They Were Standing In The Fire, Yet They Were Not Consumed...

Today we spent the day in the slums of Kenya. We took a tour of a church which was involved in the political riots a couple years ago. The church was supported by the LCMS world mission fund and had just finished building a brand new doctors facility to treat the people in the slums, and a sanctuary with a school. When the riots started happening, people hopped the iron fence and started looting and setting things on fire. It was horrible to see such devastation still two years removed from the conflict that took place. He told us stories of the people that looted--the man who stole the pastoral albs and chalice and started serving to the people was found dead the very next day. The church caught on fire that day but stopped right at the altar for no reason at all. The church is made of brick and dry wood- excellent for burning. Yet it stopped all on its own. The churches Bible was caught on fire- and the only thing left to read was Psalm 124:

If the LORD had not been on our side—
let Israel say- if the LORD had not been on our side
when men attacked us, when their anger flared against us,
they would have swallowed us alive; the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters
would have swept us away. Praise be to the LORD,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth. We have escaped like a bird
out of the fowler's snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

What an amazing testament to power of God and His workings in His people on earth. The slum where this church comes from is actually where President Obama's family comes from as well. During his travels around the world this past year he came and visited this place to talk with the people, to give them hope.

A thought I couldn't get out of my head as we walked around the building grounds of the church today was why hasn't anybody stepped up to help them anymore after the huge riot? Here this church is running a full elementary school and community development program from a burnt up church, a burnt up basement, and a couple other class rooms. We were met today by about 50-60 children eager to sing and dance and praise the Lord with us for a special assembly. They were all so cute! :) They would come up and hold our hands and jump on us without asking. How I wish we could show more unabandoned joy.

The people of Kenya, and from what I hear all of Africa, are a very proud country. They live in square dirt rooms with sanitation problems all around, yet you would not know it by the way they dress or act toward you. I have yet to meet someone who has not smiled at me and exclaimed Jambo! (hi in swahili) or welcomed us to their country. Matt Thompson and I met a man on our plane out here who had just gotten back from running the San Diego Rock n Roll Marathon like last week. He took first place with a marathon time of 2 hours and 13 minutes. That's a little over 5 minutes each mile. Holy crap. He talked with us for about 5 minutes than invited Matt and I along with our whole group over to his house this Sunday for a traditional African dinner. I wonder if I would ever have dreamt of doing such a thing if I ran into people on a plane. Would I have shown such amazing hospitality to strangers in a foreign land?

The second slum we went to I ran into a ministry in which I have some loose ties too due to my recent interviews with a church called Salem Lutheran in Tomball, TX! They are helping to give eye glass and dentist work to people in the slums at churches where the people of that congregation can then preach the gospel to all the people that come! I was amazed at how small the world is to run into my dear friends at Salem in Tomball's ministry! They are also staying at the place we sleep at as well! Crazy! There is also another church which is partnering with them from Austin, TX- Redeemer Lutheran.

We sang a lot today for many different people! They also sang for us! It was great!

Tomorrow we will be busy putting up a roof at either a school or a church nearby the area we were in today! I am very excited!

It's funny to see animals running around wild- baboons, exotic birds, etc.

The thought that this trip is not just a tiny trip set in today for me especially. Certain things have come up for me when thinking about the states and all my friends and family back home. I am not here on a short visit. I am here for a very long time. Pray that I will continue to find strength and the energy needed each day to give as much of myself as possible to everyone we meet and on our very own team.

Alright, it's almost sunrise out on the Kenyan plains, and I still need a little rest for the upcoming day! Thanks for everyone who has been posting and viewing my blog! You have encouraged me as well!

Peaches.