Bega Kwa Bega 2019

After two solid months of training and preparing, the expanded UniShow team has hit the road! On January 11th, the four of us waved goodbye to Minnesota for a few months and headed west to California to catch a flight to Kenya. We failed at our few tourist attempts since we hit historic Mt. Rushmore just after dusk only to find out that the government shut down also meant electricity shut down so the usual lights were off. We also finally came across buffalo at dusk so they we're only a silhouette.

Once we arrived in San Jose, we parked our truck and trailer at the school we will present at immediately after returning from Kenya. Three flights later, totaling 20 hours airborne, we arrived in Nairobi Kenya.

This was our fourth time joining Grace Church serving Bega Kwa Bega (Shoulder to Shoulder) with their sister churches. We spent the first part of the week working with Athi River Baptist Church presenting in schools, churches and in men's and women's high security prisons. The second part of the week was partnering with Haduma Church in the Kawangware slum. Haduma means "to serve" and that is just what we did as we shared the love of Jesus in many ways.

Our Grace Church team of 50 distributed food and essentials, treated hundreds of patients in medical clinics, led kids clubs, marriage seminars, pastors training, women's business training, carpentry workshops and, with the creative team, we presented 22 UniShow Universe outreaches for almost 10,000 people.

The Guest House lodging had a gym with trainers who led us in some killer "So Easy" workouts!  One of the trainers, Jamal, was also a dance choreographer who taught us some new moves to incorporate into the UniShow.  David invited him to perform with us for our final Grace My Story outreach in Kawangware.  Jamal came and threw down some incredible flips and moves that wowed the crowd.  Then he listened intently to Dustin's testimony and Gospel presentation and others' stories and drama.  David talked with Jamal at length afterward and in the end, Jamal decided to surrender his life to Jesus!  The next day he thanked David for introducing him to Jesus saying,  "I feel so good and free!"

Our Grace team saw over 1,000 people indicate decisions to surrender to Jesus through the outreaches! God was at work and it was a privilege to be part of it!

We managed to squeeze in a morning Safari at the Nairobi National Park and saw an amazing amount of God's beautiful creation and creatures including Rhino, Hippo, Zebra, Giraffe, Gazelle, Impala, Antelope, Ostrich, Crocodile, Baboons, Lions, crazy looking Secretary birds and finally in broad daylight Buffalo!

Hombro a Hombro 2017

Every 3 years our home church Grace Church Eden Prairie leads an exciting outreach in Lima Peru, serving hombro a hombro (shoulder to shoulder) with the Callao Church.  This was Dustin's 7th and Katie's 5th time on this outreach.  From 22-30 July 2017 our team of 100 from America joined several hundred Peruvians as we shared the love of Jesus in Lima and Callao.  

In these 7 days we presented to 7,350 people in 15 events.  Through the various outreaches, our team saw over 1,450 people indicate decisions to follow Jesus!  We had a full schedule with a parade to start the week out followed by multiple shows a day in different locations.

Through singing, dumpster drumming, kids games, dramas and of course unicycling, we presented the Gospel in parks, streets, a medical rehab center, church festivals, soccer fields and hospitals.

In addition to the performances, teams painted homes and prayed with their owners.  Others hosted a marriage seminar for couples and a day of events for kids with special needs.  Skilled doctors performed 50 complicated surgerys, as others on the medical team cared for hundreds of sick people.  Every act of love and service was accompanied with prayer and sharing of the Gospel.

New brothers in Christ!

It was great to reconnect with friends we've made over the past 18 years.  It's always fun to see other young unicyclists at the Callao church who have been inspired by Dustin.  As we have in other years, we left some unicycles for others to continue to learn.  

We praise God for the soft hearts He prepared in Peru and for the many people who chose to surrender their lives to Him.  We rejoice with the angels!

Bega Kwa Bega

It was a great privilege to partner for the third time with our church, Grace Church Eden Prairie MN to serve Bega Kwa Bega (Swahili for “Shoulder to Shoulder”) with their sister churches in and around Nairobi Kenya from 2-7 February.  After our Laugh For Life events in Minnesota on Friday and Saturday, we pulled an all-nighter to pack up then flew to Africa on Sunday.

In Nairobi, we joined 50 others from our church.  Our team was multi-faceted and some set up a medical clinic at the churches and cared for hundreds of sick people.  Other teams led a women's conference, pastor's conference, kid's rally's and classroom teachings, door to door visitations, and "Big Serve" work project painting meeting and class rooms.

Along with a choir and illusionist, Dustin unicycled and we shared the Good News in prisons, schools, churches and for community outreaches.  The surfaces were less than ideal, but Dustin adapted well to what was available: dirt, grass, gravel, and narrow concrete strips.  He powerfully shared about God's love during each event and it was exciting to see young and old alike respond and choose to follow Jesus.





We were blessed to work alongside Kenyan brothers and sisters who are also eager to share God's love with their communities.  The condition of some locations we served in as well as the stories of some of those we met were heartbreaking.  We know the message of Hope we shared, that God knows each of their names and loves them so much He gave His life for them, is not just empty words but is truth that can change their lives.  We ask God to water these seeds planted in Kenya.

Photo Credit: Josh Flom

Photo Credit: Josh Flom

Photo Credit: Josh Flom

Local accommodations; not ours.

Proclaiming Liberty to Captives and Freedom to Prisoners

One of the highlights of our Kenya tour was presenting at the only maximum security women's prison in Kenya for several hundred women, their children under 4 years old, and guards. Women are sent here from surrounding countries.

The warden was a very wise, compassionate woman who seemed full of God's love.  She greeted us and shared that they don't call these women "prisoners" but "clients" and treat them like they are residing there to prepare for a better life.  She had each from our team, partner with a client to adopt them through prayer even after we returned to Minnesota.

One young and very beautiful client welcomed us after telling us she was there with a death sentence. She led the group in an African song and dance. Then our team performed songs, unicycling, juggling and illusions which transformed downcast faces into brilliant smiles. Team members shared powerful testimonies of how God has radically transformed their lives and given them hope through salvation. The women listened intently and shed heartfelt tears as many responded to the invitation to find freedom by surrendering to Jesus.

The women cheered when they learned we brought gifts of soap and toilet paper (which they don't usually have) and food.  A group of women from a local church joined our team and were so touched by what went on during this visit that they have pledged to build a much needed bathroom with a shower for the prison maternity ward.  The church ladies will also be returning regularly to minister to the clients.

A few days earlier, some from our group had done a presentation in a men's prison. One prisoner was serving a nine month sentence for being unable to pay a traffic violation. A team member was moved with compassion and paid his debt – that man has now been released!  This inspired our host church partners who selected 8 at the women's prison and paid their $50 fines, allowing them to be released.  Each of the 8 women came forward when their names were called and expressed their gratitude.  As we left the prison, these women were all smiles as they stood on the outside of the gates in civilian clothes, as free women!

Days later, the warden contacted our host and said of our team, "We have never seen people minister here in this way before, mingling with the prisoners without fear."  We pray each of the women ministered to during this outreach will grow in their journey with Jesus and begin to extend the love and grace they received to others.

Barnabas means Son of Encouragement

About 5 times a year the Barnabas Disability Ministry at Grace Church in Eden Prairie Minnesota hosts a fun evening where parents with special needs children can leave their kids with caring volunteers and have the opportunity for an evening out on their own.  It is called a Respite Night.  Barnabas Ministry states, "It is our desire to minister to, encourage, and show the love of Jesus Christ to families that have children with special needs in our church and community."

Friday night, March 6, 2015 we had the privilege of sharing the UniShow for one of these Respite Nights.  The students had big smiles and seemed to thoroughly enjoy the show and listened well to the message.   Many of the families who participate in this ministry do not go to church so it was exciting that Dustin was able to share the Gospel during the presentation.

After the show, the kids made a bee line for the unicycles we had available for them to try.  One guy had taught himself to ride in years previous so he spent the rest of the night riding laps around the gym, getting tips from Dustin on what tricks to attempt next.  The kids took turns with the unis, helped each other out and no one had any serious injuries.

It was super neat to see the Barnabas Ministry in action and see all the volunteers caring for these wonderful children.  Please pray with us that these kids would truly know and accept God's love amidst the challenges they face.

Bashing Fall at Grace Church

Two days after returning from Cairo we shared the UniShow with children and families for Grace Church Eden Prairie's AWANA Fall Bash.  Despite jet lag and Dustin still recovering from falling on his back off the ramps during the last show at the Cave Church in Cairo, we had a great event.  It was a treat and privilege to perform at our home church.

Dustin shared his story and the Gospel and many students responded and gave their lives to Jesus!  It was neat to see kids coming up front with their friends to help introduce them to God.  We pray that these young lives will follow God all their days and tell many others about His great love!

Shoulder to Shoulder in Peru

The last week of July was spent in Lima Peru with 205 others from Grace Church.  We worked "hombro a hombro" with hundreds from our sister church in Callao.  We did 19 presentations for nearly 13,000 Peruvians and a few dogs.  Throughout the week we saw nearly 4,000 choose to follow Jesus for the first time!  It was an exciting week ministering in parks, shopping malls, streets, schools, a rehabilitation center and parade.  It was special to reunite with friends made during our previous 4 visits to Peru and special to make new ones.  They are such gracious, joyful, loving people and it was a privilege to serve with them again!

Other points of interest include eating cow heart and stomach, and Dustin lighting his face on fire while fire breathing during a show.  He was told afterward not to take literally the saying, "he's so on fire for Jesus that people come for miles just to watch him burn"!  It sure worked as an attention grabber and he proceeded to share the powerful Gospel message and ride and juggle on his 10 ft. unicycle to complete the show.  

Click here for photos, videos and updates of the outreach.  Thanks for praying with us for these new believers in Jesus that they will get plugged into the Callao Church and become fully devoted followers of Christ!