Hillside Community Church

Here they go again. Adam and Lauri from Hillside Community Church are off to Kenya to review the progress on the many, many projects they have supported and implemented in Western Kenya. During this trip, they will interview how this work has changed lives and review the many projects they have been involved with such as the market gardens, schools, churches, water projects and economic development initiatives. This church has made a huge difference in the lives of many.

A team of 5 members from Hillside Community Church traveled to Kenya in Oct 2015. The team developed a 4 acres self-sustaining community garden and a women’s sewing group. They also reviewed many past projects they have developed in the area including the Bar Olengo dispensary, Double-digging market gardens, Women’s microfinance co-op, bicycle repair enterprises, and local schools, as well as visited the many widows, orphans, and pastors they have developed relationships with over the past number of years.

"The widows who are in extreme poverty share what they get with their neighbours & community. This is something that has touched my heart very much as it is not about 'me' but 'my neighbour'—a valuable lesson to learn."  

A team of 10 people, led by Lauri Alward, built on past team relationships within this community by working alongside the Gospel Power Church. There has already been a dramatic change in the community over the past few years as a part of this church's efforts to bring clean water, medical care and education to the people of Seje. The team was able to be involved in various ministry activities alongside the local church.

Hillside Community Church travelled to Seje, Kenya to participate in building improvements and maintenance on the Seje school. They worked alongside the Gospel Power Church in Seje, and spent their time with the 176 school children enrolled there, providing and distributing new shoes to all of them, and running a kid's carnival!

Read the trip blog.

“[One highlight I experienced on this trip was] how I connected with the older boys in Seje. By the end of the trip, they felt like close friends.”  

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A group from Hillside Community Church, led by church leader Dan Kram and HFL leader Gerry Stinson, traveled to Seje, Kenya to continue their community transformation work alongside field partner Gospel Power Churches and Edwin Napali. The team served the community by providing medical care through a mobile clinic, providing micro-enterprise instruction in the area of market garden training, and helping with completing construction of the local church in Seje.

Read the team blog.

"[One highlight I experienced on this trip was] the children welcoming us on Sunday in the church, their voices were so beautiful."  

A group from Hillside Community church, led by church leaders Krista Bennett and Lauri Alward and HFL leader Jackie Edinborough, traveled to Kenya in fall 2011. They worked alongside field partner Gospel Power Churches and Edgar Odwaro on an expansion at a school in the community of Seje, helping to build a new classroom. As well they purchased and distributed food and school supplies, and hosted two sports days.

"[One highlight I experienced on this trip was] working with the community to build the school. It was such an amazing experience and to be able to build relationship with the people."  

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Leaving early October a group of eight adventurers from Hillside Community Church headed to Kenya for a two week safari (that means journey in Swahili) to the district of Boro. Most of this team had been before and were looking forward to reconnecting with the people, not to mention seeing the changes to the area since their last visit.

The team was led by Dan and Jen along with HFL leader Jackie Edinborough. The purpose of the trip was to assist in building a church structure in Boro to replace the current mud one; to provide medical and basic eye clinic care to the community; to assist with farm preparation; to repeat the ever-popular sports day, and to continue to develop relationships with the community.

"[One highlight I experienced on this trip was] dealing with team differences without absorbing tension and the joy of the children."  

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