Swahili Lesson

My Swahili name, given to me by our Kenyan MOHI friends: Akinyi Nafula

It means, Akinyi - very early in the morning; Nafula - in the summer 

If you look closely, you can see our lesson on the board!

Matatu - little van like bus

Mungu akubariki (aku-ba-ri-ki) - the Lord bless you, singular

Mungu awabariki (a-wa-ba-ri-ki ) - God bless you, plural

Asanti sana - thank you very much

Jambo - hi

Naenda (na-en-da) - I'm going

Nyumbani (n-Yu-mba-ni) - home

Nitakuombea (ni-ta-ku-om-be-a) - I will pray for you

Tafadhai fanya hivyo (ta-fa-dha-li fan-ya hivy-o) - Kindly do that

Kunywa chai (kun-ywa chai) - take tea

Chapati - cooked and rolled tortillas, really good!

Ways to Help

My experience in Kenya was moving and inspirational on many levels.

I am increasingly convinced the best way I can continue to help is to celebrate and encourage all of the people living and serving in Nairobi, support the work of Missions of Hope International (MOHI) and sponsor children. The change that takes place here is long-term. The approach taken by MOHI is good, authentic, relationship-based and sustainable.

If you want to learn more about getting involved and supporting the work of MOHI: http://mohiafrica.org/

You can support the work of Christian Missionary Fellowship (CMF) and their partners around the globe at: www.cmfi.org

Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all. 

Galatians 6:9-10

Now What?

Our new found friendships and the deep human bonds formed through service are not easily broken. We are strengthened individually, and collectively, through our time together in Kenya. 

 Now we embark on the journey home to reflect on all that we have seen and experienced, to cause some change in our lives and the lives of those around us, to embrace some new layer of service, hospitality, compassion as we move forward in our respective lives in the States. 

Forever moved and happily transformed.

Sarah & Lynnette

Happy, healthy, enriched and forever changed.

Katie & Sarah

It's good.

Our Final Hours

Our final hours in Kenya add another dimension to our experience. We have a lovely time visiting with the Redfords and wind down our experience at a fantastic outdoor dinner. 

All is going smoothly, perhaps too smoothly. Out of nowhere, a torrential rain storm dumps monsoon quantities of water on us – drenching our dinner experience and causing an electricity outage. Now we are dining by tiki light and listening to the gushing sounds of rain!

(I am making this sound nice; almost quaint in a rustic, romantic way... It is also true to say we were freezing, tired and had 18 hours of travel ahead of us!)

We hastily conclude our dinner and pile into the van for an precarious commute to the airport. 

This was earlier in the week, don't we look rested!?

There are no street lights, the streets are not really fully paved... What happens when you ‘just add water’? 

Well, driving gets interesting! We had an exceptional driver who navigated us safely through the flooded streets, terrible city traffic and pitch black dark-of-night to the airport – just in time for our flight! Well done Wellington!

Kazuri Bead Factory

Kazuri is Swahili for “small and beautiful”

The Kazuri Bead Factory began 30 some years ago as an effort to provide employment means for single moms. Now, this is a vibbrant business employing hundreds of women (and a few men!) to make beautiful, handcrafted, beaded jewelry. These items are sold through retailers around the world.

 
We toured the factory, interacted with the workers and shopped extensively in their store – all in the name of supporting economic empowerment, of course! 

Giraffe Park

When you visit a giraffe park, you expect to see giraffes – that we did – up close and personal! 


  
They are beautiful creatures that gracefully move their very large forms through the trees, saunter up to see us and even eat food right from our mouths! 

They call this ‘kissing a giraffe’ – it was actually pretty amazing to be this close to such a large animal – and not be harmed!

What an experience!

Who you looking at?

Corporate America

This is a glimpse into the kitchen at the university. 

Somehow corporate American is never far from a growing population!

The vegetation, landscaping and natural beauty here astound me. Especially coming from the bleak and desolate slum. 

African International University

Today, we are off for a full day of work and exploration outside of the Mathare Valley. We venture to African International University. This is a very different, and beautiful, part of Nairobi. Lovely!

Here, we meet with Sean and Kristin Redford, missionaries from Indianapolis who are teaching missionary studies to young Kenyan men training to be missionaries. 

It’s such a far cry from the environment of our past several days - almost hard to fathom we are only an hour or so from the heart of the slums. Yet, after being immersed in such poverty, it's hopeful to see another part of Kenya and intriguing to see ‘higher ed’ in another land. 

Our conversation ranges from ‘What is the purpose of evangelism?’ to sharing life stories of faith – searching and finding God - to exactly how do you introduce the concepts of Christianity into tribes where family history and culture are so different? All quite interesting and thought provoking!

Several of the young men enrolled in the program are from the Maasi Tribe – are you familiar with the tall, lean physique of the Maasi tribe?

With this inside connection, we could be recruiting for the NBA!

Alicia & Tim

Tuesday’s dinner is American style! We are hosted by a young American couple who recently relocated their lives to Kenya. Pizza, ice cream and the Olympics, what fun to do such 'normal' things in such a distant land!

Alicia is a vibrant young social worker from Illinois. Her passion found her in Uganda serving with Libraries of Love - a program that provides books for children to improve literacy. On her first trip to Africa, she found herself not wanting to return home, simply longing to stay and help. Her husband, Tim, was not so convinced.

So, she returns home, life continues and God works in their lives in amazing ways. Reading "Forgotten God" both Tim and Alicia come to the conclusion that they are to return to Africa and this time to Kenya. And here they are, immersed in the Kenyan culture, working at MOHI and dedicating their lives to loving and serving the people of Mathare. Simply inspirational!

CRM in Africa

Check out this CRM system!

Yes, this is human "Customer Relationship Management" in action.

Fidelis (social worker) is capturing real time notes on the families MOHI serves. Yes, these notes are handwritten, on the back of a strip of paper ripped from another notebook. 

It's all about people and relationships – no matter what part of the world you are in, or what CRM system you use – it’s only as good as the data it holds and as rich as the relationships it describes!

Kitchen

It is likely best that I discovered the kitchen on our last day working in the school... 

We have been happily eating rice, veggies and chai from this kitchen all week!

 Don't worry - I'm sure this is health department approved!! Either way, it produced great food all week!

Fred

Fred is one of pastors at MOHI. He too has a story from the slums. Fred was born and raised in Mathare - Village One.

As he approached his teenage years, he was encouraged to do what all young men do: steal to provide for the family. Fred was quickly caught up in a cycle of stealing, running, hiding and fighting for his life. He has the scars and stories to prove it. And, sadly, many of his friends from this chapter of his life were killed in the midst of stealing for their families.

Asked if he knew what he was doing was wrong, he answers 'no' and describes a world where boys know they will grow up to be thieves and criminals, and girls know they will grow up to be prostitutes. Far from the American dream of becoming a fire fighter, a doctor, or even President, these children only know the world right before their eyes - a world were robbing and selling their bodies is the only known source of survival.

In yet another story of great personal triumph, Fred rose above this chaos, found God in the midst of desperation and now dedicates his life to helping other children and families survive and thrive beyond the grasp of the slums.