So, I thought it would be a good idea to give you all a little introduction to this year's Kenya team. The team consists of three members: Andrew, Ben and Mark . Andrew is leading the team. The picture below shows the eager Kenya-bound Tyndale students. (from left to right: Ben, Andrew, Mark.)

We are spending most of our time in north-eastern Kenya. The people of that region are mostly Muslim. We are going to serve in a variety of ways including (but not limited to) painting, cleaning, building, teaching English and praying. We are flying out at 5:30pm on May 8th and we return (God willing) on June 7th.

I came up with some questions (some silly and some serious) so all of you out there in the interwebs could get to know us a little better. We did not read each other’s answers before completing them, so here they are:

In five sentences or less tell us a bit about yourself:

Andrew: Hi I'm Andrew, the son of a logger and grandson of a trapper, twenty years old and getting married in less than 3 months. My hometown is Emo, Ontario and I've shot a 9 point buck and travelled with my family to every province in Canada. I love to run (and wakeboard and snowboard and hunt and fish and play hockey, etc) and feel God's pleasure when I run. Though I don't deserve it one bit, God's hand has been on me and I am eager to serve Him on this my third missions trip.

Ben: I'm Ben! I was born and raised in Australia (but spent 4 years living in Fiji) with my parents and two older brothers. I love God, love soccer, love running, love guitar, and dogs are awesome too. I hope to be a pastor one day, although I am very open to where God might be wanting me to go from here!

Mark: My Dad is a pilot so I have moved a lot, I was born in Manitoba but I spent most of my childhood/teenage years in beautiful British Columbia. I lived in Taipei, Taiwan for a couple of years when my family relocated there and had the opportunity to travel all over southeast Asia . I can’t decide whether I love city life or country life more so I try to do both as often as possible. My passions are writing, music, books and sports/the outdoors.

In ten words or less, why Kenya?

Andrew: Rugged frontier missions with Muslims in Africa. Yes way.

Ben: Kenya is kool with a 'k'.

Mark: God opened the right doors at the right times.

What are you most afraid of happening in Kenya?

Andrew: Tough question. I'm probably most afraid of not praying enough while I'm there and afterward.

Ben: Getting malaria probably. But I'm not worried about it.

Mark: I’m afraid of not listening for God’s leading and letting my own agenda get in the way of his work.

What about the Kenya trip excites you the most?

Andrew: Being able to serve as a unified team with Ben and Mark and knowing that simply living out our faith in Christ will likely have a lasting impact on how the Muslims in Dadaab view Christianity.

Ben: Being inspired by the missionaries, and hopefully getting a better sense of what it means to be a follower of Christ without our Western influences getting in the way? We will see!

Mark: The relationships I’m going to build, both with the guys in the team and with people in Kenya.

What is your favourite dish? (not a nationality of food, just a dish.)

Andrew: Smoked trout with rice.

Ben: Mum's spaghetti.

Mark: Porcelain is nice but I prefer something more durable...

What is your favourite movie?

Andrew: Blindside.

Ben: Tough one. I'm sure I have one, but I am never sure... maybe 'Fearless'.

Mark: Probably the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. But I really love Ben Hur, Kingdom of Heaven, Gladiator and The Good the Bad and the Ugly... Oh and Seven Samurai... It’s hard to choose just one.

What is your favourite book? (Other than the Bible)

Andrew: C. S. Lewis' Mere Christianity is stellar in many ways.

Ben: Don't have one... yet.

Mark: Anything by Dostoevsky or C.S. Lewis.

What is your favourite book of the Bible?

Andrew: Job. I know, weird hey? Have a look, it's not really.

Ben: Psalms! So good to pray through/with.

Mark: Ecclesiastes.

Are Weet-bix delicious?

Andrew: Weet-bix? Disgusting...It's like the ugly tasteless side of mini-wheats.

Ben: Yes, totally. Don't listen to what the other guys say about it...

Mark: What is this? It’s like a mini-wheat without the frosted side. It tastes like I’m eating mushy grass covered in milk.

Teach us! Google something random or share a fact from your brain:

Andrew: It's possible to cut a square using a drill bit. Youtube "how to drill a square hole." It blew my mind.

Ben: In 2001, out of the 541 members of India's lower house of parliament, FOURTEEN were charged with murder! Crazy eh?! How do I know these things...

Mark: C.S. Lewis, Aldous Huxley and J.F.K. all died the same day. Aldous Huxley asked his wife for some LSD before he died.

Fun fact about the team:

We all have the same middle name: William. Weird eh!?

Some prayer requests from the Kenya Team:

Please pray...

For God’s guidance and protection for the team.
That God would do great works through us and with us in Kenya.
That we would have open hearts and open ears while in Kenya.
That fruit of the spirit and the armour of God would surround us and protect us while we are in Kenya
That God would be with us and provide for us upon our return to Canada as well (some of us are still looking for full-time work)
That God brings us closer to Him through this experience in any and every way!
For the people in Kenya, that they may get more rain and come to know Christ.
For our missionary hosts as they prepare for us and take us in.
For Andrew’s leadership; that God protects him and blesses his leadership.

I hope you enjoyed getting to know the Kenya team. Please support us with your prayers.

Thanks for reading,

- Mark