Exactly half-way into our 3 month home assignment we thought would be a good time to send a quick update of what we’ve done and where we’re at. While the first half of our trip was filled with seeing all our dear friends and sending church in northern Virginia, the second half of our trip is full of family and doctor’s appointments and shopping for the next 2 years’ worth of socks and deodorant and taco seasoning and everything that America has to offer that is hard to find or expensive in Kenya. While the first half of our trip was filled with some reverse culture shock (everything from the color of our money to the variety of food in grocery stores), the second half of our trip is starting to fill with a building excitement for our return to what feels like our home, Kenya. We’re starting to really miss our dear friends there, just as we’ve missed so many of you here. We’re starting to think about our upcoming move across Nairobi, about the start of a new school year in a new school, and Lesa’s return to full time teaching.

Quick Stats

43 days into our furlough

43 days remaining

3000 miles driven so far

2000 miles to go

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Foods to partake:

• Fountain Coke (check)
• McDonalds (check)
• Chipotle (check)
• Moe’s (check)
• Pizza Hut (check)
• Beau Joe’s
• Papa Johns’
• Sonic

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25 lbs gained [cumulative]

25 lbs to go?

Financial update

THANKS to some very generous gifts, some new supporters, and our faithful supporters from the past two years, we are right on track for returning to Kenya soon. We are still hoping for some more monthly supporters and/or one time gifts. All of our salary, insurance, retirement, etc. come solely from donations, so we are asking if you would prayerfully consider joining our support team. Click here to sign up! We’ve had several people ask if they need to renew their pledge with AIM to continue supporting us. If you are sending in a check each month or if you have your donation withdrawn automatically, it will just continue as it has been. No need to renew. Also, some have asked about the automatic withdrawal system, as they have had some trouble with it in the past. If you go online to the AIM website and try it and still have trouble, please let us know and we’ll do what we can to help!

Travels so far

illinois

ohio

virginia

pennsylvania

north carolina

alabama

arkansas

kansas

Travels to come

June 21- leading worship at Trinity UMC, Hutchinson, KS (2 services)

June 28- leading worship, speaking on missions, at GracePoint Community Church, Denver, CO

July 5- speaking at Trinity UMC, Hutchinson, KS (4 services)

July 12- leading worship at Pine Ridge Presbyterian, Kansas City, MO

July 19- leading worship, speaking at First Pres Galesburg, IL

July 26- speaking at Trinity Pres, Aledo, IL July 31- we leave for Kenya!

New videos

We also wanted to share a couple of quick videos with you, if we haven’t had a chance to personally sit down with you this furlough and show them to you. Click the video to watch it in your browser.

Orientation

AIM’s official video on what it’s like to sell everything and move across cultures and survive the first two years. Told through the eyes of Andy and Lesa Brown.

Captivate

Tim Lang’s story of his 9 months in Africa, living with us, working with Andy on the On-Field Media Team.

1st term thank-you

A sincere thank-you to all our supporters who made our first term in Africa possible. This video is for you.

Overwhelmed and blessed

We have been overwhelmed by the warmth and friendship of everyone we’ve seen on this trip. We feel truly blessed to have so many loving friends and family and it has been wonderful to see and hear about what God has been doing in each of your lives. We don’t want you to think for a moment that your prayers and support for us aren’t significant… they are! It is your prayers and encouragement which keeps us going. You are the Body of Christ at work and you are participating in our work, the work of AIM, and God’s work in Africa!

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:3-6

In Christ’s love, Andy, Lesa, Robbie, Avery, and Sydney