From: Jordan Burnam - Kenya Team, 08/10/2010

On our first visit into Kibera, we followed our guides, Lucky, Anne, and Philip into the slum, as we weaved our way through what seemed an endless maze of mud homes with dilapidated tin roofs. It was here that my nostrils were hijacked by one of the worst smells I have ever had the misfortune to encounter; the smell of stagnant human and animal excrement, urine, and possibly vomit warmed by the sun. We continued making progress as we carefully chose our steps through the garbage and streams of sewage. I ran my fingers across the dark red mud of a wall and couldnt help but remember doing the exact same thing on the elevator wall of the tallest building in the world in Dubai. These two places were completely different. I asked myself, How is it that such a clean, extravagant, expensive, and even impressive place like Dubai feels dead compared to the largest slum in Africa? Ill be honest; I was worried about my first visit to Kibera. I didnt know how I would react or how I would handle the entire event. Our first night in Kenya I asked God to prepare me for the visit which would be taking place the next day. Unexpectedly I was woken up in the middle of the night with the words Jesus is there making an impression on my mind.

Kevin and I have had the opportunity to visit the interior of Kibera three times. Every time weve been, we are consequently invited into someones home. The first two times we were invited into the home of one of the women from the Baraka Womens Center. The third time we paid a visit to one of the students, Prudence, from the Raila Educational Center who had been sick with tuberculosis for about a month. Several other students along with the school chaplain, Patrick, as well as one of the staff members, Philip (possibly one of the coolest people I have ever met), were among those who went as well. There were so many of us that not all of us could enter at one time.

As we waited our turn to go inside, the sound of voices singing a hymn in Kiswahili caught our attention. In the midst of unspeakable poverty and deplorable conditions came one of the most beautiful sounds I have ever heard. Once our turn came to enter the house, we ourselves were given the opportunity to offer love and encouragement to Prudence. I battled tears the entire time and only narrowly escaped especially after I was given the blessing to pray at the end of our time there. The things that stick out to me from the slum arent the smells or the sights of all the garbage. Of course they were impacting, but what really sticks out in my mind is the hope and joy that the people we visited possess. Jesus is there.

-Jordan