Our entries for the Kenya blog were a bit disjointed due to sporadic internet access and travel situations, but I do want to share some overviews of our time in Nairobi.
Camps are always challenging, with the non-stop activity,long hours, on top of tiring travel. But when you see the joy in a child’s eyes, hear their laughter, and see smiles of hope, you know it’s worth it, especially for young people living in the Kibera slum. It is an unbelievable world of one million people living on 600 acres; the dense population and depth of poverty is hard to conceive until you see it. The challenges of life were great enough before the post election violence ravaged the area and other parts of the country. Fear, hatred,increased violence erupted, taking its toll on everyone, but always children and young people become undeserved victims. Education is minimal and hard to come by; most “homes” are supported by a single parent or even by children themselves, as with one of our mentor/helpers from Kibera. One teenager, is responsible for six younger siblings. She had to drop out of school due to lack of funds and having to somehow take care of her family. This is everyday life for so many. There are additional challenges of the high incidence of HIV/AIDS, creating more orphans and vulnerable children. Poverty, disease, lack of education: a deadly combination.
As difficult as life is, we see God at work! Homecare Fellowship continues their outreach to AIDS widows, orphans and vulnerable children through their caring for a number of widows and their families, as well as the ongoing children’s program where 300+ children learn about Jesus and are fed every Saturday. When you hear the testimonies of the widows, you realize how truly vital this ministry is! Each one’s story has a common thread: I had no hope, could not afford to feed myself or my children, couldn’t work, and felt totally abandoned and ostracized. In this fellowship, they are fed, provided funds for shelter, school fees for their children, are generating income through their jewelry making and soap production, have found acceptance and support from one another, and most importantly, they have come to know the unconditional love and acceptance of Jesus! They now feel that they have value, hope, a reason to live, and are increasing both in physical and spiritual strength. The power of God! The same is true in the testimonies of the Masai women, who through PACWA, are going to school for the first time in their lives, and for village women who through the provision of goats and bees, can now support their children and see them go to school.
In these camps, children and teens get to hear about the God who created them, loves them, so much so that He sent His only Son to die for them so that THEY MIGHT HAVE LIFE, true, eternal life, not only hope after death, but life now! Their circumstances may not change; they still face huge challenges, BUT they do not face them alone! They have the opportunity to understand that their lives have value because they are created in His image, and they’ve been bought with the ultimate price. They are valuable! They are indeed precious in His sight!!
Perhaps the most impacting time of the trip was with the teens, especially the girls, as we explored what it means to truly forgive and experience forgiveness. As Carol shared about how to face our wounds, bring them into His light, huge healing began! These young women who have already endured more abuse than any of us can or want to imagine, feeling totally worthless and ashamed, were able to face the hurt and begin to find true healing that only Jesus can provide.
When ever you think of going to minister in another country for a short term, it’s inevitable to question, “Is it really worth it to go for such a short time? Can anything really be accomplished that has lasting results? Will this truly benefit the people we minister to and with? Does it really matter???”
I can tell you unequivocally, the answer is YES! Yes, we are only there for a brief moment in time, but even in that brief moment, God works! He plants seeds in the hearts of children and youth, even allows us to see some harvest and uses us to be hands, feet, and mouths for Him. We come for what time as visible extensions of Jesus; how extraordinary; how humbling. As fallible and “human” as we are, He wants and allows us to express HIM…….and it does make a difference.
It makes a difference to each child, teen, widow, man, ministry helper we meet; it makes a difference in each of us who get to have this personal experience for ourselves.
So what now? We are back home, back in our comfortable surroundings. It can seem rather surreal that just days ago we were walking the red dirt paths of Kenya. We have left behind the poverty, filth, stress and heartache….to a degree. As a measure of it is forever with us in our hearts. Now we know the reality of life there; now we can pray with understanding. Now we can pray by name, seeing those faces, knowing their stories. We can encourage others to do the same. We can support these ministries who are serving day in and day out, our brothers and sisters. There is MUCH we can do. We can tell their stories, speak for those who have little or no voice. We can have confidence that as His Word will never return void, so anything offered in His Name will be used for His glory…..for eternity.
Diane for the entire team in Kenya
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