Update: Kenyan Director Trip to the States

Guest Blogger: Preston Gordon, CARE for AIDS Event Coordination Intern

From the moment Duncan and Cornel arrived at the Atlanta airport last Wednesday to now as I write from Chattanooga, TN, this summer’s director trip has been a successful and adventure-filled experience. My job for the last month has been coordinating Duncan and Cornel’s time in the States and now that they are here, I am their chauffer, chaperone, and personal encyclopedia on everything that us crazy “mzungus” do on a daily basis.

The main focus of this trip is to extend our network of Americans who partner with CARE for AIDS through raising support and awareness about our ministry. So far, Duncan and Cornel have traveled to Winshape Camp in Rome, Georgia, spoken in the homes of Rich and Karon Wilckens and Ernest and Jan Taylor in the Atlanta area, visited Harris Baptist and Northside Baptist churches in Greenwood, South Carolina, spoken at the home of Sarah Tollick in Greenville, South Carolina, and traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina to speak at an amazing fundraising dinner hosted by Donald and Brenda Thompson—all in just over a week! We have had the opportunity to introduce CARE for AIDS to many individuals who were previously unaware of our work in Kenya and to date have raised a substantial level of support for CFA.

Needless to say we have been very busy traveling and speaking, but some other highlights of the trip so far include visiting the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, meeting southern hospitality (e.g. endless quantities of delicious food) around every corner, going on a golf cart adventure around Peachtree City, and exploring the outdoor playground that is downtown Chattanooga.
Tomorrow (7/17) we will speak at Brainerd Baptist in Chattanooga, then head back to Atlanta to speak at Dogwood Church the remainder of the weekend. Next week is filled with speaking events in the Atlanta area, then the following weekend we will head to Virginia Beach to wrap up the trip.

This time with Duncan and Cornel has been an invaluable learning experience for me in so many ways—from logistics of event planning to being forced to rethink questions such as, “Why don’t we use the big open spaces beside the interstate to plant corn and graze cows?”, I have loved every second of it. Having the opportunity to live with Duncan and Cornel for a few weeks has given me an amazing snapshot of their passion for serving those suffering with HIV/AIDS in Kenya. And knowing that these two men of God are leading the way for our ministry in Kenya, I am more confident than ever that God is using CARE for AIDS to transform lives not only through physical counseling and emotional support, but also—and more importantly—through the power and love of Jesus Christ. The work of our Lord is being carried out in Kenya! To God be the glory…