Year In The Field - Tom & Mabel Kenney

Dear Chapel Friends,
Thank you for the privilege of spending this year having our hearts renewed for God’s plan to reach the nations. We are humbled by the opportunity to reconnect with all of our global partners, sister churches and to see models of refugee work.
 
Below is a map and a list of the dates/places/purposes of our visits. If you would like to receive periodic updates on our experiences in the field during this year, please sign up using the link below.

We’ll miss you dearly.
Tom & Mabel Kenney

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Maps & Schedule

Here are all of the places that the Kenneys planned to travel to over the coming year. Then COVID-19 hit and travel restrictions popped up everywhere. See below for a map of their actual travel route.
Planned Schedule
June 2-30: Portland, Oregon USA - strategic planning; global ministry study; theology of work study
July 1 -31: Bozeman, Montana USA - Classical Christian School movement study and discussion
August 1-31: Faro, Portugal - serve alongside ministry that encourages burned out pastors
September 1 - October 19: Jerusalem, Israel - serve and help refugees; biblical historical study
October 20 - November 11: Larnaca, Cyprus - serve refugees; study of NT history involving Cyprus
November 12 - December 18: Middle East - teaching / leadership development; encouraging global partners
December 19 - January 21, 2021: Nairobi, Kenya - encourage global partners, work with the poor on the coast
January 22 - February 20: Middle East - teaching / leadership development, encourage global partners
February 21 - March 2: Central Asia - observe / encourage partners engaged in humanitarian aid
March 3 - 14: Middle East - observe / encourage global partners
March 15-26: East Asia - observe / encourage medical school workers who share our humanitarian concerns
March 27 - April 10: Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea - observe / encourage Bible translation work; preaching
April 11 - May 2: Myota, Japan - observe / encourage global partners; strengthen church partnership
May 3 - June 1: Toronto, Canada - observe / encourage global partners; connect with local pastors for partnerships
June 2 - 30: Brussels, Belgium - observe / encourage global partners; global ministry & theology of work study
July 1 - 30: Glasgow, Scotland - global ministry & theology of work study; write summary of Year-In-The-Field

Actual Travel Map
Revised Schedule
​June 2-30: Portland, Oregon USA - strategic planning; global ministry study; theology of work study
July 1 -31: Bozeman, Montana USA - Classical Christian School movement study and discussion
August 1-24: Faro, Portugal - serve alongside ministry that encourages burned out pastors
  • September 1 - October 19: Jerusalem, Israel - This plan was scrapped due to COVID-19 restrictions. You prayed and spread the word. A house-sitting opportunity in France near Geneva opened up, the home of a global ministry member care provider!]
  • October 20 - November 11: Larnaca, Cyprus - COVID-19 derailed these plans when Cyprus closed its borders to both France and later, Switzerland.
​August 24 – October 28: France, then Switzerland both near Geneva - The Lord opened up several opportunities to share the gospel with friends of friends here. One is a journalist-turned-author based in southern Africa who wrote a book on African Maleness – helpful if hostile discussions of African Christianity there! One is a Gen Xer aware of the gospel but drawn more to channeling. Member care reading and discussions with our landlord before he left. Other readings on a biblical view of retirement and long walks for prayer and soaking in the beauty of these surroundings. We moved to Switzerland because it was on Cyprus’ “OK” list when France was not. Another house-sitting opportunity! Opportunities to visit with folks and churches who knew and love the Taylors (David & Laura) and Deals from their time in the area with Youth For Christ. Rich fellowship.
November 2020: Nairobi, Kenya - Our time in Kenya was a blast. Our partner church, Karen Community, is experiencing renewal and we were able to encourage it. The Mosers were in the process of aligning with a new sending agency. They hosted us for two weeks and we were able to affirm their choice. “Earl and Lucille” were wrapping up his surgery recovery and laying plans to return to the coast. That green light came shortly after we left. Yay!! It was a joy to spend a few nights with them. 
December 2020 – the present: Central Asia - We have been in the Central Asia zone of the world. Time with global partners has been rich. See the update for details. COVID-19 has added several layers of stress for our friends here, slowing things down. We have had rich times with many of those friends, had time for reading and prayer and learning from conversations. We are so thankful for both vaccinations and for great health. Thanks for praying for that! 

What’s coming up between now and August
  • We’ll see J&ML this month in a city a day’s journey from us. We’ll celebrate the completion of 5 years of work with a strategic school.
  • We hope to visit R&DS in June just before we travel back to the States.
  • Plans for East Asia, PNG, Japan, Canada and Europe have been scrapped due to COVID-19 restrictions on travel. The Lord knows!
  • We hope to arrive in the States in early July, quarantine a bit, then visit family and friends until arriving home mid-August.