FOREVER CHANGED
The team has officially made it back to the U.S.!
What a journey it was. Greg and Kylie left on October 17th and faced quite the travel adventure — navigating delayed flights, sprinting through two airports (missing one flight in the process, not their fault), and discovering their luggage had taken a trip of its own to a different airport. Yet through it all, God’s hand was steady, and they made it home safely.
Suzan, Shelley, and Mike stayed behind a few extra days to visit local middle schools and explore how we can continue supporting students as they grow beyond Huruma Hope School — into middle school, high school, and even college. They missed the heavy rains by just one day, a blessing in itself.
People often ask, “Why go across the world when there are people right across the street who need help?” It’s a fair question — and one I’ve asked myself before. But I’ve learned that until you’ve walked the streets of a third-world country, until you’ve seen, smelled, heard, touched, and felt the reality of life there, it’s hard to fully understand the depth of need — and the depth of faith that often lives alongside it.
Yes, we should absolutely help our neighbors — and we can do that almost all year long. But taking two weeks to serve those in another part of the world can change your life and your heart in ways you never expect. Living in a first-world country, we have access to so much. Sometimes, that abundance can numb us to the richness of simple faith.
If it’s God’s will, He will call you to go — maybe through a voice, a feeling, a verse, or a quiet stirring in your heart. And when He does, trust that He will make a way.
Through each team member’s story and testimony, you can clearly see how God worked in powerful, personal ways — guiding, stretching, and using every moment for His purpose. What a joy to witness His faithfulness in action.
Here are their testimonies:
Mike:
“A wise man once said, ‘Sometimes it’s the people who make the journey great. Other times, it’s the journey that makes the people great. The best times, though, are when the people are the journey and the destination becomes friendship.’
OK, actually I made that up, but the point is clear; this trip was truly special! Not all of us knew each other that well when we left. We all shared a foundation in Christ and a desire to serve that proved, as always, to be the strongest foundation you can have.
Our team worked together, played together, laughed a lot, and loved on the children and staff of the Huruma School and the families in the Huruma community—and we are all better people for it. More than that, friendships were built and nourished with incredible memories that will last forever. We each got to meet our sponsored students, hug and encourage them, rejoice in their successes, and even wipe their tears away. For that, I praise God.
Not everything we saw in Huruma was pleasant. Hardship abounds, and it can be hard to deal with. You can’t “unsee” anything once seen. But we were there for each other—listening, caring, and praying our way through it. Now I realize it is that pain that God uses to make us remember why we go, and how He draws us back to do more in His name as His hands and feet.
And so, the journey continues—but only through our loyal supporters, of whom we always need more, and all those ready to sacrifice for “the least of these.”
Kylie:
When I first visited Africa in 2022 (Not mission related) I knew I’d be back someday. When I heard about Hope for Huruma, I felt that unmistakable nudge from God. I didn’t know how it would all come together, but He provided everything I needed. And the moment I arrived, I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
In Huruma, I met people with so little material wealth, yet with spirits overflowing with joy. I felt the Holy Spirit so powerfully as the students sang, danced, and worshiped with their whole hearts. The students reminded me of this verse: Luke 18:15–17.
During home visits, I was deeply humbled. I realized how much I have—and how much I need. I have so many possessions, yet I need so much more of Jesus. The families of Huruma blessed me in ways words can’t capture. I came hoping to serve them, but in truth, I was the one who was served.
Leaving was hard. I felt almost ashamed returning home to a house with a roof, flooring, heat, and a comfortable bed. It’s not fair that I have so much when others have so little. But material comfort can cloud our vision of what truly matters. My prayer is to have faith like the children of Huruma — faith that shines through joy, worship, and gratitude even in hardship. Doing crafts, acting out Bible stories, and sharing snacks were beautiful moments — but the true purpose of the trip was in the prayers, the hugs, and the love exchanged. That’s where we saw God move most clearly.
I’m so thankful for Suzan, Shelley, Mike, and Greg — this trip wouldn’t have been the same without them. God used each of them in powerful, unique ways. And to everyone who supported this mission from near and far: thank you. You were a gift from God.
Suzan:
It was an honor to be part of the Huruma 2025 Team. Each member brought their giftedness to serve and love the children, staff, and families of HOPE Huruma School. Everyone came together to participate in lively music, Bible stories, crafts, playing games, building and playing Corn Hole, reading stories, and loving on the kids. It was a time of bonding and knowing we were serving Him together. Along with fun and laughs were tears and the realization of how much God has brought hope to this small community through education, good nutrition, and commitment to show God’s love “to the least of these.”
I remember my first walk through Huruma in 2005, praying with moms telling us their need for jobs, food, and school fees, and thinking one day things will get better for this community. But now, 20 years later, I heard the same prayer requests for jobs and food—but this time hearing how their kids were being fed and educated at HHS. It hit me harder this time and made me recommit myself to finding a way to keep these kids in school through high school—and made me more convinced that we have a God who can make this happen.
Philippians 1:3–6
Shelley:
This trip was truly rewarding! A lot of people ask me why I go to Nairobi, Kenya, of all places in the world. Sometimes the person asking is a friend, family member, or maybe someone I sit next to on the plane. My response changes, but bottom line—God asked me to. Then I search my heart and soul, and inside me is a burning desire to go. So I guess I could say it is in my heart!
The trip itself is sometimes emotionally and physically exhausting, but when it is all done and I am back home, I look back and think about how rewarding it is to have seen the children at Huruma HOPE Schools, the teachers, and others along the way who have helped and given encouragement. One day, I was feeling particularly overwhelmed because, at times, it can feel like I—or we—are not doing enough. That is when I had a conversation with someone who has worked at our place of lodging for 20-plus years. He said he is always happy to see a team come for the Huruma School. Before the school started growing and being supported by our organization, it was a dangerous place to be and a lot of bad things happened there. He said it is now a good community and getting better all the time!
This is something we pray about often—that not only do our children have better lives, are able to be educated, fed, and safe, but that the school also changes the community as a whole. The ripple effects are beyond measure. I am thankful to be a part in helping this happen. I was very happy to see some past students from Huruma who are now graduating from ninth grade. Without Huruma Hope Schools, it would not be possible for them to have a better life. We couldn’t have asked for a better team. We accomplished a lot, were able to love on many, and were blessed abundantly in return. Thank you to all of you who supported us!!
Greg:
Some people say God talks to them clearly, all the time. For me, I ask God to hit me in the head with a 2 by 4 just to be clear it’s Him and what He wants me to do, but it doesn’t seem to happen. I had a desire to go on this trip, but my family and friends did not want me to go; they worried about the danger. After prayer and some soul-searching, I was confident that God wanted me to go and that I could lean on Him to guide and protect me. They tried repeatedly to talk me out of going, but I was steadfast and confident in the Lord’s protection and need for me.
The first few days at Huruma, I was the odd man out, not sure about how to do things, how to fit in, or what I should do next. But I stayed with the team, hung in there, and learned. As a supporter of one of the children in the school, I tried searching my child out when I was in the classrooms. I desperately wanted to connect with her as I had seen my compadres connect with their kids, but I was not able to.
On Monday of the next week, as we gathered in the principal’s office, I was having doubts about why I was there. My offering was to build and share cornhole games with the students—really? I hadn’t met my child. Why did God bring me all that way? A knock came at the door, and a man stepped in to talk with Anne, our principal. He said his name was Stephen and he wanted to talk to her about his daughter, Lilian Wanjiku. That’s my girl! I stood up and introduced myself, and my doubts were erased. But it didn’t end there—in a short while, Anne arranged to have Lilian come to the office, and I was able to meet her. My heart and spirit soared!
Shelley, Mike, and I spent that afternoon finalizing the cornhole boards with the 6th graders and testing the game out. What an amazing time the kids had—such joy! Anne came downstairs, pulled me aside, and said, “You must give all of the other students the same experience” (the whole school had been listening to the fun the kids were having). For the rest of the day and part of the next, we threw bean bags. The kids were on cloud nine.
Later that day, as we were leaving, I met Stephen again outside the school. He remembered my name as well. God just had to put a final confirmation there for me—I think He may have been showing off.
I still have bruises (literally) on my head where God hit me with His 2 by 4. He left no doubt that He had plans for me, my team, the kids, the teachers, and Huruma. I am truly thankful I went and thank God for using us. I hope that everyone gets to experience God’s power and love in their life as we did. Thank God, and thank you for sending us.
