PICS FROM KENYA #1

I've got lots of pics to show you. To start off here's a short video clip of the road, Masai Lodge, which we traveled each day to get to Diguna (a 30-year oldGerman missionary compound) where we stayed with Bob & Ann Tayloe. It's very bumpy! On each side of Masai Lodge are little "duka's" where you can buy fruits, vegetables or anything else you need. It is a dirt road and it'd been raining. You can see that people are still walking on it and you can see some animals. The motorcycle is a "taxi" that people pay a few shillings to be taken up the road. People dress up even though they have to walk on a dirt road. Now me, I'd figure - no way. If I have to walk down a dirt road, I'm wearing jeans and tennis shoes. However, we picked up a lady one day who was dressed in a beautiful long white dress with a white hat on and a leopard scarf around her shoulders. She'd been to a women's Bible study and was walking up the dusty road in high heels back to Diguna.

The VERY BUMPY road to Diguna.

And here's how it looks after bumping to the TOP of Masai Lodge road and TURNING INTO Diguna itself.

Sitting early morning at Bob & Ann's. Believe it or not, it's cooler in Kenya than it is here in Florida. In fact, I'd have to wrap up in a blanket when I came out early in the mornings.

DRIVING INTO NAIROBI

Driving into Nairobi I saw lots of clothes hung out to dry.


Closer...

Closer...


MITUMBA SLUM CITY

Driving into Mitumba slum city - Behind the wall you can see some nice looking apartments. This was not where we were headed though! DOUBLE-CLICK to see detail.

DOUBLE-CLICK to see amazing detail.

So many children!

Amazingly well behaved.

There were easliy 90-100 children packed into this tiny room and they don't seem to mind one bit.


DOUBLE-CLICK to see this child. This girl attends the Christian school.

These children only come on Saturdays. The slum children live very difficult lives in comparison to American children. When we asked them, "Name some difficult work that you do," we kept waiting for them to reply, "School!" However, they never ever said that. Actually, they LOVE school and they LOVE to learn! Instead of saying that school was hard work they said, "Washing clothes," and "Carrying sticks for fire," and "Building a house." They go often go hungry unless they come to the school or church building.


Here's the little church building where we had most of our meetings. You can see that the buildings are made of aluminum and everything is squeezed into tight proximity. You can see there's only dirt but Pastor Shadrack and Violet teach them to pick up trash.

I was privileged to speak to the "Slum mama's" on Saturday. They first sang a welcoming song to McKenna and I and then sang lots of other songs in beautiful harmonies. I shared my story of how God saved me and afterwards a number of them indicated a desire to turn their lives over to Jesus. We had brought a gift of flour, salt and sugar for each them with funds that had been given for the trip, and the women afterwards sang a song that said they had seen God's provision in their lives. We told them that many people in my country had given funds and so they send their thanks to YOU. Please keep them in prayer.

DOUBLE-CLICK for detail.

VIDEO CLIP OF HUMAN VIDEO

Here's the human video the children performed for their parents to the song, "In Christ Alone." Sorry it's a bit dark but you'll be able to spot "Jesus" easily since the child with the sash on is playing that part (look to the right). There are three colors for his sash: brown, then for the crucifixion red, then purple for when Jesus rises from the dead. I figured this would eliminate clothing changes. After he rises (purple) Jesus changes the hearts of some of the children who respond to His invitation to be saved, and then teaches them. In the video they eventually overcome the pull of the world and end up in worship.

This is a teacher named Vincent who also sings.

McKenna shared her testimony and Roselyn interpreted.

ROSELYN!

I went to Roselyn's little apartment on Diguna and woke her up to say goodbye. Roselyn is a wonderful Kenyan sister in Christ. She has a live radio program on BHB each morning where people can call in with questions about the Bible. She did a great job interpreting for us while at Mitumba slum city. She was so sweet to fix me breakfast; I will miss her beautiful smile and her hugs.

Pastor Shadrack told us that 66% of Mitumba's residents are HIV positive. He said they lose a number of people each year to AIDS, which is hard on the children.

You can see Pastor Shadrack, his wife Violet and their two sons here. Shadrack is a highly educated man who used to teach teachers how to teach. Many people thought he was crazy not to get a high paid teaching job somewhere, but he believes that God has called him to Mitumba. We were very impressed at the fruit of his labors as we worked with the school children that first week. DOUBLE-CLICK for detail.

Here's a little clip of a Swahili song, Nasema Asante which we sang during Mitumba's Sunday church meeting. It's a song that says, "I am grateful to God."

It was sad to say goodbye to the slum children. The children asked, "Are you coming back tomorrow?" Pastor Shadrack went by the radio station last week and told Ann that the children are still singing the songs we brought. That's wonderful to know!

SEE more pics in the post below...