Amen! Amen!

February 16, 2012 Thursday

The sun was bright and the day was heating up fast. We sat on the back of a motorbike as we traveled the dusty dirt roads of western Kenya. The morning went fast as we traveled to the different lumber mills in search of quality lumber and the best price for the church that we would soon be building.

The morning sun had changed position and it was time to head to the village of Taito. The widows had gathered for their Thursday session and they were all waiting within the small room of the home made from the mud of the earth. Before we began our study I wanted to check on the young widow that we recently took to the hospital that tested positive for HIV.

As we entered through the gate of her plot we could see her at the well drawing water for her family. She had fainted one week before while drawing water because she was so weak. What a change we saw in her as we entered their home.

This quiet small framed mama was on her feet, dressed and so eager to give thanks as we entered her home. “You are like a god to me. You have saved my life!” quickly came out of this woman’s mouth. I shared with her that I was not a god and that there was only one true God. She proceeded to explain what she meant. She knew that I was not a god but God used people to represent him and he had used me to help her live. So in her own way she was giving our heavenly Father thanks. She had so much to talk about today it was evident that she was feeling stronger.

Her grandparents also joined us and as we sat together we gave thanks to our Lord Jesus for pouring life into this weakened and diseased body. Part of her recovery demands that she takes her medicine and eats a good meal everyday so before we came we made sure we filled a bag with food items to leave with them. The bag emptied onto the table before us, rice, beans, tea, sugar, salt, ugali flour, salt and cooking fat, they would not sleep hungry tonight.

As we sat with the mama’s and prepared for our study this young mama walked through the door. She had changed her clothes and put on a beautiful royal blue dress. She came to learn more and made sure she put on her Sunday best to study God’s word.

February 17, 2012 Friday

On our way to Kipsongo slums we dodged the motorbikes coming and going at a rapid pace. The street was busy with people on foot and we shared the same roadway with the cows, goats, sheep and other vehicles. It is definitely a challenge to travel safely here and one has to be alert at all times. The laws of the road, traffic signals, warning signs, and speed limits just don’t exist in real life here.

It had been some time since I had visited with the children and I wanted to make sure that little Linda was still doing well. As the gate to the Bread of Life School and Feeding station opened for us to enter I could see the happy children on their lunch break. Most of the children here come from the slums and they are given a good meal every day along with schooling which opens the doors of opportunity for the future.

It took a while to sort through all the faces and find those that are from the orphanage that I have spent so many hours with. Little hands reach for mine and the children tagged along with me as I walked the compound.

The boys gathered around my husband to check out who had the biggest biceps!

It doesn’t take long and Sarah and little Linda are found. They snuggled in close to my arm and no one was allowed to take their place!

While in Kipsongo the rain clouds rolled in and sheets of rain came at us sideways for a short time. Everyone is thankful for this blessing of rain, the dust will settle some now and the people will prepare their land for planting. The rainy season will soon take over the dry and dusty hot days of the Kenyan summer. The first rains open up the heavens for more to follow!

Whenever there is a public official visiting the area the police will gather the street children and lock them up. They want to impress the official when he comes so they make sure he or she will not be bothered by beggars. Sarah and Alice, two street girls we have been helping have been missing for over two weeks now, along with so many other street children. We had presumed that they had been picked up by the police and were being held some place. As we passed through town one little street girl ran after us and her voice rang out loud and clear. It was Sarah! She was as excited to see us and we were her. We found a little table where we could sit and we had some food brought to her. She was very hungry and as we prayed over her food she said amen a couple times before we were even finished! The food was gone in no time. She looked clean and had a red knit sweater wrapped up around her head to keep warm. The night mountain air brings a chill into the land and one needs extra clothing or a blanket to keep warm. With Sarah there is a language barrier but she understands us as we try our best to communicate. Sarah is probably around 12 years old and the night ushers in such evil. We asked her where she would sleep tonight. My heart broke as she took the empty grain bag she was sitting on and lifted it in the air. I wanted to cry openly as I knew this grain bag would become her bed, her covering, and her shelter for the night. She would find a place hidden away from those that are stronger and older than her and wait for the break of dawn. The glue bottle would cover her pain of being cold and alone. She would wait for the sun to rise without any hope of a better tomorrow.

February 19, 2012 Sunday

It took us a couple tries to find Cornerstone Church today as it sits off the main road in an open field. I did not come to preach but came to listen to the preacher of the day. However, after a couple invitations to please preach I found my feet standing behind the pulpit. It is a church that is rapidly growing and as I stood to speak the chairs were full and others were standing in the back. The whole back part of the church had several rows of people standing throughout the whole service. The hunger to learn more is great.

Psalm 103:1-5 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.