The Beautiful Disaster

Currently, I’m sitting in an internet café on the 2nd floor of a grocery store with a squished termite next to my keyboard and the sun shining. I had to walk 2 miles to get here, but I figured I would because I had time.
Kenya has been amazing. I have been working along side the ONU MIA team, and we have been spending time in Kibera (3rd largest slum in the world). We have been working with the Nazarene school where 800 children attend and they have a school about the size of a basketball court run by 14 teachers. It is unbelievable to see the conditions they endure, yet they work so hard. I have been blown away by those children. I got the opportunity to spend time in each classroom (pre—8th) and all of them sang for me. While they were singing, the Lord whispered a word into my heart. It was “delight”. I knew that the Lord delighted in his children, but I never fully grasped the meaning of the word until that moment. Even now, I can’t formulate it into words. So in that simple whisper, the Lord gave me direction for the week. I was to simply delight in his children; to smile at them, to hug them, to hold their hand, to sing with them, and to love them. That seems too simple, but that was all he asked of me. On Wednesday I got the opportunity to play with the kids at their ‘field’ (which was a piece of flat dirt 2 miles away from the school). The teachers told us it would be a 2 minutes walk, ha, yea right! I was in charge of reffing a soccer game, and I ended up playing, and scored a goal! Woot! At one point, I looked around and thought, “I am playing in a soccer game, barefoot on rocks in a slum in Kenya. How stinkin cool!” After, we had to walk back. I was exhausted, but I got to see a lot more of the slum. The heart break never really leaves. As you got lower down the hill that the slum is built on, conditions got worse. Children weren’t fully clothed and sewage filled the streets. When it rained, the women went outside with old bottles and funnels to collect it. Wow. It truly is a beautiful disaster. We got to teach some of the students, and James 2:5 came to life. At one point, Coach Josh asked me to teach some of Billy’s silly songs, so I taught the kids the Sensai song and the Little White Box. It was stinkin hilarious. After that, any time anyone asked them, “are you ready?” they immediately shouted, “YES SENSAI!”
My sleeping conditions are great thus far. The Nazarene missionary compound is gorgeous. Next week I am staying with a sister of our leader. I’m guessing it won’t be this nice..possibly even in a slum. It will be safe though. No worries.
Next Friday I’m taking a bus to Uganda, then I’ll be there the rest of the trip.
On safety. I’ve never felt so at ease. I have been walking around all day by myself (I had to walk 4 miles just to get some food for lunch, and it will be another 2 back from the café), yet I feel safe. Sure, I’ve only seen 3 other white people since I’ve been here, other than the ONU team, but its fun! All the Kenyans yell, “Mizungu!” which means ‘white person’ and the children call us “How are you” because they think its our name. My old mentor challenged me to read the armor of God in Ephesians 6 each day, and it has been so good. The Lord’s words have comforted me and encouraged me and challenged me and given me the strength to make it though each day.
So, that’s all for now. Thank you so much for your prayers.
2 funny things.
I tried to work out today, and Nairobi is 6,000 ft above sea level. I thought I was going to die, or have my lung collapse like Brad’s.
Kenyans drive like crazy people! (Mom, you cringe when I drive, you would have an aneurism here!) Yesterday, our bus driver went off-roading and drove on the bumpy dirt shoulder of the road at least 60mph. Yet, they never get it accidents, and it baffles me. However, on my way back from buying lunch at the market, I saw one. I saw my first accident and my first asian in the same moment. Irony!
I love you all so much. I probably won’t get on again until I’m in Uganda. Keep the prayers coming! God is faithful and answering them.