Day 5 REVISED Pastor Paul's Perspective

Day 5 (As complete as possible)
Got to talk to Paula and the kids early. We had a day to sleep in, but it was pleasant waking up early to talk them just after they got in from church. Early for me, Late for them.
I went back to bed and when the alarm went off played the snooze game until it quit playing. I won & went back to sleep. I woke up late, just minutes before we were supposed to leave to walk thru the slums. I got ready as quickly as I got and grabbed a bite of peanut butter so I could take my malaria tablet and Aleve. (Back and nerve have done exceptionally well on the trip).
Walked thru Kibera slums: Indescribable; One of the first houses we came to was occupied by church members. I was very humbled as we walked into the two room mud hut, the rooms separated by a sheet. While we were visiting in this home part of the group was visiting next door and having prayer for a lady. We had a prayer and sang a song of blessing before we stepped out. We walked through part of the area and then went in and prayed for one of the church members mothers who has aids. She had also had sugery recently on her stomach and had fallen against the speakers at the church on Saturday when the chaos broke out. She had a sparkle in her eyes and was so appreciative of the visit and prayer. We continued our journey through the slums, discreetly taking pictures along the way, not wanting to invade the privacy of those who live there. There is no possible way to describe the poverty of the area. Sewage runs freely, there is little or no electricity, no running water and the access to water is now far away for the part of the slum that we were walking in. There were children playing in the dirt, in the water, everywhere. The average age of the residents is 12 years old. Aids, incest, disease, and violence are rampant in the area. There were areas that were almost impassible due to the narrow passage ways, steep hills, sand and rocks, and sewage flowing in the area. Outhouses were scattered, but only consisted of a small hut type structure with a hole dug in the floor. There were pits dug next to the doors of the homes for building fires to cook. Several had clothing, washed by hand, hanging on the clothes lines. We passed a few shops featuring items such as soft drinks, bananas, and collards (sukuma). Again words and not even pictures can do justice to the living conditions of these people. To me, the walk back seemed much longer, awakened to a fresh awareness of the great needs of the area. When we got back we were told to take off our shoes and they would have them cleaned for us by some of the workers and students, another humbling experience.
When we got back we spent some time talking and defragging and then it was lunch time on the Womble’s patio. A nice breeze was blowing as we set down to the meal that had been prepared for us: Fruit salad, (mango, paw paw, pineapple), Sukuma (Collards) & Ugali, Potatoes, Fried Chicken. The meal was wonderful! After we ate we prepared to take the rented bus into town to do some shopping at one of the markets. One of the best flea markets in Nairobi is only open now on the weekends. We arrived at the market and were immediately meet by peddlers with the best deals in town. My only concern was that their trinkets were probably made in China. The market was filled with shops of all kinds and every owner tried to coerce us into their establishments. There were just about any kind of native items that you can imagine; hand made dolls, pottery, carvings, linen accessories, knives, jewelry, etc… Our time was somewhat limited so we had to hurry through to try to make a few purchases. Of course every shop keeper assured us they had the best deals. There was a lot of “bargaining” going on and I don’t think I had an offer refused when I told them to forget it, that was all I could pay, and started to walk away. We finally boarded the bus at 4:30 instead of 4 and headed back to Kibera. About 4:50 the bus went dead in the middle of the road still in downtown Nairobi. Eventually someone had to push us off in reverse. It was an experience sitting still in the middle of Nairobi 5pm rush traffic. We were thankful to finally be back on the road. After returning to the Kids Center, we started setting up for “Christmas in March” for the kids. It was amazing to see all the items that had been brought for the kids and for the school. Even more amazing was the joy on their faces as they got to come through by grades and load their bags. I have never seen kids so excited about receiving items such as tooth brushes, flip
flops, pencils, pens, notebooks, candy, nail polish, matchbox cars, hair clips, skirts, etc… There were also supplies for the school; paper, pens, first aid supplies, lotions, creams, soap, toothpaste. After all the gifts were presented to the children as they passed through in an orderly line, they were presented with their new uniforms, supplies by donations from the DelMArVA region. The Martins’ had also raised money through their region to buy 2 new lawnmowers, 2 new industrial dryers for the rainy season, and other supplies needed by the Womble’s and the school. The children and the Womble’s were so grateful for the much needed items and the things that may not have been necessities, but brought so much joy to the orphans. The orphans stories are heartbreaking! There is Immaculate who woke up one morning and told the people that she was staying with that “she had to go to her people”. She was 3 maybe 4 at the time. After being there for services she left, but Debra Womble sent someone to find her, to bring her back “to her people”. They couldn’t find any relatives for her, only the people that she occasionally spent the night with. So many of their lives are filled with no living family members, sexual abuse such as rape, incest, others were sold out for prostitution before they were five years old. To hear some of their stories, and then see the glow on their faces makes it even more special. Gideon, the minister of music, was also presented with a saxophone, a trumpet, and a flute. After all the presentations, we went downstairs for a supper of spaghetti and lunch leftovers. Immediately following supper, the kids had planned a surprise birthday party for Sis. Lynda Martin, First Lady of the COG Delmarva (Administrative Bishop’s wife). They had decorated the room with streamers, balloons, Happy Birthday streamers, and BIG cards that they had made for her. When she came in and they yelled surprise, the school band played and followed with a festive time of celebration. You’ll have to see the video to capture the celebratory spirit of the evening. When that began to die down, the kids were all given Coca Cola and cookies, compliments of the Martin’s. Again, to see the looks on the faces and the grateful hearts for things that our children take so far granted! The biggest surprise and blessing of the evening was yet to come, and it wasn’t in what was being given to the kids and the Womble’s. It was what they were giving back to us. The group was called to the front to sit on the benches that they spread across the front of the room. Then they began to tell how thankful they were for all that had been done for them, and they wanted to do something for us. Realizing that they had little or no resources to present us with gifts, I was NOT prepared for what was about to take place! The Womble’s, the staff, and the children gathered in a circle around us and began to pray for each of us. Some prayed in Swahili, some in perfect English, some in broken English, some in tongues (and amazingly it’s not so hard to tell the difference J ) . It was more humbling than you can ever imagine without experiencing it, to hear these children pray for each of us. Time and time again I heard heart wrenching prayers of “Father bless Pastor Paul and his wife and his“fam a lee”, thank you for sending them to us. Bless them with health, with strength, keep them from the hand of the “een e mee”. The prayers went on and on as others continued to pray for each of us. They didn’t just say prayers over us, the children PRAYED and cried out to God on our behalf. Not just a short obligatory prayer, but prayers with such passion and tears crying out to God for us. I can’t remember a time in my life when I have ever been any more broken. I have never understood the words in the old hymn, “for such a worm as I”, but I felt that low or lower, and so unworthy of the love that these children were pouring back to us. When many finished praying for us, maybe 45 minutes later? Who knows? Time didn’t matter any more at that point; they gathered around the walls and continued to pray and intercede, some with groanings that could not be uttered. I wondered how God could love me in my selfishness so many times, when they were giving all that they had! May God help our children and adults to learn to pray with the same fervency. As the praying began so settle down, the voices began to sing, “One more time” (will have to share more words later) (the computer screen has gotten blurry for some reason, must be this Kenyan Power LOL). I just wanted to get in the floor and sink as low as I could go and thank God for all His blessings in spite of my unworthiness. As for me, I know I can never be the same after that night!!!When we finally gathered some composure back, the Mission Baltimore kids (one of those Kayla, was born in Clanton, attended Oneonta Worship Center COG, and is now children’s pastor in Maryland!) continued with Kids Krusade. During that time I went back to the room to pack for the early morning flight to the Safari.