Spreading the Gospel and Offering Assistance
As we arrived in Kitale, our missionary group wasted no time in setting up our operations. We preached the gospel in churches, schools, and evangelized at public gatherings, sharing the message of love, hope, and redemption that Christ offers his followers. Simultaneously, we worked diligently to provide food and medical assistance to those in need. We also traveled twice to a tribal village in Pokot and ministered to the people there for a total of two weeks. We shared the gospel with the Pokot people while we led church services, taught elementary education in their sole school, arranged a kid's camp, and distributed bed nets to families to combat malaria. Witnessing the gratitude and hope in the eyes of the local Kenyan people as we extended a helping hand gave us a sense of purpose and reinforced our commitment to the mission.
One particular act of service we performed during our time in Kitale left an indelible mark on my heart. Inspired by the humble example set by Jesus Christ, we washed the feet of sick children. Due to their substandard living conditions, these children have been battling jigger infestations on their bodies, primarily on their feet. A jigger is a small parasitic flea that burrows into the skin of its host and spreads by laying eggs. After washing the children’s feet, we soaked them in a medicinal solution and provided them with new shoes and medicine. It was a profound and intimate experience, symbolizing our willingness to serve others with humility and compassion. Through this act, we aimed to emulate the love and care that Jesus showed to those he encountered. The genuine gratitude and joy we witnessed in the children's faces seemed to replace their pain and sicknesses, if only for a moment. Seeing the power of humility and acts of service in action strengthened our belief in the power of selfless acts.
Meeting Lucky - An Extraordinary Journey of Resilience
During our stay in Pokot, I had the privilege of meeting a young man named "Lucky". He was abandoned by his mother as a baby and left to perish in the streets. But a random woman walking the street found him and took him into an orphanage and he was given the name Lucky because he was lucky to survive. After some time, Lucky was placed in a house, but the family abused him to such an extent that Lucky eventually fled and started living on the streets. After years of living on the streets, Lucky was taken into another orphanage called Full of Love, where he still remains today. Despite the hardships he had endured, Lucky displayed an extraordinary resilience and unwavering faith in God. His unwavering optimism and kind heart were evident in every interaction we had with him.
Lucky's story touched my soul deeply. Despite growing up in challenging circumstances, he refused to be defined by his past. Instead, he focused on becoming a source of light and inspiration for others in his community. Lucky's faith had not only helped him overcome his personal struggles but had also become the driving force behind his desire to touch the lives of those around him.
Lucky was a constant source of joy and inspiration in a place where living, even temporarily, was grudgingly difficult. I remember Lucky once forgot a plate of food on the table and when we returned to the house, it was covered with ants. Lucky looked at it sad for a second but then simply laughed blew maybe 3 of the ants off from it and popped the ant-covered food into his mouth! God Bless Lucky!
HeavenlyCoffee.com Brewing Hope for Communities in Need
In the midst of our missionary work, I am constantly reminded that it is my family's company, Heavenly Coffee, that fuels my missionary efforts. As a faith-driven enterprise, the company uses its proceeds to support our missionary work in various regions, including Kenya, Honduras, Mexico, Colombia, Nepal, Costa Rica, and Germany to date. This missionary machine allows us to provide vital resources and assistance to communities in need, empowering us to make a lasting impact in the lives of individuals like Lucky.
My missionary trip to Kitale, Kenya, was a transformative journey filled with hope, compassion, and the power of the human spirit. Through spreading the gospel and providing assistance to the local Kenyan people, my fellow missionaries and I were blessed to witness the resilience and unwavering faith of individuals like Lucky. Their stories serve as a reminder that regardless of our circumstances, we have the ability to overcome hardships and touch the lives of others with our kind hearts and unwavering faith. It is through your support in buying bags of coffee and subscriptions that we can continue to bring hope and make a tangible difference in the world, one region and one person at a time.
Please support my next venture at the Christ for All Nations School of Evangelism in Frankfurt Germany in August 2023, where I will be continuing my education as an evangelist and servant of Christ. You can support me by purchasing a bag of our 90+pt coffee (or 4), or even better, a subscription to coffee every few weeks to help me with the ongoing living expenses as I attend school. Every dollar goes directly towards my tuition, and living expenses and missionary work. Since I have just come from some excellent Coffee plantations in Kenya, may I recommend
-Esther Kotyakov
(Above) "Lucky" and the Ants Incident
An Orphaned Child Hitching a Ride
Evangelizing at a Men's Prison - 3 Prisoners Saved that day
]]>My missionary trip to "Hell Street" in Medellin, Colombia, was an eye opening and rewarding experience that I will never forget. It was a journey that revealed to me the realities of life on the fringes of society, where poverty and violence reign, and hope seems like a distant dream.
As a young Christian, I've always felt a calling to serve others and share the love of Christ. When I heard about the opportunity to join a mission trip to Colombia, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to put my faith into action to minister in a region that we buy our coffee from. Little did I know that this journey would take me to one of the most dangerous and impoverished neighborhoods in the city of Medellin.
"Hell Street," as it's commonly known, is a place where crime, drug addiction, and gang violence are rampant. The people who live there are some of the poorest and most marginalized in society, with little access to education, healthcare, or basic necessities like food and shelter. It's a place where life is cheap, and death is an everyday occurrence.
As our group of missionaries approached the neighborhood, we were met with a sense of fear and trepidation. We had heard stories of the dangers that awaited us, of the violence and hostility that we might encounter. But as we walked through the streets, we were struck by the warmth and hospitality of the people we met.
Despite their circumstances, the people of Hell Street welcomed us with open arms, eager to hear what we had to say and grateful for the help and support we offered. We set up a makeshift clinic, providing medical care and basic hygiene services to those in need. We also offered food and clothing, knowing that these basic necessities could make a world of difference to people living in such dire conditions.
But our mission was about more than just providing material assistance. We were there to share the message of Christ, to offer hope to those who had lost all hope. We held prayer services and Bible studies, and we talked to people about the power of faith and the love of God. For many, it was the first time they had heard such a message, and they were eager to learn more.
As we worked in the neighborhood, we also began to understand the challenges that the people of Hell Street faced. We heard stories of families torn apart by violence and addiction, of children who had never known anything but poverty and hardship. We saw the toll that these circumstances had taken on people's mental and emotional well-being, as well as their physical health.
One of the most striking things about our time in Hell Street was the sense of community that existed there. Despite their poverty and hardship, the people of the neighborhood had a deep sense of camaraderie and mutual support. They looked out for one another, sharing whatever they had and offering help and comfort in times of need. It was a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and it gave us hope that change was possible.
Throughout our time in Hell Street, we were reminded of the power of faith and the transformative effect it can have on people's lives. We saw firsthand how the love of God can bring hope and healing to even the most desperate situations. We were humbled by the strength and faith of the people we met, and we were inspired to continue our work in service to others.
In the end, our mission trip to Hell Street was not just about what we accomplished, but about what we learned. We learned about the resilience and strength of the human spirit, about the power of faith to bring hope and healing, and about the importance of service and compassion in our lives. It was an experience that we will never forget, and one that we will carry with us always.
As we left Hell Street and returned to our homes and families, we knew that our work was not finished. We had seen the challenges that the people of the neighborhood faced, and we knew that we needed to do more to support them. We continued to work with local organizations to provide ongoing assistance and support to the people of Hell Street, and we made a commitment to return to the neighborhood on a regular basis.
Our experience in Hell Street also had a profound impact on our own faith and spirituality. We realized that true service to others requires a deep sense of humility and compassion, and that it is only through genuine connection and empathy that we can make a real difference in people's lives. We were challenged to examine our own lives and to ask ourselves how we could better live out our faith in service to others.
Life After Hell Street
In the years since our trip to Hell Street, we have continued to work with marginalized communities around the world, bringing the message of Christ and the love of God to those in need. We have seen firsthand the transformative power of faith and service, and we are committed to continuing this work for the rest of our lives.
Looking back on our time in Hell Street, we are filled with gratitude for the experience and the lessons it taught us. We are grateful for the people we met and the relationships we formed, and we are inspired by their resilience and determination in the face of incredible adversity. We are grateful for the opportunity to have served in this way, and we are humbled by the trust and generosity of those who welcomed us into their community.
My missionary trip to Hell Street in Medellin, Colombia, was a life-changing experience that taught me the power of faith, service, and compassion. It was a journey that challenged me to examine my own life and to ask myself how I could better live out my faith in service to others. It was an experience that I will never forget, and one that has inspired me to continue working in service to marginalized communities around the world.
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Unraveling The 'Secret' Behind Kona Coffee - Sourcing Coffee on Hawaii's Big Island
To the average consumer, paying $50 for 12 ounces of coffee beans might seem a bit excessive. But to true coffee lovers and gourmet enthusiasts, the Kona coffee bean is one of those things that can truly be considered a gift from heaven. Besides being grown in an amazingly beautiful place, with over 3,000 small farms scattered throughout the three largest islands of Hawaii – Kauai, Oahu and Hawaii - Kona Coffee boasts several qualities that set it apart from all other coffees throughout the world which we will discuss below.
What specifically makes Kona so special?
The Flavor: Kona coffee is indeed considered one of the best tasting coffees in the world. It has a complex taste -light, sweet and fruity with hints of spice or nuts and perfect acidity - which makes it stand out from other coffees. It also has no bitter aftertaste.
The terroir: As you may have heard that Kona coffee is harvested on the slopes of Mauna Loa Volcano on Hawaii's Big Island. The perfect mix of volcanic soil, temperature, 1,500- 3,200' elevation and optimal annual rainfall make for an excellent coffee.
Processing: Kona Coffee is processed in small batches which allows for a greater degree of control over the drying process compared to other regions. Many processing stations are set up with infrared bean graders which automatically discard poor quality or unripe beans which will adversely affect the flavor of the end product.
Culture: The culture surrounding Kona Coffee focuses on the craft that goes into making each cup of coffee as well as the work that goes into growing each bean from seed to cup. In fact, there are many rituals surrounding this type of coffee including roasting over an open
I am fortunate enough to visit Kona 3-4 times per year to source our Kona Coffee beans from small farms and have first hand experience at the farm level. I enjoy the beauty of the land as well as the passion of the people behind the coffee. Here are eight things you should know about sourcing Kona coffee: 1. You will pay more for Kona than other coffees. 2. The price difference is worth it. 3. Older coffee trees are better than young coffee trees, which has not had time to develop its full flavor potential. 4. Don't buy from a processor who blends multiple farms beans together - go direct to the grower if possible. 5. Be prepared to spend time on your search, tasting all kinds of coffee (not just Kona) before you find your ideal farmer. 6. Don't be afraid to ask questions when visiting a farm or buying coffee at a farmer's market - they want you to be happy with what you buy! 7. Look for wet hulled processing (meaning the beans are dried in the pod) if you want a nice clean cup without any earthiness and less caffeine.
Kona coffee is unquestionably worth the money, because it’s truly a great coffee. Kona is one of Hawaii’s top agricultural products, and you can taste why. The consistency is a perfect medium ground (pun intended) of bold taste, strong but approachable flavor, and interesting complexity. You can’t go wrong with Kona coffee, it truly makes a heavenly cup of coffee.
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