Promised Pictures

Photos from the Remand Center!

Impact

I should not be surprised to feel overwhelmed at this popint. There are so many experiences that have bombarded my senses and emotions. The sights, sounds, smells are familiar now, yet they still assault me.



As does the heat.



I fall into bed each night exhausted - - but my mind rushes to images of the day. The smiles of the children, cattle and goats crossing the streets, the local people living with so little, the disparity of material wealth between our two cultures, this place is so familiar, and yet so "other-worldly".



I've noticed that my emotions are close to the surface - laughter and tears come so quickly. The team is bonding I think because this shared experience is one we know we can never fully explain to anyone outside our circle. I'm beginning to think that God has begun a mini-revival in each of our hearts.



With each day we are relying on the Lord more for direction and praying together and alone more often. With each day there is more trust in Him...it's a realization that He is truly all we need and all things are in His hands. With each day He opens our eyes a little more. It gives us the desire to relax into His loving arms a little more with each experience. I'm sure most of us must wonder - - Why don't I live this "connected" all the time?



I am giving thanks to God for helping me find my way back to Him after a long time away. So long that my prevous life and relationship felt real and acceptable. I'm praising Him for welcoming me home. I didn't realize what a prodigal I had become.

Olivia

Where Do We Start? - So much to tell!

Friday has come and gone and there is so much to tell! Last night during our "debriefing" a couple of us could only use the word "overwhelming" to describe the day. A portion of the team returned to Hodi Hodi School in the morning to share a story, crafts and games, some of the team were part of Care and Compassion visits, and the rest stayed at Christ's Hope office to practice the drama we had planned to present at the Remand Center later in the day. During the afternoon most of the team went to the Remand Center (youth jail) and then returned to the office for pizza, movies, ice cream and popcorn! I am really trying to not make this posting be a laundry list of activities - but you can probably see how a team of 15 people plus 5 Dutch volunteers plus full time Christ's Hope staff (Desmond!) can create a lot of activity!

A good place to start is to tell about our lunch for the day... Many places here have an allowance (or budget) of no more than 10 shillings per day per child for food. To show a comparison - about 75 shillings equals 1 US dollar. Our lunch was typical of what lunch would be based on that amount. It consisted of ugali and greens (primarily kale). Ugali is a food with consistency similar to corn meal mush and is eaten with the fingers. The portions of ugali can be large and it is filling. It is interesting to watch Kenyans eat ugali as they form a scoop and use it to eat the greens. It was also interesting to see our fellow team members eat this meal! I believe the experience gave us all something to think about and once again realize how fortunate and blessed we are.

Here is an update on the Care and Compassion patient that was reluctant to go to get medication and Darlene had urged him to do so - yesterday he went and got his medication!

What can I say about the Remand Center - or where do I start? If I could capture the sound of the voices of the children and youth when they sing and post it on this blog - then you would know why it is all overwhelming! And the smiles on their faces and the enthusiasm of all the children when they receive a crayon and a coloring page (even the 16 year-old youth!). And singing "Fishers of Men" and watching the boys and the girls do the actions - and of course goof-up and laugh and laugh. And passing out a bottle of Coke to each one (did I mention there were around 100 children and youth there...) and seeing a room full of kids enjoying this treat...

And then the team, through the presentation of the drama, was able to share the gospel and invite the children to accept Christ into their lives... After this special time there were several youth that asked if they could pray with someone and many of the team had the opportunity to pray one-on-one with the youth. We experienced so much in such a short time but our prayer is that whatever we shared was understood and would in some way - help them. The stories of why and how the children came to be at the jail are difficult for us to understand - such as one young boy was brought there by his step-mother because both his mother and father had died or young children that were just found wandering in the streets... But the smiles we saw when we were there were incredible and I know that we were all truly blessed by our experience!

Our busy schedule continues throughout the weekend - starting with a two-hour boat ride on Lake Victoria at sunrise this morning to see the many types of birds and the hippos! Eleven of us got up early this morning and were rewarded with a beautiful (and cool) morning, three hippo sitings, many birds, fishermen pulling in their catch, the engine on the boat stalling, and finally the boat getting hung-up on a rock! We made it back safe and sound - the motor started eventually and the driver had to get in the water to manipulate the boat off the rock! Although it was very early we all agreed it was well worth the experience!

I am planning on including some pictures but I think this posting is already long! Pictures for sure later!
Blessings to all!
H

Thursday Happenings!

Each evening we gather and share our high points and perhaps any low points from our day. The following are brief comments on the high points of our day that were given at our evening debriefing last night (Thursday):

• We walked one half hour each way in the mud to get to the school/orphanage!
• At Care and Compassion I was able to share the importance of getting medication that the person, at first, was unwilling but eventually said he would
• Spending time with the children
• Watching children play with the parachute game
• The children calling my braces "teeth decorations" (Go Nathan!)
• The mad rush with a change of plans - minutes before we were scheduled to leave - and how good the day went!
• How patient everyone is despite the heat
• Improvement in the children that were sick the week before (From one of our Dutch volunteers)
• Support between team members
• Learning more about one of the schools through the willingness of the director to share
• The honor of being invited into a Kenyan home and share a meal (part of the team that went to that particular school)
• Thankful for the team to be flexible and improvising when needed
• Going to Care and Compassion and the fellowship on the way to each home with the local staff
• The children and their big smiles as they washed their hands at the new hand-washing station
• The kids that followed the team back to their van the entire 1/2 hour walk in the mud!
• How every sense was impacted - the sights, sounds, smells, taste and touch - as part of all of our experiences - and taking it all in!
• Washing dishes from the evening meal with the day's kitchen-duty crew and two of the Dutch volunteers coming in to help - lots of laughter - like a party!

Today is another day of going to see children, sharing stories and sharing God's love with them. We go to the youth jail this afternoon and have planned to present a very meaningful drama - please pray that it goes well and that the meaning of the drama is understood.

One last thought - if you have anything to share with all of us - please enter a comment!

Blessings! H

Hello Everyone!

Today (Thursday), I was blessed to go on Care and Compassion visits to 3 homes. They were all HIV positive. I understand why I am in Africa - it was so wonderful talking to the people and they were excited that we were there. At the last home the man we were visiting had a fever and it was decided he was going to the hospital. I sincerely hope he pulls through. There are alot of fake doctors selling fake medicine for a lot of money. He's getting the help he needs.

Because of the work I do at home with the Emergency Shelter, I was able to put thoughts together that I think will help the first man we visited.

PS - It is now Friday morning and the man I metioned that needed to go to the hospital was taken by Christ's Hope staff. He was given medication and treated for pneumonia and was able to return to his home. We were glad to know that he could return to his home but our prayers for him continue.
Darlene

First Experiences

Caleb (13) was apprehensive about going to Africa, Amy (9) was out right scared. As they absorbed the strange surroundings, really rough roads and conditions they have never witnessed before, they were really wondering why we dragged them into this. As we stepped out of the van at Brydges Orphanage in Nairobi the singing children enveloped them and took them by their hands and welcomed all of us into their home. Caleb and Amy's apprehensions and fears melted and it was clear both Caleb and Amy began to understand. - Dave

Support Group

Yesterday Dave and Andy took time to meet with a support group that meets nearby. All of the people in the group are HIV positive and at one time most of these people in the picture were very sick. You see a sewing machine and if you look closely along the left side there are hair dryers. This has become a small skill center where people that are HIV positive can come and learn a skill so they can earn money. Dave and Andy shared that the the support group members shared their testimony and the importance of having God in their lives.

We know that many of you have heard about the Remand Center or the youth jail here in Kisumu. It might be easier to call it a youth detention center but it really is a youth jail. The good thing is the jail allows Christ's Hope to come in and share lessons and spend time with the youth there. Most importantly, the gospel is shared and many of the youth have accepted Christ into their lives and hearts. Last spring, Laura (from Traverse City) spent one month here in Kisumu with much of her time at the Remand Center. Larua brought back pictures of the youth and passed them out with requests for prayers. Elizabeth received a picture card of a girl also named Elizabeth! At the time that Laura was here Elizabeth did not know Christ or have a personal relationship and the prayer request on the card was for her salvation. Our Elizabeth found out from one of the local Christ's Hope staff that the Elizabeth that she had been praying for accepted Christ!

We all have been praying for the youth at the Remand Center and when Andy had the opportunity to go the other day he shared that he was able to meet one young man he had been praying for. He was impressed with the leadership this young man showed and how his faith was so obvious!

Just wanted to share these stories to let you know how all of our prayers - yours and the team! - are being answered!

God is soooo BIG!

h

Wash your hands!

Good Morning Thursday!

Today we are planning a full day at a school with at least 50 children - although we expect there will be more! We are ready with the story about Zaccheus (remember the song???).

This picture was taken yesterday at a near-by orphanage. Part of the ministry during our time here is to teach children the importance of washing your hands. The picture is two of the Dutch volunteers that teach the children about the germs that are on their hands and why they need to wash. To go along with the lesson we brought a hand-washing station so the children actually have a place to wash!

The picture also shows Ashley holding a small boy - this is the same boy that Ashley met on her last trip that was very sick with malaria. It was exciting to see him there and how he had grown in the past year!

Here is another picture of the school and a better view of the school room and some of the children. We enjoyed looking at all the pictures the children had made and the teaching pictures that were hung on the walls and around the room. John, the man in this picture, is the director of this school and the woman in the pink dress is the teacher. Edith Chamah is the woman next to Olivia and helps us with interpreting to the children. Edith is also very involved in the ministry here and is the wife of Martin Chamah, Christ's Hope Kisumu Director.

Since there are so many of us - a portion of the team visited another school and shared a story with the younger children and a lesson based on the Choose To Wait curriculum with the older youth. After our morning visits we decided it was a good time to just take the afternoon to relax and plan for the next few days. Planning is a huge part of what we are doing. Although we have stories ready to go, we take the time to think (and pray!) about the school we will be visiting and what activities we can do based on the numbers and the ages of the children. Our planning is well worth the time as each person knows their assigned task and the "team" effort kicks-in!

I know we are all anxious to share more with you about these experiences. It is a challenge to try and share the emotions that pass through each of us on a blog posting....

Otherwise - we have had rain each night we have been here - which we understand is a blessing since it has been very dry. It is warm but not excessively hot - I really don't know what the temperature is and maybe that's a good thing! The water usually is not working in the late afternoon and early evening but eventually comes back on later. When we look around and learn about how many people here have to walk each day to get water - our incovenience is a non-issue!

I just took an informal poll of the entire team and we are in 100% agreement - WE DO NOT MISS the snow and the cold! :)

I believe it's time to end this posting and know that we miss you all!

H

From one of our youth!

1/28/09 Today was fun and enjoying. It's always cool to see the joy on the kids' faces for skits and singing and washing hands. Today we did the story of how the children came to Jesus and how the disciples thought that Jesus didn't care about little children. It was very successful and a fun day!
Nathan

Reflection

It's January 28th and we've been to a couple of schools and an orphanage and are looking forward to so much more. The children are beautiful and through their smiling faces and curiosity your presence is so keenly felt here. I don't know if it's the poverty, the dirt, or the heat but in this beautiful place of need and want - a sense of hope and determination and appreciation is very strong - and I feel weak. My muscle of reliance on God is atrophied. I so often "muddle through" in life on my own strength. Right now, here in Kenya, I am very aware of the pride in that and I confess my sin of self-reliance and look to God anew as my only hope, my very next breath, my provider of all things.
Teresa

Some words from the Team!

Hi Family and Friends,
I wanted to write a short note to all of you. I am being so blessed by the Kenyans. I am so amazed at what the Lord is doing here and I am so thrilled to have this opportunity to serve with this Traverse City team! As I told so many friends "my cup runneth over". Tears of joy run down my face. Thank you for your continued prayers for our team and for the people we are serving.
Love to you all,
Darlene

I have seen so much and my heart yearns for each one. If I remember anything it will be the "BIG" smiles on each and every face!

It's Wednesday in Kenya!

We are in Kisumu! We all arrived safely - even the luggage! Ten of us flew from Nairobi (it took us about 30 minutes of flight time!) and the rest traveled by minibus (it took them nearly 7 hours!) But - we are all here and settled in after two very full days...

Our time with Dave and Jen Bell was a perfect way to start - the orientation gave us insight as to what to expect during our time here. We also had the opportunity to visit an orphange/school where we were treated to our own personal tours of the school by the children and youth and then a presentation of songs and skits - with the skits and most of the music written by the youth! Our ride to the school was also eventful with giraffe, ostrich, gazelle, sheep, goats, and cattle sightings along the way! Then it was back to the Bell's and getting ready for our next step towards Kisumu. We were all up the next morning and on our way by 5:30 am!

Our first day in Kisumu was non-stop - starting with meeting the five Dutch volunteers who were already here, meeting the local Christs Hope staff and renewing old friendships. We have already had the opprotunity for one team member to be part of the Care and Compassion ministry (visting with people that are known to be HIV positive), part of the team helping with a Choose To Wait lesson at the local youth jail (Remand Center), and many of the team sharing a story and being with children at a near-by orphanage. The team has grown in numbers as the Dutch volunteers are now part of what we are doing and it has already been good to have them help guide us through these first few days. One of the activities that we were able to do at the orphange was to bring a hand-washing station and then talk to the children about how important it is to wash your hands followed up by each of the children there having a chance to wash their hands. After a brief time of sharing and an evening meal we then finished the day with planning for today!

It's hard to share all about what we are experiencing without sounding like an activity-log! But please know that we are being blessed with each thing we do and each place we go. We pray that we are able to bring the message of God's love and caring each place we go and with each person we encounter. We also are learning that it's okay to slow down and share more with each other. We know that God has great things in store for us but even more important - that God will use us as His servants to minister to the pepole here.

All I can say is - Kenya is amazing! The sights, the sounds and even the smells! But what is most amazing is the people here.... Until next time!

H

Here is the group that gathered in Traverse City to send us on our way. Thank you everyone for coming to be with us and your good thoughts and best wishes!

We also want to thank everyone who is praying for us while we are here. We are so thankful for your support and we treasure every prayer!

More later!

We Have Arrived!

We are here in Nairobi! What a LONG day - but we made it! It's morning in Nairobi (about 8:10) and everyone is slowly emerging from their beds and a good night's sleep. I really don't want to rub it in - but there is abslolutely NO SNOW here!

We are thanking God that we all arrived in Detroit (that's us in the picture from Detroit!) from Traverse City, Wisconsin, Canada and southern MI - that we made every flight connection, and every piece of luggage arrived in Nairobi! Today we are taking it easy with time for devotions, orientation, organizing our luggage and later a visit to an orphanage. The reality of actually being here is sinking in.... We look forward to future postings to share what God is doing here in Kenya! - Heidi

Getting Ready!

The bags are packed - well almost... The Traverse City team gathered tonight to pack all the special treasures that have been donated or purchased for us to share in Kenya. Andy is the ruler of the scale and I believe every bag hovers dangerously close to a full 50 pounds! We discovered that Amy is over the 50 pound limit when her brother Caleb tried to pack her in a suitcase!

It was great to be together this one last time for preparation and also a time to pray together. I chose to just listen to all the prayers and I thought about how much we have grown in our love and caring for each other over these past few months. A scripture that we read yesterday (Wednesday) was John 13:34-35. Please excuse my rough paraphrase but it is about loving one another as Jesus has loved us and that if we do this then all men will know that we are his disciples. Ashley commented on that passage today:

"Notice that it talks of the love that is between disciples. I think sometimes I think the only way to show God's love to a person, is to love that person directly, but here it says if I love the people I am with, they will see it as God's love. As we travel, and work in Kenya, may we remember to show love to each other."

I believe that we are truly a team (including our Wisconsin, southern Michigan and Canadian team members too!) and are ready to go! Now if we can only get some sleep.....

4 Days to Departure

Our team is just 4 days away from D-day, that is Departure day, and God has already blessed us with His Word, faithfulness in provision, and so much more. We have many friends, (you may be one of them), that are praying for us daily, and we are truly excited about joining God's work in Kenya.