The Biggest Smile

February 4^th, 2010 was my first day out after being sick for a week. I had an infection of some type in my lungs. The dust, the fumes from the cars and trucks just fill the air. Some of the places I walk are not healthy at all and many of the people I pray for are very sick. My body was asking for a break. After a week of rest it felt so good to be active again.

We started our way toward the other side of town. Today we would walk the far side of the river and meet with the street boys. The traffic into Nairobi was terrible and we were caught in a traffic jam for two hours. Our intentions of starting early before the sun got hot did not happen. While we sat in the matutu surrounded by cars it became a question of whether to open the windows and let the heat out or keep the windows shut to keep the fumes from the surrounding cars from coming in.

As we walk a smile comes to my face. I notice some wearing shoes that I had given out sometime ago. They are already blessing someone's feet and I'm sure they are very much appreciated. Thank you Lisa Gove for thinking of those in need.

Before we get to the river we stop to pray with one of the older street boys. He hasn't been feeling well. His lungs are full and hurting and he wants us to pray. At one time he was considered one of the worst. Now he saved and his life has been completely changed.

The "Salvation Bracelets" made by Calvin Gray and Milton Assembly of God have been a tremendous tool for us to use here in Kenya. The gospel story is told over and over again in a way that even the youngest can understand. We thank you ever so much for your hard work.

Once at the river and we begin to greet the different ones who are set up to sell their goods. As I share the gospel story using the "Salvation Bracelets" I am amazed at how many have never heard that Jesus died for their sins. We slowly walk the edge of the river. We aren't getting to far down the path as street boys, passersby, and street vendors continue to gather around us. We stopped to talk to one or two and more come running to hear what I am saying.

As we are sharing with the group an older street boy comes to join us. The reactions within the group tell me that he probably is one they look up to. He is drunk and wants to be the center of attention. There is laughter and anticipation within the group as they watch him confront me with the intention of silencing me. As we talk face to face with everyone watching and listening, I begin to see this man's face softening. He becomes quiet. He begins to listen and soak up the words that are being said. He doesn't feel that he is worth God's time. I assure him he is very important. He is so important that God sent me all the way from America to Kenya to stand before him on this day and on this pile of dirt and ask him to let Jesus into his heart. There is no doubt within me that God touched his heart today. He will never forget the meeting "on top of a pile of dirt".

We did not get to walk a great distance today but it was a good day. More than 20 people accepted Jesus into their heart. Each one is encouraged to join us at the church across the river on Sunday morning.

Thursday night the rains came and oh how it was welcomed. It was so calming to listen to as it hit the roof throughout the night. The earth has been so dry and now some of the dust will settle.

Again on Saturday we walked our way through the paths by the river. We wanted to make sure everyone knew they were welcome to come watch the "Jesus" movie on Sunday. One man runs up to us from the other side. He had seen us on Thursday talking with different groups of people. We missed his area and he was asking to come and talk there.

The rain settles the dust and it also makes for some slippery walking in places. Some areas are flooded and we try to balance ourselves on wobbly rocks to get across. We visit the area where the boys take their sacks of treasures to turn in for a few coins. There are piles of plastic bottles, another section for metal, car parts, tubs of grease and oil, glass and whatever else you could think of. Dark smoke rolls from the earth into the sky as some items are burnt. The boy's clothes are torn and greasy. The shoes that are worn hardly protect the feet. Their teeth show the dark stains of tobacco. Their eyes blood shot and the smell of glue flows through the air. One wants help with a large open wound on his ankle. The street pulls at all of them it is not partial to any age. Some are so young and have seen so much. Then there are those that have grown up knowing only this way. Before we leave this area we are taken deeper into the center. Here we have a "hotel" (a place that prepares food) the one dark room with an earth floor is full of street boys. They want to hear about the "Salvation Bracelet". I explain to them what each color means and we visit. Before I leave I ask if there was anyone there that wanted Jesus in their heart. Many did but the first and loudest "yes" came from the cook in the kitchen. Here in this little room with some of the poorest of the poor a young boy wants to share his food with me. It always touches my heart when those with so little, those that are very hungry themselves, want to share what they have with me. We say our goodbyes here and start out of the "hotel". A very young street boy grabs my hand at the door. He looks up into my eyes and says "pray for me".

We want to travel further up the river to the dump area. We wait a bit as we see a crowd forming ahead of us. When the trouble has ended we find our way to a group of a dozen or so sitting in the midst of the garbage. One man has fallen asleep. Pastor Joseph is known here. He has bonded with them in an amazing way. We visit with them and invite them to the "Jesus" film on Sunday. One young mother with her little baby joins us. Her fingers are cut and bleeding. The baby is without food and milk. The market is close by and we gather a big bag of bananas to share with them. We are passing out the bananas when two other boys come up to us from another area. It is obvious with their attitude that they are not pleased with us. The pastor talks with them is Swahili for awhile. Then the loud one looks at me and in English says "I want you to understand if you ever take a picture of me I will take your camera and smash it. Do we have an understanding?" Of course I didJ I told him in a calm voice that I had not taken his picture and would not without asking him first. The pictures I had taken I had asked permission to do so first. All of the boys eating the bananas agreed they had given me permission. Then he thought we must have money on us if we could buy all these bananas. We told him that we did not walk with a lot of money. He then decided because he knew we were pastors he would let it go this time and he walked off as quickly as he came.

In the midst of the dump a small fire has been started and food that has been found is cooking. I have been invited to join them.

Here in the mounds of garbage, with the smells, the rats and of course the flies are precious people trying to survive. They have never had the opportunity to go to school yet you will see them remove their caps, hide their bottles, and bow their heads for prayer. Of course there are always those that don't want to listen but most welcome prayer.

Hearts have been touched today. Prayers for many have been said. We know of twenty more that have asked the Lord into their heart today.

February 7, 2010 Sunday is always a busy day. It is a day I look forward to. The pastor arrives very early and we ride to the other side of Nairobi. It is then time to walk our way to river. As we walk through the busy streets his eyes are always looking for any of his boys. We are almost there and he says "follow me". He wanted to check one other area to see if any of the boys were there. Today we are showing the Jesus film. It is a very big event and he doesn't want any of them to miss it. "Follow Me",…. he turns down an alley way big enough for two people to walk side by side. There isn't a lot of light and straight ahead in the middle of the alley are a group of boys huddled together. A sign that reads "bar" is above an open door beyond them. Broken glass and empty bottles are scattered here and there. A flatten cardboard box becomes a bed on the ground. My eyes quickly size up the situation. Quietly inside I say "Lord, are you sure?" I knew the answer before I asked. I continued down the alley with the small framed pastor at my side. The boys watched us walk their way. They recognized the pastor and as always were happy to see him. Then one of the boys held his wrist up in my face and started pointing to it. He had the biggest smile. The pastor started laughing. This young man remembered me from last year. I had given him a "salvation bracelet". It was so worth the walk.

The blue church with a red wooden door and a sheet metal roof that leaks holds about 50. Saw dust covers the ground and water is sprinkled on top to keep the dust down. The church is full today. Everyone is asked to move over closer and closer to give just one more person a seat. Then we had those that stood at the door. The "Jesus" film was seen by those inside and the horn speaker let those outside listen too. For over two hours the street boys and a few girls sat ever so still. Even when the generator quit now and then they didn't offer to move. They waited patiently while repairs were made. They knew exactly where we were in the movie when it stopped. Their faces were glued to the small color TV that sat on top of a cardboard box on top of a wooden table so that everyone could see. The ages of those watching varied from the very young to grown men. The pastor has never seen a time when such a group would come together without fighting of some type. They came with their glue, with their sacks, with their dirty clothes and bodies. They sat on wooden benches without a back for over two hours. At the end of the movie it was a unanimous vote that Jesus should be their leader. Every hand was raised and raised high as we went into prayer together. Then we had a surprise gift to celebrate the day. Each one received a hardboiled egg and two fresh bananas. An egg is something they never have.

The open air crusade is set up on the market side of the river. The area is full of street vendors. They are up and down both sides of the road going up the hill. Many have taken advantage of the river being cleaned. The flowing water is all they need to start a car washing business. Matatus, buses and cars line one side of the river bank waiting to be washed. It is a busy area every day of the week. Charms, a woman deep in the occult, sits on the bridge nearby. High on the knoll of dirt between the river and the vendors we start our service. My voice goes out over the whole area. It is even heard on the far side of the river. The business of the people starts to slow down. The men stop washing their cars. It seems like everything has come to a standstill as I continue on. Shortly after I finish a few Muslim men with microphones start to speak from the other side of the hill. They begin to tell everyone "If you believe in this Jesus you are being cheated. How can a dead man heal you? How can a dead man save you? How can his blood help you? No one has seen his blood. It is in the ground……….

The spoken word of God is powerful. It stands forever.

Isaiah 55: 10 & 11

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.