I thought it was time to give you an update on us. Our lives. Our thoughts. Our feelings. Where we are at. Let me warn you though…it’s all a mess in this head of mine! So only continue reading if you’re ready for it! :-)
So. What is going on in the minds and thoughts of Trevor and Andrea?? Good question! I guess the biggest question is…what are we doing when our year here is done…only three months away! We would LOVE to know the answer to this question! (if any of you happen to know the answer, then by all means, let us know! :-) )
There are many days where we miss home. There are many days where we would like nothing better than to go visit family spontaneously, to hang out with our friends, to just be home. Many days!
But, the flipside is, that most days we love it here. Most days we feel so incredibly blessed that God brought us here. That we get to be living this life here in Kenya. Our way of thinking has been so challenged by being here. We look at life differently. We look at ourselves differently. We look at our purpose and passion differently. We have changed.
We would often like to go back to our other “normal” life. But God has “wrecked” our life. He messed it all up. He wrecked our thinking. And then He put it back together again, only better. He had a plan all along, but needed to change us. And He is still changing us, day by day. Change is hard! But necessary and good all at the same time. We feel that we can never be the same again. And that’s hard too.
But is God calling us to come back to Kenya with our changed minds and hearts??…or to stay home and do whatever work He has called us to do there? That is the question of the hour, my friends. Actually, more like the question of the year!
Today Trevor and I were talking about our life. We were talking about what God is doing. About where we see our lives going from here. Trevor LOVES what he does here. He finds such fulfilment in his work and ministry. It isn’t just an ordinary mechanic job. So many days, God gives him a glimpse of the big picture. And that is so rewarding! And I have fallen in love with the kids and youth that I have gotten to know. I love them. I can’t stand the thought of leaving them. We are making some wonderful Kenyan friends here, and hate the thought of saying goodbye and not being able to cultivate these relationships.
We are feeling fulfilled. We are feeling needed.
So. We have been asked to come back. Seriously asked. Formally asked. We need your prayers! We don’t want to base any decision on feelings. Or on how the day goes. Or on the pressure to come back or to stay home. Or on anything superficial. We want to know what God is asking of us. We need your prayers. We need wisdom. There are some really awesome opportunities for Trevor if we do come back to Kenya. We just need to base all our decisions on God and His desire for our lives.
Please, please, would you pray with us?
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Funerals and Grief
The thunder was cracking overhead and the rain was coming down loudly on the mabati (tin) roof. The dreary weather found me sitting in a humble home in Mitumba slum yesterday afternoon. I had come with Violet and Rodgers, George, and Jacqueline, some of the teachers, to pray with Vincent’s family. This is the family that lost their eldest daughter, Rebecca, at a mere 21 years of age, due to being electrocuted by a live wire.
I don’t know what I expected to find. Wailing? Tears of anguish and grief? Torn clothes? Weeping? I found none of those things, however. Instead, I found myself being welcomed into their dark, inconceivably small home, and a place made on the sofa for me to sit down. I found a beautiful woman, a mother, with sad eyes, clasping her hands in front of her, looking lost, and yet smiling at us at the same time. Appreciative that we had come to visit and pray with them.
We also came to present some money to them that had been raised on behalf of the youth, the church, the teachers, us, and a few other people. Money that will be used for the funeral expenses, and the costs of bringing the body of their daughter up-country to lay her to rest. She passed away almost two weeks ago. They have still not had the funeral because the costs are so high, and for a family living in a slum, it is an insurmountable task to come up with that kind of money. So they wait. They try to get the money. People fundraise. Communities come together. And the money comes in, slowly by slowly. They are travelling up-country to Kisii, which means that they have to hire a vehicle to transport the body, plus raise all the money for all of the relatives to travel that distance. And that’s not considering food and everything else needed for the funeral. It is a terrible worry that comes hand-in-hand with dealing with the death of a loved one.
I have been told that sometimes the funerals don’t happen for three months. Three months after a husband, father, daughter, mother…someone they love…dies and they can finally put them to rest and try to move on with their lives. Three months of worry. Three months of only one thing on their mind. Three months of continual grief. Three months of attempting to raise enough money to bury their dead. It is so sad.
We thank God that Vincent’s family was able to raise all the money they needed, and are travelling to Kisii today to have the funeral.
After our time of praying with the family, we left the house and walked through a maze of small dwellings, walking in the rain, dodging sewer waste flowing freely, stepping over unknown garbage, over a rickety foot bridge made of sticks, ducking under laundry hanging to dry, but was now getting wet all over again with the coming of the rain, passed little babies wearing next to nothing and crawling around in the dirt and mud, greeted mamas sitting in the doorways of their houses….all the while trying not to slip and fall on the slippery rocks and uneven trails.
What a place.
Violet said something while we were sitting in Vincent’s mother’s home that stuck with me… “All we can do is leave them in the hands of the Almighty God. We can pray and encourage them, then we just have to leave them with the Lord.” This is true, and yet it is still so hard. We just know that they are going to be going through some terrible grief today and for the next few days, weeks, months, and pray for God to sustain them, and to reveal Himself to them.
God is good. We know He is.
Something else happened in Mitumba on Tuesday night. Lately, there has been a shortage of water in Mitumba. So when there is water, people will be lining up to get as much water as they can, while they have the chance. So on Tuesday night, a mother was going to go get water. She left her sleeping baby (about 1 year old) in the house, with a kerosene lantern burning. When she returned with her containers full, she found that her baby had woken up, crawled over, and must have tipped the lantern, which caught fire. The baby had burned to death before the mother even got back to her house.
Tragedies. Senseless tragedies. Oh how we ache for these people. Life is so hard.
I don’t know what I expected to find. Wailing? Tears of anguish and grief? Torn clothes? Weeping? I found none of those things, however. Instead, I found myself being welcomed into their dark, inconceivably small home, and a place made on the sofa for me to sit down. I found a beautiful woman, a mother, with sad eyes, clasping her hands in front of her, looking lost, and yet smiling at us at the same time. Appreciative that we had come to visit and pray with them.
We also came to present some money to them that had been raised on behalf of the youth, the church, the teachers, us, and a few other people. Money that will be used for the funeral expenses, and the costs of bringing the body of their daughter up-country to lay her to rest. She passed away almost two weeks ago. They have still not had the funeral because the costs are so high, and for a family living in a slum, it is an insurmountable task to come up with that kind of money. So they wait. They try to get the money. People fundraise. Communities come together. And the money comes in, slowly by slowly. They are travelling up-country to Kisii, which means that they have to hire a vehicle to transport the body, plus raise all the money for all of the relatives to travel that distance. And that’s not considering food and everything else needed for the funeral. It is a terrible worry that comes hand-in-hand with dealing with the death of a loved one.
I have been told that sometimes the funerals don’t happen for three months. Three months after a husband, father, daughter, mother…someone they love…dies and they can finally put them to rest and try to move on with their lives. Three months of worry. Three months of only one thing on their mind. Three months of continual grief. Three months of attempting to raise enough money to bury their dead. It is so sad.
We thank God that Vincent’s family was able to raise all the money they needed, and are travelling to Kisii today to have the funeral.
After our time of praying with the family, we left the house and walked through a maze of small dwellings, walking in the rain, dodging sewer waste flowing freely, stepping over unknown garbage, over a rickety foot bridge made of sticks, ducking under laundry hanging to dry, but was now getting wet all over again with the coming of the rain, passed little babies wearing next to nothing and crawling around in the dirt and mud, greeted mamas sitting in the doorways of their houses….all the while trying not to slip and fall on the slippery rocks and uneven trails.
What a place.
Violet said something while we were sitting in Vincent’s mother’s home that stuck with me… “All we can do is leave them in the hands of the Almighty God. We can pray and encourage them, then we just have to leave them with the Lord.” This is true, and yet it is still so hard. We just know that they are going to be going through some terrible grief today and for the next few days, weeks, months, and pray for God to sustain them, and to reveal Himself to them.
God is good. We know He is.
Something else happened in Mitumba on Tuesday night. Lately, there has been a shortage of water in Mitumba. So when there is water, people will be lining up to get as much water as they can, while they have the chance. So on Tuesday night, a mother was going to go get water. She left her sleeping baby (about 1 year old) in the house, with a kerosene lantern burning. When she returned with her containers full, she found that her baby had woken up, crawled over, and must have tipped the lantern, which caught fire. The baby had burned to death before the mother even got back to her house.
Tragedies. Senseless tragedies. Oh how we ache for these people. Life is so hard.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Blog Overload! =)
Yes, there are a few new blog entries again, posted all on the same day! It just works out better that way these days!
- Anniversary
- Please Pray
- Our names
- Darkness
Happy Reading =)
Darkness
Spiritual darkness, that is. Mitumba slum is filled with it. We don’t even know the extent of it, and can sometimes forget what a dark place it is. We get caught up in playing with the kids, in hanging out with the youth, in having wonderful Bible studies with them, that we can forget that in most of the slum, EVIL seems to reign.
I was talking to Violet the other day (Pastor Shadrach’s wife). She told me about a lot of awful things that are happening in the slum. So many people are practicing witchcraft. So many people are demon-possessed. Satan has a tight hold on many, many people living in Mitumba. People are sacrificing their children (literally) for demon worship. There is so much more that I don’t even want to write. But it is scary.
Adults are coming to Shadrach and Violet and to the teachers who teach in the school there. Adults who are dealing with witchcraft and demon possession, but want out. Adults who cannot handle being controlled by the devil and are searching for the truth.
Mitumba slum needs your prayers. The teachers and pastors who are trying to help need your prayers. We need your prayers as we spend much time in this slum. Pray for God’s hand of protection, not just physically but especially spiritually. Pray for the children who are growing up in this environment.
I was talking to Violet the other day (Pastor Shadrach’s wife). She told me about a lot of awful things that are happening in the slum. So many people are practicing witchcraft. So many people are demon-possessed. Satan has a tight hold on many, many people living in Mitumba. People are sacrificing their children (literally) for demon worship. There is so much more that I don’t even want to write. But it is scary.
Adults are coming to Shadrach and Violet and to the teachers who teach in the school there. Adults who are dealing with witchcraft and demon possession, but want out. Adults who cannot handle being controlled by the devil and are searching for the truth.
Mitumba slum needs your prayers. The teachers and pastors who are trying to help need your prayers. We need your prayers as we spend much time in this slum. Pray for God’s hand of protection, not just physically but especially spiritually. Pray for the children who are growing up in this environment.
God is doing a great work, but it does not come without opposition. The darkness is being lifted in some places, but in others, the fight against evil is much more violent. We know that God is more powerful, and that in the end He WILL REIGN. But in the meantime, we need to struggle, to pray, to fight for what is good and true and right.
I am reminded of the words to a song that Chris Tomlin sings:
What can take a dying man, and raise him up to life again?
What can heal the wounded soul?
What can make us white as snow?
What can fill the emptiness?
What can mend our brokenness?
Brokenness
Mighty, awesome, wonderful
Is the holy cross.
Where the Lamb laid down His life, to lift us from the fall.
Mighty is the power of the cross.
What restores our faith in God?
What reveals the Father’s love?
What can lead the wayward home?
What can melt a heart of stone?
What can free the guilty ones?
What can save and overcome?
Overcome
Mighty, awesome, wonderful.
Is the holy cross.
Where the Lamb laid down His life, to lift us from the fall.
Mighty is the power of the cross.
Thank You for the Cross.
Our Names...
…are apparently not the easiest names to have if you live in Kenya! We hadn’t ever given much thought to our names before, that they were strange, or difficult to say, but now we know that they are. (we blame our parents for this! =) )
Let’s start with Trevor’s name. A typical introduction conversation might go like this:
“My name is Trevor.”
“What?”
“Trevor.”
“WHAT?”
“TREVOR.”
“Travel?”
“No, Trevor.”
“Driver?”
“No, TREVOR.”
“Trouble??”
“No, T r e v o r.” (said slowly.)
“what?”
“Treva.” (Trevor, resigning himself to his new name, rolling the ‘r’, leaving off the final ‘r‘)
“OH, Treva!!” (with a smile!)
He has been called Driver, Trouble, and Travel on many an occasion! The name written on his coveralls says “Terror”! So now he finally has just resigned himself to always introducing himself as “Treva” to those he meets…it’s much easier that way!! =)
At the airport in Mombasa, one of the guards there asked to see our tickets. Trevor showed him the paper, and he looked at Trevor’s name. “Trevor Wolfe? That’s your name???” Trevor said yes it was. The guard handed the paper back…”that’s a funny name” with a look of I don’t know, disgust (??) on his face.
His name has given us many a confused look, and many a confusing conversation!
And what about my name? Well, turns out that my name is easy to say. That’s not the problem. They say it “An-drAYa”, like the Spanish way of saying it. It sounds really nice. No the problem is that Andrea is a Swahili name. It’s Swahili for Andrew!
We were in our first up-country Church in Kurungu (in October). Nobody speaks English, they all speak the Samburu language. We had to stand up to introduce ourselves, and when I said my name, EVERYBODY started laughing!! EVERYBODY! I looked around with a confused look on my face, wondering what I had said that was so funny! It was then that I was told that I have a man’s name. And since then, there have been many times where I have introduced myself, and a Good Samaritan will whisper to me “Did you know that you have a man’s name???” Yes, yes I know!
When we were in Kakamega for Easter, Benedicto’s wife, Nancy didn’t call me by my name all weekend. I didn’t think too much of it, until the last evening, when she asked me about my name again. I told her it was Andrea. She said “that’s what I thought you said the first day, but I was sure I misunderstood you and didn’t want to call you by a man’s name! I didn’t want to offend you!”
So that’s the story. Trevor and Andrea are not ideal names to have here in Kenya! We’re thinking of changing our names. Maybe to Peter and Jane. Those are very common names here, and would make for much easier introductions! I guess it wouldn’t be as interesting though… maybe we‘ll keep Trevor and Andrea. This way nobody will forget us! =)
Let’s start with Trevor’s name. A typical introduction conversation might go like this:
“My name is Trevor.”
“What?”
“Trevor.”
“WHAT?”
“TREVOR.”
“Travel?”
“No, Trevor.”
“Driver?”
“No, TREVOR.”
“Trouble??”
“No, T r e v o r.” (said slowly.)
“what?”
“Treva.” (Trevor, resigning himself to his new name, rolling the ‘r’, leaving off the final ‘r‘)
“OH, Treva!!” (with a smile!)
He has been called Driver, Trouble, and Travel on many an occasion! The name written on his coveralls says “Terror”! So now he finally has just resigned himself to always introducing himself as “Treva” to those he meets…it’s much easier that way!! =)
At the airport in Mombasa, one of the guards there asked to see our tickets. Trevor showed him the paper, and he looked at Trevor’s name. “Trevor Wolfe? That’s your name???” Trevor said yes it was. The guard handed the paper back…”that’s a funny name” with a look of I don’t know, disgust (??) on his face.
His name has given us many a confused look, and many a confusing conversation!
And what about my name? Well, turns out that my name is easy to say. That’s not the problem. They say it “An-drAYa”, like the Spanish way of saying it. It sounds really nice. No the problem is that Andrea is a Swahili name. It’s Swahili for Andrew!
We were in our first up-country Church in Kurungu (in October). Nobody speaks English, they all speak the Samburu language. We had to stand up to introduce ourselves, and when I said my name, EVERYBODY started laughing!! EVERYBODY! I looked around with a confused look on my face, wondering what I had said that was so funny! It was then that I was told that I have a man’s name. And since then, there have been many times where I have introduced myself, and a Good Samaritan will whisper to me “Did you know that you have a man’s name???” Yes, yes I know!
When we were in Kakamega for Easter, Benedicto’s wife, Nancy didn’t call me by my name all weekend. I didn’t think too much of it, until the last evening, when she asked me about my name again. I told her it was Andrea. She said “that’s what I thought you said the first day, but I was sure I misunderstood you and didn’t want to call you by a man’s name! I didn’t want to offend you!”
So that’s the story. Trevor and Andrea are not ideal names to have here in Kenya! We’re thinking of changing our names. Maybe to Peter and Jane. Those are very common names here, and would make for much easier introductions! I guess it wouldn’t be as interesting though… maybe we‘ll keep Trevor and Andrea. This way nobody will forget us! =)
Please Pray
Last Saturday, it finally happened. After telling the girls in my Bible study week after week that I am here for them, that if they need to talk, they can come talk to me, and all that, it finally happened.
Now I have gotten to know these kids really well already, but an actual “heart-to-heart” is different. I really want to get to know their hearts. To know who they really are. To know how their lives have gotten to this point.
So after our Bible study was over (and by the way, we have been splitting up the guys and girls for Bible Study, and been going through some more sensitive issues with them. Topics like HIV/AIDS, sex, relationships, their bodies, and things like that. It has been really great, and both groups have opened up and asked many questions and we have been able to have many great discussions with them!!!), so anyway, after it was over, I was getting ready to leave the classroom. There was one girl left, and to be honest I didn’t even know her name. She hasn’t come very often, and usually disappears quickly after the study. She asked me if we could talk. I immediately put down my books and purse, and agreed. So we sat down, and she just spilled her story. I don’t feel like I should give any details, especially since she has felt so betrayed by everyone in her life already, and does not feel like she can trust anyone. But I just want you to know that this girl needs prayer. She is in a lot of trouble and bondage. She feels like she is at the end, and I think talking to me was kind of a last resort.
Now I have gotten to know these kids really well already, but an actual “heart-to-heart” is different. I really want to get to know their hearts. To know who they really are. To know how their lives have gotten to this point.
So after our Bible study was over (and by the way, we have been splitting up the guys and girls for Bible Study, and been going through some more sensitive issues with them. Topics like HIV/AIDS, sex, relationships, their bodies, and things like that. It has been really great, and both groups have opened up and asked many questions and we have been able to have many great discussions with them!!!), so anyway, after it was over, I was getting ready to leave the classroom. There was one girl left, and to be honest I didn’t even know her name. She hasn’t come very often, and usually disappears quickly after the study. She asked me if we could talk. I immediately put down my books and purse, and agreed. So we sat down, and she just spilled her story. I don’t feel like I should give any details, especially since she has felt so betrayed by everyone in her life already, and does not feel like she can trust anyone. But I just want you to know that this girl needs prayer. She is in a lot of trouble and bondage. She feels like she is at the end, and I think talking to me was kind of a last resort.
Alice and I
So we talked (or should I say she talked, and I listened) for a long time. I prayed for her. We were both crying. I asked her if I could be her friend. She looked at me for awhile, and then said “yes”. As we got up to leave, she wiped the tears from her face, and asked if she could hug me. Umm, YES! I’m thinking, “girl, I can’t have a heart-to-heart with you like this and then NOT hug you!” It was a wonderful moment, and I know that God brought her into my life for a reason, but I feel so incredibly inadequate to know how to help her. I am asking you to pray. Please, please pray. Pray for Alice. Pray for me as I talk to her. Pray for our meetings together. Pray for God’s spirit to surround this sweet girl. Pray that God would give her courage to do what is right. Pray for her family. PRAY. PRAY. PRAY. We need you to join us in this.
One of our youth, Vinny (Vincent), is in need of prayer right now as well. On Sunday, his older sister was killed. She was electrocuted by the illegal electricity that many people in the slums are stealing, and don’t know that the wire is live. She died instantly after touching this wire.
Please pray for Vinny and his family. Vinny is a believer, and takes leadership with the youth. Please pray that he would turn to God in this time of trouble, and that he would find God to be faithful and true, and learn to trust Him more.
Tragedies like this happen frequently in the slum, it seems. These youth and kids have to deal with horrible things on a regular basis. It’s not right, and it’s not fair.
We are reading a book right now that we got from Marcus and Marilyn in a care package called “Holding on to your Faith Even When God Doesn’t Make Sense” by Dr. James Dobson. Please pray that God will use this book to teach us, and use to it help us help the youth.
Asante sana. (Thank you very much).
Anniversary!!
We celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary on May 14th! I know to many of you, 4 years of marriage isn’t a lot, and you probably think we’re just babies, just starting out! But for us, it felt like a big thing! 4 years!
As we thought back to our wedding day 4 years ago, we feel like so much has changed. We would not have expected that we would be living in Africa. I don’t think we expected that we would change so much. Because we do feel like we are so different from the Trevor and Andrea that committed their lives to each other on May 14, 2005. We have “grown-up” in a lot of ways. We look at the world differently. We look at our future differently. We love each other so much more. We understand each other so much more. We have gone through difficult days together. And we are better for it.
Who knows what the future has in store for us in these next 4 or 40 years?? We know that God knows, and are excited for what He has planned for our lives. It’s an adventure that we love being on, knowing that we are just along for the ride!
As we thought back to our wedding day 4 years ago, we feel like so much has changed. We would not have expected that we would be living in Africa. I don’t think we expected that we would change so much. Because we do feel like we are so different from the Trevor and Andrea that committed their lives to each other on May 14, 2005. We have “grown-up” in a lot of ways. We look at the world differently. We look at our future differently. We love each other so much more. We understand each other so much more. We have gone through difficult days together. And we are better for it.
Who knows what the future has in store for us in these next 4 or 40 years?? We know that God knows, and are excited for what He has planned for our lives. It’s an adventure that we love being on, knowing that we are just along for the ride!
Happy Anniversary Trevor!! I love you!
Saturday, May 16, 2009
...
I have finally managed to put up some pictures for some of the previous blog entries...just so you know! =) We hope these pictures will give you an even better idea of what our lives look like here in Nairobi, Kenya.
Thank you to those of you who have done such an amazing job keeping in touch with us...it means so much to us! And please, for those who have been keeping up with our blog, feel free to leave us comments to let us know you are reading this...we really enjoy getting feedback from all of you who are reading this, supporting us, praying for us, and just keeping up with our lives! It means a lot to us!
Talk to you soon...
Thank you to those of you who have done such an amazing job keeping in touch with us...it means so much to us! And please, for those who have been keeping up with our blog, feel free to leave us comments to let us know you are reading this...we really enjoy getting feedback from all of you who are reading this, supporting us, praying for us, and just keeping up with our lives! It means a lot to us!
Talk to you soon...
Friday, May 8, 2009
Thankfulness
{Since we have had very sporadic internet connections lately, I have been blogging offline, and so now I have numerous entries to post at once! This entry, Thankfulness, is 1 of 7 new entries. Please read oldest to newest, starting first with:
7) The Beautiful Maasai Mara
6) Camp!!
5) Fun Things!
4) Bibles and Tools
3) Elly and Violet
2) Wednesday, May 6, 2009
And then lastly, this entry,
1) Thankfulness
I know it’s a lot, so you can read them bit by bit, maybe one a day, or all at once if you’re sure you’re up for it!! :o) }
How thankful are you? What do you see as an answer to prayer? How different are your wants and your needs? Are you thankful for food? For water?
These are some of the questions that have been running through our minds lately. The kids and youth in Mitumba challenge us so much in the way we think, and we have been pondering the way we see life, and in the things we see as valuable. How thankful are we really?
Trevor and I prepared a lesson the other day on the Good Samaritan for me to present to the grades 4-7 during their Pastoral class. My challenge for their writing assignment was to think of a time when someone has helped them, has been kind to them, maybe shown them love even when they did not deserve it…basically when they experienced the love of a Good Samaritan in their own life.
I was wondering if it would be difficult for them to come up with something or to think of something so quickly. But no, they all started writing immediately.
Reading their journal entries later brought tears to my eyes. I have SO many lessons to learn from these kids who are growing up in this awful slum environment. Lessons about thankfulness. Lessons about trusting God for my every need. Lessons about remembering the kindness I have received from my “neighbour”.
Please take the time to read a few of these journal entries:
“A day that I had been helped and loved with my neighbour, is the day that I came to REM school where Teacher Violet helped me by sponsoring me to live in her own home that she had built by her own money. I thank GOD for He has touched Teacher Violet’s heart to take care of me because I am an orphan.”
-written by a 14 year old boy who lives in the Home.
“When our school was opened first day I went to school. I was lonely but there was a boy who came near me and he asked me if I was lacking of stationeries. Oh! I wondered how the boy knew that I was lacking of pencils. He help me with everything that I needed and I thanked him for it. From that time until now he is my best friend and we normally share things we get, example like books and other things. When the time he is in trouble I offered myself to help him, same to me when I am in temptation he always saved me.”
-written by a 14 year old boy
“One day my neighbour with food…when my mother is not having money to buy food that neighbour gives me food even when my neighbour is not having anything. When we have we can give him. I love my neighbour so much and thank you teacher Andrea to give me Bible, may my God bless you. I love you with all my heart and soul. Thank you teacher Andrea may God bless.” -written by a 12 year old girl
“The day that I was helped with my neighbour was Date 1st March 2009. She helped me with some water to drink. We was not having any food or water, even we was not having money in our house. When my neighbour helped me I pray. Sometimes if my neighbour doesn’t have anything we help her with some food. We love our neighbour as we love ourselves.”
-written by a girl in the Standard 4 class
“One day my mother was sick and my father was far away from home. Then in that house there is nothing that you can eat so I ask my mother that what are we going to cook today? And then my mother told me go and tell anybody to help you with anything that we can have to eat. Then I took my bag. At Mitumba I was to see Pastor coming with his car. When Pastor saw me he told me that carry some fruit first and then when I finished he was giving me a packet of milk and some tomatoes and one flour. On that day I was so surprised.”
-written by a 15 year old boy.
“The day I was coming from hospital to home and it was night and I could not see well because it was so dark. As I was on my way home I fell in a hole and I had no one to save me, so I decided to stay there until the help comes to get me from the hole. But the surprising thing the good Samaritan like the one we hear in the Bible had heard me shouting and seeking for help. Help! Help! Help!
He came near the hole and flashed me with a torch and he tried his best to save. The end of one minute he had saved me and I am alive today. I don’t know still for tomorrow.”
-written by a boy in the Standard 7 class
“One day I was very hungry because I did not eat any food. I am very weak so I choose to sleep down on the floor. Another woman came and told me to wake up so that she can buy for me food. When I woke up she buy for me food and brought it for me to eat. I was so happy to see that woman helping me with food and she was not even my friend. I woke up and thanked the woman. From that day I know that neighbours are so good and I love them so much.”
-written by a girl in the Standard 6 class
“When I was coming from school I was not having a pencil to do work and one boy give me a pencil. I thank God because of His beloved.”
-written by a boy in the Standard 4 class
“One day I did not have a pen when the teacher was in class. Everybody was having a pen but me only did not have a pen. The class teacher Mr. Mark was a kind teacher. When he saw me he asked why I am not writing like the others. I told him my problem, that I did not have a pen. Then he asked that do someone have two pens to help me, but nobody answered. Then he have me ten shillings to buy a pen. I told him thank you, also I said thank you to God.”
-written by a boy in the standard 5 class
“One day my neighbour help me when I was in the house and my mother was caning (beating) me but my neighbour helped me. He tell my mother that to cane the child is wrong. That day was on Sunday when we want to come to Church that day. I feel happy and I thank my neighbour but that day was my first day to be helped by my neighbour.”
-written by a boy in the Standard 5 class
“When I was young, my mother send me to the shop. At that time I didn’t know the way to follow. I just started to walk everywhere. I got a good Samaritan and I asked him the right way to follow and he took me where I was supposed to be. When I reached home I thanked my God and that man for God had used him to show me the way. I became very happy that day and from that time I know God more than the other day.”
-written by a boy in the Standard 7 class, who has since been orphaned.
“One day I was a bad boy. I was stealing things of other people but one day they catch me and took me in the prison. When I was in prison I remembered one thing and that is if you trust in God He will help you the way He helped Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego.
When I trusted Him the time I was in prison, He heard my prayers and helped me and I got out of the prison. I thanked Him for what He has done for me. I became a good person and I stop stealing things of people!”
-written by a boy in the Standard 6 class
7) The Beautiful Maasai Mara
6) Camp!!
5) Fun Things!
4) Bibles and Tools
3) Elly and Violet
2) Wednesday, May 6, 2009
And then lastly, this entry,
1) Thankfulness
I know it’s a lot, so you can read them bit by bit, maybe one a day, or all at once if you’re sure you’re up for it!! :o) }
How thankful are you? What do you see as an answer to prayer? How different are your wants and your needs? Are you thankful for food? For water?
These are some of the questions that have been running through our minds lately. The kids and youth in Mitumba challenge us so much in the way we think, and we have been pondering the way we see life, and in the things we see as valuable. How thankful are we really?
Trevor and I prepared a lesson the other day on the Good Samaritan for me to present to the grades 4-7 during their Pastoral class. My challenge for their writing assignment was to think of a time when someone has helped them, has been kind to them, maybe shown them love even when they did not deserve it…basically when they experienced the love of a Good Samaritan in their own life.
I was wondering if it would be difficult for them to come up with something or to think of something so quickly. But no, they all started writing immediately.
Reading their journal entries later brought tears to my eyes. I have SO many lessons to learn from these kids who are growing up in this awful slum environment. Lessons about thankfulness. Lessons about trusting God for my every need. Lessons about remembering the kindness I have received from my “neighbour”.
Please take the time to read a few of these journal entries:
“A day that I had been helped and loved with my neighbour, is the day that I came to REM school where Teacher Violet helped me by sponsoring me to live in her own home that she had built by her own money. I thank GOD for He has touched Teacher Violet’s heart to take care of me because I am an orphan.”
-written by a 14 year old boy who lives in the Home.
“When our school was opened first day I went to school. I was lonely but there was a boy who came near me and he asked me if I was lacking of stationeries. Oh! I wondered how the boy knew that I was lacking of pencils. He help me with everything that I needed and I thanked him for it. From that time until now he is my best friend and we normally share things we get, example like books and other things. When the time he is in trouble I offered myself to help him, same to me when I am in temptation he always saved me.”
-written by a 14 year old boy
“One day my neighbour with food…when my mother is not having money to buy food that neighbour gives me food even when my neighbour is not having anything. When we have we can give him. I love my neighbour so much and thank you teacher Andrea to give me Bible, may my God bless you. I love you with all my heart and soul. Thank you teacher Andrea may God bless.” -written by a 12 year old girl
“The day that I was helped with my neighbour was Date 1st March 2009. She helped me with some water to drink. We was not having any food or water, even we was not having money in our house. When my neighbour helped me I pray. Sometimes if my neighbour doesn’t have anything we help her with some food. We love our neighbour as we love ourselves.”
-written by a girl in the Standard 4 class
“One day my mother was sick and my father was far away from home. Then in that house there is nothing that you can eat so I ask my mother that what are we going to cook today? And then my mother told me go and tell anybody to help you with anything that we can have to eat. Then I took my bag. At Mitumba I was to see Pastor coming with his car. When Pastor saw me he told me that carry some fruit first and then when I finished he was giving me a packet of milk and some tomatoes and one flour. On that day I was so surprised.”
-written by a 15 year old boy.
“The day I was coming from hospital to home and it was night and I could not see well because it was so dark. As I was on my way home I fell in a hole and I had no one to save me, so I decided to stay there until the help comes to get me from the hole. But the surprising thing the good Samaritan like the one we hear in the Bible had heard me shouting and seeking for help. Help! Help! Help!
He came near the hole and flashed me with a torch and he tried his best to save. The end of one minute he had saved me and I am alive today. I don’t know still for tomorrow.”
-written by a boy in the Standard 7 class
“One day I was very hungry because I did not eat any food. I am very weak so I choose to sleep down on the floor. Another woman came and told me to wake up so that she can buy for me food. When I woke up she buy for me food and brought it for me to eat. I was so happy to see that woman helping me with food and she was not even my friend. I woke up and thanked the woman. From that day I know that neighbours are so good and I love them so much.”
-written by a girl in the Standard 6 class
“When I was coming from school I was not having a pencil to do work and one boy give me a pencil. I thank God because of His beloved.”
-written by a boy in the Standard 4 class
“One day I did not have a pen when the teacher was in class. Everybody was having a pen but me only did not have a pen. The class teacher Mr. Mark was a kind teacher. When he saw me he asked why I am not writing like the others. I told him my problem, that I did not have a pen. Then he asked that do someone have two pens to help me, but nobody answered. Then he have me ten shillings to buy a pen. I told him thank you, also I said thank you to God.”
-written by a boy in the standard 5 class
“One day my neighbour help me when I was in the house and my mother was caning (beating) me but my neighbour helped me. He tell my mother that to cane the child is wrong. That day was on Sunday when we want to come to Church that day. I feel happy and I thank my neighbour but that day was my first day to be helped by my neighbour.”
-written by a boy in the Standard 5 class
“When I was young, my mother send me to the shop. At that time I didn’t know the way to follow. I just started to walk everywhere. I got a good Samaritan and I asked him the right way to follow and he took me where I was supposed to be. When I reached home I thanked my God and that man for God had used him to show me the way. I became very happy that day and from that time I know God more than the other day.”
-written by a boy in the Standard 7 class, who has since been orphaned.
“One day I was a bad boy. I was stealing things of other people but one day they catch me and took me in the prison. When I was in prison I remembered one thing and that is if you trust in God He will help you the way He helped Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego.
When I trusted Him the time I was in prison, He heard my prayers and helped me and I got out of the prison. I thanked Him for what He has done for me. I became a good person and I stop stealing things of people!”
-written by a boy in the Standard 6 class
These are just a sampling of the stories that these children and youth wrote. Reading them put me to shame…to be so incredibly thankful for a pen. To know how it feels to not have food or water, and to see how God answered their prayers. To remember these events, and to thank God for helping them. To use these times in their life to grow closer to God, and know Him more.
So I want to ask you again. How thankful are you? Do you remember the ways God has answered your prayers? How often do we confuse our needs with our wants?
Let’s learn from these kids living in Mitumba slum. Let’s not forget those answers to prayer. Let’s be thankful for the abundance that we have, especially when so many people are struggling to survive.
So I want to ask you again. How thankful are you? Do you remember the ways God has answered your prayers? How often do we confuse our needs with our wants?
Let’s learn from these kids living in Mitumba slum. Let’s not forget those answers to prayer. Let’s be thankful for the abundance that we have, especially when so many people are struggling to survive.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all His benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Psalm 103:1-5
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Last Wednesday was such a fun and rewarding day for both Trevor and I! I can’t wait to tell you about it!
First of all…about Trevor’s day! At our last Bible study in Mitumba, he was talking to one of the older boys, Reuben, who is 18 years old. Reuben wants to be a mechanic and has been going to school for it. He really looks up to Trevor, and mentioned that he would love to see where Trevor works and what he does. Trevor then said that Reuben was welcome to come to the TAM shop to spend the day with him sometime in the following week. Reuben immediately jumped at the chance, and they made arrangements for Wednesday. This was an exciting thing for us…things seem to be going to the next level in our ministries, and this really was a great opportunity, and brought the two main ministries that Trevor is involved in together!
It was a really awesome day for both Trevor and Reuben! Trevor was able to show him around the shop and hangar, show him all the planes and the cool things that are happening there. Reuben was amazed at all that they were doing there! (keep in mind that Mitumba is within sight of the Wilson Airport, and the planes fly right over top of the slum every day, but most people in the slum will never see what Reuben saw yesterday!!) Reuben was able to take part in the chai and devotion time that they have at AIM every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and thoroughly enjoyed that as well. Trevor introduced him to Steven, Benedicto, Mark, and Steve Harding (another missionary who is helping in the TAM shop for a few months) who all completely welcomed Reuben into the shop and made him feel really great. He was able to do some work alongside Steven for the day…later when asked about what he did, he was so proud, and was talking about the work that he had helped with… “WE did this.” and “this is what was needed on this vehicle and so WE did that…” and so on. He looked like he was on cloud nine!! He also said later that he had learned more working with Trevor and the other guys that day than he has in all his schooling yet. Trevor invited him to come back for the rest of the week, which he immediately agreed to do! What an exciting opportunity! Please pray for Trevor’s relationship with Reuben, that this will just be the start of the ways in which he can help him. I love how God uses opportunities of all kinds to help those in need, and if we just make use of those opportunities, we will be so blessed in return!
Trevor and Reuben
While Trevor was busy at the shop, I was having a great day as well!! It was opening day for the new school term, so I went to lead the Pastoral class that I lead on Wednesdays. I had missed the kids so much, and was so glad to go! After that class was done, I worked in the clinic for a few hours, bandaging many, many cuts, scrapes, and other bloody messes! I must say that that is one of my favourite times during the day…I just love the chance to help in such a practical way and take care of these precious ones.
I spent quite a bit of time with the class sixes as well…they are a very rambunctious group of kids, who are known as the “notorious class”!! But they have stolen my heart! I now have another name to add to the list of Teacher, Pastor, and Doctor in the slum. The kids in class six have now adopted me as their Mama. And they will fight over me, and have become quite the protective group of kids! To Stephen, I am “Mama Stephen”. To Amo, I am “Mama Amo”. To Kamau, I am just “Mommy”. It really breaks my heart…these boys are all 14 years old, and are all true orphans with no mama. They are looking for that mother-figure in their life, and have decided that I will be it. I spent a lot of time with all of the 6’s, and made sure to tell all of them how very much I love them, and how beautiful they are, and that God has created them for a purpose. They asked me if I liked Kenya, and I answered that I liked Kenya very much. They asked if I wanted to go back to Canada, and I said that I was not looking forward to going home because that means that I have to leave them. Their next question was said in a hesitant tone… “because you love us??” And I said “yes, because Trevor and I love all of you so much.” That response got cheering from the class, and I heard a couple of them say “they love us!!!” in an excited tone. And boy, do we ever.
They all spent time styling my hair…I had about 8 pairs of hands all over my head, making braids, examining the color, feeling the smoothness, or just plain rubbing until I had a frizzy mess!!! It was hilarious! Amo said to me “when God made your hair, he blessed it. When God made my hair, He cursed it.” I took his face in my hands, and told him that God had NOT made a mistake, and that He has made him a beautiful creation. That our hair was just different, and that’s because God is creative. One is not better than the other. It was just sobering for me to spend that time with them and to hear some of the comments from these sweet, sweet kids.
Amo and I
Stephen and I
So there’s another look into our lives and ministries here in Nairobi. We have said before that if we were to come back to Africa, we would not want to live in Nairobi…but then we look at the people around us, and the ministries that we are involved in and feeling so fulfilled in, and may have to take that statement back. We love what we do here. We love the people here. We feel like our hearts are so involved, and the ministries are so amazing that it’s worth the busyness of the city life and the irritating traffic and the reality of always having to live behind walls and gates and locked doors and barred windows. We need wisdom.
We are absolutely dreading the thought of leaving these dear ones. Please pray for us in our last four months here. Pray that God will show us what to do, and that He will give us peace in the leaving process that is coming up far too soon.
First of all…about Trevor’s day! At our last Bible study in Mitumba, he was talking to one of the older boys, Reuben, who is 18 years old. Reuben wants to be a mechanic and has been going to school for it. He really looks up to Trevor, and mentioned that he would love to see where Trevor works and what he does. Trevor then said that Reuben was welcome to come to the TAM shop to spend the day with him sometime in the following week. Reuben immediately jumped at the chance, and they made arrangements for Wednesday. This was an exciting thing for us…things seem to be going to the next level in our ministries, and this really was a great opportunity, and brought the two main ministries that Trevor is involved in together!
It was a really awesome day for both Trevor and Reuben! Trevor was able to show him around the shop and hangar, show him all the planes and the cool things that are happening there. Reuben was amazed at all that they were doing there! (keep in mind that Mitumba is within sight of the Wilson Airport, and the planes fly right over top of the slum every day, but most people in the slum will never see what Reuben saw yesterday!!) Reuben was able to take part in the chai and devotion time that they have at AIM every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and thoroughly enjoyed that as well. Trevor introduced him to Steven, Benedicto, Mark, and Steve Harding (another missionary who is helping in the TAM shop for a few months) who all completely welcomed Reuben into the shop and made him feel really great. He was able to do some work alongside Steven for the day…later when asked about what he did, he was so proud, and was talking about the work that he had helped with… “WE did this.” and “this is what was needed on this vehicle and so WE did that…” and so on. He looked like he was on cloud nine!! He also said later that he had learned more working with Trevor and the other guys that day than he has in all his schooling yet. Trevor invited him to come back for the rest of the week, which he immediately agreed to do! What an exciting opportunity! Please pray for Trevor’s relationship with Reuben, that this will just be the start of the ways in which he can help him. I love how God uses opportunities of all kinds to help those in need, and if we just make use of those opportunities, we will be so blessed in return!
Trevor and ReubenWhile Trevor was busy at the shop, I was having a great day as well!! It was opening day for the new school term, so I went to lead the Pastoral class that I lead on Wednesdays. I had missed the kids so much, and was so glad to go! After that class was done, I worked in the clinic for a few hours, bandaging many, many cuts, scrapes, and other bloody messes! I must say that that is one of my favourite times during the day…I just love the chance to help in such a practical way and take care of these precious ones.
I spent quite a bit of time with the class sixes as well…they are a very rambunctious group of kids, who are known as the “notorious class”!! But they have stolen my heart! I now have another name to add to the list of Teacher, Pastor, and Doctor in the slum. The kids in class six have now adopted me as their Mama. And they will fight over me, and have become quite the protective group of kids! To Stephen, I am “Mama Stephen”. To Amo, I am “Mama Amo”. To Kamau, I am just “Mommy”. It really breaks my heart…these boys are all 14 years old, and are all true orphans with no mama. They are looking for that mother-figure in their life, and have decided that I will be it. I spent a lot of time with all of the 6’s, and made sure to tell all of them how very much I love them, and how beautiful they are, and that God has created them for a purpose. They asked me if I liked Kenya, and I answered that I liked Kenya very much. They asked if I wanted to go back to Canada, and I said that I was not looking forward to going home because that means that I have to leave them. Their next question was said in a hesitant tone… “because you love us??” And I said “yes, because Trevor and I love all of you so much.” That response got cheering from the class, and I heard a couple of them say “they love us!!!” in an excited tone. And boy, do we ever.
They all spent time styling my hair…I had about 8 pairs of hands all over my head, making braids, examining the color, feeling the smoothness, or just plain rubbing until I had a frizzy mess!!! It was hilarious! Amo said to me “when God made your hair, he blessed it. When God made my hair, He cursed it.” I took his face in my hands, and told him that God had NOT made a mistake, and that He has made him a beautiful creation. That our hair was just different, and that’s because God is creative. One is not better than the other. It was just sobering for me to spend that time with them and to hear some of the comments from these sweet, sweet kids.
Amo and I
Stephen and ISo there’s another look into our lives and ministries here in Nairobi. We have said before that if we were to come back to Africa, we would not want to live in Nairobi…but then we look at the people around us, and the ministries that we are involved in and feeling so fulfilled in, and may have to take that statement back. We love what we do here. We love the people here. We feel like our hearts are so involved, and the ministries are so amazing that it’s worth the busyness of the city life and the irritating traffic and the reality of always having to live behind walls and gates and locked doors and barred windows. We need wisdom.
We are absolutely dreading the thought of leaving these dear ones. Please pray for us in our last four months here. Pray that God will show us what to do, and that He will give us peace in the leaving process that is coming up far too soon.
Elly and Violet
One last thing I want to tell you about Mom and Dad’s time here in Kenya was the chance we had to go to Elly’s house again. If you remember from previous blogs, Elly works on our compound as a gardener, and Trevor and I have gotten to know him and his family, and have taken the opportunities to help them whenever we can.
We drove to Kawangware, the slum here in Nairobi where Elly and his family live. He and his wife, Violet, and their two sons, Wesley and Timothy, welcomed us enthusiastically, and we walked through the corridors of the slum and entered their home. One of the first things I noticed was a picture that they had enlarged and framed and put up on the mabati (tin) wall. It was a picture of Trevor and I, holding Wesley and Timothy. They have also made another one to take to their up-country home to show their families. What a humbling feeling it gave us to see that.
They served us delicious chai, and we had the chance to visit with them for a few hours. What a wonderful family! I had mentioned in one of the blog posts from February how sick Violet has been since last year. I am happy to tell you that she has improved so much, and does not look nearly so frail and sickly as she did the last time we saw her!! She is now able to cook and take care of their children…the only thing that she still has trouble with is lifting heavy things as she is still gaining her strength back slowly. We were so happy to see her looking so much better!
Something that Elly has been mentioning to us for awhile, and something he mentioned again when we were at his house, is that he is looking for someone to sponsor his youngest son, Timothy for his school fees. He has a sponsor for Wesley, but needs one for Timothy. Both boys go to a private school (the thing you do if you value education for your children here…the government/public schools are not good for many different reasons.), and so there are many costs involved. Elly would like for someone to pay for the school fees, then Elly covers the costs of books, uniforms, and food for the day. If you are interested in helping out with this, please let us know and we will give you more information on this. There is no pressure, and we do not want anyone to feel like they have to, but we just told Elly that we would get the word out and see what happens.
Visiting with Elly and Violet and their children is always a joy, and we always leave feeling so blessed and encouraged. I was glad that my parents got to meet the rest of Elly’s family and get a better idea of some of the challenges of a family trying to make it here in Nairobi.
So as you can see, we were able to show my parents a lot of things during their 2 ½ weeks here in Kenya. Besides doing these things that I have already written about, we enjoyed going out for meals at different places, for Chinese food, Indian food, good old Java House, and a new place that we went to for an early birthday lunch for Dad, called The Simba Saloon. (not an actual saloon, don’t worry!)
We also enjoyed taking them to different markets and introducing them to the wonderful world of bartering!
It was nice, too, to take them to our Church here and introduce them to some of our new friends.
We spent a morning at New Life Home as well, and enjoyed spending time with some adorable babies and toddlers! Even Dad got to feed a little boy, which he was not expecting! :o) It was a good time!
Saying goodbye to them at the airport was a little more difficult than I had anticipated, but we are okay! We are still not wanting to go back to Canada yet, it’s just that goodbyes are never fun. We are very thankful that we had as much time with them as we did, and were able to share a part of our lives here with them. Now it’s back to normal life (well as “normal” as life gets here in Kenya!), but we are thankful for that too, and looking forward to making the most of the rest of our time here.
We drove to Kawangware, the slum here in Nairobi where Elly and his family live. He and his wife, Violet, and their two sons, Wesley and Timothy, welcomed us enthusiastically, and we walked through the corridors of the slum and entered their home. One of the first things I noticed was a picture that they had enlarged and framed and put up on the mabati (tin) wall. It was a picture of Trevor and I, holding Wesley and Timothy. They have also made another one to take to their up-country home to show their families. What a humbling feeling it gave us to see that.
They served us delicious chai, and we had the chance to visit with them for a few hours. What a wonderful family! I had mentioned in one of the blog posts from February how sick Violet has been since last year. I am happy to tell you that she has improved so much, and does not look nearly so frail and sickly as she did the last time we saw her!! She is now able to cook and take care of their children…the only thing that she still has trouble with is lifting heavy things as she is still gaining her strength back slowly. We were so happy to see her looking so much better!
Something that Elly has been mentioning to us for awhile, and something he mentioned again when we were at his house, is that he is looking for someone to sponsor his youngest son, Timothy for his school fees. He has a sponsor for Wesley, but needs one for Timothy. Both boys go to a private school (the thing you do if you value education for your children here…the government/public schools are not good for many different reasons.), and so there are many costs involved. Elly would like for someone to pay for the school fees, then Elly covers the costs of books, uniforms, and food for the day. If you are interested in helping out with this, please let us know and we will give you more information on this. There is no pressure, and we do not want anyone to feel like they have to, but we just told Elly that we would get the word out and see what happens.
Visiting with Elly and Violet and their children is always a joy, and we always leave feeling so blessed and encouraged. I was glad that my parents got to meet the rest of Elly’s family and get a better idea of some of the challenges of a family trying to make it here in Nairobi.
So as you can see, we were able to show my parents a lot of things during their 2 ½ weeks here in Kenya. Besides doing these things that I have already written about, we enjoyed going out for meals at different places, for Chinese food, Indian food, good old Java House, and a new place that we went to for an early birthday lunch for Dad, called The Simba Saloon. (not an actual saloon, don’t worry!)
We also enjoyed taking them to different markets and introducing them to the wonderful world of bartering!
It was nice, too, to take them to our Church here and introduce them to some of our new friends.
We spent a morning at New Life Home as well, and enjoyed spending time with some adorable babies and toddlers! Even Dad got to feed a little boy, which he was not expecting! :o) It was a good time!
Saying goodbye to them at the airport was a little more difficult than I had anticipated, but we are okay! We are still not wanting to go back to Canada yet, it’s just that goodbyes are never fun. We are very thankful that we had as much time with them as we did, and were able to share a part of our lives here with them. Now it’s back to normal life (well as “normal” as life gets here in Kenya!), but we are thankful for that too, and looking forward to making the most of the rest of our time here.
Bibles and Tools
One of the great things about being a missionary and serving in a foreign country is the amazing support of friends, family and Churches at home. We see so many needs out here that are impossible for us to fill financially, and it’s been so cool to see how the Family of God works together to fill those different needs. We have mentioned different things through our blog and other communication with friends and family, and through that God has worked in people’s hearts and lives to give of what they have to help people out here in Kenya.
One of those things was the tools that my parents brought out here for the men that work with Trevor in the TAM shop. Family, friends and Churches from home put money together, and this was one of the ways they were able to help out. These tools have been such a tremendous blessing to Benedicto, Mark, and Steven, and have been able to go a long way in helping them earn a living and support their families. They are so appreciative of the gifts of these tools, and will never forget that our family and friends care about them in this way. So on behalf of Steven, Benedicto, and Mark…thank you to all who have supported this project!!
Dad giving Mark his tools.
Benedicto
Trevor with Mark and Steven
The group - Me, Steven, Trevor, Benedicto, Dad, Mark, and Mom
A couple of months ago, after one of our youth Bible studies in the slum, Trevor and I really sensed the need for all our youth to have their own Bible. They are so hungry for the Word of God, and hungry for truth, and yet only a handful have their own Bible. They want to grow in the Lord, and yet it’s very difficult when they can’t read His Word on a regular basis. Our Bible study group has been growing by leaps and bounds…we started with an average of about 20 youth, and at our last Bible study we had 52 youth come! So we felt like this was another project that we could not do on our own financially, and would be another great way for people at home to be able to help out if they felt led to do so.
Two days before our Saturday study in Mitumba, we went to the Bible Society of Kenya with my parents to purchase the Bibles. We looked through different styles and study Bibles, and decided on a simple NIV study Bible, and with the money sent by supporters at home, purchased 64 Bibles. It was an exciting day!!
The following Saturday we brought the boxes filled with Bibles to Mitumba. We asked some of the youth boys to carry them from the vehicle to the classroom. On the way, one of the boxes that one of the boys was carrying fell apart and some of the Bibles fell out onto the muddy ground. They hurriedly picked them up, and I could sense that the word was being passed along to everyone who had not seen what was in the boxes! Excited voices speaking in Swahili were all we heard for awhile, and our surprise was not a surprise anymore! It was pretty funny!! One of our youth, Dennis, carefully wiped all the Bibles that had gotten dirty, his face all smiles. We had all the youth come up one by one and wrote each of their names in their own Bibles and presented it to them. We then had a study on the importance of Bible reading, and then went through the different study features in these particular Bibles so that they know how to use them and how to best use the resources that this study Bible has to offer.
They have been praying for their own Bibles for a long time, and now their prayers have been answered!! These youth are so thankful! One of the teachers told me this last week that last Sunday in Church, some of the youth had gone up and testified about how God answered their prayers in this way and that they finally had their own copy of the Word of God! Please pray with us that God would continue to help these youth to be diligent in their study and reading of God’s Word, and that they would grow in their relationship with the Lord!
I want you to hear their thankfulness from Dennis’ perspective. He is one of our youth who is very dear to our hearts.
“One day I was looking for the person who can help me with a Bible. I prayed for many days but I didn’t lose my hope. One Saturday it was on 2nd of May at 10:25 I saw my teacher with some boxes. I didn’t know what was inside, then she told us that “Help me carry this box to youth.” Without wasting time we carried until where she told us. We sung, when we finished singing she told us that “everybody to come and write his name or hers inside this book.” I was the sixth to write my name then she gave me a Bible. I prayed that day and I thank God because He answered my prayer. That day I was very happy.”
So on behalf of the youth in Mitumba slum, thank you so much to all of you who have supported this project! And also a huge thank you to so, so many of you who have helped out in so many ways…By giving finances, by asking about specific needs and then filling them, by praying, by encouraging, by sending us, by being concerned, by showing your love for us and for the people out here that you have never even met. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Asante Sana!! (Thank you very much!)
You are making a bigger difference than you may ever know.
One of those things was the tools that my parents brought out here for the men that work with Trevor in the TAM shop. Family, friends and Churches from home put money together, and this was one of the ways they were able to help out. These tools have been such a tremendous blessing to Benedicto, Mark, and Steven, and have been able to go a long way in helping them earn a living and support their families. They are so appreciative of the gifts of these tools, and will never forget that our family and friends care about them in this way. So on behalf of Steven, Benedicto, and Mark…thank you to all who have supported this project!!
Dad giving Mark his tools.
Benedicto
Trevor with Mark and Steven
The group - Me, Steven, Trevor, Benedicto, Dad, Mark, and MomA couple of months ago, after one of our youth Bible studies in the slum, Trevor and I really sensed the need for all our youth to have their own Bible. They are so hungry for the Word of God, and hungry for truth, and yet only a handful have their own Bible. They want to grow in the Lord, and yet it’s very difficult when they can’t read His Word on a regular basis. Our Bible study group has been growing by leaps and bounds…we started with an average of about 20 youth, and at our last Bible study we had 52 youth come! So we felt like this was another project that we could not do on our own financially, and would be another great way for people at home to be able to help out if they felt led to do so.
Two days before our Saturday study in Mitumba, we went to the Bible Society of Kenya with my parents to purchase the Bibles. We looked through different styles and study Bibles, and decided on a simple NIV study Bible, and with the money sent by supporters at home, purchased 64 Bibles. It was an exciting day!!
The following Saturday we brought the boxes filled with Bibles to Mitumba. We asked some of the youth boys to carry them from the vehicle to the classroom. On the way, one of the boxes that one of the boys was carrying fell apart and some of the Bibles fell out onto the muddy ground. They hurriedly picked them up, and I could sense that the word was being passed along to everyone who had not seen what was in the boxes! Excited voices speaking in Swahili were all we heard for awhile, and our surprise was not a surprise anymore! It was pretty funny!! One of our youth, Dennis, carefully wiped all the Bibles that had gotten dirty, his face all smiles. We had all the youth come up one by one and wrote each of their names in their own Bibles and presented it to them. We then had a study on the importance of Bible reading, and then went through the different study features in these particular Bibles so that they know how to use them and how to best use the resources that this study Bible has to offer.
They have been praying for their own Bibles for a long time, and now their prayers have been answered!! These youth are so thankful! One of the teachers told me this last week that last Sunday in Church, some of the youth had gone up and testified about how God answered their prayers in this way and that they finally had their own copy of the Word of God! Please pray with us that God would continue to help these youth to be diligent in their study and reading of God’s Word, and that they would grow in their relationship with the Lord!
I want you to hear their thankfulness from Dennis’ perspective. He is one of our youth who is very dear to our hearts.
“One day I was looking for the person who can help me with a Bible. I prayed for many days but I didn’t lose my hope. One Saturday it was on 2nd of May at 10:25 I saw my teacher with some boxes. I didn’t know what was inside, then she told us that “Help me carry this box to youth.” Without wasting time we carried until where she told us. We sung, when we finished singing she told us that “everybody to come and write his name or hers inside this book.” I was the sixth to write my name then she gave me a Bible. I prayed that day and I thank God because He answered my prayer. That day I was very happy.”
So on behalf of the youth in Mitumba slum, thank you so much to all of you who have supported this project! And also a huge thank you to so, so many of you who have helped out in so many ways…By giving finances, by asking about specific needs and then filling them, by praying, by encouraging, by sending us, by being concerned, by showing your love for us and for the people out here that you have never even met. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Asante Sana!! (Thank you very much!)
You are making a bigger difference than you may ever know.
Fun Things!
1. Amani Ya Juu. It means “Higher Peace” in Kiswahili. It is also the name of a center that employs sixty-two women from different countries in Africa, most of whom have fled due to violence and war in their own countries. These women are able to work here to feed their families and earn a living, while learning about the word of God and having the opportunity to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. It’s a wonderful place.
The work they do is mostly sewing…making clothing, quilts, wall hangings, purses, dolls, among many other things!! And it’s beautiful stuff!! They also dye and print the fabrics and have a warehouse area where they export their products. They have shops there where you can purchase items to help support them, and also a café where they serve delicious food. We spent a good part of the day there, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! It’s really nice to be able to know where the money you spend is going, and to come home with a beautiful purchase in the process!
The work they do is mostly sewing…making clothing, quilts, wall hangings, purses, dolls, among many other things!! And it’s beautiful stuff!! They also dye and print the fabrics and have a warehouse area where they export their products. They have shops there where you can purchase items to help support them, and also a café where they serve delicious food. We spent a good part of the day there, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! It’s really nice to be able to know where the money you spend is going, and to come home with a beautiful purchase in the process!
Eating outside at the cafe.
2. We took another trip out of the city, and that was north to Central Province, close to a town called Nanyuki. We went to a place called the Trout Tree Restaurant that we had heard a lot about. It started out on an interesting note, though. The day before, we heard some things about some unrest and violence happening in one of the towns that we would have to drive through in order to get to our destination. There is a gang here in Kenya called the MUNG1K1, that wreak terror and havoc anywhere they go. They had killed a bunch of people in this town the week before, so there was now a heavy police presence in the area. But since we had not heard any more recent activity, and were advised by some friends of ours that it would probably be okay, as long as we left before it got dark, we decided to go anyway.
The restaurant is so cool…it’s in a huge tree! You feel kind of like Swiss Family Robinson! They specialize in trout (hence the name!) and you can see all the ponds they have for the trout that they catch for you as you order! It was a really neat experience, and we’d like to go again sometime! We saw black and white colobus monkeys and little hyrax things (with really beady eyes!) that hang out around the restaurant and grounds.
The area is so beautiful too…on one side, you can see the Aberdare Mountain Range, and on the other side you have a view of Mount Kenya (well, a clouded over view, but still, it’s Mount Kenya!!). It was really neat to see.
From there it was only a few minutes drive to the sign where it tells you that you are on the Equator, so we had to go there too! We spent some time shopping at the curio shops there (or should I say Mom and Dad shopped there! They got a lot of cool stuff!!). We had to wait out an insane rainstorm there…it turned the parking lot into a lake within minutes! The shopkeepers set out chairs in their shops for us as we waited, until Trevor decided to brave the downpour and go get the vehicle!
Another interesting day, with no sign of the violence or gang anywhere…praise God!
Camp!!
The school terms here in Kenya run on a different schedule than they do at home. Kids are in school from January to March, then they have the month of April off. Then it’s back to school from May to July, with August having no school. Then it’s the last three months of school from September to November, and December being the last month off. During the months of holidays in April, August, and December, a lot of the kids go to camps. We got to go to the camp that the kids from Mitumba slum went to! It was great! Pastor Shadrach asked us to come for a day to speak to the youth during one of their sessions. It happened to be during the time that Mom and Dad were here, so they got to come along…it was actually their first chance to meet the youth and kids from Mitumba.
The kids spent the week at a high school (which is also a boarding school) in Ngong Hills, which is close to Ngong town. (which is also not far from where we live!). One of the things that struck us the most about seeing the youth/kids at the camp, away from the slum, is that you would never picture them as growing up and living in a slum. They are such beautiful young people, so incredibly well-mannered, so welcoming and inviting, with futures so bright it’s almost blinding! Their environment does not determine who they become!! Their past does not determine their future!! It just really rang true all over again, that the possibilities for these youth are endless. They have hope in Jesus Christ, they are getting a good education, they are being counselled and encouraged in the Lord, they are gaining courage and confidence. They have had to work so hard, they have come so far, and will have to continue working harder than many people to get past the many obstacles in their life, and to not let their past determine who they are going to become. But it is happening!! Aahh I get goosebumps just thinking about it! :o)
Going to camp is such an incredible highlight for them. They get to leave the slum, ride on a bus (which is a novelty!), and spend the week sleeping in dorms, eating great food, learning more about God, sing and dance, play a ton of games, and just get renewed and refreshed. When we arrived on a Thursday, they were all so hyper and excited and I don’t think that the smiles ever left their faces!!
The topic that
we were given to speak about was “Friends and Peer Pressure”. We had touched on these topics before during our youth Bible studies, but were able to go into a bit more depth at the camp. We really enjoyed the chance to speak to them. What we did not realize was that after our session was over, the youth would be given a chance to write down questions and we would have to go up immediately and answer them with no time for preparation or research! It was slightly scary, and I have to say, I was a little relieved when our time was up and they had to save some of the questions for another day! They have so many questions, though, and I am so glad they are getting good and safe places to ask them and have them answered from the Word of God.
The rest of our time there was spent just hanging out with the youth, watching their games and relays, taking pictures of them, catching crickets, running around, playing basketball and all sorts of other fun stuff. We joined them for the meals of ugali, sukuma wiki, and stew, which was Mom and Dad’s first chance to try Kenyan food!
We had a really great time (but were scolded by some of the youth that we did not come for the whole week! We are hoping that we can spend more time at the camp with them in August..). I think seeing them in a different environment, out of the slum, helped us to understand them better, and see who they really are. We are finding that our hearts are getting more and more attached to these youth, which makes the thought of leaving them unbearable. We love them so much.
The kids spent the week at a high school (which is also a boarding school) in Ngong Hills, which is close to Ngong town. (which is also not far from where we live!). One of the things that struck us the most about seeing the youth/kids at the camp, away from the slum, is that you would never picture them as growing up and living in a slum. They are such beautiful young people, so incredibly well-mannered, so welcoming and inviting, with futures so bright it’s almost blinding! Their environment does not determine who they become!! Their past does not determine their future!! It just really rang true all over again, that the possibilities for these youth are endless. They have hope in Jesus Christ, they are getting a good education, they are being counselled and encouraged in the Lord, they are gaining courage and confidence. They have had to work so hard, they have come so far, and will have to continue working harder than many people to get past the many obstacles in their life, and to not let their past determine who they are going to become. But it is happening!! Aahh I get goosebumps just thinking about it! :o)
Going to camp is such an incredible highlight for them. They get to leave the slum, ride on a bus (which is a novelty!), and spend the week sleeping in dorms, eating great food, learning more about God, sing and dance, play a ton of games, and just get renewed and refreshed. When we arrived on a Thursday, they were all so hyper and excited and I don’t think that the smiles ever left their faces!!
The topic that
we were given to speak about was “Friends and Peer Pressure”. We had touched on these topics before during our youth Bible studies, but were able to go into a bit more depth at the camp. We really enjoyed the chance to speak to them. What we did not realize was that after our session was over, the youth would be given a chance to write down questions and we would have to go up immediately and answer them with no time for preparation or research! It was slightly scary, and I have to say, I was a little relieved when our time was up and they had to save some of the questions for another day! They have so many questions, though, and I am so glad they are getting good and safe places to ask them and have them answered from the Word of God.The rest of our time there was spent just hanging out with the youth, watching their games and relays, taking pictures of them, catching crickets, running around, playing basketball and all sorts of other fun stuff. We joined them for the meals of ugali, sukuma wiki, and stew, which was Mom and Dad’s first chance to try Kenyan food!
We had a really great time (but were scolded by some of the youth that we did not come for the whole week! We are hoping that we can spend more time at the camp with them in August..). I think seeing them in a different environment, out of the slum, helped us to understand them better, and see who they really are. We are finding that our hearts are getting more and more attached to these youth, which makes the thought of leaving them unbearable. We love them so much.
The Beautiful Maasai Mara
Wow, so much to say about our last few weeks! We had a great time with my parents and were able to cram a lot of events and visiting into our 2 ½ weeks with them! It was so nice to be able to sit in the same room and talk and laugh, and also to be able to experience fun things together. It’s amazing how easy it is to take quality time together for granted until it’s not an option anymore! It really was such a fun thing for us to have family here again. There were definitely a few highlights of their time here, so I will elaborate on those.
We all splurged a little, and went on a safari to the Maasai Mara for the weekend! Trevor and I hadn’t been there since our trip to Kenya in 2006, and Mom and Dad had never been on a safari of any kind, so it was well worth it! We hired a safari company to pick us up at our house, drive us there, and also do the game drives for us. Our driver, Jackson, was here at 6:30 am Friday morning, and off we went!
It was Mom and Dad’s first trip out of Nairobi, so they got to see The Great Rift Valley and other parts of the beautiful Kenyan countryside as we drove about five hours to get to our Lodge. We stayed at the Sarova Mara, which is a tented camp in the Maasai Mara…and if by the word tented you think small tent, no lights, outhouses, camping…think again! These are luxury tents, with running water and flushing toilets! The coolest surprise was when we got there and got treated like royalty with hot moist cloths to wipe our dusty hands and faces after the drive, and were given fresh passion juice to drink…they said they were very happy to inform us that they upgraded us to the Club Tents!!! It was great! Two men carried all our bags and we followed them, past the swimming pool, past beautiful groomed trees and shrubs, on a bridge over a small lake, past the tents we thought we were going to be staying in, and straight into the doors of our amazing tents with a gorgeous view of the Mara!! Oh wow!! It was incredible! It was like staying in the best room in a fancy hotel, except here, we look out the windows and see trees and birds, and we walk out of our doors and see the endless Maasai Mara!
So, after exploring our tents and freshening up, we went for lunch, which was the first of many delicious meals there, and then started our first game drive at 4:00 pm.
We are in our rainy season here in Kenya, which is wonderful…except when you’re talking about going on a safari, then it can be not-so-wonderful! Jackson (our driver) said a few times “let’s just hope for the best” when talking about what animals we were going to see. If it’s just so rainy, then the animals don’t come out much, it can be hard to find them, and visibility is poor. We were feeling a little worried…coming all this way and paying all this money, and mom and dad’s only safari, and then not seeing very much and just hoping for the best??? But we didn’t say anything to them and just prayed! :o)
Our first game drive was incredible…so many animals were out! Zebras, Cape buffalo, lots of elephants (and a few baby elephants!!!), a lion, a leopard (!!) lying in a tree, tons of cools birds, more and more and more elephants…and we ended the game drive with a view of the sun setting on the African landscape. Perfect. We came back in time to have supper, and talk about our awesome first day!
The next morning started early, with a game drive at 6:30 am, after a cup of hot chai. To be out in the middle of the Maasai Mara as it’s waking up is amazing. The sun rising, sending a fiery glow on all the trees and animals, feeling the cool air on your face, and just being able to enjoy God’s wonderful creation is something that can hardly be explained. We love Africa.
Giraffes were the highlight of our morning. We saw a mama giraffe with her baby…so cool! Along with that we saw ostriches, hyenas (so funny-looking!!), all kinds of deer, buffalo, and more giraffes!
We returned from our morning game drive in time for a scrumptious breakfast, and some time in the sun to warm up!! We had a relaxing afternoon, time to explore the lodge grounds, time to sleep, and time just to hang out.
Our evening game drive also held some exciting promises for us…we saw all of the animals we’d already seen, plus warthog after warthog, after warthog!! What interesting creatures…have you seen them run before?? Their tails go straight up like an antenna…it’s hilarious!! But the best part about this Saturday evening game drive was seeing a whole pride of lions!! Unreal! They were eating a zebra in the bush, and we got to see the male lion fighting with another lion…it was awesome! After that we also saw hippos in a river, and over forty baboons! Add to that another captivating African sunset, and you have a pretty perfect day!
Sunday morning. Our last morning game drive before we had to start the drive back to Nairobi. We saw a few of the animals that we had seen the previous game drives, but the best part was seeing three cheetahs relaxing in the bush!
The scary saying of “let’s just hope for the best”, turned into “we saw ALL the animals except the rhino!!” Our weather was absolutely perfect, our days were filled with exciting things, we saw God’s magnificent creation up-close and personal…what a weekend!! It was as close to perfect as you can get!
The Maasai Mara…you just have to experience it!
We all splurged a little, and went on a safari to the Maasai Mara for the weekend! Trevor and I hadn’t been there since our trip to Kenya in 2006, and Mom and Dad had never been on a safari of any kind, so it was well worth it! We hired a safari company to pick us up at our house, drive us there, and also do the game drives for us. Our driver, Jackson, was here at 6:30 am Friday morning, and off we went!
It was Mom and Dad’s first trip out of Nairobi, so they got to see The Great Rift Valley and other parts of the beautiful Kenyan countryside as we drove about five hours to get to our Lodge. We stayed at the Sarova Mara, which is a tented camp in the Maasai Mara…and if by the word tented you think small tent, no lights, outhouses, camping…think again! These are luxury tents, with running water and flushing toilets! The coolest surprise was when we got there and got treated like royalty with hot moist cloths to wipe our dusty hands and faces after the drive, and were given fresh passion juice to drink…they said they were very happy to inform us that they upgraded us to the Club Tents!!! It was great! Two men carried all our bags and we followed them, past the swimming pool, past beautiful groomed trees and shrubs, on a bridge over a small lake, past the tents we thought we were going to be staying in, and straight into the doors of our amazing tents with a gorgeous view of the Mara!! Oh wow!! It was incredible! It was like staying in the best room in a fancy hotel, except here, we look out the windows and see trees and birds, and we walk out of our doors and see the endless Maasai Mara!
So, after exploring our tents and freshening up, we went for lunch, which was the first of many delicious meals there, and then started our first game drive at 4:00 pm.
We are in our rainy season here in Kenya, which is wonderful…except when you’re talking about going on a safari, then it can be not-so-wonderful! Jackson (our driver) said a few times “let’s just hope for the best” when talking about what animals we were going to see. If it’s just so rainy, then the animals don’t come out much, it can be hard to find them, and visibility is poor. We were feeling a little worried…coming all this way and paying all this money, and mom and dad’s only safari, and then not seeing very much and just hoping for the best??? But we didn’t say anything to them and just prayed! :o)
Our first game drive was incredible…so many animals were out! Zebras, Cape buffalo, lots of elephants (and a few baby elephants!!!), a lion, a leopard (!!) lying in a tree, tons of cools birds, more and more and more elephants…and we ended the game drive with a view of the sun setting on the African landscape. Perfect. We came back in time to have supper, and talk about our awesome first day!
The next morning started early, with a game drive at 6:30 am, after a cup of hot chai. To be out in the middle of the Maasai Mara as it’s waking up is amazing. The sun rising, sending a fiery glow on all the trees and animals, feeling the cool air on your face, and just being able to enjoy God’s wonderful creation is something that can hardly be explained. We love Africa.
Giraffes were the highlight of our morning. We saw a mama giraffe with her baby…so cool! Along with that we saw ostriches, hyenas (so funny-looking!!), all kinds of deer, buffalo, and more giraffes!
We returned from our morning game drive in time for a scrumptious breakfast, and some time in the sun to warm up!! We had a relaxing afternoon, time to explore the lodge grounds, time to sleep, and time just to hang out.
Our evening game drive also held some exciting promises for us…we saw all of the animals we’d already seen, plus warthog after warthog, after warthog!! What interesting creatures…have you seen them run before?? Their tails go straight up like an antenna…it’s hilarious!! But the best part about this Saturday evening game drive was seeing a whole pride of lions!! Unreal! They were eating a zebra in the bush, and we got to see the male lion fighting with another lion…it was awesome! After that we also saw hippos in a river, and over forty baboons! Add to that another captivating African sunset, and you have a pretty perfect day!
Sunday morning. Our last morning game drive before we had to start the drive back to Nairobi. We saw a few of the animals that we had seen the previous game drives, but the best part was seeing three cheetahs relaxing in the bush!
The scary saying of “let’s just hope for the best”, turned into “we saw ALL the animals except the rhino!!” Our weather was absolutely perfect, our days were filled with exciting things, we saw God’s magnificent creation up-close and personal…what a weekend!! It was as close to perfect as you can get!
The Maasai Mara…you just have to experience it!
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