We are staying with a pastor named Simon and his family. We don’t have running water, but we have beds with mosquito nets to protect us the malaria.
We eat lots of chipate which is pretty much the African equivalent to Chipotle. It’s a tortilla-like meal with potatoes, cabbage, rice, beans, and sometimes meat. (Last night I helped make them!) So far, Andi is winning the chicken slaughtering contest with two chickens under her belt. Or… knife.
This has been a special month for O-Squad because we have adopted eleven new members through AIM’s Exposure program for those interested in trying out the WR. My team has been blessed with the addition of Lindi and Hannah. They both have pure hearts and lots of wisdom as they bring new life, energy, and laughter to team Overflow. Rock on.
Riding on the back of a motorbike is a common occurrence this month. So is being stared at by everyone and their mom. I feel like I'm making a scene every time I go out in public because all eyes are on the white person. Mzungu! HOW ARE YOU?? Everyone likes to practice the one English phrase they know on the Mzungu (white man). Want to learn some more Swahili? Rafiki means friend. Jabari is “how are you.” Jambo means hello.
I went running the other day in our village (Moi’s Bridge) and gained a following of laughing children. And when I visit a school, I usually end up with five children hanging onto each of my arms while more pull on my shirt or latch on to my back. They like to rub the Mzungu hair on my arms, legs, and face or poke at my freckles. It’s partly annoying and partly really sweet because it reminds me of a game my cousins used to “play” called Jump on Jordan. Shoutout to Kaitlyn, Amanda, Sara, and Julia! 🙂
So what am I doing here? I’ve preached in church twice, visited orphans, visited schools, prayed with church members and held a chameleon. One orphanage we visited was especially heartbreaking. There are 32 kids there who share four bedrooms and just a couple beds. They smell like urine. Their living space, kitchen, and bathroom are all unacceptably unsanitary. On the days that eat, they eat bread or rice. Malnutrition. Some of them have rings under their skin from worms. Some have flesh eating parasites called jiggers harvesting their flesh underneath the skin of their feet. The orphanage is understaffed and underfunded, and everyone who works there seems completely drained both physically and emotionally.
My team and I are doing what we can here in Kenya to show people that they are loved and that there’s hope to be found in the message of the gospel. Life on earth is temporary, and as Romans 8:18 puts it, “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” One day, the last will be first in a place where there are no more tears.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." (Revelation 21:4, 5 ESV)
