Kenya 2026: A Vision Becoming Reality
Hello Church Family,
Once again it is time for our Kenya mission team to start the long journey across the world. Excitement of being in Africa again fills every part of me as I pack items into my backpack. It’s been twenty years since I first had the chance to travel to Africa, and I can’t possibly put into words the changes it’s made in my life. This September 26, we will depart Texas to return to the Kenyan countryside. We will see the rolling mountains, the iconic Acacia trees on the horizon, and the unmatched sunsets in the distant west. The stars at night shine brighter in Africa than they do in even the most remote wilderness areas of the contiguous USA. Twenty years ago I departed American soil for the first time. Now it is not the mystery of Africa that stirs me, but the work of ministry we will get to do there this year.
As we drove, the red dust swirled behind, you’d think it had been years since it last rained the way it lingered in the air. The green leaves heavy on all the things growing along the roadsides would tell a different story. Everything was so green, except for the heavy coating of red dust clinging to anything within twenty feet of the roadsides, it was green. It was a new road, one less traveled by the western visitors than most, and for the three of us in the small diesel safari van, we were excited! God’s prompt for me to go to Kenya was not subtle in my own mind, in fact it was quite direct, but that had been more than ten years previous to this point and I was begging to hear from Him again. We hit every bump, every rock, washed out trench, and pothole the old road had to offer as we traveled toward the new church that we had so recently been told was our next stop. A place with a young pastor eager to make disciples and ready to put in the work required of him. Even now as I’m writing this, I can close my eyes and see the mountainside, the near perfect rows of corn planted on the impossibly steep grades of the Transmara terrain. It was as beautiful a land as I’ve ever seen. As I looked at this place I had never seen before, the possibility of God’s creation gets to jump from the landscape straight into every bit of the imagination that I can muster. What was this place like thirty, forty, fifty, or one hundred years ago. How wild was this place? How did the people survive in such a place as this when the powerful wild animals of Africa roamed untamed in comparison to their now dwindled numbers? I was lost in my own daydreaming of days long ago, when the small mud walled dwelling first took my attention. Then another, then yet another, all the way up there! Upon further inspection I saw more than the houses, I saw men, shepherds, flocks, cattle, I saw opportunity. Having a craving for adventure, and no desire to spend another day preaching in a church building, I knew what I had to do. Leaning forward I got the attention of the man in my lead, and with not as much persuasion as I anticipated, Pastor Eric agreed to let me take the gospel to the ones “up there”.
That was 2016, and as I look back on that day it still plays a huge part of shaping me into who I am. I would love to sit down with anyone who cares to know more and give you the entire progress of that day, even show you the notebook and names of the people I met and for whom I prayed. But that’s a story for another time. That simple act of following God’s initiation in my life allowed me to be ready for this day, ten years and a few months later. Since that trip we have worked alongside that young pastor you know as Pastor Ezekiel, and he is a true definition of a man who loves God. In 2017 when the church allowed me to lead the Africa trip, Ezekiel shared his dream of being a missionary with me and asked me to aid in training him for the task. Yes, we did a mission trip two years ago, and yes it was a great success, but we both knew there was more to come. Which brings us this years trip, a monumental step in the life of the Kilgoris church that you all have been so gracious to give toward each year since 2016.
This year’s trip takes us across the country of Kenya. From the beautiful transmara mountains to the valley of Laikapia. Being in a new area of Kenya I’ve never been before I’m at the mercy of the things I can read and the pictures I can find, but the short overview of the area is that it sets on the equator and is in the foothills of Mt. Kenya. Forget everything you thought about Africa if you think hot desert, this is a beautiful green rolling mountain terrain with an average elevation of 6,300 ft, with temps averaging from 52 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit.
However exciting that might be we have a even greater reason to be excited…A new church, a new group of people, a new place to share the good news of Jesus.
Pastor Ezekiel has described this place to me many times, the most practical way is to say this…
“they are a people who are twenty years behind in the church, and in their cultural practice!”
We have our work cut out for us this trip as we head into the great unknown, mostly because of what we do know. Physical abuse within marriages and FGM (female genital mutilation) are our two biggest topics we have been asked to tackle head on upon arrival. It’s something most Maasai overcame the better part of two decades ago. It’s not that these things go unnoticed, or are practiced in secret, these are common cultural practices that are not hidden and are still active in the Rumuruti Village we plan to visit this year. Along with this ministry there will be a variety of other ministries happening, sometimes all simultaneously, pastors conference, marriage conferences, women’s and men’s break out sessions, door to door evangelism, and open air crusades are all on the itinerary.
That all being said to say this! We need, and we cherish your prayers. I personally have seen prayer answered my whole life, and I know that most of you reading this cannot travel with us this year. BUT YOU CAN PRAY! Pray for us as we travel, as we prepare our lessons, as we build relationships with new people, as we maintain relationships with old friends and ministry partners. Pray for our heath, and that we obey God in his prompting, pray that we have bold faith. Pray that God is working ahead of us and that He has the hearts of the people prepared to receive what He plans to do as He uses us in Laikapia/Rumururti this fall.
Our team this year consists of Robert Quick, Robert Grimes, Reggie Musgrove, Becky Pope, Rachel Crabtree and myself. We would love to answer any questions or speak to you about the trip or any of the many giving opportunities that are associated with this years trip.
Todd Crabtree 903-720-6625
Once again it is time for our Kenya mission team to start the long journey across the world. Excitement of being in Africa again fills every part of me as I pack items into my backpack. It’s been twenty years since I first had the chance to travel to Africa, and I can’t possibly put into words the changes it’s made in my life. This September 26, we will depart Texas to return to the Kenyan countryside. We will see the rolling mountains, the iconic Acacia trees on the horizon, and the unmatched sunsets in the distant west. The stars at night shine brighter in Africa than they do in even the most remote wilderness areas of the contiguous USA. Twenty years ago I departed American soil for the first time. Now it is not the mystery of Africa that stirs me, but the work of ministry we will get to do there this year.
As we drove, the red dust swirled behind, you’d think it had been years since it last rained the way it lingered in the air. The green leaves heavy on all the things growing along the roadsides would tell a different story. Everything was so green, except for the heavy coating of red dust clinging to anything within twenty feet of the roadsides, it was green. It was a new road, one less traveled by the western visitors than most, and for the three of us in the small diesel safari van, we were excited! God’s prompt for me to go to Kenya was not subtle in my own mind, in fact it was quite direct, but that had been more than ten years previous to this point and I was begging to hear from Him again. We hit every bump, every rock, washed out trench, and pothole the old road had to offer as we traveled toward the new church that we had so recently been told was our next stop. A place with a young pastor eager to make disciples and ready to put in the work required of him. Even now as I’m writing this, I can close my eyes and see the mountainside, the near perfect rows of corn planted on the impossibly steep grades of the Transmara terrain. It was as beautiful a land as I’ve ever seen. As I looked at this place I had never seen before, the possibility of God’s creation gets to jump from the landscape straight into every bit of the imagination that I can muster. What was this place like thirty, forty, fifty, or one hundred years ago. How wild was this place? How did the people survive in such a place as this when the powerful wild animals of Africa roamed untamed in comparison to their now dwindled numbers? I was lost in my own daydreaming of days long ago, when the small mud walled dwelling first took my attention. Then another, then yet another, all the way up there! Upon further inspection I saw more than the houses, I saw men, shepherds, flocks, cattle, I saw opportunity. Having a craving for adventure, and no desire to spend another day preaching in a church building, I knew what I had to do. Leaning forward I got the attention of the man in my lead, and with not as much persuasion as I anticipated, Pastor Eric agreed to let me take the gospel to the ones “up there”.
That was 2016, and as I look back on that day it still plays a huge part of shaping me into who I am. I would love to sit down with anyone who cares to know more and give you the entire progress of that day, even show you the notebook and names of the people I met and for whom I prayed. But that’s a story for another time. That simple act of following God’s initiation in my life allowed me to be ready for this day, ten years and a few months later. Since that trip we have worked alongside that young pastor you know as Pastor Ezekiel, and he is a true definition of a man who loves God. In 2017 when the church allowed me to lead the Africa trip, Ezekiel shared his dream of being a missionary with me and asked me to aid in training him for the task. Yes, we did a mission trip two years ago, and yes it was a great success, but we both knew there was more to come. Which brings us this years trip, a monumental step in the life of the Kilgoris church that you all have been so gracious to give toward each year since 2016.
This year’s trip takes us across the country of Kenya. From the beautiful transmara mountains to the valley of Laikapia. Being in a new area of Kenya I’ve never been before I’m at the mercy of the things I can read and the pictures I can find, but the short overview of the area is that it sets on the equator and is in the foothills of Mt. Kenya. Forget everything you thought about Africa if you think hot desert, this is a beautiful green rolling mountain terrain with an average elevation of 6,300 ft, with temps averaging from 52 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit.
However exciting that might be we have a even greater reason to be excited…A new church, a new group of people, a new place to share the good news of Jesus.
Pastor Ezekiel has described this place to me many times, the most practical way is to say this…
“they are a people who are twenty years behind in the church, and in their cultural practice!”
We have our work cut out for us this trip as we head into the great unknown, mostly because of what we do know. Physical abuse within marriages and FGM (female genital mutilation) are our two biggest topics we have been asked to tackle head on upon arrival. It’s something most Maasai overcame the better part of two decades ago. It’s not that these things go unnoticed, or are practiced in secret, these are common cultural practices that are not hidden and are still active in the Rumuruti Village we plan to visit this year. Along with this ministry there will be a variety of other ministries happening, sometimes all simultaneously, pastors conference, marriage conferences, women’s and men’s break out sessions, door to door evangelism, and open air crusades are all on the itinerary.
That all being said to say this! We need, and we cherish your prayers. I personally have seen prayer answered my whole life, and I know that most of you reading this cannot travel with us this year. BUT YOU CAN PRAY! Pray for us as we travel, as we prepare our lessons, as we build relationships with new people, as we maintain relationships with old friends and ministry partners. Pray for our heath, and that we obey God in his prompting, pray that we have bold faith. Pray that God is working ahead of us and that He has the hearts of the people prepared to receive what He plans to do as He uses us in Laikapia/Rumururti this fall.
Our team this year consists of Robert Quick, Robert Grimes, Reggie Musgrove, Becky Pope, Rachel Crabtree and myself. We would love to answer any questions or speak to you about the trip or any of the many giving opportunities that are associated with this years trip.
Todd Crabtree 903-720-6625
Posted in Africa2026