Today we went to Holy Trinity Academy. The drive is about 30 minutes.
About half of the total number of children we have in our Children's education and welfare fund are in this school.

Our program is comprehensive. This means that not only do we provide for tuition and education supplies, we provide for the whole child - body , mind and soul.

Whenever I think of these children I think of the prayer I said so many times while at St. Margaret's

"And since it is of thy mercy, heavenly father,
That another day is added to our lives,
We hereby dedicate both our souls and our bodies to Thee and Thy service in a sober , righteous and Godly life,
In which resolution, o thou most merciful God,
Confirm and strenthen us
That as we grow in age, we may grow in grace."

Ok.. so it's been over 30 years since I said that prayer. I know I messed up some of the words. But the sentiments are the same. I could hear myself continuing to pray that prayer for me. But I could also hear the children in the Children's Education and Welfare program saying that prayer as well.

Ordinary day - we are always asked what an average day is like. Today should have been one of those. Off to Holy Trinity for a health screening in preparation for a pedicatrician who is coming in a few weeks. We also wante to get "results" from the most recent KCPE - a very important exam that those finishing primary school ( class 8) take to determine what their future will be like. After these results come out, schools start offering spots in their classrooms based upon those scores. More about this in my next blog.

But this usual day, led to tears and trips to a dental surgeon. And of course, 3 children who will now fill the number of spaces we currently have funds for for children.

All in a day's work... tomorrow we go back and start looking at ways to screen the dorms.

A couple of pics from this "ordinary" day.... coming.... soon... hopefully...

Banana slug... YUCK

So for a look at the "lighter" side of living in Kenya.
This is what I woke up to this morning.

Today I walked where Jesus walked… that song keeps going through my head. I know that the lyrics to that particular old hymn talks about Bethlehem, Jerusalem and other places Jesus walked. But today I say I walked where He walked because we were in an IDP camp. In this camp, families are living in tents that are smaller than most “family sized” tents you can purchase in the US. In fact, I would say these tents are half that size. It is a shelter only…. The place you crawl into to sleep. Only the smallest of children are able to stand in these tents. And what you can't see is how far we had to drive to even get to this camp. It is literally in the middle of nothing.... NOTHING.

The facts:

Nearly 5000 people live in this camp

There are 841 households

A few months ago, many of these people were living on land upon which they grew up

Some of them are working on a sisal farm next to the camp

We were met by some of the most endearing, warm Kenyan people I have ever met

In all the years I have been coming to Kenya, I have seen people living in a tent or two. I have never however, seen thousands of people living in tents. When we first came to Kenya we came post election violence. I spent days in clinics treating people with stomach aches from chronic stress  and serious medical issues. I barely even knew what was beyond the walls of the clinic.

And now here we are 5 years later. Some of the people in this camp we visited today have been moved from camp to camp for the last three years. Others are recently displaced by the government. They have tents to live in. Water is brought and put in giant tanks where the women and children line up with their cans to get water for their family. It appears that the water is clean. Clean , however, is relative. The water appears to be clear. But we know that that is only part of the story. 

I asked some of the men who were showing us the camp if the people were sick. His answer was yes… bronchitis ( the dust is everywhere) malaria and dysentery.

And then the next conversation was about how they were worried about the rainy season coming.  Then all this dust turns to mud. The bronchitis , malaria and dysentery will only get worse.

This is such a rambling … we saw so much today. I touched so many hands. So many hands touched me.

We had the usual children who wanted to touch the “mzungu” ( white person.) Through a translator, we were able to say – yes , our skin feels the same. I have two eyes, so do you . I have a nose , so do you. My skin is merely a different color. Jesus made us all. There were even adults in this camp that I am pretty sure have seen very few white people. I am always humbled… knocked right on my bottom when this happens . All these people want to do is touch us. They are loving and kind and just want to touch you. As we started to walk back to the van, we each had the usual four or five children holding each hand  as we walked back.

 

 I was talking to one of the young men who was escorting us through the camp. He was overjoyed that we had stayed so long, interacted with the people and were happy to allow the children and adults to touch us. He said that other mzungu had come and would wave the children off as if they might catch something. In fact, they were not particularly ready to shake hands. I told Natalie when I see these children, I don’t see nasty dirty children, I see children with dirt on them. They are just curious. I hope they continue their curiosity … I hope they continue to ask why we come… and I will tell them with great joy that it is Jesus with whom I walk in those camps and that they too can walk down the same path.

I won’t forget these faces. I won’t forget their hope. I won’t forget their hospitality. And I will not forget that there is a mosque within walking distance, but that the nearest church is much further away.

I stood in the middle of that camp looking at all that was around me. There were hundreds of tents in addition to some of the most beautiful landscapes seen in Kenya. And I was once again overcome by the sense that I am indeed exactly where God wants me to be. Keep my eyes open , Lord. Remind me to be present when we visit these camps. When the people who live here see me, let them see Jesus in me.

I was born into a wonderfully loving and blessed family… and then there are these people. Why me to be so blessed and not them? Some things I just can’t comprehend…. I guess I am just particularly grateful today… but broken as well. What if I traded places with just one of them… would I survive as well as they are?

 

Lord help me to understand what I can do... what is my part?

Short Hair

While I continue to try to process all that has happened in the last 4 months, I thought I'd share some random  thoughts and insights.

Before I left Kenya, I got my hair cut shorter than it's been in some time. I was telling everyone it was easier to manage- and it is. It's cooler and easier to manage.

The truth is, I haven't felt "pretty " enough to have short hair in years. My very round body made me feel like I needed to hide behind all that hair.

The good news is that while we were in Kenya I lost about 25 pounds. I started to feel better - more comfortable in my own skin. And as I felt more comfortable I thought - go for it.... Cut that hair.

And now it's shorter... and I am less round ( with additional roundness to shed)...  Yes, eating better and less has been great. Moving more and walking more has made me feel so much better.

There is still stress... but I find it easier to rely on God now... and I am diggin' my short hair.

Gladys continued...

I have thought and prayed about whether or not I should share this video clip. I think  that while it was a very personal conversation between me and Mama Gladys, sharing it will help others to understand what it is like - the work that we do here.

Gladys is the lovely girl I have posted about before. Her mother is sweet and fairly young. Apparently, the Mama has some alcoho problems and doesn't always provide a safe place for Gladys to live.

When we asked Gladys if she would like to be a boarding student at Holy Trinity her eyes were filled with both happiness and sadness. I think that to say that she was overwhelmed put things in perspective. Laughter turned to tears very quickly.

Yesterday, the new boarding students ( including Gladys) came to the school to receive their uniforms and other items required to begin school. We spoke with each of their guardians to explain that this is a partnership. We only wish to help, not replace parents where children have them.

Glady's mother  Ann, was visibly upset . It was hard to tell if she was happy or sad. I believe she too was overwhelmed. She just kept saying God Bless you.

Peter, my brother, got the conversation I had with her on video. I was not aware that he was filming. This was a special conversation between me and Ann.  But I'd like to share, because I hope you will be able to follow the story of Gladys and Ann.

http://youtu.be/KjtAdJDsg_0

As Ann and I were finishing, Glady came in and found her mother crying.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E4qgfyM5Ko&feature=g-upl



We went to the dorm and settled Gladys in... please pray for Ann and for Gladys



I am fearfully and wonderfully made

My relationship with the children and staff of Holy Trinity Academy is going to grow. It is my prayer that I will be able to spend a great deal of time with these special students - especially the 35 in our pilot scholarship fund program. Some require help with everything. Some are total orphans. Some have one parent. All of the children on our list are very very poor. Beyond total support monetarily, I am drawn to a few who need daily support. I want to remind them that they are created in the image of God. That they are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made.
I learn something from these children each time I see them.

For instance, when you look at this picture, what do you see? I see lily white fat legs. I see short fat feet and short fat toes.When I saw this picture of me a few weeks ago I cringed at the look of my legs and feet.

At the music festival this weekend, we had some time at night to play and talk with the children. I sat down with a few. The usual touching of my "soft" hair was going on. But then I noticed that two girls were looking at my leg that was peaking from beneath my long skirt. They took my calf in their hands lovingly and were rubbing them as if they were some sort of jewel. They just kept saying, so beautiful... so beautiful. Then in their own language they called friends over to touch my legs. There was dirt on them from the day. They brushed it off very gently as if I might break.

It made me think..... I am fearfully and wonderfully made... and I thanked God for these beautiful children.

Spa shower- it's all relative

We had three "working" showers in our house. Now, don't get me wrong, there was hot water that came out of each. It is a crap shot to see whether or not you will have a trickle or even very hot water. Actually, all things considered they were all perfectly wonderful showers compared to this one we had in Kopanga.

Don't get me wrong. This shower was perfectly fine. It was a little cold , but you got used to it.

Now we have the "spa shower".

This used to be an asian toilet ( see the chamber leading to the porcelain hole in the floor.) The asian toilet is now simply the drain for the new shower . The pressure is super and the water is HOT.

Now we all love this shower. And you can still brush your teeth while you shower.