Africa Expedition 2025
The wind howls through the hallways of our hotel each night. Almost an eerie sound sometimes when it hits the clay tiles and has a low pitch whistle. To me it is a peaceful and welcomed sound that helps to cover the constant clanging of dishes and silverware that they seem to wash all night long. Sometimes it’s covering up the sound of the plastic chairs being dragged around the rough cement floors. Strangely enough the hotel staff seem to never sleep, nor do they recognize how all their noise keeps the hotel occupants awake. The kitchen staff loves to turn up the radio at 4:30 am as they start preparations for the day.
Our day will consist of street evangelism in Kilgoris, teaching meetings in the church and then our final day of the VBS. Now we are sitting in the restaurant, planning our day and testing out the VBS crafts. Small bow and arrows made from q-tips and popsicle sticks. They work!
Soon we are off to do our final whole day of ministry. Tomorrow we leave here at 1pm to start our long trip home. Along the way we will be driving through the Massai Mara Game Preserve and seeing one of the most magnificent show's of wildlife the world has to offer.
Street evangelism was different today. In town things are different than in the country side. We were able to speak to so many more people and we were seeing many confess Christ for the first time. We went into businesses and we went to a community well where chores were being done. We also went into the police station of Kilgoris and met the authority there. It was interesting to see how there system worked. But we were able to pray for them as well. From bakeries to police stations the power of the gospel went all throughout Kilgoris. VBS will be starting soon and now we will take lunch.
VBS was a bit smaller today due to the surrounding churches having programs so some of the kids were in other places. The program remained the same and the Kenyans really seemed to finally figure out the schedule and the way it works. Brian did the teaching today and he taught the story of David and Jonathan. As we set up for VBS today I couldn’t help but think how it seemed to mark the end of our ministry this year. We do have a session to teach in the morning, but it seems as if it’s more of a “see you later” than a day of ministry. The teaching will be our final thoughts and charge to the church, but it will be cut short by the hospitality of a great sending off ceremony. Each year as we leave it’s a spectacle of song, dance, and the giving of gifts to every team member. The items I receive each year are cherished and many of them can be seen on display in my office or in my home. It’s always a humbling moment to see how they are willing to shower us with these things, in hopes we will remember them in our prayers and return to share Gods love once again.
I feel our team has been a huge blessing to this place so far this year, and as we finish strong tomorrow, we will be leaving all our energy here in Kilgoris.
I would be remiss not to say that I am excited to be here with my own family. It was 2006 when I first came to Africa…it was 2002 when God called me here. Setting in a youth group classroom in New Hope Baptist Church, Big Sandy, TX. Missionary’s came in as guest speakers to share testimony about their trip to Africa. I’d likely get the details of where they were ministering wrong if I tried to tell you, but the fact remains the same…that night I heard a small whisper telling me that I would someday do this thing myself. The idea that God would provide a way for me to travel to Africa was as foreign as the place itself. As I sat there the answer was a definite yes, I wouldn’t hesitate if the opportunity arose. But I thought it was my selfishness to travel and there was no realistic way it was possible. Little did I know that in four short years God would see me here, fulfilling His call on my life, and preparing me for the moments we are having now. As years past by I kept finding opportunity to come to Africa. My daughter took her first steps while I was here on this side of the world. I sacrificed for many years, struggling to raise the funding to come as often as possible to this beautiful place. And dreaming of the day Rachel could come with me. 2017 was the year. Rachel and I came here to Kilgoris and had a wonderful time ministering together in the mountains of the Transmara. From that first day on the ground until a few days ago, a week hasn’t past that we didn’t discuss finding a way to get our kids here with us. I wanted to wait until they were valuable to the ministry and not just here on a trip!
Because of the sacrifice of so many this was the year. My heart is overflowing from seeing my son shared testimony and my daughter teach children here in Africa. It is truly one of my favorite places on earth and now I’m here with my entire family. They have worked, they have shared, they have prayed and they have been given the experience of a lifetime. Traveling one of the most interesting and wild places there is left on the earth. At 14 and 15 years old. Yes I’m proud. Yes this seems to be to much about them today, but this is my heart.
To imagine their excitement seeing the great wildlife Africa has to offer, unfenced and as wild as the world will allow. I’m a proud father, and I’m excited.
I’m not the only one. Robert has been dreaming of this day for many years as well, as he is finally here with his own wife April. Just today I was speaking with her and her excitement to see the elephants seem to bring her back to a childlike imagination. It feel’s appropriate to mention that Robert gave me my first opportunity to preach on a mission trip, years ago in Mexico. He and April were also on Faith and Uriah’s first foreign mission trip which was also in Mexico. Im grateful God placed them in our lives, and honored they could experience this with our children. They have invested in Faith and Uriah so much over the years. Faith mentioned today that she learned so much from Mr. Robert helping him at VBS this afternoon.
There truly is something, so very magical, about this place. The trees on the horizon, the sunsets and sunrise, the sounds…the knowledge that there are things so large outside that are not fenced in, they are wild, and they are not tame, they are true beasts. It’s a humbling thought that is rare in the USA. It’s God’s creation as close to untouched as you will find, and it’s here for us to take in as a family this time.
Tomorrow we will wrap up our teaching and head out to be tourist for a day and a half before we depart from this wonderful continent. I’ll be sad to return home, but I’ll be happy to be back to my comforts. To ice in a glass of sweet tea, and a large portion of seared but rare beef steak.
Church and friend’s, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your sacrifice this year. Thank you for giving to this ministry so that us few could be here and represent God and West Mountain. Without your prayer I’m sure we would not make it over here the way we do. Without you giving we would not be able to give the good gifts that we were able to give. I’ll be doing this as long as God allows…but I’m not sure it will ever be sweeter than this time…Africa with my family, my children doing ministry alongside me and Rachel…this one has blessed me more than I could ever put into words.
From an overflow of joy and the depths of my heart,
Todd Crabtree
Our day will consist of street evangelism in Kilgoris, teaching meetings in the church and then our final day of the VBS. Now we are sitting in the restaurant, planning our day and testing out the VBS crafts. Small bow and arrows made from q-tips and popsicle sticks. They work!
Soon we are off to do our final whole day of ministry. Tomorrow we leave here at 1pm to start our long trip home. Along the way we will be driving through the Massai Mara Game Preserve and seeing one of the most magnificent show's of wildlife the world has to offer.
Street evangelism was different today. In town things are different than in the country side. We were able to speak to so many more people and we were seeing many confess Christ for the first time. We went into businesses and we went to a community well where chores were being done. We also went into the police station of Kilgoris and met the authority there. It was interesting to see how there system worked. But we were able to pray for them as well. From bakeries to police stations the power of the gospel went all throughout Kilgoris. VBS will be starting soon and now we will take lunch.
VBS was a bit smaller today due to the surrounding churches having programs so some of the kids were in other places. The program remained the same and the Kenyans really seemed to finally figure out the schedule and the way it works. Brian did the teaching today and he taught the story of David and Jonathan. As we set up for VBS today I couldn’t help but think how it seemed to mark the end of our ministry this year. We do have a session to teach in the morning, but it seems as if it’s more of a “see you later” than a day of ministry. The teaching will be our final thoughts and charge to the church, but it will be cut short by the hospitality of a great sending off ceremony. Each year as we leave it’s a spectacle of song, dance, and the giving of gifts to every team member. The items I receive each year are cherished and many of them can be seen on display in my office or in my home. It’s always a humbling moment to see how they are willing to shower us with these things, in hopes we will remember them in our prayers and return to share Gods love once again.
I feel our team has been a huge blessing to this place so far this year, and as we finish strong tomorrow, we will be leaving all our energy here in Kilgoris.
I would be remiss not to say that I am excited to be here with my own family. It was 2006 when I first came to Africa…it was 2002 when God called me here. Setting in a youth group classroom in New Hope Baptist Church, Big Sandy, TX. Missionary’s came in as guest speakers to share testimony about their trip to Africa. I’d likely get the details of where they were ministering wrong if I tried to tell you, but the fact remains the same…that night I heard a small whisper telling me that I would someday do this thing myself. The idea that God would provide a way for me to travel to Africa was as foreign as the place itself. As I sat there the answer was a definite yes, I wouldn’t hesitate if the opportunity arose. But I thought it was my selfishness to travel and there was no realistic way it was possible. Little did I know that in four short years God would see me here, fulfilling His call on my life, and preparing me for the moments we are having now. As years past by I kept finding opportunity to come to Africa. My daughter took her first steps while I was here on this side of the world. I sacrificed for many years, struggling to raise the funding to come as often as possible to this beautiful place. And dreaming of the day Rachel could come with me. 2017 was the year. Rachel and I came here to Kilgoris and had a wonderful time ministering together in the mountains of the Transmara. From that first day on the ground until a few days ago, a week hasn’t past that we didn’t discuss finding a way to get our kids here with us. I wanted to wait until they were valuable to the ministry and not just here on a trip!
Because of the sacrifice of so many this was the year. My heart is overflowing from seeing my son shared testimony and my daughter teach children here in Africa. It is truly one of my favorite places on earth and now I’m here with my entire family. They have worked, they have shared, they have prayed and they have been given the experience of a lifetime. Traveling one of the most interesting and wild places there is left on the earth. At 14 and 15 years old. Yes I’m proud. Yes this seems to be to much about them today, but this is my heart.
To imagine their excitement seeing the great wildlife Africa has to offer, unfenced and as wild as the world will allow. I’m a proud father, and I’m excited.
I’m not the only one. Robert has been dreaming of this day for many years as well, as he is finally here with his own wife April. Just today I was speaking with her and her excitement to see the elephants seem to bring her back to a childlike imagination. It feel’s appropriate to mention that Robert gave me my first opportunity to preach on a mission trip, years ago in Mexico. He and April were also on Faith and Uriah’s first foreign mission trip which was also in Mexico. Im grateful God placed them in our lives, and honored they could experience this with our children. They have invested in Faith and Uriah so much over the years. Faith mentioned today that she learned so much from Mr. Robert helping him at VBS this afternoon.
There truly is something, so very magical, about this place. The trees on the horizon, the sunsets and sunrise, the sounds…the knowledge that there are things so large outside that are not fenced in, they are wild, and they are not tame, they are true beasts. It’s a humbling thought that is rare in the USA. It’s God’s creation as close to untouched as you will find, and it’s here for us to take in as a family this time.
Tomorrow we will wrap up our teaching and head out to be tourist for a day and a half before we depart from this wonderful continent. I’ll be sad to return home, but I’ll be happy to be back to my comforts. To ice in a glass of sweet tea, and a large portion of seared but rare beef steak.
Church and friend’s, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your sacrifice this year. Thank you for giving to this ministry so that us few could be here and represent God and West Mountain. Without your prayer I’m sure we would not make it over here the way we do. Without you giving we would not be able to give the good gifts that we were able to give. I’ll be doing this as long as God allows…but I’m not sure it will ever be sweeter than this time…Africa with my family, my children doing ministry alongside me and Rachel…this one has blessed me more than I could ever put into words.
From an overflow of joy and the depths of my heart,
Todd Crabtree
Posted in Africa Updates