Stones Fly, Mob Cries

March 19, 2013 (Tuesday) The early morning birds usher in the sunlight that rises over the mountain range before us. The “long rains” are here and each afternoon the clouds burst open and bless the earth.  One can almost tell the time of day as the heavy clouds roll in and drop fast and heavy rain upon us.  Rain is a blessing and many have waited for this season to plant their seed.  The land has been worked and now the seed is deposited in the soil knowing that one day there will be a harvest.  It takes diligent work but the end results are great.

Like those that work the soil it has been a time of sorting through some issues with head pastors in the area.  It is our desire to see growth and to see a harvest. We join hands and work to together to lift up those that have fallen and walk on the wrong path.

March 20, 2013 (Wednesday) I returned to Kipsongo slums today to visit the children at “Seeds Academy.” There are 320 children that come from the slums for an education.

 

 

Along with learning they are also blessed with one meal before leaving the school grounds.  Once a week they have a special treat…homemade bread! What a blessing Pastor Richard and Helen Makani have been to so many!  When we arrived the children were on break and it didn’t take long for them to respond to our arrival.  Trying to greet the children without missing anyone takes time.  So many want your hand and your attention!  My hand was in the grip of so many little ones.  Each child was struggling to be near me. One determined little girl pushes her way through to me.  She nestles in as close as she can under my arm and I hear the words “Do you remember me?”   I look down into these beautiful happy eyes and see little Linda.

Last year Linda was taken out of the slum life and placed in the orphanage.  This time of transition was very difficult for her and she had a great fear of men.  She would run and hide anytime there was a male figure close by.  During my visits to the orphanage I would try to comfort and earn Linda’s trust.  Friends remain friends even when there are miles and days between.

The little ones are so fascinated with my white skin.  They study my hand trying to figure what is underneath this white skin!

March 21, 2013 (Thursday) The hard and cruel life that so many of the children live never ceases to amaze me. My heart broke today as I learned more about a dear little girl, Sarah. I held this tiny little girl in my arms last year as we drove her out of Kipsongo slum to the nearest hospital.  I could feel the congestion in her chest.  Her mom had died two weeks earlier and she and her siblings were in need of much care.  At that time I did not understand that this little girl had lived a life of pain and suffering that no child should have to endure.  Sarah had been raped at 3 years old and now she tests positive for HIV.

March 22, 2013 (Friday) Traveling the roads here is Kenya is far from the organized and calm driving of home.  Today our planned travel time of 2 hours takes 3.5 hours.  We are on our way at 8 am and have a meeting planned in a village outside of Bungoma.   The streets were busy with market areas here and there as we traveled through the different villages. 

Everyone runs to the car when we stop. They want to be the first to show us their fruit and vegetables in hopes that they will be the one to make a sale.

Shortly after the village of Sikhendu we see a large group of people in the road ahead of us.  Several cars have stopped and wait beside the road.  We see the need to be cautious and pull over before getting any closer to the crowd.   Ahead there has been a murder.  Robbers have entered someone’s home and have murdered them.  Those demonstrating blocked the road way so no one could pass. Rocks filled the road and stones are flying through the air.  Their actions are extreme but it is their cry for help and justice.  Three police officers are at the scene and they have called in for more help. After a little discussion with some of the people from the area we are told of village roadways that will permit us to get around this problem.

The areas we traveled through were beautiful. The tall slender stalks of sugar cane surrounded many of the mud hut homes. In the distance Mt Elgon was visible and the massive majestic mountain outlined the blue sky. The roads were muddy and in some areas not so wide!  We were not the only ones looking for a way around the trouble. A caravan of cars and public transportation vehicles were traveling the same route that we were on.  Having vehicles travel on these roads was obviously something that did not happen every day.  Life had stopped here and there were many standing at the edge of the road watching everyone ride by.  The double surprise to many was when they saw a white women!

We were just about to connect to the main road again when we were told to turn around.  The mob had grown and they had blocked this entrance way as well.

We are determined not to let the pastors down that had gathered for class so we continued to find our way around through the small villages in the area.  The next attempt to connect to the major route was successful.

The pastors have waited patiently for us and they are excited about the new Bible course they have signed up for. Many have walked long distances even in bare feet for this opportunity to learn more. Going to school is such a great privilege here.  It is a dream come true!

The class ended 3 hours later and we were welcomed into Bishop Daniel’s home for rice, ugali and chicken before we started our trip back.  The rain clouds were dark above us and we knew it was time to go.

March 24, 2013 (Sunday) Today I returned to Cornerstone Church just outside of Kitale.  The children were many and enjoyed dancing to the music especially if I joined in with them.  It is good to see the growth among the people and also to see how they have cared for their church.  They have worked hard and placed cement tiles over the platform area making it very level and easy to walk on.  The response after the sermon made my heart happy as 2 people raised their hands for prayer.  Their walk was not close enough to Jesus, they wanted more.

After making a visitation to someone in the hospital Pastor Titus sat with me and shared his testimony. His ministry started in the desert area of Lodwar and in the IDP camps that are close by.  He was in a head on car accident one day and remained in a coma for 16 days.  His total hospital stay was 5 months long.  During that time he would pray for everyone that was placed in his room.  In those 5 months not one person died that he prayed for. They all regained health and went home.  It was such a remarkable testimony that even the nurses said he should stay and continue to pray for those that came in to the hospital.  It took Pastor Titus 2 years to recover from this accident and to learn to walk again.  God has restored him to health and now he pastors a busy and growing church.

March 25, 2013 (Monday) The afternoon and night rain brings coolness to the morning air.  To me it is not so bad but to my motorbike driver it is a different story.  When he came to pick me up this morning he was wearing 3 coats and 2 hats!   

The ladies were overjoyed to have us back in Mitume with them once again.   The class is growing and we are thankful for each and every person that has the desire to grow stronger in the Lord. 

Life in the slums is hard and in some cases a life of desperation.  Crime continues to increase and the cry for help falls on deaf ears.  Today we learn of a young woman, 26 years old, that was beaten, raped and killed in Kipsongo slums.

Psalm 119:105    Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.