From: Michelle Johnson - Kenya Team, 7/22/2010, 5:00am

Baraka Women visiting the shelter

Miriam

Girls at the school being silly

I process things slowly. Our days have been long ~ filled with meeting women and children, visiting their homes, hearing their stories, serving meals, and taking tea. I love that every afternoon people stop whatever they're doing and take tea. However, the tea break isn't long enough for me to allow my head to catch up with my heart, so everything here still seems a bit surreal. It's hard to comprehend that when I serve lunch to the children at Raila School, for many of them, that is their last meal of the day. Some children bring small containers, lids, or old plastic bags so they can have a little extra food to take home for dinner or to share with parents or siblings. How can that be? We have so much! But Monte Vista Chapel has been a big part of feeding the children at Raila School through our partnership with First Love Kenya.

Raila School is a private K-12 school located in the Kibera Slum. When I say "private", I don't mean "privileged". Most schools in Kenya are private, and Raila is no exception. It costs about $150 a year for an elementary student to attend Raila, more for secondary students. Although First Love has no official relationship with the school (they are a presence there, they don't run the school), they sponsor many of the students. Although $150 for an entire year may not seem much to you or me, when you're making $1 a day, school becomes more of a luxury than a need. When you enter the gate to the school with Chris or Irene Okuna (the directors of First Love Kenya), students flock to them. They all call them "mom" and "dad" ~ and for many of the students, these are the only "parents" they have. Some children are orphaned. Some are abused by their parents. Some live with extended family. Chris and Irene play with these students, listen to them, and love them. First Love also feeds these students two meals a day. Children receive a cup of porridge in the morning and a plate of corn and beans for lunch. These aren't really "meals" by our standards, but the children don't complain ~ they receive it and are thankful that there is food in their stomachs.



Speaking of food in their stomachs, I was asked to tell you "thank you" from Phillip. Phillip was a student at Raila School and graduated three years ago. He is so grateful, because we, through First Love, fed him. As a student, he went hungry frequently, so he would sneak food home. He would hide it in the ceiling of his classroom and retrieve it after everyone was gone. Phillip now works for First Love and is attending college where he is studying community service and development. He loves Jesus and is an incredible example to the students at Raila. Miriam also sends her thanks. She is grateful to First Love because they have helped supply food for her daycare. Miriam is an elderly woman who runs a daycare for several children in the Kibera slum. She noticed that there were many infants and toddlers left alone all day while their mothers were working or looking for work ~ so she decided to open a daycare. She allows mothers to drop their children off so they can be cared for in a safe environment and charges them whatever they feel they can afford. Miriam is also the chairwoman of the Baraka (which means "blessed" in Swahili) Women's Center, another ministry run by First Love. At the Baraka Women's Center women are taught different trades (making aprons, bags, jewelry) so they can make a living. Each of the Baraka women have come to know the Lord. They have Bible study together while they are working on their projects. Elizabeth is a mother of three and one of the Baraka women. Her husband died last year of AIDS and Elizabeth herself is HIV positive as well. Elizabeth invited us into her home in the Kibera slum. It's a small, one-room house and she struggles to pay the rent (about $10 per month). She is thankful that First Love has given her a way to earn a living, but more thankful that she is growing in her relationship with God. I've always heard that as a church, Monte Vista Chapel really has made a difference in many lives ~ but I've been able to see them ~ they're real, and they're thankful.



First Love Kenya also has an orphanage that is home to 23 girls, most of whom came out of the Kibera Slum. These girls now live on five acres surrounded by people who love and care for them. A dormitory is being built (and is almost complete) which will house about 100 children ~ and Chris and Irene would love to build a second dormitory so they can help even more children. The work they do here is amazing. The girls are healthy and happy and are all growing in their relationships with God. Joy is evident here! They sing and dance and love Jesus!


I was asked recently if I had experienced culture shock. My answer was "no". Are things different here? Sure they are. Poverty is evident, roads aren't maintained as they are in the US, and I need to use an electrical converter when I use my hair dryer. But in Kenya, life moves at a slower pace, people go out of their way to help each other, and somehow it feels like this is the way life is supposed to be. I'm anxiously awaiting some space to process all that I've seen and experienced. My prayer in coming here was that God would use my time here to change me ~ and I'm thinking He's already answered that prayer.


~ Michelle