Heikki and Maria Lehikoinen

In February of 2004, Heikki and Maria's vision of going to Bible school became clear. During a visit to Kenya that lasted a bit over a week, it began dawning on them that the Bible school they were to attend would be the Redeemed Gospel Church's School of Ministry at the Jesus Celebration Centre in Mombasa.

The next summer they wrestled with the thought, but still felt convinced that God was indeed leading them to Kenya. The time seemed just right to Maria; the elementary school class she had been teaching had just finished sixth grade and were about to move on to a new school. Heikki was granted an unpaid year's leave of absence from his job as an engineer for Patria, this seemed miraculous as he had only been in the position for a relatively short time. They had already made the decision to go when the government granted student benefits for studies abroad.

Before their trip in February, Maria had previously spent three months in Kenya as a volunteer in the city of Kisumu; for Heikki, the trip had been first contact with the African continent. By the end of July in 2004 the car had been sold, the apartment they had been living in had been rented out for a year, and they had their things packed for the trip. It was time to go.

Read Heikki and Maria's greetings from Mombasa: Heikki and Maria's Diary