In late July and early August, 11 people from Trinity spent two weeks in Kenya to gain insight into life and faith in East Africa and to participate in two construction projects organized by Stu and Linda Ross of the Presbyterian Outreach Foundation. Our time in Kenya was meaningful, both joyful and heartbreaking.

The preschool at the church in Simurina now has a new kitchen, replacing the lean-to at the back of the classroom building, and a dining hall with tables and benches. The group enjoyed meeting the teachers and children.

At Mukarara there is now a church where this new congregation can worship and where they hope to start a school so the building will be in use all week and the children of the community can begin their education close to home. The group got to know a number of people as they worked with the congregants on construction and painting. The Women's Guild fed the group on the days they worked and again on the following Sunday at the dedication. The banners Trinity members made for the church are a dramatic and beautiful addition to the sanctuary.

The group also visited Mt. Kenya Academy located outside Nyeri, and a new boarding school for girls in Kinoo near Nairobi. In addition, the group visited the Presbyterian University of East Africa and the Presbyterian Orthopedic Hospital in Kikuyu.

During the group's visit to the Masai Mara National Reserve, they saw breathtaking numbers and varieties of animals, including herds of migrating wildebeest and zebra.