I’ll Follow You into the Homes of the Broken.

All the sweet notes you have written me!
Hanging up in my room! 

Sorry it has been so long since I’ve posted. Last Friday we did not have an opportunity to stop and get internet, and this past week a team from MTW was here, so we were taking other transportation.

All that to say, a lot has happened since I’ve posted last!

Last Tuesday, when we got into Kibera, I had the opportunity of doing home visits. I was very nervous. Since I’ve been going into Kibera, I have stayed away from the realities that these kids and people face. I chose not to think about there home lives, where they were living, and what that meant to them. When we walk into Kibera, it takes us about 10 min of jumping, climbing, and stepping in sewage to get into the church. And once we are in the church it is a safe place. I normally go into my regular routine of teaching my Pre-K class of 19 with Teacher Hope on both Wednesdays and Thursdays. But last week, the kids were in exams, so I had the opportunity of joining the teams that go on house visits.

            On Tuesdays, the church has a support group for HIV/AIDS. I joined a team with Corey, Purity, Rebecca, and myself. We got into our first home and I was faced with the reality of what it means to live in Kibera—there was no running from it. This woman’s nephew goes to the school at the church. She has AIDS but is in denial and not willing to accept help from the church. She lost her twin boys last year, both had AIDS and were four years old—they died within a month of each other. Her husband is in need of work, and she is dealing with her health issues. My heart was breaking. As I prayed for her and gave her words of encouragement, I felt so weak. I have not even begun to experience that kind of pain or suffering. God really showed me that I had to trust and rely on Him, and believe that what he says is true, even in the midst of this suffering. I encouraged her with 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” But as I was saying it, God really showed me that I had to believe what I was saying. It was challenging and heartbreaking for me. But the Lord answered my prayers, and gave me a spirit of dependence on Him, because that’s the only place I had to run to. He knows this woman’s situation more than I do, and He is faithful to provide. And His provision over her and her family’s life doesn’t necessarily look the same as mine would, but His plans are so much better than mine.

            We went to two other houses after that, and both times we prayed and encouraged these families that were in need of jobs, health issues with their kids, had malaria, tuberculosis, and many other serious problems. One of the ladies in the church said that we had no idea what this meant to these families—for us to go into their homes and show them that they are important to us. It was encouraging to hear this and to be able to know that Christ is using us in their lives.

My Pre-Unit class doing the Monkey Face!

            On Wednesday, because of the exams, I was able to do home visits again. Lauren, Justin, Pastor Wycliffe, and I were on a team. We went to probably 6 or 7 different homes. Justin is going to be a doctor, so we went to different homes with medical needs. One man was beaten earlier that morning with a footstool, and the cut was so deep on his head that you could see his skull. Justin and pastor tried their best to bandage it up and to clean it out. Pastor had past by it on his way to the church this morning and broke up the fight, but then we came back with our team to help bandage it up. It was really hard to see this kind of helplessness. If we had not come, I’m not sure what kind of medical attention he would have gotten. At home, it’s so easy—you get hurt, go to the doctor. It was a completely different world. It was emotionally draining Tuesday and Wednesday, but God worked so much in my heart on those days. Please be praying for our team as we are seeing things that I can’t even begin to describe. But more than that, please be praying for Martha and Pastor Imbumi, that they will gain their strength from the Lord, as they are constantly living a life of service here.

            Thursday, we did a VBS in Mothega, the other slum that the church in Kibera partners with. Then, on Friday we went into downtown Nairobi. It was such a fun day. We rode on public transportation, which was an adventure, and spent a lot of time with Pastor Wycliffe, Caroline, and Purity.  Caroline and Purity are the two house moms at Shunam, as well as helping out in the church in Kibera. They are so wonderful, and I’m so blessed to be able to know them.

            On Sunday, the team from MTW came in—Dr. Paul Kooistra, his wife and neice, and Opal. It was so fun to see Opal and to get to spend some time with her. One of the girls at Shunam and I have been memorizing passages in scripture together, so we both recited Psalm 91. The Lord really placed on my heart the importance of memorizing scripture and keeping it in your heart. Then, on Tuesday we were able to have dinner with Opal. It was so encouraging to see her and to be able to talk to her. 

I'll be working on some more updates, as far as the funny stories and different things that have been happening. Thank you for your prayers, and thanks for reading!