and I took a few houses. Brian and Chip took the others. I haven’t gotten a full report on the events from Brian and Chip but our team was able to visit and pray for several households. The biggest event for us this morning was a family being torn apart by pride. A Christian household torn apart by a lost father and a traditional family. Massai tradition and pride was winning until the gospel did miracles. After sharing a bit of scripture with the father, and his confessing he knew all about Jesus and had not been ready in the past, we saw a broken man standing before us. The Kenyan pastors were inspired to see the transition that immediately transpired as he told us we didn’t need to pray for him that he was now saved. He said he had made the necessary requests of God for salvation already as we were speaking, and felt that God had already joined him in his spirit. We went through some scriptures and he agreed that he had done all the things necessary to be a Christian. We then went on to discuss that his parents and family could not dictate how he and his wife raised their own children. He had been forced to abandon his oldest daughter. The whole story is that she was his stepdaughter, and that his family didn’t approve of him having to provide for another mans child. He was unwilling to fight the family, he was trying to keep peace, but he recognized his fault. We talked about how God had adopted us as his children, and that he had chosen her, knowing about the child, and he must be bold and do what needs to be done to get the girl back to himself and her mother. He agreed that he must do his best to show her the love that God had shown him, he recognized his own adoption into the kingdom of God. He wanted his daughter to feel the same love he know had in his life. We are sure he will have many more hurdles in order to accomplish what needs to be done, But he is now equip and has many new brothers in the local church to disciple him. There were tears in his eyes as we left, but it was nice to see one of the pastors stay behind to aid him immediately with conversations with his wife and other children. It was wonderful to see a man surrender to God, and that He had seen fit to allow us to participate.
While Uriah and I were with the man, Rachel and Faith were inside with the woman. She had been born again for many years, she requested prayer for the man’s salvation. Which, unknown to them, was actively unfolding. They prayed for the husband outside as we were sharing the gospel with him, and the reward was nothing short of a miracle. I wish we had more time to spend there but we had a VBS to get too and we knew it would be fruitful as well.
As we were leaving the woman had two chickens for sale, laying hens that she was needing to carry to market to get grocery money. Rachel and Faith purchased the two hens and brought them back two the church…
In the time we were out doing all this Robert and April had been at the church ministering to everyone who passed by. “The Evangelist” had the Kenyans dragging the pedestrians and bringing them to the hot box. Robert had two men pass by and want to know more, he was able to lead the two men to Christ and one of them was ready for immediate discipleship. I wish I could have been there to see it but I believe we were where God needed us.
When we all got back to the church Robert was drawn to Rachel and Faith carrying the chickens. He wanted to know what we were doing with them and we had no idea…But Robert did, he told them to bring them and he led them to the men he had led to Christ and gifted them a laying hen. I’m sure they will have stories forever of the day’s event. Can you imagine what their minds might have been thinking as Robert dragged them into the hot box, shared the gospel, and them shows up with gift chickens. You cant make this stuff up.
It was lunch time in Kilgoris, and the lines began to form as rice, greens, and beef were dished out in healthy size helpings onto the plates of the children and adults alike. But for us it was set up time. VBS was starting in 45 minutes and we needed at least that.
We got the stations set up, organized the supplies and material, got the snacks and juice made….then we had to organize the Kenyan helpers…easier said than done. They were disappearing into every direction, busy with personal errands during lunch break, but we needed them to come help. Ezekiel was finally able to sort it out and get everyone ready with two minutes to spare.
VBS was on Texas time today….
Time, schedules, plans…traffic laws…all fall into optional in the Kenyan culture. Well, not the Vbs today. You could see the frustration in the faces of the men as I insisted we start on time, stick with the schedule, and stay focused on the children for two hours. The sun was blazing, hotter than average for this time of year, and the full bellies made for a lazy group of helpers and a very active mob of excited children. 143 was the count I was given by the pastor. As we started the VBS with a song all was easy, but the moment we tried to dismiss them by group to their first station in was a bit dramatic. Soon enough they were where they were suppose to be and the activities had commenced. Twenty minute sessions made for four transition times. Ezekiel and I walked through the church yard planning the transition times and he was not hopeful. I’ll admit the first one went pretty badly…the adults from Kilgoris had gotten distracted, had left the kids standing there watching as they kidnapped the rec from Faith and Uriah, and began to play the game themselves. But after one very strict correction it was all back on track and we had no more issues. The following three rotations got smoother and smoother as they found a flow to what VBS should look like. By the end all the leaders knew their places, their job or task and had found joy in the excitement of the children.
We are tired…walking in the elevation is difficult. Its +/- 200’ of being 6000’ above sea level here. Door to door is probably an average of two maybe three miles. Then the VBS was at least that, by chasing groups of 45 children. But I think everyone here is having a great time…God is using us all to accomplish the things needed here this week.
I cannot wait to see what the next few days hold for us. The VBS is the big attraction it seems. The parents will show up so the kids can experience it. If we had more Americans on our team we would have to have a evangelism team and they would be overwhelmed with the parents available to talk too.
I wish I could add more pictures for you all on here but the internet isn’t the greatest. The few I can get to load I hope you are enjoying. I can assure you that there are hundreds if not thousands already on the phones of our team here.
We have looked into dates for next year’s trip and without some discussion with some guys back at TCAWM there is nothing solid yet. But it looks like mid to late march might be a good time to come for 2026. It should allow us to get the cost back down a considerable amount and open more opportunity for you all to join the work happening over here. Many other exciting opportunities have been discussed today, and I hope some day soon those dreams can flesh out as some of you join us here in Africa.
While the rest of the team was working to prepare for VBS, Mr Quick went to a revival meeting and we just got the report that there were three more salvations. He is currently headed back to hotel.
Pray for us all, its the fuel that gives us strength,
Todd Crabtree
As we were leaving for the trip I had several people ask if there were any further need’s…
We have two project’s that seem quite worthy of the effort if you’re interested. If you’d like to give toward them simply give to the church and make a clear note of what it is for.
One is a lid or closure for the newly dug water well on the church property. It's about 36’ in diameter and 35’ to the water, and it is just a hole with a couple sawmill slabs laying over it. Pictures included.
The cost for that is $250
Two is a water tank to catch rain water from main church building to feed the bathroom/washrooms.
The cost for that is $500
Door to door evangelism went well for our team. Rachel, Faith, Uriah and I took a few houses. Brian and Chip took the others. I haven’t gotten a full report on the events from Brian and Chip but our team was able to visit and pray for several households. The biggest event for us this morning was a family being torn apart by pride. A Christian household torn apart by a lost father and a traditional family. Massai tradition and pride was winning until the gospel did miracles. After sharing a bit of scripture with the father, and his confessing he knew all about Jesus and had not been ready in the past, we saw a broken man standing before us. The Kenyan pastors were inspired to see the transition that immediately transpired as he told us we didn’t need to pray for him that he was now saved. He said he had made the necessary requests of God for salvation already as we were speaking, and felt that God had already joined him in his spirit. We went through some scriptures and he agreed that he had done all the things necessary to be a Christian. We then went on to discuss that his parents and family could not dictate how he and his wife raised their own children. He had been forced to abandon his oldest daughter. The whole story is that she was his stepdaughter, and that his family didn’t approve of him having to provide for another mans child. He was unwilling to fight the family, he was trying to keep peace, but he recognized his fault. We talked about how God had adopted us as his children, and that he had chosen her, knowing about the child, and he must be bold and do what needs to be done to get the girl back to himself and her mother. He agreed that he must do his best to show her the love that God had shown him, he recognized his own adoption into the kingdom of God. He wanted his daughter to feel the same love he know had in his life. We are sure he will have many more hurdles in order to accomplish what needs to be done, But he is now equip and has many new brothers in the local church to disciple him. There were tears in his eyes as we left, but it was nice to see one of the pastors stay behind to aid him immediately with conversations with his wife and other children. It was wonderful to see a man surrender to God, and that He had seen fit to allow us to participate.
While Uriah and I were with the man, Rachel and Faith were inside with the woman. She had been born again for many years, she requested prayer for the man’s salvation. Which, unknown to them, was actively unfolding. They prayed for the husband outside as we were sharing the gospel with him, and the reward was nothing short of a miracle. I wish we had more time to spend there but we had a VBS to get too and we knew it would be fruitful as well.
As we were leaving the woman had two chickens for sale, laying hens that she was needing to carry to market to get grocery money. Rachel and Faith purchased the two hens and brought them back two the church…
In the time we were out doing all this Robert and April had been at the church ministering to everyone who passed by. “The Evangelist” had the Kenyans dragging the pedestrians and bringing them to the hot box. Robert had two men pass by and want to know more, he was able to lead the two men to Christ and one of them was ready for immediate discipleship. I wish I could have been there to see it but I believe we were where God needed us.
When we all got back to the church Robert was drawn to Rachel and Faith carrying the chickens. He wanted to know what we were doing with them and we had no idea…But Robert did, he told them to bring them and he led them to the men he had led to Christ and gifted them a laying hen. I’m sure they will have stories forever of the day’s event. Can you imagine what their minds might have been thinking as Robert dragged them into the hot box, shared the gospel, and them shows up with gift chickens. You cant make this stuff up.
It was lunch time in Kilgoris, and the lines began to form as rice, greens, and beef were dished out in healthy size helpings onto the plates of the children and adults alike. But for us it was set up time. VBS was starting in 45 minutes and we needed at least that.
We got the stations set up, organized the supplies and material, got the snacks and juice made….then we had to organize the Kenyan helpers…easier said than done. They were disappearing into every direction, busy with personal errands during lunch break, but we needed them to come help. Ezekiel was finally able to sort it out and get everyone ready with two minutes to spare.
VBS was on Texas time today….
Time, schedules, plans…traffic laws…all fall into optional in the Kenyan culture. Well, not the Vbs today. You could see the frustration in the faces of the men as I insisted we start on time, stick with the schedule, and stay focused on the children for two hours. The sun was blazing, hotter than average for this time of year, and the full bellies made for a lazy group of helpers and a very active mob of excited children. 143 was the count I was given by the pastor. As we started the VBS with a song all was easy, but the moment we tried to dismiss them by group to their first station in was a bit dramatic. Soon enough they were where they were suppose to be and the activities had commenced. Twenty minute sessions made for four transition times. Ezekiel and I walked through the church yard planning the transition times and he was not hopeful. I’ll admit the first one went pretty badly…the adults from Kilgoris had gotten distracted, had left the kids standing there watching as they kidnapped the rec from Faith and Uriah, and began to play the game themselves. But after one very strict correction it was all back on track and we had no more issues. The following three rotations got smoother and smoother as they found a flow to what VBS should look like. By the end all the leaders knew their places, their job or task and had found joy in the excitement of the children.
We are tired…walking in the elevation is difficult. Its +/- 200’ of being 6000’ above sea level here. Door to door is probably an average of two maybe three miles. Then the VBS was at least that, by chasing groups of 45 children. But I think everyone here is having a great time…God is using us all to accomplish the things needed here this week.
I cannot wait to see what the next few days hold for us. The VBS is the big attraction it seems. The parents will show up so the kids can experience it. If we had more Americans on our team we would have to have a evangelism team and they would be overwhelmed with the parents available to talk too.
I wish I could add more pictures for you all on here but the internet isn’t the greatest. The few I can get to load I hope you are enjoying. I can assure you that there are hundreds if not thousands already on the phones of our team here.
We have looked into dates for next year’s trip and without some discussion with some guys back at TCAWM there is nothing solid yet. But it looks like mid to late march might be a good time to come for 2026. It should allow us to get the cost back down a considerable amount and open more opportunity for you all to join the work happening over here. Many other exciting opportunities have been discussed today, and I hope some day soon those dreams can flesh out as some of you join us here in Africa.
While the rest of the team was working to prepare for VBS, Mr Quick went to a revival meeting and we just got the report that there were three more salvations. He is currently headed back to hotel.
Pray for us all, its the fuel that gives us strength,
Todd Crabtree
As we were leaving for the trip I had several people ask if there were any further need’s…
We have two project’s that seem quite worthy of the effort if you’re interested. If you’d like to give toward them simply give to the church and make a clear note of what it is for.
One is a lid or closure for the newly dug water well on the church property. It's about 36’ in diameter and 35’ to the water, and it is just a hole with a couple sawmill slabs laying over it. Pictures included.
The cost for that is $250
Two is a water tank to catch rain water from main church building to feed the bathroom/washrooms.
The cost for that is $500
Posted in Africa Updates