We arrived at St. Phillips church about mid-day on our day with Bishop Matolo. It was out in the country on a plain, very different from the hillside churches we had visited early that morning. The congregation was led by Rev. Daniel Mutuku, a very friendly and humble man of God who welcomed us with open arms.

We took a small tour of their land where we saw little plots set aside for farming. The church family has started farming and selling various vegetables to sell to help support the building of the church. They want to be able to build a new roof, pour new concrete floors and build an altar. We prayed with them as they blessed the first fruit of their crop.

During this time the beautiful ladies of the church brought us tea and bread. They told us that the Bible says “Visitors do not visit without the church wiping the dust from their feet.”

Finally getting a chance to go through some of these photos from Kenya!

Meet Bishop Matolo. When Jessi and I finished our project with KIINI in Kenya we had a few days left at the tail end of our trip and used them to tag up with one of the CEC’s (Charismatic Episcopal Church) local bishops to photograph his diocese. I did a similar project during my last trip to Kenya in the western part of the country, so it was very interesting to see the similarities and differences in this, a more central and eastern area of Kenya.

We spent the day traveling all over Biship Matolo’s diocese and visiting several of his churches and local projects. The community there is so incredible. They work hard, and they work together.

The following are some of my favorite photos from the first place we visited with him. Each little church and congregation had its own little story. This first church was still in its “temporary” state; they are hoping to build a full size church with enough seating for the whole community.

This past trip to Kenya, Jessi and I got to spend the last few days of our trip with Bishop Matolo of the CEC.  I’ve just recently gotten to open those photos up and look through them (wedding season + working at the church in NYC has really slowed me down this summer).  Here’s a screen shot of some of what is coming up soon.  The stuff is looking great and the story is awesome…a church thriving in the heart of Kenya with some really wonderful support from the States!  More on it soon…here’s a teaser and a reminder…we’re still here and we’re still telling stories…stay tuned!

This trip to Kenya for the Kiini Project was Jessi’s first trip to Africa and she had a blast.  It’s one of those places that it’s hard not to fall in love with.  Here’s a shot of Jessi from our day with Bishop Matolo in Muchakos.  Also check out some shots that I did for Times Square Church in Texas a few months ago when we were building homes to ship to Haiti HERE.

While we were in Kenya working on the Kiini Project we also had the opportunity to visit one of the Charismatic Episcopal Church’s Bishops, Bishop Matolo. You may recall that I spent some time with Bishop Chunge during my last trip to Kenya, another of the CEC’s bishops in Kenya.

Bishop Matolo lives in Machakos, a town East of Nairobi. We were able to spend a day with him and visited several of his churches and the project that they’re undertaking. Here are a few shots from our time with him!

A pastor for one of Bishop Matolo’s churches prays while we visit.

Some of the women in the above pastor’s congregation.

Bishop Matolo shows us the plans for the future church building they hope to erect around the small, semi-permanent existing one.

Bishop Matolo prays at one of the churches we visit in his diocese.

This church that we visited has a small farm that they use to help provide food for the congregation so that they can save money.  This is a model that Bishop Matolo is using with several churches in his diocese.

The congregation comes to greet us.

We spent some time visiting with the congregation and sharing tea with them, a common custom in Kenya.

The head pastor and his wife are introduced to us.

Bishop Matolo is asked to bless this pumpkin, the first fruit that their fields have yielded this year.

The congregation wave their goodbyes as we head to the next location.

This is the only finished, permanent church in Bishop Matolo’s diocese.

Bishop Matolo is also working on an irrigation project that he hopes will provide more food for the people in his congregation.

The crops in the fields that are irrigated are much healthier than the surrounding fields that depend on rainfall.

The water is pumped from the river nearby to the fields.