Soccer Jerseys

Here members of Light and Power show off their new soccer jerseys, donated by members of the TFC mission team. Light and Power schedules regular matches with local clubs and secondary schools.

Saying “Hello” to Michelle

Recent photos and clips of the guys from Light and Power. They wanted to say “hello” to an overseas friend who volunteered at the Centre for several months last year.

The Godfather, Part II

Here’s a photo of me with my “godson” Charles. The manager of Akiba served as a lay leader as several other students were also baptized at St. Marks Church in Westlands.

Big Dreams for a Bright Future

James, a former member of Light and Power is finishing his last year at Akiba High School. Here he shares a bit of his story.

Games at Evergreen

A few shots of Lucy, I, and others from a recent family staff day at Evergreen park in Nairobi.

Music at Akiba

Thanks to several generous donors, Akiba School has a new music program. Complete with a keyboard, brass, and all kinds of instruments, here a few of the students perform during a recent awards ceremony at the school.

Send off to Madagascar

The Kenyan missionaries I’ve been working with have officially departed for Madagascar. It was amazing to see all the details come together at the last minute. I didn’t think it would be possible, but Kenyan churches and individuals gave sacrificially and made this possible: the first full-time missionaries from the Anglican Church of Kenya to serve outside the country. I’ll be continuing to work with Duncan and Victor as they start their ministry, and you can visit their blog for more details:

www.toliaramissions.blogspot.com

A Stoning

A couple weeks ago, I witnessed something I had never seen before – a stoning. On my way home from Nairobi’s city centre, I ran in to a homeless thief. He snatched a woman’s handbag, and as the woman stood on the median and screamed, he ran in and out of traffic, trying to escape. Unfortunately, the young man was caught by other pedestrians, beaten, and stoned on the side of the road. There was a lot of blood. I don’t know if he survived, but the event left an indelible mark in my mind. I was reminded of Jesus’ words: “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone. . .”

Who am I to stop a stoning?
To bend down when the blood
Is just drying?
Echoed laughter and sullen stares
Vegetable vendors and taxi drivers
Stalled cars and pedestrians caught
By the midday sun.
Arms still angry,
Mouths wide with abuse.
Within moments his frail form falls.
Unnamed and pelted, swallowed
By the stones.
So we stand by, even now incensed,
Remembering the one last time
Who got away.

Three New Members

We recently recruited three new members of Light and Power to take part in the Center’s mentorship and bag-making programs. The new members replace those who joined secondary school at the beginning of the year. It’s been a lot of fun getting to know these new guys:

(from left to right, James, Abdi, and Ali).

Several Light and Power Members in front of our new sign.

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

Materials used in fence construction

Fundis level the foundation

Hesbon mixes cement

Daudi paints a metal grill

Children during last week's Saturday Program

With generous support from a U.S. donor and a local corporate sponsor, we have embarked on several major improvement projects at Light and Power. We’ve cleaned and painted the mud covered interior of the house and have just finished building a fence for the front yard. The fence is a huge blessing as it keeps stray goats, cows, and criminals out. It also helps us keep the yard clear of broken glass and ridiculously disgusting refuse left by the thousands of people who walk past the center everyday. Now that we have a fence, we hope to do some landscaping projects soon.

Building a Back Yard

The back yard of Light and Power is still a work in progress. It includes a tomb, an overgrown half-completed house and a variety of other “assets.” We hope to fence this section in the near future and use this space to start a metal works project and girls program. It has a lot of potential if you look beneath the surface.

The Power of Little People

It’s amazing what little people can do. Lately I’ve been working with two Kenyan missionaries preparing for service in Toliara, Madagascar (one of the poorest regions of the world and with nearly 75% believing in witchcraft). We wanted to hold a fundraising event for the mission, and after much debate decided on an afternoon “Tea Party.” I encouraged the guys to invite all of their targeted supporters, and we sent out many invitations, hoping that Nairobi businesspeople would attend, catch the vision, and decide to get involved. On the day of the fundraising event, the crowds were much smaller than we expected. We delayed starting the Tea Party hoping more would show up. We waited and waited and waited. In the end, only 30 young people joined us, and most of them were unemployed students who came only for moral support and free snacks. There were no businesspeople, no suits and ties, just a small group of youth, many of whom came from slums or impoverished neighborhoods. Needless to say, we didn’t have high expectations for the fundraiser, but we decided to continue with our program anyway. Several of the youth shared songs, and we watched a video about Madagascar and discussed the call for cross-cultural service and missions. At the end there was a chance for guests to make an offering or monthly pledge. We waited a few minutes and then collected the baskets with funds and pledge forms. We sealed the cash and pledges, set them aside, and waited till the next day to make our tally. What we found was amazing! Despite the challenges of poverty, the youth were extremely generous. Some donated their hard earned savings. Others promised to raise support and help the missionaries. Several more offered to skip one meal a week for the next three years, pledging the amount spent on the meals in monthly gifts. When all was counted, the little people raised 293,560 ksh (nearly $5,000 USD).

Colossal Cabinet

If you haven’t seen the headlines, watch out for Kenya’s colossal cabinet. The country recently approved a 42-member cabinet complete with 42 Assistant Ministers. This is by far the largest cabinet in Africa and to my knowledge, the largest Government Cabinet in the world. Despite the fact that the majority of Kenyans live in poverty, each of the new Cabinet Ministers will be paid substantially more than their Western counterparts, earning entertainment allowances, security, cars, and up to $150,000 each. The London Times lists Kenya’s annual budget at 5.4 billion pounds. During the next year, they calculated that eighty percent will go to the new ministers and to the basic government operating costs. This leaves just a small fraction for schools, hospitals, roads, infrastructure, and the 37 million other Kenyans who weren’t included in the new coalition government. Most Kenyans are deeply distressed with the cabinet size and with the bloated bureaucracy and corruption that will surely follow. Nonetheless, everyone here is greatly relieved an agreement was reached. Kenyans are willing to pay the price if it means they can live in peace.

Mungiki Mayhem

There is a type of evil in Kenya that rarely rears its head in the U.S. It involves politics and paganism and poor and angry youth, manipulated by leaders with hatred and a thirst for power. The malevolence was witnessed in the post-election violence and appeared again this past week in a more familiar form. . .The Kenya National Youth Alliance is a registered political organization and (not surprisingly) includes supporters in the new government cabinet and in various upper level political posts. The K.N.Y.A. is better known as the Mungiki and is a dreaded pseudo-religious sect and somehow an offspring of the Mau Mau revolutionaries. The Mungiki have a long history of violence and extortion, and were actually responsible for much of the post-election ethnic violence here in Kenya. They are a Kikuyu gang enrolling young men (sometimes through kidnapping, coercion, or bribes), and engaging in bizarre rituals with animal sacrifice. Members take blood oaths of loyalty and submit to a jailed spiritual leader and prophet who founded the group while in high school.

The Mungiki have a stronghold over certain regions of Kenya and are financed largely through extortion schemes. Mungiki members charge monthly “protection fees” to every household in some slums, and require small businesses to cough up a portion of the proceeds. They also demand a daily fee from matatu drivers and public transport vehicles for “allowing” them to use the roads. From time to time passenger vehicles that do not comply are torched and their drivers and conductors are beheaded.

I’ve had several close encounters with the Mungiki. In fact, a few weeks ago I ran into eight hundred of them. It was a Wednesday and I was on my way to Nairobi’s city centre, hoping to meet my landlord and pay the monthly rent. As I entered the city, I found a loud and large gathering of teenage and twenty-something young men shouting slogans. It was mid-morning and shops were open with many wandering about their normal business, pretending not to notice the large crowds of dreadlocked youth. At first I thought the marchers were celebrating the recent peace agreement; they seemed somehow jovial even in their riotous anger, proudly lifting placards and setting piles of rubbish ablaze. Usually the police disperse such crowds swiftly, but there were no forces in sight. Not realizing what was going on, I joined two smartly dressed businesspeople and walked right through the middle of the Mungiki march, taking my normal path to the landlord’s office. Immediately after crossing the road, we all ran for cover. Security forces tossed tear gas and shot live rounds towards the crowd. I dashed into a Barclays Bank as the lobby attendant quickly sealed the doors. . .We were a bit bleary eyed but grateful for the grace to escape such a mad-capped malevolence.

“In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free.” – Psalm 118:5

More Farming in Mangu

Here’s another shot of some of our farming partners in Mangu. The rainy season is now well underway and we are praying for a good harvest.

Visa Praise

Thank you for your visa prayers. It is very difficult for Kenyans to get a U.S. visa, especially if they have never visited the states before. But thank God, my fiancée Lucy was officially approved yesterday! After two and a half hours in line, her interviewer at the consulate told her the embassy normally wouldn’t grant her a visa but decided to make an exception. . .We look forward to being in the U.S. in August.

Going to the chapel and I’m. . .

ENGAGED!!!

So, I have some NEWS!!! . . .As of March 15th 2008, Lucy Amina and I are engaged to be married! . . . Lucy is the greatest joy I’ve found in Kenya. I can’t wait for you all back home to meet her. We plan to be in the U.S. in August and will keep you posted of future plans. Here’s a few recent photos:

Blessed are the Peacemakers

Kenyans everywhere have been celebrating the historic handshake last week. On Wednesday morning we thought the mediation talks were doomed. The two sides had been captive to hard-line positions. They had been going in circles and Kofi Annan suspended the talks in frustration. Some ODM leaders threatened to begin mass protests by the end of the week. Newspapers published stories of tribal militias and preparations for war if the talks failed. Kenyans everywhere were swallowing hard and preparing for the worst. . .And then, the news came: after talks with Chief Mediator Kofi Annan and the jovial Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, President Kibaki and Raila Odinga had come to an agreement. Peace would prevail! Kenyans took to the streets in spontaneous celebration. In one moment the atmosphere in this country had changed. The hatred and the fear and the pain were pushed aside. There is hope. . .Kenyans have decided to work together!

Opportunity for Sponsorship

My friend Jackson Wanga, the tireless founder of the computer center, is looking for a sponsor. He has been studying Theology at Carlile College while volunteering at several local churches and continuing to oversee the computer centre. He has a heart for reaching out to idle and disenchanted youth in the slums. He is in the second year of a three-year program, but lacks funds to continue to support his wife and one-year old son while in school. The recent theft at the Computer College was especially heartbreaking for him. If anyone is interested in supporting him with a one-time gift or until he finishes his studies, please let me know at kenyaconnection@gmail.com

Stolen Computers

Last week, five computers and a host of computer accessories and software were stolen from St. Luke’s Computer College. . .The Computer College started three years ago in an after-hours church office with a single borrowed computer and a volunteer teacher. The school reached out to young people in the neighboring Kibera slum and trained nearly 100 students, watching many graduates go on to obtain successful jobs. The school grew through well-wishers and hard earned savings, one shilling at a time. Each year the school struggled, but managed to purchase one or two more used computers. Eventually, it built its own structure on the church grounds, housing a small office, computer classroom, and veranda. It employed two full-time teachers and had fifteen students at the time of the theft. We’ve filed an official report and commenced an investigation with the local police. It seems one of the teachers was involved and planned the theft well in advance. He has since disappeared from his village in Kibera. . .Please pray for this situation. . . It’s frustrating to see something that has taking so long to build disappear in one night. We’re hoping to repair two broken computers so that the current students can continue their classes part-time.

Madagascar Team

One of the projects I’ve been working on with C Army is to coordinate fundraising and help prepare two Kenyans for work in Toliara, Madagascar. Toliara is one of the poorest regions of the world and home to millions of people who have never heard the good news of the gospel. Duncan and Victor will be the first full-time missionaries sent by the Anglican Church of Kenya to another Province, and they will work in outreach and evangelism alongside a good friend, Bishop Todd Mcgregor. Todd spent nearly 5 years ministering in the deserts of Northern Kenya, and he met regularly with me for lunch when he was in Nairobi. Todd and his wife Patsy were great at helping me adjust when I came to Kenya. . .Above is a shot of me with the “Madagascar Team.”


Check out a short video of Duncan and Victor’s commissioning service below:

Reconciliation and Team-Building

On Friday I joined a day-long retreat with the staff of Church Army. I’ve been working with C Army once a week and went with about 30 other staff members to Nairobi’s City Park. We played games, engaged in team building exercises, and participated in a few short seminars. The staff at C Army is quite diverse, and many staff members have been directly affected by the ethnic clashes in Kenya. I listened as some staff members shared their heartbreaking experiences and discussed ways for reconciliation and healing. It was an eye-opening and heart-wrenching time. We heard stories of several young children, one who had witnessed the brutal death of his parents. Two Kenyan counselors also talked with us about emotional trauma and how to deal with stress, bitterness, and pain. They encouraged the staff, “we can never go back to the way things were before the elections, but there is hope. . .there is healing. . .”

Light and Power at an IDP Camp

Recently, I went on a short excursion with members of Light and Power. We volunteered at an Internally Displaced Person’s Camp in Nairobi and spent a day packaging food rations: one kilogram satchels of maize, beans, rice, and flour. The Red Cross and many local organizations, churches, and charity groups have responded to the needs of the displaced. Some camps have had challenges with insecurity or water supplies, but the situation seems to be improving. Here’s a few photos from our trip:

Sad Story

Grace is a primary school teacher and friend living in Nairobi. She is currently hosting 25 guests in her small two-room house. Her husband’s extended family was forced to flee its ancestral home in the aftermath of the elections and had nowhere else to go. Grace’s in-laws’ homes were all set on fire, their car burned, and their farmland decimated. During the school holidays, Grace’s two young children also escaped death when their rural home was set ablaze. The children were inside at the time of the arson. . .Unfortunately, Grace’s story is all too common in Kenya. There are still over 300,000 internally displaced people staying in camps.

Mumbuni Boys School

Mumbuni Boys School is a Provincial Boarding School and one of the top secondary schools in the Eastern Province of Kenya. We were therefore thrilled to learn that one our members at Light and Power, Geofrey, had been accepted to join. The only problem was that February 12, 2008 was the last possible day to report for admission. We had received the admission letter at 11 a.m. the same day and knew that the school would close before dark. Thus began an all day adventure of preparing forms, purchasing required books, linens, and materials, and traveling to Machakos (one of the areas largely unaffected by the post-election violence).

In Kenya, the number of public secondary schools is very limited. Nearly half of all primary school graduates are unable to attend high school because of a lack of space and a lack of fees. Therefore, most high schools in Kenya operate on a first come, first serve basis, and it can be quite challenging to find space in a good school.

Tim and I had been searching for boarding schools for about one month and knew that Geofrey needed to join a school as soon as possible. He had received other offers from less reputable schools, but Geofrey is very bright and we were holding out for the best. When Tim received the letter on the 12th, we immediately notified Geofrey and told him to prepare all his things, say goodbye to his family and friends, and get a quick haircut. Geofrey showed up with the clothes on his back and said he was ready to go. His hair was conspicuously long. Tim and I encouraged him to go back to Gatina slum, collect any belongings or books or borrowed clothes he could bring and make sure he got a haircut (Secondary School Headmasters are notorious for rejecting students with an unkempt appearance). Meanwhile, Tim and I rushed around in a borrowed car trying to find everything on Mumbuni Boys’ list of required items.

Our first stop was the metal works Jua Kali District of Nairobi’s Industrial Area. All boarding schools in Kenya require students to report with a large, lockable metal box for storing their clothes, personal items, and school supplies in the dorms. Tim and I headed for Jua Kali and worked our way through the City Centre, the bus depot, and snarling pedestrian and vehicle traffic to Nairobi’s East Side. The Industrial Area is characterized by huge piles of scrap metal, hundreds of open air workers, and stall after stall of vendors selling metal drums, boxes, and wheelbarrows. After finding a mound of dirt to park on, Tim and I were immediately surrounded by 20 metal box middle-men. All of them were vying for our business and trying to convince us why we should buy a metal box from their shop instead of one of their competitors. At one point a shoving match broke out between two of the middle-men, but eventually Tim worked his way to one particularly dusty stall and all but five of the middle-men disappeared. I stood to the side and tried to pretend I had no interest in buying anything while Tim negotiated for 30 minutes in Swahili and Sheng.

After purchasing the metal lock box, our next stop was the local Tusker Market and the City Hawkers. We had a limited budget for school supplies, so instead of purchasing everything at Tusker’s (a South African chain of small scale Wall-Marts) we decided to head for the sidewalk hawkers market. During the lead up to the elections in November, the Nairobi City Council decided to stop enforcing any laws relating to street vendors. For some reason, they thought this would endear them to the thousands of poor businessmen and women in the city and help them win more votes. The result is that now every sidewalk and street in the centre of Nairobi is overflowing with vendors offering everything from fresh fruit to tea kettles and pirated dvds. At certain times of the day it makes it nearly impossible to pass (even on foot) and each morning many of the streets are ankle deep in corn husks, mango peels, and other ungainly trash and rubbish. Tim and I searched around the hundreds of cardboard tables and displays laid out on the streets and were able to find a mathematical set, English dictionary, athletic shoes, socks, mirror, and other needed items for just a few dollars.

We rushed back to meet Geofrey. He had been able to collect a small bagful of belongings and school books but still couldn’t get a haircut (there was a power outage in Kawangware and the barbers had all closed). We still needed a signature from the Head Mistress at Geofrey’s Primary School before we could begin the journey to Machakos. It was already 3 p.m. When we arrived at Kileleshwa Primary School, the Head Mistress was holding a staff meeting in her office, the secretary asked us to have a seat and wait until she was finished. But this was no time for dilly-dallying. Geofrey and I burst through the door, interrupted the meeting, and pleaded with the Head Mistress to sign a form acknowledging the Geofrey had indeed been a student in their school. Considering the circumstances, she was actually quite cordial and proud of her former student. She signed the form, wished us well, and we sprinted out of her office and back to the car. It was 4 p.m. and we were just getting on the road to Machakos. We didn’t have directions to the school, and Tim was driving a borrowed car that was low on petrol.

The roads were bad. Very bad. Under ideal conditions, the journey from Nairobi to Machakos can be done in around 1 hour. It took us two and half. The rocky, bumpy, dusty roads lacked any markers or signs and at one point seemed to diverge in all directions. Tim stopped the car and made a friend on the side of the road who happened to live right next to Mumbuni Boy’s School. He piled into the car with us and we set off again. . .After 20 more minutes of driving, we were stuck. The 4-door Toyota couldn’t overcome a particularly pothole ridden stretch and was stuck trying to ascend a three foot mound of dust. We all got out and pushed while a passenger matatu also struggled nearby. I slipped and was covered in dust, but thankfully the car lurched forward. Within forty minutes we were in Machakos. Our side of the road friend took us to a kinyozi (barber), and we waited while Geofrey had his head shaved.

We then rushed to Mumbuni Boys School, just five minutes way. We arrived to find the gate closed and school business finished for the day. . .Thankfully, the guard decided to let us in anyway, and the deputy principal agreed to return to the school from his nearby home. The bursar (treasurer) also came back to the school to help us. We filled out more forms and paid the school fees in cash. The Deputy Principal assured us, “we’re glad you came, if you hadn’t arrived today it would have been impossible for him to join.” It was dark by this time, but we could see that the school had a very nice compound. Geofrey was a bit nervous, but eager to begin his studies in one of the best schools in Eastern Province, his new home.

Tim and I arrived back in Nairobi at 9 p.m. with a dented rim and punctured tire. We thank God because despite the challenges, everything came together and worked out for good. Please pray for Geofrey as he adjusts to life at Mumbuni Boys School.

The Story of Charles

Charles is currently in Form 2 (10th Grade) at Akiba School. Watch this video as he shares his story. (special thanks to previous visiting photographers: Graham Clark, Meredith Copley, Philip Brasher, and Michelle Flores).

A Day in Muranga

I traveled yesterday to Murang’a for the first time since being back in Kenya. Central Province has been largely unaffected by the crisis and it was refreshing to be able to breathe a little fresh air outside of Nairobi. The Central region of Kenya is beautiful, and this time of year cloud cover on Mount Kenya is scant. We could see the towering summit of the snow-peaked mountain from over 100 kilometers away. It was a wonderful backdrop for the forests of blue gum trees, coffee plantations, and small farm holdings of bananas, mangoes, and beans. In the hill country around Kigetu-ini we met with about 30 rural farmers, many of whom speak only Kikuyu. Their lives have an admirable simplicity and somehow the farmers seem both proud and humble at the same time. They’ve been praying about the conflict in Kenya, but their more immediate concern has been a few brown spots on their passion fruit plants. Each farmer has 58 passion fruit plants and they’ve been nourishing them for the past few months and watching the plants grow. As we meet with the farmers each month, Horace and a pair of local agriculturalists offer advice. The farmers should begin harvesting around May.

Good News From Gatina

Gatina Village in Kawangware is an amalgamation of tribes, mostly a mix of Kikuyu, Somali, Kamba, Luhya, and Luo. Despite its ethnic diversity, Gatina has a strong sense of community. Many of the families have lived in this section of the slum for several generations. There is a strong commitment to peace, and so far Gatina has avoided the clashes that have consumed Kibera, Mathare, and other parts of Kawangware. On Tuesday, villagers were worried about rumors that gangs of outsiders were planning to come and destroy the peace by raiding and looting businesses and homes in Gatina. After the murder/assassination of an opposition MP all shops and schools in Gatina closed for the day. Some villagers took up weapons to defend their homes in case of any attack. So far though things have been very calm. Work continues at Light and Power as normal and the guys are glad to hang out, laugh together, and just make paper bags. We receive reports and security updates before visiting the Centre, but so far there have been very few concerns. The community appreciates our presence, and life continues as people of various tribes, though often very poor, continue to work side by side. . . In the current climate, that indeed is good news.

The Latest from the U.S. Embassy

Situation Security Update - January 29, 2008 PM* Several official Americans have been temporarily relocated from Kisumu to Nairobi.* The widespread violence that has affected parts of Kenya since President Kibaki was declared the winner of the December 27 election has subsided in some areas. However, a recent outbreak of protests in Nairobi and violent civil unrest in Kisumu, Nakuru and Naivasha demonstrates the potential for spontaneous violence in the current political climate.* Americans in Kenya should be prepared for a large police presence and potential outbreaks of hostile clashes between police and demonstrators, and between rival groups of demonstrators.* American citizens should avoid all travel to the cities of Kisumu, Nakuru and Naivasha and defer non-essential travel to the remaining portions of Kenya's three provinces -- Nyanza, Western, and Rift Valley -- which are most affected by the unrest. Road travel in western Kenya remains unsafe. Sporadic illegal road blocks by gangs or criminal elements make travel risky.* On January 24, former UN Secretary Kofi Annan met with President Kibaki and opposition leader Odinga. On January 29, Annan, Kibaki and Odinga met for a second time. Kibaki and Odinga each selected three-person negotiating teams and talks towards a political solution to the crisis are now underway. The situation is still very tense and violence could break out at any time, depending on how the negotiations proceed and how the public reacts to unfolding events.* American citizens in Nairobi should avoid Kibera, and other economically disadvantaged parts of the city, and the Uhuru Park area, venues for most of the political demonstrations and rallies. Sporadic violence in Nairobi continues. On January 29, the member of parliament for Embakasi constituency in eastern Nairobi was murdered by unknown assailants. This criminal act has provoked violent protests in the constituency, which adjoins Kibera slum and also includes a number of ethnically mixed, low-income areas near the international airport.
* American citizens residing in Kenya should continue to assess their own safety and security situations and carefully weigh the risks of travel within Kenya.* The roads leading to the airports in Nairobi and Mombasa are open and Kenya's international airports (Jomo Kenyatta in Nairobi and Moi in Mombasa) are operating normally. Seats are available for international flights out of Kenya. Domestic flights are also operating.* Americans should avoid nighttime road travel, including the roads to/from JKIA and Wilson airports as these roads are subject to closure by police and/or disruption by demonstrators.* For the near future, intermittent (and at times violent) protest demonstrations are likely to continue, arising quickly and without advance notice. American citizens should avoid all demonstrations and protests since even protests intended to be peaceful can turn violent.* The situation in Kenya is likely to remain volatile for the immediate future and U.S. citizens should, therefore, check the U.S. Embassy Nairobi website at http://nairobi.usembassy.gov/warden_messages.html for current information about the situation in Kenya.* Americans living or traveling in Kenya are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy through the State Department's travel registration website. See also the Kenya Travel Alert and Kenya Travel Warning at http://travel.state.gov for the latest security information.* There have been no reports of injuries to American citizens since the election crisis began.

Is It Safe?

What is safe, really? . . .Under normal circumstances, there are always risks to living in Nairobi. Normally, my biggest concern is trying to avoid the unseen microbes that don’t get along with my body. The next one is making sure that my wallet doesn’t “fall out of my pocket” when riding on a matatu - so far it’s never happened! Those are serious concerns though. There have always been security risks to living in Nairobi, and I’ve never felt completely ‘safe’ here. There is always a bit of tension and unease. . .

The neighborhood I live in is considered by most Kenyans to be “extremely safe.” The areas Amber, Anne, and I work in are generally considered by Kenyans to be “mostly safe” during daylight hours, or in some cases up until 9 p.m. The current crisis has changed things a bit, but as far as a sense of security, not much has changed. I try to monitor the situation daily before traveling into the slums or other potential “hot spots”, but am usually assured that there is very little to worry about. On scheduled demonstration days, I don’t venture out much. Schools and businesses are operating as normal throughout most parts of Nairobi and various international organizations continue their work. At certain times it does seem better to “shelter at home,” and I regularly hear stories from friends who’ve tasted tear gas in the city centre or who stay in more turbulent areas and have encountered gangs, seen neighbors’ homes burned or have been shot at by police. The U.S. embassy offers recommendations about travel in certain parts of the country and gives advice for dealing with the general security issues that Westerners may face in Kenya, but I haven’t heard of any resident missionaries or Westerners who are considering leaving.

So for now, a few extra precautions are just the “new normal” of what life is like in Kenya. . .Somebody put it this way (I don’t know who it was, but it was probably somebody pretty famous) - “to love is the greatest risk anyone ever takes.”

Loving Your Neighbor

“Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
– Romans 13:10

Many of my friends in Kawangware sleep outside at night. They lie on the ground with machetes, afraid that a neighbor may come and set their house on fire while they sleep. They don’t want to be caught off-guard. They’re determined to defend their homes, their families, and their lives from the enemy that lives next door. In many parts of Kenya, next-door neighbors are killing one another. What was unimaginable one month ago, has become an every day reality. We hear it on the news and we see it in the streets. Men and women who for years have been close friends, who work together, whose children go to the same schools, who attend church together, who shop in the same markets and live side by side, have all of a sudden become enemies. How can this be?

Most Kenyans I speak with are in a state of shock. No one thought this could happen here. . .Maybe in Rwanda or Somalia or Sudan, but NOT in Kenya. . .

Since Independence, Kenya’s 42 tribes have lived together largely in peace. In fact, the country has been a model for social harmony and stability. It avoided the bloody civil wars and military dictatorships of many of its neighbors, and was deemed one of the most stable countries in Africa, with a progressive democracy and growing economy. There’s always been corruption, and Kenya has often been chided for it, but few real threats to peace. Kenyans are just not warlike.

But there is a growing sense of mistrust, fear, and suspicion among many here. Historical injustices have resurfaced in the hearts and minds of Luos: government corruption, inequitable land distribution in the post-colonial era, and the assassination of Luo politicians such as Tom Mboya. Many of the urban poor feel abused and forgotten by the government and there is a lot of bitterness and anger on both sides over the disputed presidential election. Decades-old land disputes are being fought out, peaceful protesters are repulsed by police, opportunistic criminals have found an excuse to cause mayhem, and gangs of youth roam the streets with a hatred that justifies the cruelest of acts. Within a few weeks, everything has changed.

Kenyans are known for their hospitality and hopefulness, their unrelenting optimism and profound joy, even in the midst of extreme hardship. Even now, most people are hopeful and optimistic that a resolution will be reached in the near future. Kofi Annan has suggested that the immediate issues of on-going violence and the disputed election can be addressed within four weeks. He’s also confident that if the leaders commit to the mediation process, underlying issues such as land distribution can be reasonably resolved within one year. So far the mediation seems to be going well. We are praying for the best. The U.S. embassy has issued alerts and warnings and had a town meeting the other night. They strongly advise against travel to certain areas, but said that evacuation of U.S. citizens is “nowhere on the radar.” They are just encouraging Americans in Kenya to exercise due caution and avoid troubled spots. . . So for now, we are continuing work here as we are able, erring on the side of caution, but above all just trying to be good neighbors.

The Worst Things I've Ever Heard

“The only good Kikuyu is a dead Kikuyu” – a former student at Akiba living in Kangemi

How Our Ministry Partners Are Doing:

Akiba School is doing well. The school opened one week later than anticipated, and students continue to trickle in who had been stranded in various parts of the country. Otherwise, classes are going on as normal and the vast majority of teachers and pupils have returned.

The Computer College I work with next to Kibera has suffered during the post-election crisis. The school is located in St. Luke’s ACK church compound on the outskirts of Kibera, and multiple attempts have been made to break in to the compound to steal items from the church. The thieves seem to be targeting the computers in the school. There is also a nursery school and card making centre on the compound. So far nothing has been stolen, but the church’s night guard has been hospitalized since last week for injuries suffered in the attacks. St. Luke’s cannot afford to increase security and is considering closing or possibly moving the computer college. Several other churches in the neighborhood have been burnt to the ground, but so far St. Luke’s has not been threatened by arson.

At Light and Power, things have been relatively quiet. Immediately following the elections, several of the windows at the Centre were broken by rock-throwing youths, and a metal gate was stolen during the night. A Kikuyu-owned grocery store nearby the Centre was also raided. The attackers were rebelled by machetes and one of the boys who failed to escape was beaten to death. Other than these few late-night incidents, life in Gatina has been calm and peaceful. Residents are going about their business and Light and Power has been operating as normal. The guys at the Centre come from many different tribes and their unity has been an example to the community. They continue to debate and joke regularly about the elections.

At Planting Faith, we have postponed our meetings with the farmers. Normally we travel once a week to different sites around Thika, Muranga, and Mount Kenya. These areas are all calm and businesses and schools are operating without any problems. Some families from rival tribes, however, have left their homes in fear. We are waiting till things cool down a bit more, but will probably resume our meetings by the end of the month.

The News from This Side

The police have put the death count at 510 with nearly 250,000 people displaced, but the violence seems to have subsided in most areas of the country. Churches, NGOs and various businesses are donating resources and helping those who are homeless. Many organizations are stepping forward to call for peace and reconciliation.

In Nairobi things are relatively calm except in certain slums such as Kibera and Mathare. In these areas, protesters are held at bay on demonstration days by water canons, tear gas, and live bullets. Residents have resorted to destroying buildings and infrastructure and crime has increased exponentially. One of the largest churches in Nairobi, which was attended by the former President, was burned down, and residents of Kibera have destroyed the railway line running through the slum.

Banned protest rallies and demonstrations continue sporadically in downtown Nairobi. These protests are peaceful, but protesters are often dispersed with tear gas, and protest days are sometimes accompanied with business closings in the city centre and re-routing of public transportation.

On this side of the city, life continues as normal. Businesses and schools are all running and people are out and about shopping, running errands, and following their usual routine. The stores here are pretty much stocked, and I haven’t noticed any shortages.

Mediation with Kofi Annan began this week. The government and opposition have very different ideas, but most Kenyans seem hopeful that a resolution can be reached. The opposition wants the President to step down and is seeking new elections. Meanwhile, the government wants protests to stop and any election disputes to be resolved in the government appointed courts.

Learning Lessons from Kenya's Democracy

During this year’s election, Kenyans took voting seriously. Kenyans waited in line for an average of 4-5 hours in order to cast their vote. Some of my friends lined up at 5 a.m. in Kangemi and Kawangware and didn’t put their ballot in until lunchtime. Residents of Nairobi’s slums made enormous sacrifices in order to vote. Many spent nearly a month’s salary in order to travel to their home districts where they are registered to vote. Kenya had record voter turnout and many constituencies realistically reported over 80% participation. The voting process was smooth, orderly, and largely without incident. . .All of this makes the ridiculous corruption, rigging, and manipulation of the Presidential vote that much more difficult to bear. The majority of Kenyans that I speak with are so upset, they say that they will never vote again.

Was it Rigged?

In a very closely contested election, the opposition was winning by over 1 million votes with nearly 85% of votes reported. At this point the Electoral Commission of Kenya went behind closed doors for 24 hours and emerged to announce the incumbent President as the winner. President Kibaki was then hastily sworn in during an unofficial ceremony as all live media broadcasts in the country were outlawed.

Here are some of the flaws that have been identified in the election:

Over 100% voter turnout in some constituencies

The use of forged or unofficial election documents

Massive discrepancies in vote reporting at the local level compared with the final results

Denied entrance to European Union monitoring officials at many tallying centers

In addition, the chief election official in the country has said he announced the results under heavy pressure and wasn’t sure who actually won the election.

Several top election commissioners have reported irregularities and disowned the results.

Many of the official election forms were stolen from a locked safe immediately after the results were announced.

The Attorney General of Kenya ordered a recount

The Legal Society of Kenya revoked the license of Electoral Commission Chairman.

The government banned all public rallies and protest gatherings. Nairobi’s Uhuru or “Freedom” Park has been surrounded 24/7 by government soldiers and armored vehicles to prevent any gatherings.

The Minister of Internal Security has been accused of issuing shoot to kill orders against protesters. One hospital in Kisumu has reportedly treated over 250 people including elderly women and children for gunshot wounds. In the vast majority of cases, the bullet entered from the rear side of the body.

Ugandan troops have been reported in many towns in the opposition’s stronghold of Western Kenya, but both Kenyan and Ugandan governments deny any knowledge of their presence.

Back to Nairobi

After much agonizing and consultations with family, friends, the church, the U.S. embassy, and our missions society, SAMS, I've decided to return to Kenya. I'm flying on British Airways tonite via London. The situation is calm in Nairobi right now, but please pray for peace. Kofi Annan is coming on Tuesday to help in the mediation process, but there are scheduled protest rallies for Wednesday through Friday. These could become violent and the current political scene makes stability in the country uncertain.

It is heartbreaking to see how fragile life is; how East Africa's most stable democracy, one of Africa's fastest growing economies, and a model for harmonious tribal relations have been shattered in a few days. I live in a safe area, but some of our friends and ministry partners in the slums have been directly impacted by riots, looting, and violence. I am hoping to reconnect and continue with ministry there, but will work mostly from my apartment and keep a very low profile until the situation improves. If the crisis worsens or if we receive word from the embassy, TFC or SAMS to do so, I will come back home early. It has been a joy being home during Christmas and having some extra unexpected time with family and friends.

I'm optimistic that things will improve in Kenya in the near future. We are still planning and preparing for three missions trips to Kenya this summer. Let me know if anyone else is interested and I'll give you more details.

Thank you so much for ya'lls support. Please pray at this time for reconciliation and understanding and peace in Kenya, for worries here and for safety there. . .Amber and Anne are tentatively scheduled to arrive on Thursday night, which is in the middle of the protests. Pray also for their safety and for their families.

Thank you,
Dave

Chaos in Kenya - News Update

Following the closely contested elections on Dec. 27th, East Africa's most stable democracy has disintegrated into violent protests and tribal clashes. Over 300 people have died as allegations of fraud and rigging surround the elections. Four top Election Commission Officials along with the ECK Chief and international monitors have expressed doubt over the validity of the results. The Opposition Party has refused to concede defeat and Kenyans have taken their anger into the streets. The incumbent President, Mwai Kibaki who was hastily sworn in when the results were announced, has warned that any protesters will face the full force of the law. Riots and looting have occurred throughout many parts of Kenya and police initially adopted a "shoot on sight" policy. International mediators and government and opposition members have recently stepped up efforts to restore peace and find a resolution to the current crisis. . . Please pray for our ministry partners in the slums of Nairobi. The youth from Light and Power and the students and teachers at Akiba School and Elishadai Computer College have all been affected. I have many friends in hard-hit areas and am deeply saddened by these events. Pray for peace, reconciliation, and healing. I was planning to return to Nairobi yesterday, but have postponed my flight until Jan 13th in the hope that things will calm down.

Back in the U.S.

I just arrived back in the U.S. for the holidays. It is soooo nice to be back home.

A Ready Harvest

Check out this video and come work alongside us at Planting Faith Ministries:

Holiday Parties

I celebrated the Jamhuri independence holiday last week with several friends from Akiba and elsewhere at my apartment:

Lounging on the couch
Laughable Moments

Njoroge after lunch

Later in the week, Lucy’s family held their annual Christmas gathering. Here’s a few pics:

With the family.

Lucy's Parents

Straddling the Equator

In 1849, a German missionary, Dr. Johann Ludwig Krapf, astounded European scientists when he claimed to have discovered snow on the equator. The snow is still there today. . . One of our farming projects is near Mount Kenya and right on the equator. Because of the altitude, it is actually quite cold.

There's a sign on the equator in Nanyuki, and we met a local guide who led us 20 meters north of the equator and showed us water spinning clockwise through a drain. Then we went south and saw a counterclockwise spin. Finally we stood directly on the equator and watched water flow straight down through a hole without spinning. Pretty cool stuff.

Dry Days

The water at my apartment has been absent for nearly a week. This of course makes laundry, cleaning, cooking, bathing, and flushing the toilet virtually impossible. Fortunately, I rarely do any of these things anyway. . .Most housing and apartment complexes in Nairobi have huge storage tanks which help residents deal with the irregular supply of water. Our tanks have all run dry and even the plastic “emergency water jugs” I filled are now empty. The city council has decided not to turn on the water supply until later this month. I buy my drinking water, but it’s a challenge living without water for other things. Fortunately, one of the askaris (guards) has agreed to provide 40 liters of water from an unknown source. I think he may have “borrowed” it from one of the neighbors.

Planting Passion Fruit

Recently I spent a couple days planting passion fruit with farmers in Mangu, Kenya. We worked in partnership with volunteers from Helping Hand Ministries in the U.K. and planted 180 passion fruit seedlings on three different farms. It was hard work, but very rewarding. Most farmers in Kenya have very small plots and are subsistence farmers, growing food only for themselves or yielding small harvests for sale or trade. In our work with Planting Faith, we help farmers escape the poverty and challenges of subsistence farming through sustainable agricultural development. Here’s a shot of some of the volunteers and farmers at one of the shambas in Mangu:

A Kiwi Visit

Recently I hosted two seminarians from New Zealand. Aaron and Jordan visited Kenya as part of a Kiwi Mission Team with Church Army. They ran a week-long camp for young children, helped with some painting projects, and visited a variety of ministries. Wow, it was a lot of fun having western visitors. Here they are hanging out with some of the kids at Light and Power:

Hospital Hospitality

Hospitals in Kenya are interesting. Nairobi has some of Africa’s best hospitals, but appearances can be a little deceiving. For example, the “Emergency Room” here is called the “Casualty Department.” Also, hospital administrators often require patients to show a receipt before they can receive any drugs or injections. When I was most recently in the hospital, I had to have someone run back and forth to the front desk with cash for each lab test or every time the doctor wanted to administer medicine. . . In rural areas, hospitals are usually downright atrocious. It’s hard to imagine life in a community without a good hospital.

Malaria Strikes

Malaria is no fun. It gives you fevers and chills. Somehow it alters your sense of taste and balance, and it makes everything that is inside you decide to come out. . .and keep coming out. I’m in the final stages of recovering from “plasmodium falciparum with multiple bacterial infections.” The prayers and support of family and friends have really meant a lot. I was graciously hosted by Sam and Lynn Owen for much of my recovery and they’ve helped nourish me back to health. Also, Anne helped me out a lot with an emergency medicine run. Actually, the sickness has not been nearly as bad as it could have been. I’ve felt an unusual sense of peace and encouragement in the midst of it, and I really appreciate the love and care I’ve received. Continue to pray for energy and strength. I’m still really, really tired.

At the Kiosk

My local 7-11 is only four blocks away. Simon and his father, Nelson, run a kiosk on Sports Road. They have an aluminum stall and a small stand that sell all the essentials: fresh vegetables, bread, eggs, flour, milk, and sugar. Simon and Nelson have become good friends and I visit their shop almost every day. They’re open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Kisumu Ex Street Boys

Here’s me with Kisumu Ex Street Boy, Maxwell Omondi:

Maxwell is a delightfully honest and joyful young man who has been through a lot hardship. When I met him he only owned one t-shirt and a pair of shorts and sandals, and he slept at night in a canvas sack on the side of the road. Despite his struggles, Maxwell is an incredibly bright student and gifted singer. After meeting him, I felt a strong call to become more involved in his life. I currently help sponsor him to go to school, and he has joined a group called Kisumu Ex Street Boys. He lives with them and now attends the New Kisumu High School; he hopes to finish his courses next winter. . .Thanks to the donor who recently offered $50 to help Maxwell. This will provide a nice lunch for him for the next two months. Prior to that, he had been going to school without breakfast or lunch. Pray for him as he finishes the school year and tries to recover from typhoid.

Below, Lucy joins former street children for a photo. Twenty children and youth who used to stay on the streets now live in a home and receive care and counseling from Kisumu Ex Street Boys. Former street boy and founder Dancan Omondi continues to seek out and help street children as best he can. Many of the kids are able to find school sponsorships and receive desperately needed care.

Visiting Day

Visiting Day at St. Francis Boarding School in Rang’ala:

Lucy’s sister Jacinta enjoys ice cream as she prepares for final exams:

Jacinta is an avid singer and she and two of her classmates treated us to an impromptu concert:

Bandits, Breakdowns, and Bumpy Bus Rides

Recently I traveled from Nairobi to Ugunja, a small town in Western Kenya for a weekend. I went to visit Lucy’s sister, Jacinta (nicknamed Chi Chi) at her high school. While there we also spent time with some of Lucy’s relatives and visited with a ministry to former street children in Kisumu. It was a great trip, but a long journey. The bus ride to Ugunja is about 10 hours and covers some very bumpy and uncomfortable “roads.” One particularly rough stretch of “major highway” features more holes than a donut factory. At one point during the night our driver accelerated rapidly over a series of bumps. He had sped up to avoid a gang of rock throwing, machete-wielding bandits on the side of the road. Later, when we were in a passenger van, we received help from a friendly butcher after a mechanical break down in his small village. It was quite an adventure.

The Puppet Show

Everything has changed. . .since the arrival of the puppets. In August, several friends from TFC donated puppets to Light and Power. Since then we’ve seen a dramatic transformation take place. Attendance at our Saturday morning program has doubled to nearly 60 children each week. Dozens of children and their families stop by to watch the puppets and join in the fun.



Because of the puppets, people everywhere are spontaneously breaking into song and dance.















Since the puppets came, theft has ceased in Gatina and guys at the Centre volunteer for all kinds of helpful tasks. For example, Lenny and Eric recently volunteered to spend their holiday digging a giant ditch for the Centre’s trash.















We’ve even had two friends from the U.S. decide to come and volunteer. Margaret Bakke and Jonathan Howard joined in the fun of the puppets.

















Finally, the political landscape in Kenya has undergone a dramatic change since the arrival of the puppets. The incumbent president, who was once dominating the polls, now trails by nearly 15 points. . .Never underestimate the power of a puppet.

What I've Been Doing

I have a new routine this year. I am no longer teaching classes at Akiba School. Instead, I’m spending time with a few other ministries. Most mornings I’m still in Gatina, meeting with the guys at Light and Power. While there, I lead devotions; mentor and counsel; and assist with business development. Currently we are in the process of developing a website, making new products such as gift boxes, trying to improve facilities, and expanding the Centre's market. From time to time I teach afternoon classes in statistical analysis and computer skills at Elishadai Computer College. The College has just opened a new campus in Western Kenya and we are hoping to continue to spread to reach more rural areas by partnering with local churches. Sometimes I also spend my afternoons working on video or communication projects for Church Army Africa or other local ministries. One day a week I travel outside Nairobi with Planting Faith Ministries. Planting Faith currently has four projects for rural development with farmers in various parts of Kenya. They set up coops with farmers and harvest passion fruit, onions, and cut flowers. I’m just starting, but my role is mainly to meet with small groups of farmers for Bible studies, discussions, and Christian discipleship. I’m still trying to take Swahili classes, but I must admit that my language skills are lacking. It’s a challenge trying to be disciplined and it seems there is always a lot to distract me. One thing I’ve discovered recently, is the joy of house help. I now have someone from Gatina who helps me one day a week so I don’t have to frustrate myself hand-washing clothes and trying to keep things clean amidst the dust of Nairobi and the mud of the slums.

A Library in Gatina

Many thanks to everyone who donated books to Light and Power Centre. We now have a fully functional library with over seventy books. The guys here are very excited about the books and are reading regularly. Two of them plan to start high school in January and have pledged to read a book a week to prepare. We're hoping the library can continue to grow in the future. Having a variety of books really opens up the world to slum dwellers and enables great opportunities for education and growth.

Dreams from the Slum

Recently, I started meeting with each of the 11 guys at Light and Power to talk, pray, and plan about their dreams and goals for the future. Here are some of the dreams they feel called to pursue:

Study and Train to Be an Auto Mechanic
Go to High School
Develop a Music/Dance/Creative Arts Centre in the Slum to Help Youth
Attend University and Open My Own Business
Continue My Education and Become a Lawyer
Use Football to Minister to Idle Youth in the Slums
Attend Driving School and Become a Driver
Have a Close Family and Be a Good Father in the Future

Considering their current circumstances, these are big dreams. We are praying and trusting God to continue to guide each of their steps, provide for their needs, and lead them into His will.

I have no name – Adventures at Nyayo House

During the former President Moi’s regime, Nyayo House was rumored to be a torture center for dissidents. At the present time, this large office building in Central Nairobi houses the Kenyan Immigration Office as well as other resident registration offices. Some would argue, it is still a center for government-sponsored torture. I’ve spent quite a number of days there; waiting in line and filling out forms, and as far as I can tell, the system there is like a bad a DMV on crack.

For example, during December of 2006, Amber, Anne and I applied for Resident Alien Identity Cards and Work Permits. After waiting in multiple lines to fill out a plethora of paperwork, we were told to come back in five weeks to pick up our identity cards, which would be valid for a period of three months. Six weeks later, the cards still were not ready. Two months later the cards still were not ready. After checking the status of the cards again, I was told not to bother because by the time my card would be issued it would already have expired. As of October, 2007, my identity card is still not ready and it would have expired in March 2006.

Yesterday, however, I did manage to acquire my long-awaited work permit. After eleven months, the paper work was finally completed and I was told that I could come to Nyayo House to collect the permit. I entered the building and waited in Line Number 9 for permit inquiries. As I approached the front of the line, however, the registration officer decided to take a break for tea. The line waited for another twenty minutes without moving until he returned. Upon reaching the front of the line, I was told to go down the hallway to Room 16. After waiting in line there and explaining that I had come to collect my permit, I was then sent up five flights of stairs to Room 5-31. The government employee there, however, was not happy to see me and didn’t want to be disturbed. He sent me back down the stairs to Room 16. I waited in line again. The employees in Room 16 were confused and questioned me as to why I decided to return. When I explained the situation, they told me I had to go back upstairs to Room 5-31; the man there was the only one who would be able to help me. After climbing the stairs again I was feeling quite tired and frustrated, but again the man in Room 5-31 told me he didn’t like something with my paper work and I would have to go back and wait outside of Room 16. I complained that he was just running me in circles, and asked for his name and title so I could file a formal complaint. The man refused to tell me his name. Upon further questioning he told me, and I quote: “I have no name, go back to Room 16.”

I was in no mood to go back downstairs, however, and as our argument continued, I was eventually sent to “the man with no name’s” supervisor. The supervisor was called J. Ngari and unfortunately he proved to be just as unpleasant as “the man with no name.” J. Ngari told me I would have to go back to Room 16 and wait, then I could return to the “man with no name”, then I would have to go back again to Room 16 and my paper might be ready by then. I suggested he place a simple phone call to Room 16 to resolve the issue; that way we could all save time and I could avoid another 15 flights of stairs and multiple lines. Plus it was almost time for their lunch break, and if I didn’t get the permit soon, I would have to wait outside the building for another two hours and then start all over again. I even offered J. Ngari my cell phone to make the call to Room 16. After much persuasion, he reluctantly placed the phone call and told the woman there KiSwahili: “go ahead and give it to him.” The permit had been sitting neatly on her desk the whole time. My friends told me later that J. Ngari, “the man with no name”, and “Room 16 woman” were all looking for bribes. I had just thought they were being really annoying.

Rooming with Peter

Lately I’ve been rooming with a friend, Peter Abiya. Peter and I work together at Light and Power, and when we’re home we take turns cooking American or Kenyan food. Peter joined us as a mentor at Light and Power several months ago. Prior to that he worked with ministries to street children in war torn areas of Northern Uganda and Sudan. He has some amazing stories and has an incredible heart for mentoring and discipling young people in Christ. Unfortunately he’s moving to another part of town soon, but it’s been fun having him here for a while.

The Dismissal

Recently I had the sad duty of dismissing one of the guys from Light and Power Centre. This was the second time for me. It’s one of the hardest parts of working with this ministry; for every success story there’s also guys who just have to be turned away. Mike is a former street kid who has been involved with Light and Power for over ten years and been one of our key leaders during the past year. He loves playing soccer, has strong gifts of leadership, and likes to joke and sing loudly. Unfortunately, he’s also developed bad habits of theft, deception, and abuse. He’s been misleading many of the younger boys at the Centre and has recently hurt its reputation in the community. After a lot of difficult drama we realized that for the benefit of the Centre, Mike needed to be dismissed. Please pray for him as he tries to move on. Pray for his young daughter and orphaned nieces and nephews who stay with him. Pray also for us as we begin a new chapter at Light and Power. We are hopeful that this change will really help the other guys and allow opportunities for growth.

Church Army at Mount Kenya

Here’s a photo and some short clips of Lucy’s journey to the summit of Mount Kenya. The peak is one of the highest in Africa and is a challenging five-day hike to 5,000m. Their office at Church Army Africa used the hiking trip as a team-building experience and as a way to raise funds to purchase desks for children at one of their schools.

I’ve been working on several projects with Church Army and am excited about what they do throughout East Africa. Check out the video I’ve been working on for them:

Speaking the Language

Sheng is the language of the street in Nairobi. It is a mixture of English, Kiswahili, and tribal slang. It is constantly evolving and is the common language of urban youth. Most of the guys at Light and Power are well versed in Sheng. I’ve been taking classes and trying to learn Swahili, but Sheng is just too crazy and too tough for me. Sheng varies from one neighborhood to another and employs all kind of strange contractions and meanings. In the Eastlands area of Nairobi, for example, someone can take an English word, say it backwards, conjugate it like a Swahili verb, add a Kikuyu infix, and it becomes Sheng. Here’s another example: the term “mbao” is common Sheng for “pound”, which is slang for shilingi ishirini, which is Swahili for twenty shillings, which is Kenyan for 200 cents, which is equivalent to about thirty pennies in the United States. “Mbao” is an average “matatu” or public transportation fare. “Matatu” is slang for three pennies, which in Kenyan shillings is 300 cents or roughly a nickel. I have no idea how this works.

Fun Facts from Kenya (Part 1)

Hippopotamuses can run over 20 kph. If you’re being chased, run side to side. They can’t turn very fast, but in a straight race they’ll catch you quickly.
In Swahili, 7 a.m. means the first hour of the day and is considered one o’clock in the morning.
There are 40 tribes in Kenya. Each has it’s own language, style of dress, and traditional foods.
It is almost always seventy-something degrees in Nairobi. But when it hits the sixties it’s fashionable to break out a winter coat and wool hat.
Kenya has over 1,000 known species of birds, including tens of thousands of pink flamingoes.
It takes two weeks to hand-sew a net for catching tilapia.
Kenya is the second leading exporter of flowers in the world.
The Taco Bell in down town Nairobi is not really a Taco Bell.
During the annual wildebeest migration, up to 2 million wildebeest and half a million zebra travel in massive lines between Tanzania and Kenya.

Back in Nairobi

I just arrived safely in Nairobi and am getting settled again. Thank you so much for your prayers. It was really really great being home for the month of August. I feel refreshed and rejuvenated. I also gained 8 pounds. Upon arrival here, several friends met me at the airport, and I had a nice meal and fun reunion before crashing for the night.

On Again. . .Off Again

I realized there was something wrong when I tried to print the plane ticket. I planned to leave for Kenya the following day but was unable to access my itinerary. I spent an agonizing hour on the internet and phone trying to figure things out, and I was starting to get worried. My flight had been booked for over a month, but when I spoke with British Airways I learned that my reservation had somehow been canceled at the last minute. The travel agency was closed for Labor Day weekend, and it wasn’t possible to rebook a flight with British Airways over the internet or phone on such short notice. Furthermore, the prices for new flights were nearly double what I should pay, and they wouldn’t drop for another week or two. I was supposed to my landlord and pay rent in Nairobi by Wednesday and didn’t know what to do.

It has been difficult preparing mentally and emotionally to return to Kenya. After finally feeling ready, it now seemed I would have to wait. . .But I wasn’t comfortable with waiting. I made a last-ditch effort through a 24-hour travel agent and secured a ticket for early the next morning through Rome and Ethiopia to Nairobi. I began to pack hurriedly and think of all the things I needed to do before leaving. Then the new reservation fell through too. The connection time wasn’t long enough. It had to be canceled. So, I emailed my girlfriend, my friends and coworkers in Kenya and told them not to expect me anytime soon; to cancel plans to pick me up from the airport.

All this back and forth was overwhelming. It left me feeling very discouraged. I went to bed late that night, frustrated and tired, and I gave up on the idea of returning to Kenya anytime soon. It just didn’t seem possible.

In the morning, I asked some friends to pray for me and I read a few verses about Paul’s troubles with travel (Romans 1:13, 1 Thes. 2:17-18). That seemed to calm me a bit, and after breakfast I went to contact family and friends and let them know that I would be around for another week or two. As I opened my email inbox, however, there was a surprise. Miraculously, my travel agent had randomly checked her email during vacation, wrestled with British Airways in the early hours Sunday morning, and booked me a previously full seat on my original flight. I would be leaving in a few hours. . .This has been a hard lesson in trust, patience, and accepting God’s timing. But with His help, somehow I guess I’m on my way.