Our Introduction

Missions of Hope International ~ Transforming the valley of darkness into the mountain of God

First stop - Pangani Center - the main office and community center for Missions of Hope International (MOHI). (http://cmfi.org/hopepartnership)

It is as though we are in a foreign land. Which of course we are, yet still its hard to describe the disparity between the land that we have just arrived from and the post war zone like conditions we are now encountering.

Our day is filled with meeting the MOHI team, learning about their work, celebrating some of their major successes and touring the remarkable facility.

MOHI began in 2000 serving 50 kids from the Mathare Valley. In 2012 they are serving  7,400 students!

Really remarkable growth with plans to have 125,000 students enrolled by 2017!

Essentially, MOHI recruits students out of the slums, enrolls them in school, provides access the basic health care while they are in school and instills new hope in these children that a new life exists, in faith, and in education and jobs that provide an escape from the cycle of extreme poverty living in the slums.

MOHI operates 12-14 different cycles throughout Mathare Valley, the densely populated slums of Nairobi, home to 1 million people living on less that $2 / day.


As you might imagine, the challenges are great - broken homes, orphaned kids, alcohol and drug abuse, widespread prostitution, HIV runs rampant, in addition to poor living conditions - very little shelter, contaminated "black" water, rubbish (garbage) everywhere, dreadful air quality, extremely limited access to health care, two public bathrooms (for a fee) available to serve thousands. It goes on and on. It's unimaginable to those of us who exist in the comforts and conveniences of the US. Really, unimaginable.

Arrival in Kenya

At long last - our arrival into Nairobi!

We are generally tired from our long flights and eager to embrace our new friends and surroundings. All is well - absent a few pieces of luggage - including a bag of beads for jewelry making, and, yes, my clothes! C'est la vie!

It's a bumpy hour long ride in a van to our lodging. The dark night reveals little about our surroundings yet affords a brief opportunity to get better acquainted with our 12 person team.
 
Steve, Debbie, Larry, Lynette, Katie, Carrie, Vanessa, Julie, Becky, Joy, Kim and Sarah

We are fortunate to be staying in a beautiful guest house. It's protected by a large wall, gate and, of course, 7 rather ferocious sounding dogs!

Look closely, there are big dogs in those kennels!

We are greeted immediately with warm Kenyan hospitality. Lucy and the girls (Margaret and Carol) have prepared a warm meal for our arrival and are doing all that they can to make us feel welcome and comfortable.

Margaret ~ on the balcony overlooking the yard; yes, that's corn growing in the background!

As we are gathering for our first devotion and discussion, we encounter the first of many African animals - a gigantic mosquito. Seriously, they don't grow this large in the States!

Thankful for our mosquito netting!

 We sleep with several in each room under the protective, and somewhat decorative, mosquito nets. Tired as we were, rest did not come easy to the melodic tunes of 7 barking dogs and the early rise of the crowing rooster!

Is this the rooster?

Or this? Either way - one of these animals is always awake and crowing! 

Departure

Greeted at the airport with kindness - Al, the very helpful United gate agent - personally checked my bags and walked me all the way through security (no waiting here!!) to ensure all 4 bags of school supplies could make it through to the plane.

Only a snapshot of the donated supplies!

 As though waiving my extra bag fee and walking me through security were not enough, he then proceeded to tell me about his many trips to Africa, building schools and serving others. I was surprised at his good-natured kindness and touched by his personal stories; thrilled that already there's is an ever expanding community coming together to help our team and help others around us.

In the quiet of the airplane cabin, I have a moment to pause, contemplate my purpose over the next few weeks. To linger in silent reflection. To be grateful for all that I am, where I am and the experience already unfolding...

Welcome

Friends and Family -

Thank you for your unwavering support of my service trip to Kenya. My purpose was to honor my sister’s memory and carry on her service, in the place that ignited her passion for others - Nairobi, Kenya. To walk the streets, see the people, play with the children, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the situation, yet inspired by their love.

It was more than I could have imagined, I am thankful.

The experience was transforming in its affect on me and profound in the perspective gained in such a short window of time with people on the other side of the globe.

In an effort to share my experience, tell the stories, honor the people and inspire you - I invite you into my journey poured out on these pages, through these photos, touched by these lives. 

Read on, let it move you.