with love from kenya (Week 5: September 6 – 12)

Invitation to Sunday brunch, accepted.  To get there, Lora and I made the trip into Nairobi.  Upon arriving in the city we went with a couple of the Kenyan guys on the “City Hoppa” a sort of bus.  Once we got to the downtown core, we had to transfer as we were going to a different part of town then the boys; we opted for the “Matatu’s” another sort of bus/van in which most drivers cram 20 passengers into the 14 seats.  We paid 30 bob, and quickly got over the fear of death by car accident – our driver was quite competent at his job.

Around the backyard porch, at brunch, sat the Director of the World Bank, the Director of the International Rescue Committee for Horn and East Africa, several Advisors/Analysts of the big NGO’s in Kenya, a lady who works with the Women Nobel Peace Prize winners promoting gender development, Micro-Finance Directors/Educators, and another who is in the process of starting up a NGO that is helping rehabilitated-street boys start businesses.  Needless to say, Lora and I were honored to be there, the conversation and story of these people lives and the many invitations to do internships at their various workplaces were incredibly encouraging.  I will keep you posted on what happens here.

The Matthews had me for dinner Monday night; it was delicious as per usual.  Had some great conversations with newly acquired friends, George and David about philosophy, the church and music.  The differences in thought (Western vs. African) are quite noticeable when such topics are debated and elaborated on.  This is both something that is good, and challenging.

Nairobi the following weekend was different than before; instead of exploring the city we went to a children’s home to do some work.  I was not sure what to expect when we were invited, but upon arrival I could not have been more welcomed.  The home is run by 2 momma’s who care for the 15 children that live there (ages 3-14).  It was a beautiful place.  The children were thoroughly entertained by our hair, and spent a good portion of the day combing it and braiding it (ouch!).  At the end of our visit, one of the young boys, nicknamed ‘Pastor’ sat us all down in a circle and conducted prayer; asking each and everyone of the children, as well as us, to say a word of prayer.   The simplicity of these prayers is what made them some of the most powerful I have witnessed in my faith.

The night was spent in an estate that overlooked Kibera, the largest slum in Africa.  It was a really strange thing to be drinking a Fanta while observing some of the most destitute poverty.  I am hoping to go inside Kibera eventually, so that I can stop speculating about what it is like, and actually know.