Tuesday camp

Mambo, sawa sawa
Mambo, sawa sawa….
We began the day with the familiar strains of a Swahili chorus that we learned last year about how things are better because Jesus is on the throne. How we love joining the campers and local leaders in praise and worship, especially when it is expressed in their own language and rhythm.

Each day allows us to interact more with the kids and especially, the local leaders. How wonderful it is to encourage and love on these children with smiles, hugs, and laughter, and how they soak it up! But we were particularly impacted by the local leaders as we spent the afternoon listening to them share about their lives and how God has worked in their lives and continues to lead them. Each one shared about their relationship with Christ, His call on their lives to serve, and the joy they have in ministry. The maturity of these young people is amazing; their passion and commitment is so deep. Many of them have come through harsh struggles, but all exemplified total dependence on God, His trustworthiness and faithfulness. Stirring indeed!!

We are excited that these leaders will be working with us next week at the youth camp. We look forward to having more time to interact, share, and pray together as we join with them to reach out to young people in Kibera.

Tomorrow half of the team will visit Kibera and have a chance to visit in some of the homes of those in the Homecare ministry group. It will be sobering and probably somewhat distressing. The sheer enormity of the area, 600 acres with a million people, is overwhelming. The conditions are so dire; no water, electricity, sanitation in such dense population produces extreme difficulties. Add to that the high rate of unemployment in Nairobi and it is not surprising that such severe conditions exist.

BUT….God is at work here! As overwhelming as the problems are, He is greater, and we are thankful that God is indeed on His throne, He is drawing people and transforming lives and with Him, Mambo sawa sawa….life is better because of the Lord.

Please continue to pray for the team and the campers for health, stamina, enthusiasm and ability to connect even with language and cultural challenges. It’s only been two days, but we have all been touched immensely, have seen God with new eyes, and seen Him in the lives of our brothers and sisters here. What a great God we serve!