Kibera Week 1

So, I'm half way through my Kenya visit. I leave for Zambia one week from tomorrow morning to join Kendall and Joy in Zambia! The first day we were in Kibera was an intro day and extremely eye opening, but I have grown so much since then. At first these kids just looked like the pictures I've seen my whole life, but as I have gotten to know these children, I can see them for who they are- individually.They each have a story and are all so unique. Our second day in Kibera we put on a camp for all the children in New Hope Primary School. We painted their faces and ours. (I actually got a sunburn on my face that day, everywhere except where the paint was. It made for an interesting sunburn line- two lines under my eyes and one down the middle of my face...) It was the most fun I've had- maybe ever. We made chants and yelled and played games. The children were going crazy and screaming and laughing like nothing else I've ever seen. We also got to talk to the older kids in small groups which was awesome. I had five Class 6 (6th grade) girls.

That afternoon we went to the high school were the scholarship kids from Kibera go. It's Langata High School. I tutored a girl there in Form 1 (Freshman) named Ruth. She was extremely sweet. The next day we tutored some of the kids that we just below passing their Class 8 exam to get into high school. Then we did crafts with some of the Class 7 girls. In the afternoon Taylor, Abby and I did an art class. I met and fell in love with a boy named Kelvin in that class. He shared his story with me- pray for his dad. He's a drunk and doesn't know God, but the rest of his family does. The next day was a safari which was kinda cool, but pretty boring because everything was so far away. But after we went to a giraffe sanctuary were I received my first kiss. I put a pellet in my mouth, and the giraffe would take it with it's tongue! It was so awesome and I got lots of pictures! Today started with more tutoring and then we got to go to some of the kids houses.

I went to Caroline and Dennis' house. They are brother and sister. It took us about 20 minutes to walk to their house and then we went to a few other places around Kibera with them. We walked for about an hour or more throughout the whole trip. I got to see so much more of Kibera, and it's impossible to describe so I won't even try. I met their mother, Ruth, and heard her story. We got to pray for her, that God would heal her from her sickness. From what she described, it sounds like focal seizures. In the afternoon we did the art class again. We bubble lettered a part of Psalm 139 and had them color and decorate them, then hung it in their classroom. God has definitely been teaching me on this trip. Lots of things that I wasn't expecting. Things within our group that we've been working out. It's also been hard to see how God is wanting me to respond during my time in the slums with the children and what he is wanting to teach me. It is becoming more clear, but if you pray for me, please pray that I would be able to see the Holy Spirit moving and would be able to follow that leading. In my quiet time today, I read that we should be careful of building our faith on experience. So I know this is a faith builder, but not because of the experience, but because God is here and working- just like I should be able to see everyday.

If you want to read about our trip more you can check out the group blog at: kelseyinkibera.blogspot.com