Okay, we’re still in Africa, but Mombasa looks and feels like Hawaii. It is beautiful here. There were palm trees outside the airport, and it’s between 85-90 degrees everyday.
After a couple hours on the plane, 9-hours at the bus station, and a 9-hour bus ride, we arrived in Mombasa at sunrise. We met a stranger named Rasheed who was expecting 7 people with lots of luggage and happily hoped into his safari van with our massive backpacks.
When we arrived our new home, Pastor Allen greeted us and introduced us to Ricky, the property manager. We’re not sure yet, but Ricky might be a famous singer here. All we know is his name is on banners around town, and he leaves at night to perform.
Our new home is like paradise. This month, we’re living in a two bedroom, one bath apartment with a communal kitchen. We have a propane stove to cook on and a front loading washing machine for our laundry. Our bathroom has running water, a western toilet, hand soap, and a mirror. We have a refrigerator. We have cable TV and a POOL. It doesn’t feel like I’m in Africa anymore. It feels too fancy for The World Race. I honestly never expected this.
I’ve never read blogs about months like this on the race, but they’re real!
I got so used to taking bucket showers, using squatie potties, and walking to ministry. I got used to living with a host and eating traditional foods. I got used to hand washed laundry, but I am so excited to wash my stinky quick-dry towel in a machine this month!
I’m just feeling spoiled and incredibly grateful.
For ministry, we’re working with Manna International this month. We spent our first week at The Good News Academy, a primary school for students ages 5-18. They teach KG1 through STD8. Class 8 students (ages 14-18) are taking the national exam which determines if they can get onto secondary school, like the SAT or GRE of high school. The younger students are on holiday, but they come back to school to eat a couple meals and hang out with us.
We helped serve meals, play games with students, and do door to door evangelism in the neighborhood. We do ministry from 8-4 Monday through Thursday, and time flies by when we’re chasing kids around. We taught them how to play the game 4 corners, duck-duck-goose, Simon says, blob tag, and red light, green light. They wear me out, but it’s so worth it! This is my favorite ministry so far. Next week we’ll be at a different primary school, and the following week we’ll be painting the high school and building a guest house.
My team gets to be one of the first World Race teams to partner with Manna, and personally, I’m so honored and excited to work with them.
On Thursday we sat down with all of the Good News teachers and heard their vision for the school. Their motto is “Give hope to one child at a time.” These teachers do way more than teaching. Before school starts, each teacher gives a morning message, and the school has a pastor program every Friday.
Most of the community in Mombasa is Muslim, and all of the students at the school have a sponsor in America. They start their education in KG1 at 5 or 6 years old. The goal is to start caring for their spiritual, educational, and nutritional health as early as possible. This group of class 8 candidates are the first to start in KG1 and complete all 11 years of their education at Good News Academy.
Pray for the students at Good News Academy during their holiday! The teachers said the school often lose 5-6 students during the break to pregnancy, drugs, or alcohol. It’s easier for them to beg on the beach or get married early than finish school. Some of the teachers were on the verge of tears as they explained there is “pain behind the face that is smiling.” These children deal with sexual harassment, domestic violence, early marriage, and pregnancy as young as 12 years old. It’s heartbreaking to hear the teachers tell stories about these children.
Keep them in your prayers! If you’re looking for a ministry to support or a child to sponsor, check out http://www.hopefoundation.co.ke/children-in-need.html
They’re doing amazing work for the Kingdom, and I am so thankful to be here. Kenya is absolutely beautiful.
Love and miss y’all!
