It’s awesome how many new things God has shown me while I have been here in Kenya…and the surprises keep coming. We got to go to one of the largest slums in Africa today (Kibera) and preach the Gospel in a local school. It was so humbling to see 200-something students crammed into this little run down room in the middle of this slum. It amazes me how much students still want to learn, especially in some of the poorest environments. This level poverty is something I have never experienced before and it made me think of how many unnecessary things I have at home and even the poorest people back home do not live like this.
While we were at the school, we shared a few songs in Swahili and English and prayed with all the students. My teammate Krystle then got to share part of her testimony with the students there and really share the Gospel in a really unique way. It was so surprising how receptive they were to listen to what she had to say. After she had finished, our ministry contact Pastor Joseph prayed for all the students and then asked if anyone wanted to receive Christ. At least 20 students accepted Jesus that day! Salvation is ALWAYS an amazing thing to witness! It was so amazing to see that and how receptive they were to the Gospel and how welcome it is in schools here…such a huge difference from the states.
We got to pray with these students afterward and invite them to church and encourage them some more. We then met the principal of the school and he walked around the rest of the school and took us to a part of the slum to show us around. I think seeing so much poverty and less than desirable living situations make me remember how good we have it back home. I’m serious, we have it so good and a lot of us don’t even know it. These people literally live in houses made of scrap metal and random bits of garbage. There are pigs, goats, and chickens running everywhere and it doesn’t smell the best, but it is where they call home. The pictures will always stay in my mind as a reminder of thankful I am for everything God has blessed me with.
I noticed while I was blogging this that it was May 26 (time has been flying here) and that means only one thing to me. So I wanted to take this chance to wish my sister Molly a very happy 22nd birthday from Kenya! Molly, it has been awesome to see you grow and graduate undergrad and move onto graduate school now. You are becoming a great woman and sister! I still think it was really cool to see you paint a Kenyan flag on your mortarboard for graduation (picture below)…that really meant a lot! Hope it’s an awesome birthday!!!
