The Dark Side of the Green City
Happy Friday everyone! We are loving having Jonathan’s mom and sister, and of course our daughter Hannah with us this month. The only problem with having family visit is it requires another hard goodbye. Another reminder that we truly are exiles passing through this world on our way to the city whose designer and builder is God Himself.
Last time we introduced you to the city of Nairobi. The city has changed and we’ve noticed the amazing growth of a black Kenyan middle class. Twenty years ago if you went to one of the few malls, you saw mainly white people. Now I would say there are probably more black Kenyans making up the clientele even in the nicer malls. However, the scars of poverty are evident on almost every block of the city – none more glaring than in Kibera slum.
Nairobi is home to the second largest slum in Africa called the Kibera slum. It has about 150,000 people living there who live on less than a dollar per day. How they survive on such a negligible amount of income is still a mystery. It is estimated that the Kibera slum has one of the highest HIV/AIDS density in Kenya. With only very few schools which the inhabitants can hardly afford, literacy level is very low and assault and rape cases are quite high in the area.
We have yet to visit Kibera since we’ve come back to Kenya. When I came here with a team from college in 1991, we spent many hours conducting an open-air meeting, singing, sharing our testimonies, meeting and praying for the precious people here. Please continue to pray for these families who have nothing in the way of earthly possessions, that they would have riches beyond compare in Jesus Christ.
We would also ask for prayer for a busy couple weeks. This weekend Lilli and I work with the Jr. Class to put on “Jr. Store”. They make donuts and all kinds of food items to sell during sports activities on Saturday to make money for their “Senior Safari” next year. It’s a big undertaking as we literally feed hundreds of people! Also, we will join Sophia and the sixth grade class next week on their “Sixth-Grade Safari” to the area around Mt. Kenya from Monday-Thursday. I’m going as the cook. Those of you who know me will really be praying for these kids! And finally, I’m preparing a baptism service on Sunday, June 25, when seven students will be following the Lord in the waters of baptism. Two more seniors will be baptized on July 9. Thanks for your support and prayers! Have a blessed weekend!