A Christmas Party- Part 2

December 19, 2007 · Filed under Uncategorized

As we mentioned last week, the Christmas Party sponsored by West Side took place in the slums of Nairobi last Tuesday. When we first had the idea of funding a Christmas party for Kenyan kids, I thought, “Cool…kids will be blessed with toys at Christmas!” Turns out, this Christmas party consisted of far more than small,wrapped gifts for children.  This party rocked the slums!

Parents attended the party with their children and received family food baskets for Christmas dinner. Kids enjoyed food, soda and wrapped gifts. Face painting and balloons were major attractions. Towards the end of the party, the children presented Christmas songs and skits to their parents. To conclude the party, the local pastor, Oliver, preached a message and 18 parents made a decision to follow Christ. Woohoo!

Below is an email we received from Keith and Kathy, describing the party excitement.

The parents living in Mathare were not expecting a Christmas this year from the Hope Centre. Why? Because there were too many of them – thousands…really. We’ve had Christmas before, but it was a few hundred families that received the gifts, that was manageable. This last week we had thousands. It was unbelievable.

There was a dinner, with chicken, chapattis, rice, and sodas…oh yes, lots of sodas going around. There was face painting for the kids, very cool. We had a graduation day for the pre-unit class (kindergarten) of the Kosovo Centre; they were promoted to class one (first grade). They were cute in their hats and gowns. We had prizes too. Each class from each centre received awards for best attendance, cleanliness, most improved and many other awards being given. We also awarded parents. We graduated 10 mothers from a sewing class; they’ve been attending since May, ‘07. After finishing the class they will receive sewing machines and we’re going to give them orders to make thousands of uniforms for the kids…that’s good business! The whole thing continued, we awarded our home based care givers too. They work hard serving our folks with HIV/AIDS. Of course we had presentations throughout, from every centre.

After everything, the Christmas baskets we’re given. Over a thousand baskets were filled with flour, cooking oil, sugar, tea, candy and 2 liter Coke bottles! Much more was in the basket, things like; beans, rice, milk, salt, and lollipops! The parents were so surprised, they kept saying, “We’re too many, there’s no way we’re getting any ‘Christmas’”, but they did! All this food and fun was in a plastic washing basin and they carried them away that night. This Christmas, Mathare Valley, and I mean the whole valley will be eating and celebrating Christmas with chapattis and soda with neighbors and family! Praise God.

Can I tell you what happened that day? OK, I will. As we finished up eating the Christmas dinner, and after all the skits, poems and songs were done, Oliver (the pastor of the Kosovo church) stood up to address thousands of parents/guardians. He preached. He preached Christ. At the conclusion of the sermon, 18 people accepted Christ that day. We prayed with them and got their names, and today we are following up on them. We rejoiced, but I know there was even more rejoicing going on up in heaven. Thank God. This is a Christmas I’ll never forget, you don’t either. Pray for the kids, parents, guardians, grandmas, staff, and community this Christmas time, pray that they will make room for Him to come in.

Keith and Kathy

  Face Painting  A Great Meal  Soda for All!

Preparing the Gifts  Wonderful Gifts

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It’s Spreading…

December 19, 2007 · Filed under Uncategorized

When A Different Kind of Christmas started at West Side, we believed this Christmas emphasis would highly impact our church family and our friends in Kenya.  As always, when God’s involved, our efforts are multipled.

A Different Kind of Christmas is spreading…fast.  Springfield businesses, workplaces and schools are hearing about our efforts and wanting to participate.  Those who live out of state have heard about what we’re doing and are raising money in other communities to help kids in Kenya.

Recently, I was asked to write a series of articles about our Kenya efforts for an online magazine entitled, Wrecked for the Ordinary (www.wreckedfortheordinary.com).  It’s a cool publication that helps people, especially young adults, rethink the way they live their ordinary lives for Christ.

You can view the most recent article here:

http://www.wreckedfortheordinary.com/category.asp?category=poverty&filename=a-different-kind-of-christmas-hope-from-junior-high-kids

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A Christmas Party

December 12, 2007 · Filed under Uncategorized

Friends,

As I write this, it’s 7:30am in Kenya. The kids in Bondeni are on their way to school. They don’t know it yet, but school is going to be a little…different today.

Last week, we forwarded $2500 of our Christmas offering to Kenya. We sent the money early so the teachers and staff could prepare for the Christmas Party West Side is sponsoring prior to their Christmas break.

Kids will be eating chicken and chipatis for lunch today, a Kenyan meal only enjoyed on very special occasions. I imagine each child will have a beaming smile on their face when they receive their very own bottle of soda. At the end of the day, they’ll receive Christmas gifts to take home. For some, these toys and school supplies will be among the first gifts they’ve ever received. Just thought you’d like to know that while we’re sleeping tonight, our Kenyan kids will be jumping for the joy of the Lord (and for toys!) Please pray that the Different Kind of Christmas party experienced in Kenya today will bring a glimpse of hope to this community. What a way to celebrate Christmas!

Below is the email we just received from Keith and Kathy Ham, our missionary friends in Kenya:

Hi guys,

Hey, how’s the Different Christmas shaping up? Busy? We’re having a party today…thanks to you all. Also, did you get Mary Wambui’s story with a few pics? I hope so, she is doing so well and growing in Jesus. Keep praying for her. I’ll send some pics of the party after today.

Later,

Keith

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Through Their Eyes

December 2, 2007 · Filed under Uncategorized

This is a video we put together to show our Jr. High students what it might be like to grow up as a Jr. High student in a Mathare slum. 

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Jr. High Water Projects

November 29, 2007 · Filed under Uncategorized

This is a video that we made to show our Jr. High kids what we were able to do in Kenya because of their Just Add Water summer project.  They were able to raise over $9,000!  This is a great reminder that God is working in ways that we often never see.

(Note: This is a two part video.  Make sure you watch both.)

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Sending Letters to Your Child

November 27, 2007 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , ,

Friends,

Recently, several people have asked how they can correspond with their sponsored child in Kenya. Below you’ll find a link that describes how your monthly support is used along with instructions for writing to your child. Please follow the directions in this 2-page pdf document very carefully. Remember- children LOVE pictures!

Another FAQ- What happens to slum kids when they’re orphaned? Can Americans adopt orphaned Kenyan children from the Hope Schools?

Life is very communal in the slums of Nairobi. When parents pass away, children are often unofficially adopted into the homes of neighbors.

When a child from the Hope School loses a parent, they receive counseling and encouragement from the school staff. If they are left without a capable adult to care for them, a school social worker pursues living options with the child’s extended family, ensuring the child is placed in a caring home.

Americans often wonder whether it’s more advantageous for a Kenyan child to be adopted by a family in the U.S than for them to remain in Kenya.  Kenyan leaders assure us that when possible, it’s best for children to be placed with family members or neighbors. The children have meaningful connections to the people in their lives. It would be traumatic for them to be removed from their familiar environment. Plus, the goal of the Hope School is to raise up native, Christian leaders. They want these Kenyan kids to grow up to make a difference in their homeland. Children involved at the Hope Schools are well taken care of, even when orphaned.

There are several orphanages in Kenya where children are placed when absolutely no other option can be found. These orphanages are not directly affiliated with the Hope Centers, though the leaders from these organizations stay in contact with one another.

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Deeply Guilty

November 13, 2007 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , ,

But they are deeply guilty, for their own strength is their god. (Habakkuk 1:11, NLT)

I read the book of Habbakuk on the plane ride to Kenya last week. Little did I know that that the words of this Old Testament book would prove to be so convicting.

The Gospel is spreading like wildfire in Kenya. The people are spiritually hungry and Christ-followers in Nairobi are boldly sharing their faith on a daily basis. It’s a powerful combination. People are accepting Christ by the hundreds. But why is the Kingdom growing more quickly in Kenya than in the U.S? Perhaps Habakkuk is right- we Americans are deeply guilty, for our own strength is our god.

While most Kenyans are dependent on God to provide for their needs, I often lean on my own strength to get through each day. This is the problem of affluence- it makes you feel strong and in control.  I earn a salary.  I solve problems that arise.  I make choices that determine my future.  I control my environment. Americans are often deeply guilty because we rely on our own strength, making it our god, our provider, the thing upon which we depend.

Throughout history, the Gospel has spread quickly in areas where people are fully dependent on Christ in every area of their lives. As we return to the U.S today, we want to be more like our Kenyan friends who are devoted to prayer, quick to praise God for every little blessing and are committed to sharing their faith boldly as if Jesus was coming back tomorrow.

Kenyan Christians are convinced that their neighbors desperately need the hope of Christ ASAP in order to survive each day.  The funny thing is… our Springfield neighbors need God’s provision just as much as our friends in Kenya do.  Their need just isn’t as obvious because it’s masked by their god- their own strength.

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Mission of Hope Leaders

November 13, 2007 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , ,

As we’re leaving Kenya, we’re extremely thankful for the Mission of Hope leaders. Our missionary hosts, Keith and Kathy Ham, are passionate, authentic believers who are committed to the urban poor. Originally from the west coast, they sensed God leading them to serve on the mission field nearly twenty years ago. While their family has been doing ministry in Kenya for a long time, they just recently started their work in the slums of Nairobi. They are inspiring leaders who believe God wants to make the Mathare Valley a mountain for Christ. They’ve mentored us and invested in us this week. You won’t find a more genuine, spiritually committed couple than Keith and Kathy.

Wallace and Mary Kamau are the key Kenyan leaders from Mission of Hope. We’ll probably blog more about them later, but let’s just say that Chris compares Mary to Mother Teresa. They have been distinctly called by God to minister in the Mathare Valley and God is blessing their efforts. Wallace was a CPA with PriceWaterhouse before committing to full time ministry. He’s a key player in the strategic plans for the ministry, the microfinancing efforts and in the purchasing of land and the developing of leaders. Mary is the mastermind behind the Hope Schools- impacting children and empowering local leaders to change the Mathare Valley.

Friends, if you have a chance to take a mission trip to Nairobi, DO IT! You will be blessed by interacting with these leaders. You will be amazed by the ministry they’re leading. And, you’ll be inspired by the difference you can make here. The Hams and Kamaus have told us countless stories of mission trip groups that have literally changed the face of Nairobi. No matter what your skills are, you can be used to impact Africa for Christ.

Let’s go, West Side!  Together, let’s make a difference in the slums of Nairobi. Put a mission trip to Kenya on your to-do list.

PS- you’ll be hearing more about upcoming mission trips to Kenya in the near future. In the mean time, pray for these leaders and ask God how He could use you to minister to our Kenyan friends.

Goodbye Party  Wallace & Mary  Keith & Kathy

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Our Little Friend, Shadrack

November 12, 2007 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , ,

On Sunday, we attended church in Kosovo, a small community near Bondeni. After the service, several church leaders gathered for lunch in the church building.

We noticed an unfamiliar little boy hanging around. He had come inside and lingered for about thirty minutes before we asked Mary, the Director of Mission of Hope, who he was. She suspected he was a street child who’d wandered in.

The little boy appeared to be about 3 years old and watched us eat lunch. We asked him his name. When he didn’t respond, we asked someone to ask him his name in Swahili. He didn’t understand or respond to either language.

When Melissa had finished her meal and her plate was empty, Mary took the dirty plate, put some rice and beans on it and gave it to him.

For the first time, he cracked a small smile. Silently, he put his plate on the bench and then climbed up to sit next to it. He had trouble getting the spoon from the plate to his mouth so Melissa held the plate closer to him. He ate the food quickly. When he reached the final few bites of food, his motor skills weren’t developed enough to scoop the last tidbits with the spoon. (This was actually a funny, but sad sight. He’d lift an empty spoon to his mouth and then look confused when he discovered that no food had made it to his mouth.). So, we fed him.  We scraped the plate so he could enjoy as much food as possible. Literally feeding a street child in the slums of Kenya changes your perspective on life.

We had been sharing a soda so we gave the boy the remainder of our Coke as well. He sweetly drank out of the glass bottle which was nearly bigger than he was. When he was done, he gave us back the bottle and went outside to play. It’s scary to think he was in the church for nearly 90 minutes and nobody came to look for him.

Chris loved taking pictures of our new little friend. Though dirty, he was incredibly photogenic. He had two different kinds of shoes on- a busted sneaker without laces and a sandal. The sneaker was also on the wrong foot. Not only was he dressed poorly, but at age 3, he wasn’t speaking or understanding either of the national languages of Kenya. It’s enough to break your heart.

About 2 hours later, his mother came to find him. Keith, our missionary friend, talked to the boy’s mom in Swahili and discovered his name was Shadrack.

Shadrack, and thousands of kids like him, need help- educationally, physically, spiritually and emotionally. Shadrack represents what kids in Bondeni look like when they’re not influenced by the Hope Schools and impacted by the love of Christ.

We’re praying that Shadrack might someday be sponsored by a loving person or family who will make it possible for him to receive the services of a Hope School. In the mean time, we’re thankful that Hope Schools exist in Nairobi. Hundreds of kids no longer look and act like Shadrack thanks to the Hope Partnership.

Shadrack  Shadrack  Shadrack

Shadrack’s Shoes  Shadrack  Shadrack

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Have You Ever?

November 11, 2007 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , , ,

Have you ever personally known someone with HIV or AIDS?

This week, we’ve laughed with, shaken the hands of and profusely hugged on people who are dying from this fatal disease.

An estimated 40% of people in Bondeni suffer from HIV/AIDS. Can you imagine how different life would be if 800 of the 2000 people who worship at West Side each Sunday had contracted HIV/AIDS?

In the U.S, we know a lot about HIV/AIDS, but a proportionally small amount of people have it. In Nairobi, the opposite is true. Many people have it, but the community knows very little about it.

The Hope Centers in the Mathare Valley are playing a key role in the fight against HIV/AIDS. They educate people about the indicators of the disease and encourage testing. Once people are diagnosed, they help them discover that even though they’re HIV positive, they can still live positively under Christ’s leadership for the rest of their lives.

The Hope Centers are also teaching children at the Hope Schools how the disease is contracted and how to prevent it. They provide counseling as well as workshops on how to care for family members suffering in the final stages of AIDS.

Most recently, the Hope Center started a support group  for those who have tested positive for HIV/AIDS. Led by an awesome guy named Fred who has a master’s degree in public health, this group has quickly grown to nearly 70 people.

We visited the group last week. What a joy they are! They meet weekly for Bible study, prayer and educational opportunities. They learn skills for holistically improving their health in every area of their lives.

Having HIV/AIDS can be an isolating experience. This group not only supports and prays for one another, they’re also improving their lives together. The group has started a small business, making liquid soap. When we placed an order for 20 liters, we received a standing ovation and many hugs. It was a cool experience.

Knowledge is power. We’re thankful for the Hope Centers and Schools that are not only reaching out to the HIV/AIDS community in practical ways, but are working to educate parents and kids about the prevention of this sweeping, deadly disease.

Postive Test Support Group

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