What was once dry is now full of water. What was once barren and devoid, now has life.

It hit me that when I was there in June 2009, Kelly and I had just lost
our daughter Elizabeth and honestly we were devastated. It felt like we were left barren, but our hope was in the LORD. We knew if it was His will for us to not be dry, to not be barren, but rather to have another child, then it would happen.

As I watched the children of Black Tank filling up their containers with the clean drinking water from the well in February, it hit me. God had restored water to this dry desolate area in the same way He had given Kelly and I new hope. As I stood there that day, I knew that God had been faithful. We are expecting a son, William “Liam” Lucas.

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.

It is easy for us to get caught up in what God is doing around where we live in the U.S. It is easy to forget that worship doesn’t just take place in our buildings with electricity, heat and air conditioning. Last time I was in Kenya, I got to walk 2 miles to a church with no electricity. Along that walk to church we were joined by kids as young as 3 who would normally walk 2 or 3 miles to get to church. I can’t begin to describe the authentic worship that I got to be a part of that day. The God that we serve is huge and he is at work all across the world.

I can’t tell you how excited I am to be in Segera and see what God is going to do through this trip. I could describe what God, while I am there, by showing you photos and a video to help you understand, but that would only give you a mere glimpse. I wanted to somehow give each of you a window to this journey, so if (read as a big IF- i.e. 3rd world country + technology) everything goes as planned I will be Twittering while I’m there. I hope that it will give you a better view of what God is doing by providing real time updates of what is happening. I think this will give you a better view of day to day activity rather than me trying to remember a whole day of events when I get back to the hotel.

I hope this will give you an increased perspective of how big God really is and will lead you to either go on a trip yourself or continue to support others; whichever God lays on your heart.

God opened the door yesterday for me to return as part of NewSpring’s February 2010 trip. This time I will not be going as a videographer, but rather as a volunteer.  This means I will have to pay the full $3500 for my plane ticket, food, lodging, etc. I have no idea who the money is going to come from, but I do know God has called me to go and He is a God who provides. I am asking that you pray about partnering with me both financially and as a prayer warrior as I prepare for this mission. If God lays it on your heart to contribute financially, you can mail your check to the address below or drop it by one of our NewSpring campuses. You will receive a tax credit for your donation.  If you get it in before the end of 2009, it will be tax deductible for the 2009 tax year. I need to have all the money in before the end of January. Please do not write my name on the check anywhere (IRS standards).  Instead, please paperclip a note or put a Post-It note with my name on it with your contribution.

I really appreciate you!  Thank you for being an amazing part of my life!

NewSpring Church
Attn: David Nimmons
PO Box 1407
Anderson, SC 29622

Just to give you a glimpse of what God is doing there, take a look at these photos or watch the videos below. If you would like to read about what God has been doing in the Segera area in 2009 check out pages 6 and 7 of this PDF our partner organization The 410 Bridge.

Here’s a little back story on the project:

The concept was planned by Ken and Adam. Originally the plan was for me to be a second shooter on the piece with Adam, but do to Adam getting sick, I got called in to shoot the entire thing at the last minute. So, in the brief time I had before I had to shoot, Ken caught me up on all the brilliant planning that he and Adam brainstormed. Justin jumped in as a second shooter in the apartment and our intern Travis helped out with production. Being short on time and down a guy, I pitched in and edited the first ~1 minute of the counter and Ken hammered out all of the other editing.

This was the first package we have done that tells a story starting in the counter and then carrying it to completion with the opener.  Feel free to leave comments, critiques, etc.

Home for Christmas (counter) from NewSpring Production on Vimeo.

Home for Christmas (series open) from NewSpring Production on Vimeo.

Promo: Band Auditions from NewSpring Production on Vimeo.

Some of us are called to physically go.
Some of us are called to financially support.
Some of us are called to intercede in prayer.
What are you called to do in order to take the The Gospel to the world?

Click here to view the other couple shots from our vacations.