This morning I woke up early to take George (the housekeeper) to the church. He needed to drop off some speakers for his son’s wedding tomorrow. When we came back home, Bobby and Lisa were there to pick me up. Today is there day to say goodbye to everyone before they go on their 6 month leave to the states. We drove to their two centers so they could see everyone one last time.
First, we arrived in Bomani. All the students came into the church building and sat down. The staff and faculty followed. Bobby brought a huge kids book to read a story to the children. The pictures captured the children’s attention as they listened intently to the story. When the story ended, Bobby said goodbye to the children. They went back to their classes.
Bobby ended by having a meeting with the staff. He told them how much they are valued and necessary for the school to function. He told them the vision of the school and feeding center is to share the Love of God with the children and their families. Bobby said he thinks each person there was placed there by God and they all have a special meaning there. He told them that they now have the money to build a new building. The foundation will hold four rooms and have capacity to build a second level on it. They were happy to hear the encouraging words and exciting news. As Bobby closed the meeting he could not contain his tears and asked Pastor Allen to say a prayer.
After Bomani we went off to Injili. This center was started before Bomani. They are also in construction putting up a new building that will be a high school. When we arrived at Injili we had a warm welcome from the teachers. Bobby, Lisa, Allen and I went into a room where all the children were sitting. Bobby did the same lesson there as he did in Bomani. The children were very receptive. The staff meeting went well too. I could tell that it’s hard for the staff to see Bobby and Lisa go. One of the staff member said that before working at Injili, she was depressed and had a difficult life. Now that she is working there, her life has improved in a huge way and she is happy. She gave Bobby and Lisa a special appreciation for how much they mean to her and the rest of the staff. Then she gave them a present from the staff and students. It was a very special moment and hard for me not to cry… so I did. Bobby and Lisa were both crying too.
These goodbyes were very special and very difficult for Bobby and Lisa. They had such a good year at the centers. They said they really struggle saying bye to everyone. As we were leaving Injili we heard the children thanking their teachers, pastors, and supporters for their education. They repeat their gratitude before each prayer. I love seeing the grateful hearts they have. The children do not take their education and care for granted. It’s the sweetest thing.
When we returned from the centers, I took George to run more errands for the wedding. When we went to pick up the soda a boy was standing outside the vehicle with a bucket. He just stood there and stared at me. He wanted money. George knew the fella and said that he does that to get drug money. It’s hard to think of a teenage boy living in Africa going from car to car in hopes for money that he will use on drugs. I wonder how he came to that point in his life. Did he have a hard childhood? What are his parents like? Did his friends influence him in a negative way? What could he be doing with his life if he chose differently? Will he change? What would make him consider change? What would motivate him to live a better life? Will he continue this cycle until he is old?
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Day 37
There are so many outreach programs in Kenya. Today I just went to another orphanage. There are over 30 children there. The ages range from 1 to 17. The orphanage has been there since 2004. There are three floors. The school and playground are on the first level. The second floor has a living room, dining area and kitchen. Upstairs are the bedrooms. There is a boy’s room, a girl’s room, and a volunteer room. All the rooms are filled with multiple bunk beds.
Upon arriving at the orphanage, the children gave me a warm welcome because they remembered me from Super Saturday’s (VBS). They started singing the songs inviting me in to sing with them. We went to the living room to sing the songs and do the hand motions. It was the sweetest thing!
Today was shopping day for class 1. They get to go once every 3 months to town and shop. We drove in the orphanage matatu to town. The streets are packed. The matatu’s, trucks and motor bikes are inches away from each other. Men are standing on the roads, walking up to cars trying to sell apples, sugar cane, potatoes and other types of fresh vegetables or fruits. When people cross the road, it looks like they are going to get hit because they are so close to the vehicles.
When we arrived at the shopping area, the driver dropped us off on the sidewalk. The shopping area is extremely crowded. Outside the shops people set up food, clothes, shoes, etc. to be sold. Since I am a mzungu (white person), everywhere we went people stared and followed. There were 10 children and 4 adults in our group. The adults told me that they try to charge them more because when they see white people, they see money. They automatically charge extra when whites are present in the group. They had to do a lot of bartering to buy the children shoes, sunglasses and hairpieces. One of the sellers said, “You have a mzungu with you, but you have no money?” They don’t believe that.
The shopping experience was great for me and the children. Though the children remembered me from Super Saturday’s (VBS), the shopping was a great way to get to know them. We had to take a careful eye to make sure the children stayed nearby.
These children are so blessed to be in the orphanage. Without it, they would not be able to survive or, they may be in a very bad place.
Upon arriving at the orphanage, the children gave me a warm welcome because they remembered me from Super Saturday’s (VBS). They started singing the songs inviting me in to sing with them. We went to the living room to sing the songs and do the hand motions. It was the sweetest thing!
Today was shopping day for class 1. They get to go once every 3 months to town and shop. We drove in the orphanage matatu to town. The streets are packed. The matatu’s, trucks and motor bikes are inches away from each other. Men are standing on the roads, walking up to cars trying to sell apples, sugar cane, potatoes and other types of fresh vegetables or fruits. When people cross the road, it looks like they are going to get hit because they are so close to the vehicles.
When we arrived at the shopping area, the driver dropped us off on the sidewalk. The shopping area is extremely crowded. Outside the shops people set up food, clothes, shoes, etc. to be sold. Since I am a mzungu (white person), everywhere we went people stared and followed. There were 10 children and 4 adults in our group. The adults told me that they try to charge them more because when they see white people, they see money. They automatically charge extra when whites are present in the group. They had to do a lot of bartering to buy the children shoes, sunglasses and hairpieces. One of the sellers said, “You have a mzungu with you, but you have no money?” They don’t believe that.
The shopping experience was great for me and the children. Though the children remembered me from Super Saturday’s (VBS), the shopping was a great way to get to know them. We had to take a careful eye to make sure the children stayed nearby.
These children are so blessed to be in the orphanage. Without it, they would not be able to survive or, they may be in a very bad place.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Day 36
Another wonderful day at Vipingo… Simone and I went to Vipingo to spend time teaching the children songs, art and a bible lesson. We arrived with a warm welcome from the teachers and students. Class 1 responded very well to the message of creation. They were very interactive. Every child loved learning the songs. They learn hand motions to the songs very quickly. By the second time we sing the song, they know the words and motions pretty well. I’m very impressed. When I make eye contact with the kids and smile at them during the song, they are reassured that they are learning the song well. Their joyful returned smile lights up the entire room.
During break time today, I picked up the cutest little girl! We went to sit down next to some other girls. She stayed cuddled up in my lap. I had so much fun making faces with her, tickling her and looking at her beautiful face. A few children surrounded us to play with my hair. My hair is fun for them to feel.
They like spending time with a white person because it is out of the norm. It’s important for the children to know that people of a different color are really the same as they are. As Paul put it so eloquently, “I desire for our kids to just have in mind that in this world there is only one race and it is human race, and the only difference between human race is that there are good ones and bad ones.”
During break time today, I picked up the cutest little girl! We went to sit down next to some other girls. She stayed cuddled up in my lap. I had so much fun making faces with her, tickling her and looking at her beautiful face. A few children surrounded us to play with my hair. My hair is fun for them to feel.
They like spending time with a white person because it is out of the norm. It’s important for the children to know that people of a different color are really the same as they are. As Paul put it so eloquently, “I desire for our kids to just have in mind that in this world there is only one race and it is human race, and the only difference between human race is that there are good ones and bad ones.”
Day 35
This morning I awoke with butterflies in my belly as I mentally prepared to teach two classes a song, read a bible story and draw pictures. We started with the song. The song is from the songs I have taught the kids at church on Super Saturdays (VBS) are the songs I’m using to teach the kids. There are fun hand motions for them to learn. The kids just love it.
After the song I used a children’s Bible that a dear friend from back home gave to me. We started at the beginning of the Bible about Gods creation. The main message I wanted to give them is that God loves them. Out of everything God created he loves his children the most. He loves his children more than the galaxies, more than the mountains, more than the birds and more than the flowers…When the story was complete I had them draw pictures of Gods creations. They are very creative.
After class I saw a girl named Mercy that attends the school in Vipingo. She has a very interesting story. Mercy has a difficult medical condition to live with. She has too much fluid in her head. Because of the additional fluid, her head is very large. This condition has caused Mercy very many problems.
She used to go to a school that was much further away than Vipingo. She had problems walking there. While walking she would fall over and hurt herself. She felt dizzy and was in pain with headaches. She would vomit often. The school that she was attending was very difficult to learn in especially with her condition. The classes hold an average of 100 students per class with only one teacher. The school does classes in shifts because there are so many children in one class. The teacher gets very tired because of the long hard day at work.
Paul is the head teacher in Vipingo’s school. He also is the children’s pastor for the church that has been started there. He noticed that Mercy was having difficulties getting to school and learning in the school she was attending. He observed that she could not walk far distances without being in pain and falling over. When he saw her struggles he decided to place her in the Vipingo School that he leads. She started attending there about 1 year ago. This switch helped her a lot because she did not have to walk a far distance to school anymore and she could learn in class because the learning conditions are so much better. She went from a class of about 100 students to a class of 35 students. She is getting fed well. She has teachers that love her and care deeply for her.
Paul knew that Mercy needed to see a doctor. He brought a doctor into school to evaluate her problem. The doctor recommended that she go to the hospital for an examination. This examination normally costs 15,000 schillings; however, out of the doctors kind heart he only charged 7,000 schillings. Jim, who is the missionary that started the school, paid the 7,000 schillings for the exam.
The exam determined that Mercy needed to go in for an operation. The operation would entail putting a tube in her head to tell the excess fluid where to go. This surgery cost 150,000 shillings. Mercy’s family cannot afford to pay for this surgery. A group from a church in Texas saw Mercy’s need and decided to raise the money for her surgery. They raised the 150,000 shillings and sent it here to Kenya. Jim also donated 150,000 schillings. The left over funds are needed for Mercy’s follow up appointments. Some of the funds were also used to purchase a bed for Mercy to sleep in, food and other daily necessities.
The successful operation took place in April. Since that time she has felt much better. She no longer falls when she walks. She smiles. She can run. She used to write very slowly; however, she now has the ability to write faster. Paul said that it makes him happy when Mercy is running, playing and smiling. Before the surgery she was in constant pain; therefore she smiled very little. She could not run at all. She would watch other children play, but could not do so herself. The doctor stated that if she did not have this operation it is very likely she would have died.
Mercy has a chance to enjoy her life because the outreach of those who noticed her problem.
After the song I used a children’s Bible that a dear friend from back home gave to me. We started at the beginning of the Bible about Gods creation. The main message I wanted to give them is that God loves them. Out of everything God created he loves his children the most. He loves his children more than the galaxies, more than the mountains, more than the birds and more than the flowers…When the story was complete I had them draw pictures of Gods creations. They are very creative.
After class I saw a girl named Mercy that attends the school in Vipingo. She has a very interesting story. Mercy has a difficult medical condition to live with. She has too much fluid in her head. Because of the additional fluid, her head is very large. This condition has caused Mercy very many problems.
She used to go to a school that was much further away than Vipingo. She had problems walking there. While walking she would fall over and hurt herself. She felt dizzy and was in pain with headaches. She would vomit often. The school that she was attending was very difficult to learn in especially with her condition. The classes hold an average of 100 students per class with only one teacher. The school does classes in shifts because there are so many children in one class. The teacher gets very tired because of the long hard day at work.
Paul is the head teacher in Vipingo’s school. He also is the children’s pastor for the church that has been started there. He noticed that Mercy was having difficulties getting to school and learning in the school she was attending. He observed that she could not walk far distances without being in pain and falling over. When he saw her struggles he decided to place her in the Vipingo School that he leads. She started attending there about 1 year ago. This switch helped her a lot because she did not have to walk a far distance to school anymore and she could learn in class because the learning conditions are so much better. She went from a class of about 100 students to a class of 35 students. She is getting fed well. She has teachers that love her and care deeply for her.
Paul knew that Mercy needed to see a doctor. He brought a doctor into school to evaluate her problem. The doctor recommended that she go to the hospital for an examination. This examination normally costs 15,000 schillings; however, out of the doctors kind heart he only charged 7,000 schillings. Jim, who is the missionary that started the school, paid the 7,000 schillings for the exam.
The exam determined that Mercy needed to go in for an operation. The operation would entail putting a tube in her head to tell the excess fluid where to go. This surgery cost 150,000 shillings. Mercy’s family cannot afford to pay for this surgery. A group from a church in Texas saw Mercy’s need and decided to raise the money for her surgery. They raised the 150,000 shillings and sent it here to Kenya. Jim also donated 150,000 schillings. The left over funds are needed for Mercy’s follow up appointments. Some of the funds were also used to purchase a bed for Mercy to sleep in, food and other daily necessities.
The successful operation took place in April. Since that time she has felt much better. She no longer falls when she walks. She smiles. She can run. She used to write very slowly; however, she now has the ability to write faster. Paul said that it makes him happy when Mercy is running, playing and smiling. Before the surgery she was in constant pain; therefore she smiled very little. She could not run at all. She would watch other children play, but could not do so herself. The doctor stated that if she did not have this operation it is very likely she would have died.
Mercy has a chance to enjoy her life because the outreach of those who noticed her problem.
Day 33
I am doing my devotional and learning a little bit about myself. The book Experiencing God says, “We are a doing people. We feel worthless or useless when we are not busy doing something. The scripture leads us to understand that God is saying, ‘I want you to love me above everything else. When you are in a love relationship with Me, you have everything there is.” To be loved by God is the highest relationship, the highest achievement, and the highest position in life.”
Well, the first part of that statement describes me to a T. When I’m not ‘doing’ something, I feel useless and without purpose. So, I always strive for something to do. However, to be loved by God and to Love God is my purpose on earth. No matter what I am ‘doing’ my purpose is to remain in his love. Without love God nothing would exist. If my highest calling and my best achievement in life is to form a relationship with God, I need to change my direction of striving to Him. Therefore, instead of striving to just 'do', strive to know Him, commit my heart to Him.
Well, the first part of that statement describes me to a T. When I’m not ‘doing’ something, I feel useless and without purpose. So, I always strive for something to do. However, to be loved by God and to Love God is my purpose on earth. No matter what I am ‘doing’ my purpose is to remain in his love. Without love God nothing would exist. If my highest calling and my best achievement in life is to form a relationship with God, I need to change my direction of striving to Him. Therefore, instead of striving to just 'do', strive to know Him, commit my heart to Him.
Day 32
Today I started talking to a nice man at church. He’s in Bible College. He told me how much he loves Americans. He said that Americans are so nice and generous and do wonderful things for people. They bring peace to other places and help out so much. The Bible College that he attends is paid for by Americans. He was very thankful that people he does not even know care enough to pay for his education.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Sunday at Crossroads
The children at Crossroads did a fantastic job performing in front of the congregation today! We practiced for this the last 4 Saturday's. I hope they are proud. :)
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