VBS has been amazing. The team work is incredible. We all work so well together. The kids love it. Yesterday was our first day doing VBS, Healthy Homes (CHE project) and BTL (Bring in the Light). We started off our day doing VBS and taught the kids our VBS song from the summer Chase the Light. They loved it. As the kids were doing their different rotations, you could hear them come in and say "Chase the Light". It was so neat! They loved the whole day and we so enjoyed it. Even in all the heat, God helped us get thru it and He gave us the strength we needed!
In the afternoon, there were 11 of us that broke off and went to New Life Home. I hope they will blog about their experience. Then the rest left in Area 2 divided into three groups. 2 BTL and 1 healthy Homes. I (Jenn) went with LaSaundra, Brian and Andrea to do the Healthy Homes. I will share my experience. You wouldn't think that something as simple to us as knowing how to boil water and drink sterilized water is very foreign to them. So we taught them how to sterilize their water. They can use a simple plastic bottle with a 1 triangle and PETE to get sterile water. We walked them thru this. We also talked to two families about the importance of proper ventilation for cooking and that it is best to do it outside or near any ventilation areas. This also was foreign. We explained how it is best for their health and their children's health to keep the smoke and cooking outside. One grandmother told us that if she did that she would have to do it before it was dark because people would steal her cooking stuff and her food. This is reality in the slum. We talked about that for a little while and she understood that it needed to be done. We also explained the importance of lighting in the home. It is necessary for the children's growth and their health. She also understood this. Unfortunately she is not able to BTL because her home is hard steel and mud and it isn't possible. Her landlord would just tell her to move.
:-( Last, we did the evangicube and she and her neighbor both came to Christ that day. It was amazing. She is a mother to 6 children and many grandchildren (she doesn't know how many) and there were 5 of them living in the home. Then we went to Regina's home. Her daughter Mwende is a student in the Area 2 school. When we went into her home, there was stagnant water buckets all over. Then because of this, there were bugs all over. We explained the importance of not having stagnant water and how it attracts mosquitos and they carry malaria and also other insects that would come in. Then we went over the proper water sterilization and cooking. One thing I got to do was share what is called the HIV cube. This cube explains HIV/AIDS to people in a very profound way. This was awesome. You can find out more about the cube at http://www.hivaidscube.org.za/ It is an amazing tool. The items that we taught the two homes about are CHE programs. This is an amazing program. The CHE trainers are so competent, loving on the people of Kenya and just all around fantastic. It was a great day and I do believe that we are making a difference. From last year to this year, I can see the difference. Miss you all!
Fantastic job - we are so jazzed about your excitement and joyful ministry. Our prayers continue!
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Maurice
You all our in our thoughts and prayers. Thanks so much for posting what you are doing and how things are progressing.
ReplyDeleteYou all seem to be having such an impact on just basic but necessary things. I can see that many are life and death matters in that environment. Thanks for taking the time to tell us about it. Maintaining a blog on top of everything else you are doing is an accomplishment as you must be pretty tired at day's end. Great Job! You are in our prayers every day.
ReplyDeleteHi Team: Good morning - good afternoon in Kenya! By now you have reached a point where you are feeling that it is possible perhaps even probable that you might be feeling tired? Physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually tired. It is what happens when you've given everything you've got - done things you did not even think you were capable of doing - endured stuff you never imagined existed and yes you are close to running on empty! You are in that dangerous zone (battle fatigue) where you are running out of fuel - worse still you do not know where the next gas station might be! In such circumstances a quiet panic usually seeps through the system and we experience that sinking feeling - when questions seem to pop up out of nowhere; questions like ... Did I make a mistake coming all this way to hit the wall in Nairobi? Am I really cut out to be a member of this team? Let me assure you that such ideas do not come from God - they are usually from the enemy who specializes in sowing seeds of doubt and discouragement.
ReplyDeleteHere are a couple of verses to chew on - like an 'energy bar' (remember them!:}.
"For God does not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self discipline" 2 Timothy 1: 7 and
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4: 13
Stay strong in Christ and remember we are praying for you today.
Love and prayers
Maurice and Iris
What time is it ... BLOG TIME! This is becoming a habit - but a good one. It is wonderful to have the chance to offer a few words of encouragement to our Team in Kenya. We are frequently praying for each of you. Our prayer is that God will use you in amazing ways because you are serving Him in Nairobi. Remember that when you visit a home - meet sick people and share God's love with them you are actually representing Jesus and your family and friends back at CrossWay. Give them our love!
ReplyDeleteI want to give you another verse of scripture - yes another ENERGY BAR to chew on as you serve the Lord.
Hebrews 4: 15-16 (Amplified)
15 For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.
16 Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].
Whatever the circumstance may be and wherever you may find yourself today or tomorrow remember that HELP is available just when you need it - help from our great Lord and Savior who understands - because He has been here and is able to share our feelings and needs in 'real time'. I find that incredibly helpful.
Be sure to chew on this ENERGY BAR - it can provide you with fantastic staying power!
Maurice
Bless you and your team for the work you do.
ReplyDeleteHi Team: Just checking in to see how you are doing? My son in law Jim Hansen is a runner – running is what he does and he is I suppose ‘addicted to it’ – if he can run, it seems as if he is one big happy camper! He has done the Iron-Man – and the Boston Marathon several times along with a whole bunch of other races, far too numerous to mention. Jim belongs to a running club where he is a member of a team. They run together, train together and have that great camaraderie.
ReplyDeleteI recall that Jim has mentioned a particular point in the Boston marathon where many runners drop out and vanish from the radar screen it’s called Heart-Break Hill … it’s a killer that comes somewhere in the middle of the race I believe. It calls for endurance and stamina and reflects training and dedication. To survive Heart-Break Hill means that you stand a pretty good chance of finishing the race provided everything else goes smoothly – winning of course, is another matter – winning has often something to do with Kenyans I believe! Most, the majority who participate, are satisfied to finish the course – there is only one winner.
I’m wondering if perhaps you have come to your personal Heart-Break Hill and possibly doubt that you can continue – feel like dropping off the radar screen – disappearing – it’s the Heart-Break Hill syndrome. You just disappear in the crowd and catch a ride to the finish line to watch the others arrive.
Here are some thoughts you might want to ponder and pray about when you have a prayer-moment.
1. The enemy wants you to quit – He does not want you to finish the course.
2. There are a million reasons to give up – tiredness and emotional fatigue can do that – other team members are much better at this stuff than you are – ever thought that? Resist that thought. God has not brought you thus far to fail or give up.
3. There is so much need here that what you are trying to do will hardly scratch the surface – it’s a bottomless pit of human need.
Here are some scriptures that might help you to keep going and, yes, with God help and those scripture ENERGY BARS finish the course!
Philippians 1:6 “… being confident of this, that he who begun a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Hebrews 12: 1 – 3 “ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
2 Timothy 4: 7 “ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Finish well!
Love and prayers
Maurice and Iris
Ha, Ha...all this running talk!
ReplyDeleteYeah, don't drop off the radar screen! After Heartbreak Hill, it is all downhill!
You won't be able to anyhow...too many people watching and praying!!
Jim