Here is a two minute snippet of the Kenya Global Project! It was filmed and produced by the AWESOME Daniel Bourassa. Thank you, thank you!! This brought tears to my eyes and launched me right back to my summer and the most incredible experience of my life!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Photos from Kenya!
Our whole Kenya Global Project Team
Riding the train to Mombasa, Kenya
Lake Nakuru on safari day
The compound I stayed at in Korogocho, home to Tumaini Ministries
A delicious breakfast...mangoes, avocados, bread, jam and chai tea, YUM!
Looking out over Korogocho
Kiserian school children
The avocados were amazing, and HUGE!
Sunset over Korogocho
Mathare Valley Slum
Mathare Valley children
I really do!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
unpacking...
Hello friends and family!
Well I've been back in the USA for a week...and it is weird! I supposed you get used to living some where and then when you are yanked out it all turns upside down! I definately got used to living in Kenya and I miss it... a lot! But being home is wonderful too...after you start to get over the initial shock of it all. The toilets flush, you can drink out of the faucet, there is cheese, I can just hop in my car and go anywhere I want, everyone speaks english, I have a little magic box called a cell phone that connects me INSTANTLY with just about anyone. America, oh America.
What am I missing the most? Hmmmm....
1. The overwhelmingly friendly nature of everyone in Kenya, no matter if you are a stranger or a close friend. Everyone greets you with a smile and a hearty handshake. There is a lot of love and hospitality in Kenya...everyone is welcomed to dinner.
2. The pace of life. It is about 10X slower than here, even when I was in Nairobi (the capital city), people weren't in that big of a rush. Relationship, whether it was with family, friends or neighbors was WAY more important than how many things you could get accomplished in a day. Efficency wasn't in Kenyan vocabulary...and I loved that.
3. Openess about spirituality. People aren't reserved or afraid to talk about what they believe in. You can just walk up to a stranger or knock on any door and start talking about what they think about God. No slamming doors, no scoffs, no dismissals. People want to talk about real things, about matters of life and the heart.
4. Fresh, dirt-cheap, and GIGANTIC mangos and avacodos every day. Delicious. I actually cracked up laughing a few days ago in the supermarket when I saw our pitiful excuse for avacodos and their staggering price. Haha, I ate ones nearly the size of my head for no more than 20 cents each morning. Sigh.
5. Kids screaming "How are you mzungu?!" every 5 seconds as we walked down the road and running to grab our hands and walk with us. Those wtoto (children) were just about the cutest things ever...I almost snuck a few home in my suitcase.
6. My amazing team. 40 college students from all over the US and Kenya leaders and one amazing family (the Schenks), living together, laughing till our sides ached, sharing meals and stories, growing in our faith and challenging each other, crying over the overwhelming-ness of Kenya, of God, of poverty, and of the joy we found here.
Many Kenyans have very little when it comes to material wealth, but oh they are rich in spiritual wealth. They know where their treasure lies, not on this earth, but in heaven. Many Americans have everything in the world a person could need or want and they don't think they need a savior. We are the poorest in spirit, and that is an aching tragedy. But God is a redeemer, He comes into the brokeness and makes it beautiful and fruitful again.
We have so much, we are blessed, why not use it wisely to further the kingdom, to spread life and not get lost in our greed. It is a challenge that I will live with everyday...I am accountable to every poverty-stricken, malnurished, aching person and horrible situation that I saw in Kenya. I cannot deny that there are people living with life crushing diseases in substandard conditions who look injustice in the eyes everyday. I was there. What am I going to do next? With God's help I will continue to become the person that He designed me to be, and leave holy footsteps where ever I tread. I am responsible for what I have been given, and what I have seen? What will the world know about God through me?
It is really hard to be set apart, to swim up stream, to push against the grain of this world, but I am convinced that it will be worth it now and especially in the end.
Colossians 3:1-4, 12-14
"Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you will appear with him in glory. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with eachother and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity."
Be blessed. Thank you so much again for all your prayers, advice, and support. I will post some photos in the next couple of weeks...I have about 1200 to go through and edit. I can't believe where I have been, and I can't believe that I am home.
Much love,
Bess
Well I've been back in the USA for a week...and it is weird! I supposed you get used to living some where and then when you are yanked out it all turns upside down! I definately got used to living in Kenya and I miss it... a lot! But being home is wonderful too...after you start to get over the initial shock of it all. The toilets flush, you can drink out of the faucet, there is cheese, I can just hop in my car and go anywhere I want, everyone speaks english, I have a little magic box called a cell phone that connects me INSTANTLY with just about anyone. America, oh America.
What am I missing the most? Hmmmm....
1. The overwhelmingly friendly nature of everyone in Kenya, no matter if you are a stranger or a close friend. Everyone greets you with a smile and a hearty handshake. There is a lot of love and hospitality in Kenya...everyone is welcomed to dinner.
2. The pace of life. It is about 10X slower than here, even when I was in Nairobi (the capital city), people weren't in that big of a rush. Relationship, whether it was with family, friends or neighbors was WAY more important than how many things you could get accomplished in a day. Efficency wasn't in Kenyan vocabulary...and I loved that.
3. Openess about spirituality. People aren't reserved or afraid to talk about what they believe in. You can just walk up to a stranger or knock on any door and start talking about what they think about God. No slamming doors, no scoffs, no dismissals. People want to talk about real things, about matters of life and the heart.
4. Fresh, dirt-cheap, and GIGANTIC mangos and avacodos every day. Delicious. I actually cracked up laughing a few days ago in the supermarket when I saw our pitiful excuse for avacodos and their staggering price. Haha, I ate ones nearly the size of my head for no more than 20 cents each morning. Sigh.
5. Kids screaming "How are you mzungu?!" every 5 seconds as we walked down the road and running to grab our hands and walk with us. Those wtoto (children) were just about the cutest things ever...I almost snuck a few home in my suitcase.
6. My amazing team. 40 college students from all over the US and Kenya leaders and one amazing family (the Schenks), living together, laughing till our sides ached, sharing meals and stories, growing in our faith and challenging each other, crying over the overwhelming-ness of Kenya, of God, of poverty, and of the joy we found here.
Many Kenyans have very little when it comes to material wealth, but oh they are rich in spiritual wealth. They know where their treasure lies, not on this earth, but in heaven. Many Americans have everything in the world a person could need or want and they don't think they need a savior. We are the poorest in spirit, and that is an aching tragedy. But God is a redeemer, He comes into the brokeness and makes it beautiful and fruitful again.
We have so much, we are blessed, why not use it wisely to further the kingdom, to spread life and not get lost in our greed. It is a challenge that I will live with everyday...I am accountable to every poverty-stricken, malnurished, aching person and horrible situation that I saw in Kenya. I cannot deny that there are people living with life crushing diseases in substandard conditions who look injustice in the eyes everyday. I was there. What am I going to do next? With God's help I will continue to become the person that He designed me to be, and leave holy footsteps where ever I tread. I am responsible for what I have been given, and what I have seen? What will the world know about God through me?
It is really hard to be set apart, to swim up stream, to push against the grain of this world, but I am convinced that it will be worth it now and especially in the end.
Colossians 3:1-4, 12-14
"Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you will appear with him in glory. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with eachother and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity."
Be blessed. Thank you so much again for all your prayers, advice, and support. I will post some photos in the next couple of weeks...I have about 1200 to go through and edit. I can't believe where I have been, and I can't believe that I am home.
Much love,
Bess
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Kwaheri, Africa.
Hello dearest friends and family!
It is our last full day in Africa, I can’t believe that seven weeks is coming to a close! What an adventure it has been, in so many unexpected ways! Now where did I leave off…
Oh yes the team all met up outside of Nairobi in a town called Kasarani to begin to de-brief and start telling our stories of assignment. We did the Hindu and Muslim training days, we attended Nairobi chapel, had quite a time bargaining in the Masaai Market. A couple of things happened at the retreat center right before we left that I forgot to mention in my last post.
First on a sad note, that I wasn’t ready to mention in the previous post. Our amazing host parents came to have dinner with us on one of the last evenings and brought some tragic news with them. The boy that Darnell and I had decided to support to get treatement for his serious eye infections and facial swelling was admitted to the hospital and passed away two days later. It was really hard for Darnell and I, we really thought that with treatment he would have a shot, but I think it was just a little too late. God’s plans are a mystery to me, and I know he took Vincent exactly when he was supposed to, but it is still hard. We grieve because we are the ones left behind. Please pray for his family and his church in the slums with whom his family is very closely involved with. What a hard thing. But I want to thank all of you who responded with desires to send funds to Vincent and his family and willingness to pray. Faith and Tom especially, you both are amazing, thank you for your heart to serve and support.
After spending three weeks in the slums and then coming back to our team and hearing so many stories, Darnell and I realized that God had been purposely guarding our hearts. I am usually a very sensitive and openly emotional person, basically a “cry baby”, but during our assignment, neither of us cried at all. I think that God was guarding me from totally emotional breakdowns because I would just turn into a wreck, unable to serve the kingdom. We saw some really horrible things; we saw injustice rear its ugly head day after day, but we had to stay strong to encourage those around us and spread the joy of the Lord. It was really hard. But as this trip is coming to a close God is subtly breaking down the walls, and I have been able to grieve, kidogo kidogo (little by little).
We embarked on a pretty incredible cross country train trip from Nairobi to Mombasa on the coast of Kenya. We zipped through the country side, acacia trees, villages and the odd elephant sliding by. We arrived in Mombasa in the morning to begin re-entry training. It was so beautiful there! I got to watch the sunrise over the Indian Ocean 4 times, it was so magical. The re-entry training was really great, and much needed. Going back into America is going to be quite the culture shock. I don’t know if I’m ready for flushing toilets, hot showers, cheese, paved roads and school just yet. But sawa-sawa (it’s all good), I will be just fine I imagine, with time and prayer.
Keep the whole team in your prayers we are all going to be traveling for the next two days, wow. Well everyone is waiting for me, I’m the cow’s tail in the village cyber café, haha. See you all on the 26th, and kwaheri Africa…it’s been unexplainable.
It is our last full day in Africa, I can’t believe that seven weeks is coming to a close! What an adventure it has been, in so many unexpected ways! Now where did I leave off…
Oh yes the team all met up outside of Nairobi in a town called Kasarani to begin to de-brief and start telling our stories of assignment. We did the Hindu and Muslim training days, we attended Nairobi chapel, had quite a time bargaining in the Masaai Market. A couple of things happened at the retreat center right before we left that I forgot to mention in my last post.
First on a sad note, that I wasn’t ready to mention in the previous post. Our amazing host parents came to have dinner with us on one of the last evenings and brought some tragic news with them. The boy that Darnell and I had decided to support to get treatement for his serious eye infections and facial swelling was admitted to the hospital and passed away two days later. It was really hard for Darnell and I, we really thought that with treatment he would have a shot, but I think it was just a little too late. God’s plans are a mystery to me, and I know he took Vincent exactly when he was supposed to, but it is still hard. We grieve because we are the ones left behind. Please pray for his family and his church in the slums with whom his family is very closely involved with. What a hard thing. But I want to thank all of you who responded with desires to send funds to Vincent and his family and willingness to pray. Faith and Tom especially, you both are amazing, thank you for your heart to serve and support.
After spending three weeks in the slums and then coming back to our team and hearing so many stories, Darnell and I realized that God had been purposely guarding our hearts. I am usually a very sensitive and openly emotional person, basically a “cry baby”, but during our assignment, neither of us cried at all. I think that God was guarding me from totally emotional breakdowns because I would just turn into a wreck, unable to serve the kingdom. We saw some really horrible things; we saw injustice rear its ugly head day after day, but we had to stay strong to encourage those around us and spread the joy of the Lord. It was really hard. But as this trip is coming to a close God is subtly breaking down the walls, and I have been able to grieve, kidogo kidogo (little by little).
We embarked on a pretty incredible cross country train trip from Nairobi to Mombasa on the coast of Kenya. We zipped through the country side, acacia trees, villages and the odd elephant sliding by. We arrived in Mombasa in the morning to begin re-entry training. It was so beautiful there! I got to watch the sunrise over the Indian Ocean 4 times, it was so magical. The re-entry training was really great, and much needed. Going back into America is going to be quite the culture shock. I don’t know if I’m ready for flushing toilets, hot showers, cheese, paved roads and school just yet. But sawa-sawa (it’s all good), I will be just fine I imagine, with time and prayer.
Keep the whole team in your prayers we are all going to be traveling for the next two days, wow. Well everyone is waiting for me, I’m the cow’s tail in the village cyber café, haha. See you all on the 26th, and kwaheri Africa…it’s been unexplainable.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
All together now...
Six weeks in, can you believe it? Neither can I, the African time-warp is REAL! HAHA. Well all the teams are alive, and mostly well; and gathered just outside of Nairobi at a retreat center called Little Sisters of St. Francis. We have almost all been sick at one point, some more than others. So far 6 people have gotten malaria, my partner Darnell came down with Typhoid, and I had one terrible night of vomiting...but I'm feeling MUCH better!
We have all learned so much and experienced so much on assignment, from open heart surgery, to healing, death, new life, overwhelming joy and crushing disappointment. It has been so amazing to hear everyone's stories and we are all anxiously awaiting the video that Daniel Barassa shot. He should be home by now...how is Missoula buddy? Haha.
So here is a brief run down of our time since we've been back. We had a day of Hindu training and outreach in Nairobi. We had the opportunity to visit two temples and learn about their faith. It was pretty intense to say the least. We enjoyed some Indian food...which actually I never want to eat again. That was the night I got pretty sick and well it doesn't taste so good the second time around. EW. I couldn't eat anything for about a day and now I'm feeling much better, praise the Lord! Brian and Darnell got sick too and we had to stay in bed to recover the following day, but the rest of the team went to Mathare Valley again to do a day of service. I heard it was amazing, lots of balloon animals and laughs. We attended Nairobi Chapel on Sunday...it was so BIG, most of us were just in awe, having attended tiny tin-sided dirt floor churches for the last four weeks. We then went to the market and put our bargaining skills to work and got some cool gifts for home. I met two vendors from my neighborhood in Korogocho and spent most of my time talking to them instead of shopping, haha.
We had a day of Islam training and had the opportunity to visit a mosque later that day. I have a new heart for Muslims, and I can't wait to pick Kevin Nalty's brain when I get home. International students have have really been put on my heart lately, and I can't wait to love them when I get back to the University of Montana. We went on a Safari, and it was my first time out of the Nairobi area for over five weeks! Not all of Kenya is city or slums! HAHA. I enjoyed it SOOOOO much, so much greenery and amazing animals that I had only seen in photos or movies. At one point we saw six rhinos at once, WHOA, they are so huge and weird! We visited Huruma children's orphange, what a wonderful sad place. I was on the music team and we visited the different wards and sang for the children, disabled ladies and the toddlers, it was so much fun. I also got to just love and hold the babies there, most abandoned in the slums, and just marvel at their tiny beauty. What a God we serve.
We just got back from a day at another slum of Nairobi working with World Hope, a sports ministry that uses soccer (futbol) to spread the gospel and reach out to street children. It was amazing and hard and really tiring...I'm not very good at soccer, haha. Well tomorrow we head off to Mombassa by train to debrief and learn how to re-enter into our American culture. America seems so weird and far away right now. God has really been working in me, teaching me so much about myself and who I am in him. I'm unpacking lessons everyday, and I can't wait to share them with all of you! Talk to you all soon, be blessed!!
-Bess
We have all learned so much and experienced so much on assignment, from open heart surgery, to healing, death, new life, overwhelming joy and crushing disappointment. It has been so amazing to hear everyone's stories and we are all anxiously awaiting the video that Daniel Barassa shot. He should be home by now...how is Missoula buddy? Haha.
So here is a brief run down of our time since we've been back. We had a day of Hindu training and outreach in Nairobi. We had the opportunity to visit two temples and learn about their faith. It was pretty intense to say the least. We enjoyed some Indian food...which actually I never want to eat again. That was the night I got pretty sick and well it doesn't taste so good the second time around. EW. I couldn't eat anything for about a day and now I'm feeling much better, praise the Lord! Brian and Darnell got sick too and we had to stay in bed to recover the following day, but the rest of the team went to Mathare Valley again to do a day of service. I heard it was amazing, lots of balloon animals and laughs. We attended Nairobi Chapel on Sunday...it was so BIG, most of us were just in awe, having attended tiny tin-sided dirt floor churches for the last four weeks. We then went to the market and put our bargaining skills to work and got some cool gifts for home. I met two vendors from my neighborhood in Korogocho and spent most of my time talking to them instead of shopping, haha.
We had a day of Islam training and had the opportunity to visit a mosque later that day. I have a new heart for Muslims, and I can't wait to pick Kevin Nalty's brain when I get home. International students have have really been put on my heart lately, and I can't wait to love them when I get back to the University of Montana. We went on a Safari, and it was my first time out of the Nairobi area for over five weeks! Not all of Kenya is city or slums! HAHA. I enjoyed it SOOOOO much, so much greenery and amazing animals that I had only seen in photos or movies. At one point we saw six rhinos at once, WHOA, they are so huge and weird! We visited Huruma children's orphange, what a wonderful sad place. I was on the music team and we visited the different wards and sang for the children, disabled ladies and the toddlers, it was so much fun. I also got to just love and hold the babies there, most abandoned in the slums, and just marvel at their tiny beauty. What a God we serve.
We just got back from a day at another slum of Nairobi working with World Hope, a sports ministry that uses soccer (futbol) to spread the gospel and reach out to street children. It was amazing and hard and really tiring...I'm not very good at soccer, haha. Well tomorrow we head off to Mombassa by train to debrief and learn how to re-enter into our American culture. America seems so weird and far away right now. God has really been working in me, teaching me so much about myself and who I am in him. I'm unpacking lessons everyday, and I can't wait to share them with all of you! Talk to you all soon, be blessed!!
-Bess
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
bye, Korogocho...
I just can’t believe it!
Darnell and I have come to the end of our three week ministry assignment in the slums, how did time go by like that? We have spent the last 2 days just enjoying our family and new dear friends here. I know that when I think back on my time in Kenya, it will be those rich relationships, wonderful people, and joyful children that will be the sweetest memories. Living in the slums has opened my eyes, expanded my heart, increased my sensitivity, and deepened my understanding of all I have been blessed and INTRUSTED with. Darnell and I have been wrestling with the question of why we have so much and others have so little, why were we born in America, why did God lead us to the slums…what is God up to?
We will be unpacking all of these lessons and experiences for a long time; I think…how do I begin to process it all? Our Kenyan family, the Wetindis, have been so amazing, generous and full of joy…pray blessings for them. Darnell and I have stalled when it comes to packing our bags and taking down our mosquito nets…we don’t want to leave! When we first arrived we were in bed by dark and scared by all the sounds and commotion and poverty outside our concrete compound. But now three weeks later we don’t want to leave! From sitting on the roof chatting and laughing with our friends as the sun goes down through the smog, celebrating birthdays with locally-made lemon cake, playing with passing bare-footed children, and hearing our names called out with smiles as we pass through the market…this place has become like home. People make a place worth staying, fighting for, praying for, and loving…not the landscape.
Before we leave to meet the other 30-ish members of our team today, we are meeting with some people. In my previous posts I talked about a boy named Vincent that we met who is suffering from eye infections and is in danger of losing his remaining eye. Darnell and I are meeting with his father and pastor to donate some funds to help with his medical expenses and talk more about his condition. Some of you have expressed wishes to support this wonderful young boy, and I will keep you updated as best as possible as everything unfolds. Pray that God will be glorified in every part of this situation, what a loving God we serve, he cares about each of us…in our joy and in our pain. Keep Vincent and his family in your prayers!
We spent our last weekend around the Korogocho area, fellowshipping with church members, preaching on Sunday here at the compound in Lucky Summer, and enjoying meals together with friends. Mama made BANANA stew last night, and it was sooooo good, one of my new favorites! She has generously shared many recipes with me, so my family, friends and roommates should all brace themselves…I’m going to try them out on you! HAHA.
Well it is about time to trying to fit everything in our suitcases and backpacks….I just can’t believe it! I have learned so much here, and experienced an incredible amount. God has used this time to stretch my faith and reliance on Him, what a great thing! With hearts full, yet heavy we bid farewell to the slums of Nairobi that we have had the opportunity to visit on assignment; Kiambio, Korogocho, Kibera, Gituamba, and Futyan Nyayo. The people we met there will be in our thoughts, hearts and prayers, oh how they blessed us, even in their poverty they showed us the joy and hope of the Lord. Here is a verse that I have kept coming back to during our time here.
Romans 5:1-5
“Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but also rejoice in our suffering because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character and character HOPE. And hope does not disappoint us because God poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.”
Darnell and I have come to the end of our three week ministry assignment in the slums, how did time go by like that? We have spent the last 2 days just enjoying our family and new dear friends here. I know that when I think back on my time in Kenya, it will be those rich relationships, wonderful people, and joyful children that will be the sweetest memories. Living in the slums has opened my eyes, expanded my heart, increased my sensitivity, and deepened my understanding of all I have been blessed and INTRUSTED with. Darnell and I have been wrestling with the question of why we have so much and others have so little, why were we born in America, why did God lead us to the slums…what is God up to?
We will be unpacking all of these lessons and experiences for a long time; I think…how do I begin to process it all? Our Kenyan family, the Wetindis, have been so amazing, generous and full of joy…pray blessings for them. Darnell and I have stalled when it comes to packing our bags and taking down our mosquito nets…we don’t want to leave! When we first arrived we were in bed by dark and scared by all the sounds and commotion and poverty outside our concrete compound. But now three weeks later we don’t want to leave! From sitting on the roof chatting and laughing with our friends as the sun goes down through the smog, celebrating birthdays with locally-made lemon cake, playing with passing bare-footed children, and hearing our names called out with smiles as we pass through the market…this place has become like home. People make a place worth staying, fighting for, praying for, and loving…not the landscape.
Before we leave to meet the other 30-ish members of our team today, we are meeting with some people. In my previous posts I talked about a boy named Vincent that we met who is suffering from eye infections and is in danger of losing his remaining eye. Darnell and I are meeting with his father and pastor to donate some funds to help with his medical expenses and talk more about his condition. Some of you have expressed wishes to support this wonderful young boy, and I will keep you updated as best as possible as everything unfolds. Pray that God will be glorified in every part of this situation, what a loving God we serve, he cares about each of us…in our joy and in our pain. Keep Vincent and his family in your prayers!
We spent our last weekend around the Korogocho area, fellowshipping with church members, preaching on Sunday here at the compound in Lucky Summer, and enjoying meals together with friends. Mama made BANANA stew last night, and it was sooooo good, one of my new favorites! She has generously shared many recipes with me, so my family, friends and roommates should all brace themselves…I’m going to try them out on you! HAHA.
Well it is about time to trying to fit everything in our suitcases and backpacks….I just can’t believe it! I have learned so much here, and experienced an incredible amount. God has used this time to stretch my faith and reliance on Him, what a great thing! With hearts full, yet heavy we bid farewell to the slums of Nairobi that we have had the opportunity to visit on assignment; Kiambio, Korogocho, Kibera, Gituamba, and Futyan Nyayo. The people we met there will be in our thoughts, hearts and prayers, oh how they blessed us, even in their poverty they showed us the joy and hope of the Lord. Here is a verse that I have kept coming back to during our time here.
Romans 5:1-5
“Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but also rejoice in our suffering because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character and character HOPE. And hope does not disappoint us because God poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.”
Friday, July 3, 2009
Amani & Tumaini (Peace and Hope!)
Greetings from Korogocho!
So much has happened since my last post. We can't believe that we have less than a week left at Tumaini Ministries with Alfred and Elica Wetindi and friends! Time has flown by lately and I find myself looking around, trying to soak up everything and savor it. I want to remember the faces we have seen, the hands we have shaken and high-fived, the the dusty roads, the food, even the smell and matatus! I have been keeping a daily, very detailed, journal so I won't forget.
Let's see, where did I leave you all last? Oh yes, Darnell had just gotten back from the hospital...ok...LOTS has happened. I will try to do it justice without spending a million shillings in the cyber cafe! HAHA.
Tumaini hosted a night of overnight prayer last week, and we got our dancing and singing groove on. Kenyans love to dance and sing...LOUD! We had to turn in at about 1am so that we could get up in the morning to travel to another slum, but it was a really great experience. We went around our area of Korogocho, called Lucky Summer doing home visits and encouraging church members and spreading the gospel. We talked to many people and waded through copious herds of goats in the road! Animals run pretty wild here; dogs, cats, goats, sheep and the odd lizard!
We visited Kiambiu slum, the site of another Tumaini church, and had a wonderful day there. We visited the pastor and then went around the neighborhood, which is next to a pretty gross river, and talked to many people along the way. We spent time in homes, praying and reading scripture, and meeting many new friends. We went back to the pastor's home and had lunch. This was the day after Michael Jackson died, and they flipped on their tiny old tv and we saw Michael on ever channel! It was weird, I hadn't watched any TV in a month and there was the king of pop...it seemed so strange! We played with the children in the tiny church there...lots of singing and games and hair braiding. They love our hair, they are always stroking it, pulling it, and playing with it, pretty funny.
We were the preachers on Sunday. We went to the largest church of Tumaini Ministries in Korogocho slum. Man do they love to sing and dance! We probably worshipped and boogied for over an hour before the service moved on. It was great. I gave a testimony and Darnell spoke about God's timing and his heart for justice. We read scripture out of Habakkuk, and out of the Psalms.
We went to the slum of Fuata Nyayo on Monday...I think we have visited at least five slums since we have been here (we also live right on the edge of one!). No matter how many times I visit those areas, the affect they have on me is still fresh...I don't think anybody should accept or get used to such injustice. We wove our way through the narrow filthy alley ways and crowded streets to the church there. We met two pastors and proceeded to Happy Angels Nursury School, which is attached to the building. OH goodness, it was adorable over-load! About 40 five year olds greeted us at the tops of their lungs! They jumped and shrieked and danced and sang for us. We sat in on their lesson, what smarties!! They knew had to add, subtract, spell and even multiply! We were very impressed and quited taken with them...so cute! We then walked home to home with the pastors, visiting church members, many of whom were very sick. One boy's story really struck at my heart, and I have thought of him everyday since our visit on Monday. His name was Vincent and we visited him and his parents. He was suffering from eye infections and his face was severely swollen. He had recently had one eye removed and was in danger of losing the other one soon. He couldn't talk, only moan with pain. We prayed over him and talked with his parents. I am seeking to Lord's wisdom and counsel. Darnell and I both want to leave some money with his family to help with their medical expenses. They are very poor, and can't seek more medical help at the moment because of the cost. Heartbreaking. Teenage boys should be outside, running around, hanging out with friends, enjoying life...not cooped up at home, nearly blind, and unable to talk. My heart is aching for Vincent!
We had another day in the Korogocho clinic and maternity ward. I helped in the pharmacy for most of the day, it was really busy!! My swahili was coming along by the end of it...at least enough to tell people how to take their medicine! Darnell
went back home early that day because she was feeling sick again. Keep her in her prayers, my partner is amazing, and I want her to be with me till the end! She is tough as nails though, always trying to tough it out, oh Darnell! After a late lunch with the staff I assumed that I would go back to the pharmacy...but OH NO! A very spirited sassy staff worker named Rosie grabbed me by the hand and hauled me back to the maternity ward! She shoved some scrubs and giant rubber boots into my arms and declared that it was my day to deliver babies!!! WHAT?! I changed and stuck my head into the labor room...really missing Darnell!! Three women were in labor, and their shrieks of pain were enough to make me light headed! Just as I was
edging out of the room, Rosie caught me and deposited me in the delivery room...oh man! But it seemed that the white lady was scaring the babies...nobody was born for almost two hours. I left after an hour of waiting and the staff declared that
ext time I would see newborns! All was not lost, I got to hold a few babies that day who were born earlier. SO little, SO cute!
We had our last day at Amani Ya Juu today....sad!! It has been so wonderful to fellowship with the refugee women there and watch them work. They are always singing together, joking, laughing, and making sure we feel like one of the family. We had one last wonderful day there, and Brian and Debbie Lee visited us there too! We sat outside, drinking chai tea, and discussing our experiences. They had visited many of the teams and had lots of amazing stories to tell. Keep our whole team in your prayers. Three girls on the team have malaria and a few others are sick. All of us will be travelling to Nairobi on Wednesday to meet up. I can't wait to hear about everyone's time on assignment! What different experiences we all have
had...from the slums to Lake Victoria!
Well it is late, and the cyber cafe is about to close! Keep me and Darnell and the whole team in your thoughts and prayers.
God is blessing our time here, and I know I will be realizing just how much for many years to come! I'm off now, got to help Mamma in the kitchen...ugali time!
Much love,
Bess
So much has happened since my last post. We can't believe that we have less than a week left at Tumaini Ministries with Alfred and Elica Wetindi and friends! Time has flown by lately and I find myself looking around, trying to soak up everything and savor it. I want to remember the faces we have seen, the hands we have shaken and high-fived, the the dusty roads, the food, even the smell and matatus! I have been keeping a daily, very detailed, journal so I won't forget.
Let's see, where did I leave you all last? Oh yes, Darnell had just gotten back from the hospital...ok...LOTS has happened. I will try to do it justice without spending a million shillings in the cyber cafe! HAHA.
Tumaini hosted a night of overnight prayer last week, and we got our dancing and singing groove on. Kenyans love to dance and sing...LOUD! We had to turn in at about 1am so that we could get up in the morning to travel to another slum, but it was a really great experience. We went around our area of Korogocho, called Lucky Summer doing home visits and encouraging church members and spreading the gospel. We talked to many people and waded through copious herds of goats in the road! Animals run pretty wild here; dogs, cats, goats, sheep and the odd lizard!
We visited Kiambiu slum, the site of another Tumaini church, and had a wonderful day there. We visited the pastor and then went around the neighborhood, which is next to a pretty gross river, and talked to many people along the way. We spent time in homes, praying and reading scripture, and meeting many new friends. We went back to the pastor's home and had lunch. This was the day after Michael Jackson died, and they flipped on their tiny old tv and we saw Michael on ever channel! It was weird, I hadn't watched any TV in a month and there was the king of pop...it seemed so strange! We played with the children in the tiny church there...lots of singing and games and hair braiding. They love our hair, they are always stroking it, pulling it, and playing with it, pretty funny.
We were the preachers on Sunday. We went to the largest church of Tumaini Ministries in Korogocho slum. Man do they love to sing and dance! We probably worshipped and boogied for over an hour before the service moved on. It was great. I gave a testimony and Darnell spoke about God's timing and his heart for justice. We read scripture out of Habakkuk, and out of the Psalms.
We went to the slum of Fuata Nyayo on Monday...I think we have visited at least five slums since we have been here (we also live right on the edge of one!). No matter how many times I visit those areas, the affect they have on me is still fresh...I don't think anybody should accept or get used to such injustice. We wove our way through the narrow filthy alley ways and crowded streets to the church there. We met two pastors and proceeded to Happy Angels Nursury School, which is attached to the building. OH goodness, it was adorable over-load! About 40 five year olds greeted us at the tops of their lungs! They jumped and shrieked and danced and sang for us. We sat in on their lesson, what smarties!! They knew had to add, subtract, spell and even multiply! We were very impressed and quited taken with them...so cute! We then walked home to home with the pastors, visiting church members, many of whom were very sick. One boy's story really struck at my heart, and I have thought of him everyday since our visit on Monday. His name was Vincent and we visited him and his parents. He was suffering from eye infections and his face was severely swollen. He had recently had one eye removed and was in danger of losing the other one soon. He couldn't talk, only moan with pain. We prayed over him and talked with his parents. I am seeking to Lord's wisdom and counsel. Darnell and I both want to leave some money with his family to help with their medical expenses. They are very poor, and can't seek more medical help at the moment because of the cost. Heartbreaking. Teenage boys should be outside, running around, hanging out with friends, enjoying life...not cooped up at home, nearly blind, and unable to talk. My heart is aching for Vincent!
We had another day in the Korogocho clinic and maternity ward. I helped in the pharmacy for most of the day, it was really busy!! My swahili was coming along by the end of it...at least enough to tell people how to take their medicine! Darnell
went back home early that day because she was feeling sick again. Keep her in her prayers, my partner is amazing, and I want her to be with me till the end! She is tough as nails though, always trying to tough it out, oh Darnell! After a late lunch with the staff I assumed that I would go back to the pharmacy...but OH NO! A very spirited sassy staff worker named Rosie grabbed me by the hand and hauled me back to the maternity ward! She shoved some scrubs and giant rubber boots into my arms and declared that it was my day to deliver babies!!! WHAT?! I changed and stuck my head into the labor room...really missing Darnell!! Three women were in labor, and their shrieks of pain were enough to make me light headed! Just as I was
edging out of the room, Rosie caught me and deposited me in the delivery room...oh man! But it seemed that the white lady was scaring the babies...nobody was born for almost two hours. I left after an hour of waiting and the staff declared that
ext time I would see newborns! All was not lost, I got to hold a few babies that day who were born earlier. SO little, SO cute!
We had our last day at Amani Ya Juu today....sad!! It has been so wonderful to fellowship with the refugee women there and watch them work. They are always singing together, joking, laughing, and making sure we feel like one of the family. We had one last wonderful day there, and Brian and Debbie Lee visited us there too! We sat outside, drinking chai tea, and discussing our experiences. They had visited many of the teams and had lots of amazing stories to tell. Keep our whole team in your prayers. Three girls on the team have malaria and a few others are sick. All of us will be travelling to Nairobi on Wednesday to meet up. I can't wait to hear about everyone's time on assignment! What different experiences we all have
had...from the slums to Lake Victoria!
Well it is late, and the cyber cafe is about to close! Keep me and Darnell and the whole team in your thoughts and prayers.
God is blessing our time here, and I know I will be realizing just how much for many years to come! I'm off now, got to help Mamma in the kitchen...ugali time!
Much love,
Bess
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