Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Tears Turn To Smiles

Saturday, January 24, 2009  Koriokor

 

The bus drops us off on the east side of Nairobi.  Before we get off the bus we pray for a woman who is visibly ill.  She is very thin and pain is seen in her face.

 

We start walking our way through some side streets.  We meet Francis again. Francis is the boy who had been hit by a car.  The infection and pain in his mouth is gone. With his finger he wiggles three front teeth.  Soon we have 3 other street boys join us.  One boy opens his mouth and points to a very large cavity.  The tallest of the boys tells us it is a shame to be on the streets growing a beard.  I thought he needed a razor.  I was told he had been on the streets for many years.  What he was saying was he had been living this way too long.  He wanted to know when life would change. We prayed for each one of the boys at the corner. They all remove their caps as we pray.   A woman and her husband join us from one of the stores.  They ask us to come and pray for their daughter.  She is very troubled and they don't know what to do anymore.

 

I'm told the African sun just falls from the sky.  That is why it is so hot. I'm starting to believe them! It has been very, very hot. 

 

As we cross the river to go into the Koriokor area Pastor Joseph spots some of his boys.  Off to the side of the road down beside the river are several boys. They are in the midst of garbage which borders both sides of the river. They have started a little fire and with a large tin can they are cooking some food they have found.  As we look down on them from the sidewalk above smiles appear as they recognize Pastor Joseph & Gladys.  They soon follow us to the sheet metal "Hotel" for our gathering.

 

Fifty boys and one girl are served tea and bread.  Two of the younger boys lost their parents in the post election violence last year.  Many come sniffing but these two do not.  Another boy has a swollen hand after a piece of sheet metal fell on him and cut his wrist area.  We pray for him before he leaves.

 

As I sit at a table with some of the boys I notice the shake of the hand as one boy tries to lift the tea cup to his mouth.  Beads of perspiration cover his face. The young boy across from me wants to know what happened to his bread. No one at the table knows.  It was lifted by one of the older more experienced boys.  He returns it and everyone laughs.  In Swahili one older boy tells the Pastor, "I wish I was a learned man.  This opportunity only comes once in a life time."  The opportunity he is referring to is talking with a white person.  Most of the boys here never went past 3rd grade.

 

The hotel has a rush of energy enter as the older boys, above 17 yrs old, from the other side join us unexpectedly.  They came to take money and the findings of the day from the younger boys, ages 5 -17.  The room is full and wired hot but as soon as they see us a calmness settles over everyone. After they have their tea and bread the older boys leave.  Some watch and listen from the outside as I speak to the boys inside.  Many openly ask Jesus into their heart.

 

Sunday, January 25, 2009   Kawangware Slums

 

We walked through the dusty streets and then the smaller foot paths.  We come to the ever running brook of human waste.  We cross carefully. We step on the rocks that have become islands in the midst of  this flowing darkness. A short distance ahead there is a man walking with a child.  It is Shem. Shem is the notorious thief that has recently asked Jesus into his heart.  He tells us he is coming to church today.  We pray for him and continue on.

 

We bring our benches outside for the children's time.  One of the neighboring churches has all of their children in a group outside.  They are being taught by one of their own today.

 

As we start our singing I see the longing in the eyes of the children that use to be with us.  Their teacher is soon finished and they begin to wander our way. They join us one by one and enjoy the rest of the time with us. Twenty six children heard about David and Goliath.  My sister, Debbie Archer, gave me several very colorful magnetic story pages with sticker figurines to use in Africa.  The children love them.  Debbie is missed greatly but her ministry of giving to others still is going on.

 

One little girl covers her mouth with a cloth as she continually coughs. She is very ill.  My thoughts lean toward TB.  I tell the children she is sick and we need to pray for her. With my hand on her head we pray to Jesus. The Lord heals her. The coughing stops.  She enjoys the lesson with a smile on her face.

 

I didn't see Shem in church for the service but he made it for the time of prayer we had after. God is really changing this man.

 

A toddler in a near by home cries continually for hours.  I'm told the child has cried all night and all day.  He was vomiting the day before.  We believed that Jesus would heal this baby and with my hand on his head we to prayed. The crying stops and a smile appears.  Within ten minutes this toddler is playing with the other children.   Isn't God wonderful J

 

Psalm 145:4 & 5

One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.   They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Big Smiles On Little Faces

Friday, January 23, 2009  In The Slums of Kawangware Treasures filled my backpack today.  Pencils, crayons, school paper, flash cards, coloring books, reading books, and many other items arrived from the United States.  The generous hearts of the "Somersworth, NH Youth Safe House" filled 3 boxes of very useful and needed items for the school children of Africa.  It was my pleasure to carry them the last few miles of the journey.  Today they were given into the hands of all sizes.  The smiles of every one were the same…"BIG" J

 

Every child now has a pencil of their own and a box of crayons.  The world globe was blown up by one of the men.  Pointing to Africa and then America they realize there is some distance between our homes.  One young boy tells me he heard my plane when I arrived. J 

 

The teaching aids are something just not found here in Kawangware.  The headmaster and the teachers had a discussion as to where they could safely keep the box with out fear of it disappearing.

 

It was time to collect the pencils so they would have them for another school day. One little girl refused to turn hers in.  She insisted it was her pencil.  After awhile she went along with the others but reluctantly.

 

Just a pencil is such a treasure.  One pencil cost 15 KSH and if a parent has a job they make about 100 KSH a day. With a rent payment and the cost of food there isn't any money left to buy extra items.

 

I've watched the children take tests. One or two at a time will stand beside the teacher. They will fill in the paper and she will correct it.  Then the answers are erased and a couple more students come to take the test.  They take the test on the same paper. This procedure is used until everyone has taken the test using only a couple pieces of paper.  They just can not afford the extra supplies.

 

They all send their "thank you" to America.  Thank you Roger & Betty Eaton for working with the "Somersworth, NH Youth Safe House" on this project. Also we want to express our thanks to the "Lion's Club" for covering the cost of postage for these 3 boxes.

 

Many, many thanks for putting "BIG" smiles on little faces in Africa. J

Monday, January 26, 2009

A Kodak Moment

Today, Sunday January 18th, we walked to church thanking God for two days of unexpected rain.  The dust has settled at least for a couple days. Thirty children joined us today as we talked about Daniel and the lions den. They save each word spoken and readily repeat it. After the service we had one young man accept Jesus into his heart.  He is alone here as both parents have died. He holds the evidence of sadness in his eyes.

 

Monday January 19th, 2009  As we head to the east side of Nairobi we are delayed as we sit in traffic.  The sun quickly raises the temperature inside the bus.  We arrive safely to the east side and start our walk through several busy streets. Our destination is the area beyond the river.  We walk at a steady pace past shops of all kinds.  I see the surprised look on many faces as whites are seldom seen here, especially "walking". We get close to a small intersection and see two boys sleeping on the sidewalk.  Pastor Joseph knows them all and calls them by name. Frances is one of the older boys.  He is bruised and scraped up. With a swollen and infected bottom lip he tells us how the hospital refused him treatment after he was hit by a car.  Peter is another well known boy in the area.  Some time ago he was shot through the back.  He now walks with a limp. Their eyes open wide as they listen to how much God loved Jacob, a man on the run. They both remove their caps as we pray together. We would later return with medicine for Frances mouth.

 

We walk through an area new to me.  It is called the "cereal" area.  There are sacks and sacks of beans, rice, lentils, grain and corn.  The streets are not passable because of so many trucks loading and unloading.  We wind our way through the maze of people, trucks, carts and piles of sacks.  We find ourselves walking sideways.  Putting shoulder first we push our way through. After tea & fruit at the pastor's home we continue walking toward the river. We stop and share the gospel with a few people along the way.  The sun is beating down upon us as we walk the street. On this street you can buy any car part you might need. Both sides of the street are lined with shops selling auto parts.  We round the corner to walk the last little stretch. As a general rule I'm usually in the lead as we walk.  This enables Pastor Joseph to watch what is happening all around me.   He is literally "watching my back"Today I am leading as we round the corner into the area of the sidewalk vendors.  Every possible inch is used to sell their goods.  It is busy, busy, busy. A short distance in front of me I see a mob forming.  Merchandise is quickly being grabbed by the arm full and voices are getting louder.  Everything within me tells me to turn and run for safety.  With my body engaged and ready to run I turn & step right on top of the pastor's shoes.  He very calmly and gently says "don't run, stand still, don't run, stand still".  I did exactly as I was told J  I remained standing on his shoes.   I felt the bodies of many bumping into my body as they hurried past me.  It was soon calm again and we walked past the police toward the river.  It is illegal for the vendors to be selling here. The police arrive unannounced very now and then to try to move the vendors out of the area.  So in fear of being arrested the vendors were gathering their things and closing shop early J

 

Once across the small hand made wooden bridge we meet four young mothers sitting on the ground with their babies. The flies are every where but that doesn't stop little Benson from smiling!  Rose a very young mother asks for prayer.  She can not produce milk for her baby. We pray with her and she asks Jesus into her heart.  Before we leave her we see that milk is bought for the baby. 

 

I soon realize I have a new friend.  Kevin, a 3 year old boy with a terrific twinkle in his eye loves to follow me.  Kevin happily sits in my lap as I sit and answer questions for a man deeply rooted in a cult.  This man has lived in a hole in the ground for two weeks. His leader gave him a date when the earth was going to end.  We talk for sometime inside a sheet metal building.  As I sit there my eyes and nose begin to smart and burn.  I look to the side and I see a dense cloud rolling close to the ground along the path.  I notice people running from it. I'm thinking some thing must be on fire.  Then I am told it is tear gas. No one in the building with me seems upset.  It seems they have been through this before.  I'm calmly told to keep my eyes closed as the cloud moves along the path passed the sheet metal building.

 

The word is out that a visitor has arrived and many come to us.  One man accepts Jesus into his heart as he nervously scans the area while praying.  "Charms" a woman known for witchcraft stands off to the side and listens.

 

Our time for visiting those on the other side of the river has ended for another day.  It has not been a wasted day.  It has not been a day of defeat. We have witnessed a day of victory.  We rejoice with the angels above over the eleven people that asked Jesus into their heart today.  Each one is special. Each one with a name:  John, James, Francis, Rose, Stacy, Lillian…….

  

On the way back to the Pastor's home I see the lady with out legs.  Every bit of her energy goes into moving her upper body with her hands.  I stop and at eye level I introduce myself to her.  With great happiness she tells me she is Christian. We talk about the day when she will "run" on streets of gold.  Very soon a crowd of people has circled us.  It was a time to share the gospel message with many.  The more I talked the larger the crowd grew.  One man wanted prayer for his son who was troubled with seizures.

 

Night was coming quickly and we are almost to the Pastor's home.  My eyes fall on a young boy about 15 years old sniffing.  We start talking.  Francis is new to the streets.  He passes me his bottle and asks Jesus into his heart. The bus ride home takes a little longer as everyone is trying to leave the inner city at the end of the day.  Tired and in need of rest we finally arrive at the stage.  We end the day with one more police check.

 

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009  The  bus delivers us from the west side of Nairobi to the east side.  Today we are going to "Kariokor" to meet with the younger street kids,  ages 5-17.  Pastor Joseph & Gladys meet with them at least once a week.  As we leave the bus stage and walk through the busy streets we meet John.  John has just been released from jail.  His body is weak and he has a rash covering his face.  He asked us to pray for him.  Pastor Joseph tells me this is John's usual area and he sleeps on a couch around the corner.  At the corner I looked down to see John's couch.  The hardness of reality hits me as a large cement block stares back at me. 

 

We pass a very large old tree in the center of a rotary.   I'm told how many would gather under the tree and worship facing Mt. Kenya.   As we walk on we see the new street boy, across the street.  I call out his name and with a smile on his face he joins us.  His eyes have life in them today.  We tell him about the meeting and invite him to join us. 

 

The sidewalks are busy and as we walk boys run from here and there to join us.  They are all happy to see the Pastor.  He is their family. Today was a pure "Kodak Moment".  I wish I could have shared it with those at home.  As I led the way a trail of homeless followed.  With their filthy, dirty, tattered clothes,(all they had) with one shoe on, blackened with grease, brown teeth from tobacco stains, scars, wounds, many sniffing glue and a sack of belongings they had collected that day on their back, they followed a clean small framed white woman down the sidewalks of Nairobi.

 

We entered a little hide away village. The earth was black from the residue of oils, grease and charcoal. Little sheet metal structures lined booth sides of the path.  It is a busy place.  Much of the dump pickings ends up in this area.  The boys bring there sacks of plastic, metal, and glass here in exchange for enough money for one meal. We enter a sheet metal "Hotel" where food is served.  This is their weekly meeting spot.  About 20 boys show up today.  They are given tea and something to eat. There are times they can only have ½ cup of tea but today the cup is full. There is only one woman amongst all the guys.  She sniffs and eats while her little son walks around without shoes and pants. I use the salvation bracelets to tell them the gospel message.  As I pass them out I am surprised with the many that say "thank you".  As a group of 12 we ask Jesus into our heart. As I begin to pray I see the caps and knit hats being removed one by one. They don't sit long.  They are off again trying to fill their sacks.

 

As we walk to the Pastor's home we pass the tipped over fruit carts.  Some are busy collecting what they can off the ground for food.  The owners of the fruit carts watch from inside the police wagon.

 

Mark 16:15  Go into ALL the world and preach the good news to ALL creation.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

This Man Needs Jesus

Early Sunday morning on our way to church we walk through the "Congo" area. There are men on the ground totally oblivious to what is going on around them.  The sun beats down on them as they sleep off the effects of the night before. It is a normal sight here. Today there are many.

 

The church benches are brought outside for the children's time.  Our spot of shade is small but treasured.  The early morning sun is hot.  The children gather quickly as they see me preparing the area.  This week the ground is cleaner. Collins, one of the church men, worked this past week to remove the garbage from this area.  After songs and a review around 30 children are taught about Paul & Barnabas. Happiness fills the air when the crayons are pulled from my back pack J  This week one of the leaders, the prophet, of a neighboring church sat outside and listened to me.  I was worried that he would forbid his children to come.  Nothing was said and they stayed with us the whole time.

 

As we entered the church we enjoyed a fresh breeze coming from three new wooden windows.  The light and the breeze make our time together more enjoyable.  Many passing by on that side of the church will stop at the windows and peak in.  Then others will come as word gets out that the white woman is inside.

 

What a great day we had.  Rose, a woman that has had many problems, sat in church with us again.  She now knows peace and it radiates from her face.

 

The first month of the year is a month reserved for prayer. Every night of January people with gather at the church from 6 – 8 pm to pray.

 

The lady that had bought rope to hang herself has been in church every night this past week for a time of prayer.  She also joined us for the Sunday morning service.

 

Shem our notorious thief that accepted Jesus in his heart recently also returned to church this Sunday.  He sat quietly beside me as Pastor Chris taught a pastoral class Sunday afternoon.  Shem asked for more prayer before he left.  He was gone sometime and then returned with a friend.  Shem's friends are thieves also. He knows them all J  These thieves wait in the darkness for someone to walk by.  They will beat you up or even kill you for what you might have on you.  Shem walks into the church with his friend, another thief, and tells us "this man needs Jesus in his heart"!  God is so good! Shem's friend accepted Jesus into his heart.

 

It's close to five and we begin our walk out to the matatu stage.  The sun still says its noon day as the dust moves with out feet.  There are other opportunities to pray as we talk with those we meet along the path.  One man wanted prayer for a job so that he can feed his five year old son. He knows God is the answer for his life.  He removes his cap and falls to his knees in the middle of the busy path.

 

The smoke from slices of cow lung, blood sausages and intestines fill the air as they cook beside the road.

 

We climb into the matatu. With every seat full we wait as the driver ties his door shut.

 

The slums are soon left behind us.  The busy roads and heavy traffic is now before us.  My heart is still wrapped in the wonders of God's love that I have seen unfold before me.

 

Joel 2:32 

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Friday, January 9, 2009

The Need Is Great

Tuesday, January 6, 2009, Pastor Joseph & I are dropped off at the busiest spot in the center of Nairobi.  Buses line both sides of the very active streets.  People are dodging traffic as they venture to cross to the other side.  We begin our walk through the maze of people.  There are more people than there are vehicles and vehicles are jamming the streets.  We hurriedly walk several streets going down toward the river area. In the midst of all the people and traffic we meet a couple without legs. With shoes on their hands they move their bodies along side the busy road.

 

We enter an area known as the "Import Area" where goods are unloaded for the wholesalers.  Large trucks are unpacking goods. The sidewalks are piled with boxes.  The streets with torn up pavement begin to narrow.  We pass one alley that has become the dumping ground.  Many people are rummaging through the mounds of debris.  We enter a dark and narrow hallway and start our way up several flights of stairs. Each stair is holding the evidence of many people coming and going.  At each level there are rows and rows of laundry hanging in the open air. We go up more stairs and my eyes hit the open sky. We have reached the highest level of the building. We enter one small room, the home of Pastor Joseph & Gladys. Fruit, bread, and tea are served.  We enjoy our time of food and fellowship.  After our bodies are energized we walk to the other side of the river.   This is known as the Grogan area.

 

Grogan area is where the street boys and girls live.  This area has "leaders" instead of parents and "gangs' instead of families. Here no one ever gives their real name.  The street boys have a reputation for stealing, robbery, rape and murder.

 

As we walk down the hill the sheet metal structures along the river side are in view. Merchants selling their goods fill the sidewalks and every inch of free earth they can find.  The river is full of debris and waste products.  We cross the river and enter a land that many fear to go.

 

We stop and talk to three young mothers sleeping on the ground. Their babies are nursing beside them.  Another small baby sleeps in a round plastic dish pan. Benson a cute 7 month old baby gives me the biggest smile as he tightly holds onto my finger.  One girl wears the scars of knife wounds.  We share the salvation message and leave the gospel bracelets with them.  Within minutes one of the gang leaders arrives.  We talk and I also tell him the gospel story.  He refuses the bracelet.  Many are curious to see what is going on.  All are told the gospel story.  They wear their beaded bracelets proudly.

 

We take a break from the hot sun and sit inside the sheet metal church. Pastor Joseph & Gladys have worked in this area with the street kids for eight years.  As we rest many of the smaller children come and join us.

 

We continue to walk through the maze of sheet metal, cardboard, and pieces of torn cloth used as a source of shelter.  We stop and talk with many along the way.   We walk through garbage and broken glass.  The forest is on one side of us and rows and rows of broken down matatus & vehicles on the other.  A vast graveyard of vehicles follows the winding river.  The forest is lacking trees.  They have been cut down in hopes that it would make the area safer. The forest has been known to be a very evil and dangerous place.

 

Our sunlight starts to fade and we know we must leave.  One young mother hands me a gift of fruit to take with me.  We walk back to the Pastor's home and rejoice together.  We pray and thank God for the 5 men and 2 women that asked Jesus into their heart today. We discuss some follow up methods and a time when we can meet again.

 

With a chuckle and a big smile Pastor Joseph tells me that anyone in this area that would harass me goes to his church J

                                 

                                      **********

 

It is Wednesday and again Kawangware is beneath my feet. As we walk through the 'Congo" area we are stopped by a man that wants prayer.  The drink no longer satisfies. It doesn't fill the void.  He asks Jesus into his heart.

 

We visit Rose, a woman who asked Jesus into her heart when I first arrived in Kawangware.  Rose now radiates happiness and peace.  While visiting a man enters. It is one of her old drinking buddies.  He tells us he wants what Rose has found.  Right then & there he asks Jesus into his heart.  He shows us to his home so that we can visit him again.  His wife is told about the decision her husband has made.  She also asks Jesus into her heart.

 

                                     ***********

 

Thursday I returned to the river side of Nairobi.  I spent the day with Pastor Joseph & Gladys.  We ministered within their apartment complex.  We shared the gospel with prostitutes, children, mamas, and men of all ages.  Through door to door visitation 10 people accepted Jesus into their heart.

 

One young woman woke that very morning wondering if she would go to heaven if she died.  When we knocked on her door she had many questions to ask.

 

Another man asked us to prove what we had told him was true.  With the Bible placed in his hands we had him read aloud John 3:16, John 10:10, John 14:1-3, Romans 3:23, and Romans 6:23.   After reading the scriptures he accepted Jesus into his heart along with two other family members.

 

For many it was the first time they had ever heard that Jesus died on the cross for them.  The need for the word of God within this area is great.  I see the desire in many to learn more.

 

Isaiah 58:10-12

 

..if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun – scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail…..you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Linda Praying

Photobucket
Here is a wonderful picture that was sent to me of Linda Praying.  She is now working on being in africa for 5 months.  Please continue to pray for Linda.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Happy New Year

The New Year was ushered in with many attending over night prayer at the church. (I always leave the slums before dark) They prepared for their prayer walk as morning welcomed them into the first day of 2009. Two by two they walked the streets of Kawangware.  Each step was taken in prayer.  Many prayers were said and many steps were taken. We pray that God will bless Kawangware and touch the hearts of the people.

 

January 4th, 2009, the first Sunday of the New Year. What a glorious day it has been.  There are so many children around the area of the church.  Some churches do not allow them inside. With doors and windows closed tight it is their job to handle the cares and needs of little ones through the heat of the day.  They are not much bigger than the ones they care for.  So many children just need a hug, a pat on the back, a touch or a smile.  It costs so little to let them know they are loved. One little girl kept to herself today.  She stayed her distance with head hung down.  After a big hug she joined us with a smile! 


. 

With hand drawn Sunday school papers prepared, we move wooden benches from the church to the outside.  We find a small area of shade and set up a black board.  The children flock to the area with excitement as the very colorful flannel board lesson is displayed in front of them.  Today we shared the John 3:16 and how Jesus died for them.  Before our two hours were over we had over 40 children!  They were so excited to have a paper of their own that they could color.

 

At the end of the two hours I joined the service already underway inside the church.  The church is very full and steadily growing.

 

The generator is broken today but that does not stop the songs that pour out of the heart.  The music of joy and thanksgiving leaves through the doorway of the church. It touches the heart of a lonely woman. She has lost hope.  As she is walking home from the store she hears the music from the church. She decides to come in and listen.  She stays for the whole service and at the end she wants prayer.  That morning she had gone to the store and she bought rope.  She was on her way home to hang herself when she heard the music coming from the church.

 

Rose a woman whose life has been wrapped around the bottle has not had a drink in two months.

 

Two more women from the church now have jobs.

 

A young woman who could not have children has much to rejoice about. With tears of joy in her eyes she gives God the glory for answered prayer. She is going to have a baby J

 

Pastor Chris has fully recovered from malaria.

  

School resumes tomorrow.  There will be around fifty happy faces sitting on their wooden benches in the church.  They have been busy bringing in water to pour on the dirt floor to keep the dust down.  The church is having three wooden windows put in the free wall of the church this week.  The other three walls have another structure abutting it. These windows will allow more light in for the children. With more ventilation they should be cooler too


J

 

 Ps 118:24

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and

be glad in it.