Pray For Ella

November 27, 2011 Sunday

I met Pastor Winnie at the women’s conference this past week. She invited me to come and share at her church. Presently Calvary Celebration Church is meeting in a rented building but they have already taken steps to have a place of their own. Eight years ago Pastor Winnie started the church with 15 children and 11 adults. The church now seats 500 and it was full. One section of the church was reserved just for the youth to sit in so they could join us in worship before they left for their service.

After the service the visitors were asked to remain for tea and a biscuit so that the Pastor could greet them for a few minutes and collect contact information.

November 29, 2011 Tuesday

Ella, a friend, of mine from Sweden had emergency surgery last night. There was talk of a medical air rescue for her. However, a surgeon was called in from Nakuru, which is a four hour drive. He came immediately and her surgery was performed here in Kitale. She had a strangulated ovary and gangrene had set in. We are very thankful to have Doc Cathy here at St. Raphael’s Clinic in Mitisi just outside of Kitale. She was trained in NY as a nurse practitioner and was able to diagnose Ella’s condition.

Please pray that she will recover quickly without complications or infections. Hospitals here are not up to date like those you might be used to. It is like stepping back in time, way back. She doesn’t have a nurse to care for her. It is up to each patient to have a friend or family member come in to watch over you. Also pray for her family in Sweden. It is very hard for her parents being so far away.

Isaiah 40:11

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

Take Me Home With You

November 21, Monday, we went to visit a newborn baby girl named “Selena.” Elvis and Stella are very happy parents and we are very pleased that both Mom and baby are doing fine. Selena was born on Sunday afternoon and has already brought much joy into the lives of Elvis’ family. Being the only girl she will be cared for and protected by her many uncles.

Elvis and Stella had lost a little girl on my last trip here. It is good to see smiles upon their faces and rejoicing in their hearts.

The hospital was packed and there were people sleeping outside on the ground as they waited. There were noticeably long lines here and there as we found our way to the maternity ward. The maternity ward followed suit. It was packed. There were about eight single beds in a section with two mamas and their newborn babies sharing a bed. They didn’t have any sheets or blankets unless a family member supplied one for them. The room was open without any pull curtains for privacy. If a mama was to have any care a family member had to volunteer to sit with her through this time. The father is only allowed in when visiting hours are open. I doubt that there is much sleep or even a time to rest with so many newborns in one room.

November 23, Wednesday, we started a five day women’s conference at the tent in Kitale. After speaking I walked up back for a while to be near the door. I walked back and forth in the back as they went into a time of praise and worship. The music was at the level where they like it, which is loud. Above the music I thought I could hear screaming. I looked outside into the area where the street children and adults have a little community of their own. They go through the garbage here, sleep in it, eat from it and start fires in it to warm them. It is known as their territory.

The screaming continued and my eyes fell upon a young child on the ground all curled up in a ball with his arms protecting his head. A tall woman with a handmade whip in her hand was standing over him. It appeared to be made out of an old tire. There were on lookers with smiles on their faces being entertained by this boy’s pain. She disappeared to the other side when she saw me.

We had the boy come closer to the tent and we sat with him for a while until he stopped sobbing. Once he could talk he told us he was ok and that the woman was not his mother but a neighbor. A young friend of his came over and joined him. I thought it was a he but he turned out to be “Sara.” Both were hungry so they enjoyed some food and a soda for awhile before going their way. Alex and Sara were both dirty, hungry, and it was apparent that they lived in filth but they still remembered to say, thank you.I figured I would see them in a couple days. Street children know who will feed them and they watch for you to come into town. They surprised me though. An hour or so later they found their way back to the tent, came inside, and sat down beside me. Many eyes were on me to see how I was going to react. I was so happy to have them there with me!

Sara was in pants that were way too short for her. She had holes in her clothes and they were so very dirty. As I looked at her and smiled the sun was shining on her just right and I could see tiny, tiny, little bugs crawling on her vest. I had some hand lotion in my back pack and put some in my hand and then some in hers. I showed her how to rub it into her hands. Then I took and rubbed it into my arms up to my elbows. As she followed my actions her face glowed with delight as she smoothed the lotion into her dry little arms.

On my way home Sara found me and walked with me. She informed me that she wants to go home with me. We started a conversation of getting to know each other a little better. I wanted to see if she was an orphan and if perhaps there was a way I could find a better home for her. Sara does have a mother who lives in Kipsongo slums.

November 24^th Thursday is the second day of the conference. The group continues to grow in size. Some are even sleeping here so that they don’t have to travel. The women love to sing and dance. There are times they will raise their chair above their heads and start marching around. They will swing their handkerchiefs in the air. Their Bibles will be placed on their head and they will dance some more. There is always much action with their singing. The message is given in English and then someone will interpret it into Swahili for me. At the end they were given the opportunity to accept Jesus into their heart. Fourteen raised their hands today for salvation. What a song was sung in the heavens above!

After a lunch, of rice and beans, we broke the women up into small groups. I had a group of pastors and pastors’ wives. (All women) It was a time of open discussion of anything that they were having trouble with or needed help with. Guess who had to answer these questions! Knowing that the culture here is very different and there are just some things you don’t talk about I wasn’t sure just how far to go with the answers to some of their questions. I silently prayed for wisdom from above many times. The questions were very open and direct and the women longed to have someone inform them. I was amazed at how great the need is for teaching in just the basics of what to expect as one matures and goes through the different phases of life.

November 25^th, Friday the conference continues and so does the singing and dancing! These gals don’t seem to get tired! They love to celebrate. We went to the Bread of Life Center for lunch again today. It is also known as the, feeding station. It is a school for over 200 children in Kipsongo slums. They not only teach them but they feed them lunch as well. Many times there will be children at the gate that come just for the food. Today we had githari or beans and corn. While eating it began to pour and it didn’t stop for some time. We had to cancel our small group sessions in the afternoon because of the time lost due to the weather.

In the last hour of the day Sara joins me in the tent again. She is in the same dirty pants that she has seriously out grown. Before the conference is over I ask her if she is hungry. Her eyes get big and she nods. I have her follow me and as we get to the door of the tent she yells out for Alex. Alex is close by and comes running. They both enjoy some food and a soda from the vendor set up next to the tent.

The day has come to an end and from the van I scan the dump area. There are people scattered here and there through out the garbage. Some are gathering around an open fire that they have started as the night will soon fall upon us. There are small children huddled together in a group. One looks my way and with a big smile she raises her hand and waves as we leave their home and drive away.

Proverbs 31:8-9
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Crying Out To God

Here at the lodge we have three dogs but we rarely see them in the day. Once darkness closes in on our day the dogs are set free to roam the compound. They are quiet dogs and if they should bark one comes to attention just a little more than usual. The stars seem to shine brighter here and the nights give way to their own sounds. It is a peaceful, quiet area until a monkey decides to show himself!

November 19 th A day of errands in town sounds like an easy feat but it is Africa. The natives run on their own time schedule. No one rushes. No one is in a hurry. Something very easy to accomplish can take many hours. I had some papers I wanted to print today. I was told where this could be done. I walked in and asked them if they could print a paper for me. Yes, but the machine is broken. When something is broken it stays broken for a long time. They pointed in another direction and sent me on my way. I arrived at another place and asked them if they could print something for me. Yes, but they were out of paper. It is a gentle reminder that I am a ways from home.

Sunday, November 20^th, I started out walking to church. The sun was shining bright and the birds were singing. It was a beautiful day. The quietness around me gave me time to reflect on the greatness of God as I walked. I stopped to say hi to a little girl beside the road. A couple other children came over to join us. They wanted their picture taken and were very happy to stand there and smile at the camera. The two little ones that were tied to their backs were terrified to see a white woman so close to them. I smiled and tried talking softly to them but nothing took the fear from them.

I spoke at United Christian Ministries today. It is an independent church that meets in a room of the school house. There were many testimonies of God’s faithfulness from those attending. Then the small choir blessed me with a beautiful song sung in English.

From the service I walked and talked with the pastor’s wife. We spent some time together as it was my desire to encourage her.

After saying goodbye and leaving one another I started to walk toward the area where the motorcycles sit and wait for customers. Up behind me I hear “my sister” I turn and it is the same guy that ran out of fuel taking me back to the lodge on Friday. We had gone part way up the hill when the motorcycle started to sputter a bit and then it came to a complete stop. We both knew it was out of fuel and we got off the motorcycle. He proceeded to take the fuel cover off and blow into the tank. He was trying to get all the droplets and moisture on the sides of the tank together to go just a little further. I told him I was all set and would walk the rest of the way. I paid him the fare anyway as I knew he needed it.

I'm not sure that I was as happy to see him as he was to see me but I proceeded to ask him if he had fuel today. He assured me that he did. Today he would take me all the way to the lodge. So even though I saw some parts tied on with rope I got on the back and off we went. It was evident that this man was struggling and he was trying with everything within him to keep his business going. We went slowly and I didn’t mind. It wasn’t his choice though the motorcycle just didn’t have the power it probably had at one time. It slowed down even more as we climbed the hill. He did indeed take me all the way to the lodge, just like he said. As he slowed down at the entrance the engine went dead. I paid him his fee and thanked him and watched him roll quietly down the hill on his motorcycle.

Please pray for a dear friend of mine in the Nairobi area. Gladys and her husband, Pastor Joseph, work with the street children. We have ministered together to those that many fear. Even though we are a day’s journey away from each other the Lord placed them on my heart. After talking with her husband I found out she has been very ill for two weeks. After asking several direct questions I found out they didn’t have the money for the medicine she had been prescribed. After asking a few more questions I found out they were without food as well. They never once asked for anything it was only because I continued to ask that I found out how serious a situation they were in. They had been crying out to Lord for He is the one that supplies all of our needs. Their immediate needs have been met but I am sure the continued prayer on their behalf will be greatly appreciated.

Psalms 18:6 In my distress I called to the Lord, I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.