O Happy Days...

I have arrived back to the cold of Nairobi and am so thankful for our time in Mombasa. This past weekend was filled with new adventures and growing friendships. While in Mombasa we stayed on Shelly Beach. This provided hours of entertainment for those who liked to hunt seashells, while the rest of us sat in our beach chairs and relaxed. The coolest thing about this beach is that every afternoon the tide goes out and you can walk for a mile or two out on the ocean floor. I have never seen so many sea urchins, live starfish, crabs, seaweed, and shells. It truly was an amazing experience.

My all time favorite thing was the camel ride Emily and I took. We watched people ride up and down the beach on these camels all day and we wanted a ride so bad. Therefore we decided to ask the price and it was cheaper than we thought…yea! What a camel ride it was! Funny thing was my camel’s name was of course…George…and the entire time I was riding I could feel George’s saddle slide more and more to the right! Now, I know I’ve gained weight since I’ve been here, but I’m really not that heavy. Even more entertaining was while I was trying to balance myself on the sliding saddle and actually ride the camel with a shred of grace, the camel guide talked politics with me the ENTIRE time. Poor Emily didn’t say a thing cause the guide and I discussed different political things on our ride down the beach…only in Africa.

The funniest moment was during our crazy ride to one of the nicer beaches. We were told we were taking an Express matatu so we would not have to stop along the way to pick up or let off riders…this was not correct. Our van quickly became packed and I felt like we were in a can of sardines. Just in case you weren’t claustrophobic enough, we made another stop where there was around 5 or 6 Muslim women standing on the side of the road. Our conductor opened the door and I thought he was only going to let one or two pile in…not so…he let all these women on. There was hardly room to move let alone breath. I could not believe it! When that conductor slammed the door and we started trucking down the road again I laughed so hard I cried. After my quick head count I counted a total of 24 people…that is the new record…just in case you forgot, there is only supposed to be a total of 14 people in the van…needless to say we were maxed out!

Another highlight to the trip was the food. We were able to eat at a nice restaurant where I had fresh sushi and coconut shrimp…yummy!!! The next day, Hudson, our guard at the beach, climbed a coconut tree where we were able to drink and eat the inside of the coconut…yuck…as you can tell from my reaction! We were so amazed by Hudson’s talent that we decided to try and climb the coconut tree as well…not as easy as it looks. Emily and I didn’t make it up but two steps… All in all, we had a great time at the beach!

Sorry...I didn't have time to post all the rest of my pics including me on the camel. Hopefully I will have time again soon. The internet here takes FOREVER!!!!

A New Beach Experience

Today we left at 5 am from our house in Nairobi to make our 6:40 flight to Mombasa. The early flight did not take away from our excitement. We have heard how relaxing and beautiful this place is for sooo long and now we were finally on our way. Our flight took a total of 45 minutes, which is how long it takes us to walk from our house to Lois and Roberts…strange when you think about it like that.

We arrived at the airport, sent Mesh to negotiate a price for a taxi, found a cheap taxi, went to Nakumatt for groceries, took a ferry from town to our beach, and arrived safely at our guest house all within 2 hours of leaving the airport. Once we arrived at the guesthouse, I quickly began noticing things that just weren’t normal for the beach. Although these things are not the norm, I am very thankful for them. First, the property has a barbed wire fence all around it. Second, you must have a key to unlock the gate to get on and off the beach. Third, there is a hired guard on the property at all times and if you are on the beach, he is standing at the gate to watch and protect…kinda creepy, but again, I’m thankful. Fourth, we also have a loud mean looking dog to help protect. Fifth, the lady who runs this compound warned us to not walk past the bend in both directions…never go off by yourself…yes, ma’am!! Sixth, the house has a concrete slab as a floor and only cold water…yea! Seventh, when the tide goes out you can walk for a mile or two on the bottom of the ocean floor. Eight, you must wear water shoes because of the coral and most importantly the spiky sea urchins that are on the ocean floor. As you can see, this is a very different beach experience than I’m used to. After one day down, I can testify that it is still fun and relaxing to be at the beach!

Ruth

Tonight a worker and friend from OBG came home to spend the night and hang out with our team. She is a beautiful and lively girl…Ruth is the daughter of the pastor whose church we visited and worked with while in Nakuru a few weeks back. I want to tell you the story of Ruth and how she came to live in Nairobi. Ruth comes from a Christian home and was raised as a pastor’s daughter. Ruth was in high school during the last presidential election and has a testimony of forgiveness that is amazing. After the election results came out Ruth remembers being in her house alone while her father was out looking for her sister who had gone to the market to buy some needed supplies. Fighting had broken out so quickly Ruth’s sister Lana didn’t even realize she was in danger when she left. While her father was out searching, the power and phone lines were cut off and Ruth fell asleep on the couch in her family home right on the compound of the church and school. She remembers being awoken by a mob of men who pulled her off the couch and out the door. They had machetes and arrows with poisonous tips. These men were in search for a young man who was of the tribe they were after. They had seen him come through the compound fence and thought Ruth was hiding him. In these moments Ruth’s life was threatened…as they went to kill her for not revealing the young man’s hiding place someone found him so he ran from the kitchen in hopes to escape. In that moment God saved Ruth’s life. Instead of killing her, the men fled after the young man trying to escape. In the process, the man ran into the church, grabbed onto a post because they wouldn’t kill him in the church, and was nearly beaten to death. Ruth says there are still marks on the floor of the church from where the timber they were beating him with hit the floor. The police eventually came, rescued the young man, and the mob of men vanished into the crowd. Many of the sought after tribes died or fled from their homes. Ruth’s father again would not let her or her siblings leave for fear of them being shot or raped in the aftermath of the election. I cannot image living in that type of fear. After Ruth’s experience she could not handle living in Nakuru so she came to Nairobi to go to college. It took her 1 full year to gather her courage to return to Nakuru. When she returned she didn’t see familiar faces, and realized that many of the people who were once a part of the church were no longer there…some of them died while others fled. Her church is now filled with many women from the tribe of men who threatened her life and killed many people. At first she was so angry, but God, after 3 years, is teaching her to forgive. She says she must forgive as Christ has forgiven her. Although you could still see the fear on her face and hear it in her voice, Ruth is learning to not fear evil…she knows that God is with her and comforts her. To hear her tell this story with so many haunting memories and terrible details was a chilling experience. As I sat and listened I was thankful for God’s mercy and goodness towards her. As she ended, she said that God allowed those men to threaten her and almost kill her so that young man had the chance to escape. If they had not been with her, all of them would have been searching the compound and found this young man. Here she lived through a terrifying experience and she was thankful because God used it for good…to save the life of another. What a precious heart she has. I am thankful for both of their lives and thankful that He is bringing healing to Ruth’s heart and life. I ask that you pray for her during the upcoming voting. She must return to Nakuru to vote and is very anxious about it. It is here where yet again the outcome of this vote will again greatly affect the lives of many people. If the new constitution passes, then land will be taken from a tribe and given to another. Many people are afraid that this will again cause unrest and fighting in Rift Valley which is where Nakuru is located. Please pray for safety and peace for the people here in Kenya.

Crazy Matatu Driver

Today I turned to my matatu driver and actually gave him a high five…why you might ask…to start with I knew it was going to be a fun ride because right before I got on the matatu I bought myself a half of roasted corn on the cobb for 5 shilings….yummy…I called it my corn popsicle. Next, the conductor over packed the matatu so I had to sit next to the conductor in what I like to call the butt seat. It really isn’t a seat at all, just a space to put your butt in between the conductor’s seat…space…for your butt…then your neighbor’s seat…yes, I got the butt seat. The driver drove like a mad man, which made the staying in the butt seat that much more fun and challenging…how do you stay balanced and not fall through the hole. J Next, we drove more on the sidewalks and dirt paths along the side of the road than we did on the road. We were trying to get to Karen during rush hour and apparently our driver didn’t want to wait in traffic so we drove on the side of the road…even almost ran people over once or twice. The Kenyan lady next to me kept putting her head on the bar in front of her and looked ever so much like she was going to throw up at any moment. When we weren’t driving on the side of the road we were: 1) off roading it on an actual dirt road next to our road (we were the only car on this I would like to point out) 2) riding down the middle of the road in between our lane and the lane next to us…we just made our own lane on the two lane road or 3) which happens to be my favorite…driving on the sidewalks and walking paths on the oncoming traffics side…not even our side. By this point the conductor had put me in the very front with the driver. This was exciting too because you were able to see so much more. While riding on the path on the wrong side of the road a man on a bike yelled at us and waved 4 fingers at us…don’t know what that means…A man walking on the path that we were driving on made the slit your throat or your going to die gesture…which after that I actually did say a prayer and close my eyes for awhile. Once we actually made it to our destination, I turned to the driver and said, “That was the craziest matatu ride I have had yet!” I gave him a high five, said thanks for the ride, and hopped out. I think I made his day…I think he made mine. J

A Day in Kenya

7:00 alarm sounds…7:15 unlock back door to go find laundry hanging on the line…attacked by crazy dog…he’s still in the puppy stage, but I hate it when dogs bite you…realize clothes are not dry because it has been dreary and rainy for the last two days…put on skinny jeans (yes, I bought a pair of skinny jeans here in Kenya) for the 4^th day in a row…really wish the laundry would dry…so cold you can see your breath this morning…can’t wear flip flops cause it’s in the 40’s…put on sneakers with skinny jeans…got a mental picture??? (in case you couldn't visualize my look well enough I posted a lovely picture) get on matatu with flashing lights on the inside and posters of rappers on the roof…suck in breath as we come within centimeters of hitting other matatus…my knuckles were turning white this morning from gripping the seat in front of me…arrive safe and sound at OBG…dance and sing with student to “I’m a Barbie Girl”…work with students…send students home…pull up chairs to let the henna party begin…get a henna tattoo around my upper arm…call a taxi from Karen to home because we all can’t fit on a boda boda and it’s too late to make the 40 minute walk…really wish I rode the boda boda…love those things…arrive home…Ruth, our Kenyan friend accidentally hits the panic alarm…Alfred runs to the “rescue”…paid security company comes to investigate, again…eat dinner…time for bed…just another day in Kenya

Prayer

My heart is a mixture of emotions right now. First, my heart is still raw from The Good Samaritan Orphanage a few days ago. Second, today was our last day with our students from OBG. Third, I am beginning to realize that my time here in Kenya is quickly coming to a close. Fourth, I am getting excited about heading back and beginning school. I am very emotional right now and feel as if I could cry at the drop of a hat. The mourning stage is beginning, and I’m not ready for it. Please pray for my heart and emotions. Over the summer, I didn’t really think I was bonding that well with this place… But as I think about being back in less than 2 weeks my heart hurts over leaving the people and things that are now so familiar to me. I feel as if I am finally settling in to Nairobi and working on building relationships just in time to leave. I am also sad because God has been doing amazing things in my heart and life this summer, and I don’t want to see that change…life is always different when you return to your regular routine. So pray that God would continue to change and challenge me at home…pray for continued growth and fellowship with the Lord.

I would also appreciate your prayers regarding this upcoming weekend. The team, including Lois and Mesh, is flying to the coast on Saturday for a three day debriefing/retreat time as a team. This weekend means the trip is really coming to a close. Please pray that God would draw us closer as a team and give us refreshment to our weary bodies and minds. Pray that God would help us process all we have done, seen, and learned this summer. Pray for safety as well.

Big prayer request…3 years ago was the presidential election where things did not go well. Many lives were destroyed and many lives were lost. On August 4^th there is to be a Referendum. This is a major ordeal and is the first major vote that has taken place since the election 3 years ago. Kenyans will have the opportunity to vote on a new constitution come August 4^th. Please pray for peace before, during, and after this time. Already the streets are filled with police. Matatus are less abundant because the drivers want to stay off the roads due to the police and some are even fearful of violence. Pray that the voting would be fair and that no violence will take place…pray for hearts and mindsets…pray for wisdom. Pray that we as a team would be safe. Pray that come August 8^th we will be able to safely get into the city to board our plane. Pray for Kenya as they undergo changes.

The Good Samaritan

I do not even have words for what my heart is going through right now. Our team just arrived back to where we are living for the summer and I have the urge to vomit and weep. Maybe if I type my thoughts I will begin to process some of what I saw today. As we entered the gates of our home away from home my anger also begins to rise. We are staying in a home that is what I would consider the Ritz Carlton…it is nicer than my apartment in the US. We have just returned from the worst slum I have ever entered and the worst conditions of an orphanage I have ever seen. My mind couldn’t have even started to fathom what we encountered today. How is it these two places can be such different worlds yet only miles apart? Today we journeyed across town to The Good Samaritan. This is an orphanage in the middle of a slum, which was started by a Kenyan businesswoman who felt the call to help the children of this slum. Mother Mercy is probably in her 50’s and she is poor as ever when it comes to money, yet ever so rich in Christ. I have never met someone with her passion and courage. Mother Mercy now runs an orphanage with over 300 kids from infants to high school students. There are around 5 or 6 bedrooms…one for Mercy and the babies…she wants to stay with them because she doesn’t trust anyone else to get up and feed them properly in the middle of the night…thus, Mother Mercy runs on about 4 hours of sleep a day. She gave Jenny, Emily, and I a tour of the compound. The 1^st room she took us to consisted of a total of 20 beds all pushed together, which sleeps 60 girls…that is 3 girls per bed in beds that are smaller than a twin bed. There were also two other rooms similar to this for boys. Next we were shown the high school boys’ room. The beds were so close to the wall I had to walk sideways to make it through…70 boys stay in this one very small room…even now it is unfathomable. As we were taking the tour we passed by 2 school aged kids holding a very precious baby. Mother Mercy stopped, pointed to George, picked him up, and gave him to me…if you remember back to my post from Imoni Orphanage I named Haboti at first George…funny, now I really got to hold and cuddle with George. George is one of the reasons why my heart cries out today. Mother Mercy rescued him two days ago from somewhere in the slums. George is two years old, yet he looks like he is maybe 8 months old. Mother Mercy placed him in my arms and he wrapped his tiny arms around my shoulders and neck and gripped on like nothing I have ever experienced. He laid his precious head on my chest and just rested. I couldn’t help but feel the quiver of my bottom lip and tears begin to swell in my eyes. Life isn’t fair. Life is hard…my life is easy and right now I just want to cry, scream, or be sick. I will never forget the site of this place, let alone the smells and the flies. My heart is so thankful for this courageous woman who is trying to save lives…not just physically, but spiritually as well. But my heart also cries out for God to bring justice and to love these kids in a way that brings joy to their hearts when nothing else will because people and the world have failed them. I want to scream at the top of my lungs, “Why doesn’t somebody help them!?! Why God, Why God…It’s not fair God!” I have so much and these children literally are living in their own filth in shambles with rags on their precious bodies. I want to give all that I have, but what will that do? Wealth helps, not that I am wealthy, but wealth isn’t the answer. Love is…the love of Christ conquers this…Satan has not won…hearts are being transformed and I pray with all my heart that people like Mother Mercy would not give up the fight…that they along with many others would rise up and fight for the hearts and lives of the children of the world. So now I sit typing on my Mac sitting in a cozy room across town from these children…I’m in the same country, same city, but I might as well be another world away from them. My heart doesn’t understand, maybe it never will, but I will not loose hope. I will not allow Satan to cause me to doubt my God, for God is my God. I will put my faith and trust in Him even when life is not fair and when situations in life make my heart and mind scream out. Here in Africa my heart longs for Jesus. I long for heaven…for no more suffering and sickness…for redemption and for sin and evil to be no more. For today, I will weep and cry out to God for mercy and love. Forgive me Lord of living so complacently…teach me to live for you…teach me to pray for the nations and for your kingdom to come.

Today I ask you, as my brothers and sisters in Christ, to cry out to God on behalf of His children. Don’t forget to pray for justice, compassion, mercy, and love…for Christians to rise up and give their lives (wherever they may be) for Christ to advance the kingdom of God. I beg you to not become so wrapped up in your own lives that you forget to cry out to God on behalf of the nations. Never forget the power of prayer…for we serve a powerful and merciful God…let our hearts not forget God’s goodness, love, and mercy.