My Day in the Slums

For the past few weeks the famous Kibera slums of Kenya have been the view out my kitchen window. Over one milion people live on less than one dollar a day in the slums of Kibera. I loved doing ministry in the slums. We walked out of the secure gates of our complex, down a small pathway, and crossed a bridge over sewage to enter Kibera. We climbed a very steep hill, often having to use the mud houses for balance as we tried to avoid the outflow from the “restroom” positioned in the middle of the hill. The stench was very strong as we passed the outhouse, shared by hundreds. At the top of the hill was a whole market place. Butchers, pubs, vegetable stands, etc. lined the entire top of the slums. Everywhere we walked children would swarm to us chanting, “how are you, how are you?”- the only way they knew how to address a “mizungu”. Our team walked with Pastor Joseph, a resident of Kibera and a pastor of Deliverance Church’s plant in Kibera. Pastor Joseph is an amazing man of faith who lost his wife and child to childbirth in January. I had the joy of being able to paint a house with him and get to know his amazing testimony. 
                                   (a few of the precious boys from the slums)                                  

 

We walked down through small pathways under laundry hung from one mud home to another until we arrived at the church. The church was made with plywood and tin, no lighting or electricity. Inside was wooden benches and a podium. Above the podium was a wooden sign with the name of the church painted on it. Outside, many children with torn and mismatched clothing played football (soccer J) with a ball made out of trashsacks and string. After giving it my best shot in between the “broken shoe goal post” we were sent out by twos to do evangelism and invite people to church. The homes that we were invited into fit two beds at best, a tiny table and cabinet, and maybe a chair or two. Everything seemed to be on top of each other. The people were so kind and were very interested in their invitation to church. Several came to know Christ! After visiting homes we returned to the church to pass out lollipops, sing songs, and love on the children. We finished the evening with a prayer time with the pastor and three other members. Kibera is certainly not a place of color, nor does it evoke happy feelings when walking through its small alleyways. Pastor Joseph and the members of that church, however, bring an undeniable light and joy to that place. It was a blessing to serve alongside them!