Kayaba and Satellite Pics-Erika

A parting shot from our last day at Mathare-too cute not to post.

Trenton thought he should at least kiss his lunch before he eats it

Goofing off in front of the Safaricom store

The river that flows through South B slum

Nicole sharing at Kayaba-since she won't post, at least you can have a picture of her! :)

Serving lunch to South B kids

Sunday School class with their lion masks

Trenton giving the message at Satellite Church

Welena-the precocious one

Renee helping with the dishes

In Africa, In Kenya, In Nairobi, In South B, In Kayaba Church!

At our church I believe we do community really well. I'll start there. :) But I think that Kayaba Free Baptist Church is really giving us a run for our money.

After being at Mathare for two days and experiencing some hard conditions, it was a welcome sight to see the people around the Kayaba Church so joyful to see us. Some people in Mathare tried to show us the way out. Kayaba has developed such a mothering nature to the people that live around their church and to the entire South B slum, that when they see us with Pastor Paul, they smile widely and say, "Kariba!"

We walked into the church smack dab in the middle of praising and worshipping. What a treat! It was a thrill to see the newly expanded church, now twice the size it was last year! We worshipped with them, watched the children's choir perform, led worchip for them, Trenton preached, all the team shared why they came on this mission trip, and witnessed 8 women give their hearts to the Lord! WHEW!!!! 5 hours at Kayaba went by in the blink of an eye.

Kayaba is by far my favorite church to visit here in Kenya. The energy and the spirit present there is hard to miss. I loved seeing the kids line up with their bowls and spoons, ready to eat. Although I noticed a few saved there food to take home later and others finagled a second helping. Then they all lined up along "the river" to eat. I was able to talk with some of the ladies in the kitchen afterwards and hold one of their babies as they ate. I understood nothing of what they said, but I loved sitting amongst them, listening as they loudly talked with joy in their hearts.

They Lord has used Lighthouse to bless Kayaba and Kayaba has blessed us by allowing us to serve them.

Erika

Brennen, Sydney, and Gabriel- Mama loves you and I am praying for you. Please pray for our team.

His Name Is Brian

Poverty spoke and hunger had a name. As you walk through sewage entering the slum, you come to the realization that you are not home. Not any home you have ever known, but it is home. Home to over 700,000 people and growing. And home is not like anything most of us have ever seen. Home is a tiny room, walls made of rusted corrugated metal do little to keep in the heat or keep out the rain and overflowing sewage. There is no furniture in this home, only a rug or towel if you are blessed enough to have these things. I watched kids playing with trash they picked out of a pile and running throughout the streets.

At the school, we realized these kids survive on one meal a day, when they are not rationing(which they are currently) . I wondered if they have enough energy to concentrate on their studies. They stay late most days to get extra help to pass the eighth grade exam to be accepted to high school. Accepted? Some even stay in at lunch and come in during their vacation to better prepare themselves. They walk proudly in their uniforms- dirty, tattered, ill-fitting as they are.
These are the blessed ones, the ones that are able to afford school. But what about the rest of them? They stand just outside the gate of the school looking in at all the commotion. Who decides who should have opportunity and who should not?

But we trust not what is seen, but what is unseen. My heart breaks for the things my eyes see, and I realize that I will see these things for but a moment, God sees these tragedies at all times. I will trust in the sovereignty of the Lord.

In Him,
Erika

Just Pics of the First Two Days in Kenya

Arriving in Kenya-look closely there are ALOT of carts! 38 pieces of luggage!

Bob holding a baby at The Nest Halfway House

NICOLE HOLDS A BABY!!!!!

SHAWN HOLDS A BABY!

The Nest Orphanage kids making lion masks.

My precious baby I was able to hold. She never stopped smiling!

Trenton and one of the cutest girls at the nest.

Yeah, he's a sucker for girls!