Only One More Day
Image is Robert Quick and George Kimani in the "HOT BOX"
As I woke up this morning, the first thing to consume my mind was that it was only one more day before we head back to Africa. This mornings cool crisp air almost felt like the Kenyan mornings as I stepped outside to begin the long list of last min chores I have to complete before the days end. I still have some packing to do, some hay to put out, a spot in the fence that I want to check, and an assortment of other task that need to be completed today. Uriah is gathering the horses and mules, to catch them for a morning ride, Rachel and Faith are out for a run, and I sat down to let you all know that we appreciate all you’ve done to send us once more. I wanted to let you know that we are ready, we are prepared, and we are excited to go…once again!
Soon after sunrise our group text came alive with a weather report of Rumuruti. Looks like 50 degrees will be a low and 85 the high for the week. That’s good productive temps for a outdoor bible conference. This year we will teach many scriptures and do many things but one of the goals we have is to teach through a considerable amount of the book of James. Therefore, pray with us and for us as we go, that God speaks through us into the hearts of all who hear. We would ask you to join us for this to be a productive journey that will change the hearts and lives of those people we are fortunate enough to speak with, and that new people will choose to follow Jesus as a result.
It’s hard to think of Kenya without thinking about the wildlife. I’m sitting here now listening to the call of a crow, he is no doubt enjoying this weather every bit as much as I am. It does however remind me of one of the African proverbs that I find invokes some curiosity in me. This simple saying can help us speak into the lives of these men and women even though they experience life so much differently than we do.
“If you ask the grass, the zebra is the threat, and the lion is the protector.”
This is, to me, a real way to help visualize the vast differences in the way we view the world and the life in it, contrasting the Massai people we are going to minister too. The culture they have been raised in stirs their own convictions just as being raised in the Sabine River bottom as an American has shaped me. It’s difficult to walk into another mans land, see things we would describe as evil and see them embrace that very thing as a way to protect their children…that is however, the reality and the task for our trip this year. We live in a world softened by the modern comforts of this western life, a world where the average person will pay almost any cost for this comfort…and label it as being disciplined.
If you ask the older ladies in the Massia culture, we, the team of Americans teaching the scriptures, are the enemy, and they are the lions bound to protect what has been for thousands of years. If you ask the older men, they will tell you too, that like the actual lions, the women provide the daily provisions and they are there as the male lion, to protect from physical threat.
We have used this mentality in the past to help other churches escape the brutal FGM culture which stains the past of the Massai people. We are hopeful that this year will be successful in Rumuruti.
Therefore, please join us as we go to fight this war with a lost culture. We need the softness of Christ and we also need the sharp sword of His word to cut through all the tradition and pierce the hearts of all the people of God who resist. But let us not forget, before any of this can work we need to be dealing with a person who knows Jesus and who has the conviction of the Holy Spirt to guide them. So pray for salvation, pray for boldness, pray however you want too, but please do battle with us, though prayer, this next 10 days as we go and try our best to tackle the challenges God has put in front of us this year.
I can only speak for myself, but I am happy to be the vessel that is tasked to take this word to Rumuruti in 2026. I am blessed to have the team I have to go and fight this with me and we are blessed to be joining the Kenyan team also. I sometimes get wrapped up with the wrong details and think that they are joining us for this mission to battle for the kingdom, but the truth is we are going with them. All the emotion and conviction that we have to try and help is just the beginning of the burden that this Kenyan mission team feels for their countrymen, their tribesman, their brothers and sisters in Christ.
There are still many items on our list yet to be covered, if you still have a desire to help it’s not too late. Give in the offering boxes this Sunday or Give online and the funding can still get to where it needs to be.
Thanks,
Todd Crabtree
Soon after sunrise our group text came alive with a weather report of Rumuruti. Looks like 50 degrees will be a low and 85 the high for the week. That’s good productive temps for a outdoor bible conference. This year we will teach many scriptures and do many things but one of the goals we have is to teach through a considerable amount of the book of James. Therefore, pray with us and for us as we go, that God speaks through us into the hearts of all who hear. We would ask you to join us for this to be a productive journey that will change the hearts and lives of those people we are fortunate enough to speak with, and that new people will choose to follow Jesus as a result.
It’s hard to think of Kenya without thinking about the wildlife. I’m sitting here now listening to the call of a crow, he is no doubt enjoying this weather every bit as much as I am. It does however remind me of one of the African proverbs that I find invokes some curiosity in me. This simple saying can help us speak into the lives of these men and women even though they experience life so much differently than we do.
“If you ask the grass, the zebra is the threat, and the lion is the protector.”
This is, to me, a real way to help visualize the vast differences in the way we view the world and the life in it, contrasting the Massai people we are going to minister too. The culture they have been raised in stirs their own convictions just as being raised in the Sabine River bottom as an American has shaped me. It’s difficult to walk into another mans land, see things we would describe as evil and see them embrace that very thing as a way to protect their children…that is however, the reality and the task for our trip this year. We live in a world softened by the modern comforts of this western life, a world where the average person will pay almost any cost for this comfort…and label it as being disciplined.
If you ask the older ladies in the Massia culture, we, the team of Americans teaching the scriptures, are the enemy, and they are the lions bound to protect what has been for thousands of years. If you ask the older men, they will tell you too, that like the actual lions, the women provide the daily provisions and they are there as the male lion, to protect from physical threat.
We have used this mentality in the past to help other churches escape the brutal FGM culture which stains the past of the Massai people. We are hopeful that this year will be successful in Rumuruti.
Therefore, please join us as we go to fight this war with a lost culture. We need the softness of Christ and we also need the sharp sword of His word to cut through all the tradition and pierce the hearts of all the people of God who resist. But let us not forget, before any of this can work we need to be dealing with a person who knows Jesus and who has the conviction of the Holy Spirt to guide them. So pray for salvation, pray for boldness, pray however you want too, but please do battle with us, though prayer, this next 10 days as we go and try our best to tackle the challenges God has put in front of us this year.
I can only speak for myself, but I am happy to be the vessel that is tasked to take this word to Rumuruti in 2026. I am blessed to have the team I have to go and fight this with me and we are blessed to be joining the Kenyan team also. I sometimes get wrapped up with the wrong details and think that they are joining us for this mission to battle for the kingdom, but the truth is we are going with them. All the emotion and conviction that we have to try and help is just the beginning of the burden that this Kenyan mission team feels for their countrymen, their tribesman, their brothers and sisters in Christ.
There are still many items on our list yet to be covered, if you still have a desire to help it’s not too late. Give in the offering boxes this Sunday or Give online and the funding can still get to where it needs to be.
Thanks,
Todd Crabtree
Posted in Africa2026