Sunday, September 2, 2007

One Week

I have one week left of my journey to Kenya. I am both excited to start Bible college back in SLO-town and dreading saying goodbye to all my Kenya friends.

(Aside) Did you notice how two posts ago I was writing about weeping and last post I was writing about lion killing. I didn't know if anybody picked up on the contrast between the two, but at least I did. LOL. Kenya can bring you to the extremes of life I suppose. Maybe that is why I like it.

So about my goodbyes...... I don't want to leave and then I do. I miss so many things at home. I mostly miss the familiar people, places, and faces. I miss ice cream, pizza, and big glasses of cold milk too. I miss my crappy college apartment, the pacific ocean, and white people. I really miss white people. They don't have those here. It will be very hard to go however. I have bonded in a special way with a few of these guys. I will also miss my host-parents. They have been a huge blessing to me. I didn't come to Kenya with enough money and thanks be to God I was connected with people who love having people stay with them for no charge. My host parents have taught me skills in hospitality and servanthood that can't be learned many places. I guess having ex-cons living with you for twelve years will teach you a few things. That is what Steve and Dianne, my host-parents, did before they were in Costa Rica.

God has really blessed this trip and he has done a great work through me and to me. I want to work all the way to the bitter end and I am really looking forward to this last week. It will be a great week. We have a tournament, a baptism, and a game in the stadium planned. These street boys have never played at the stadium so that should be pretty cool for them. It will be cool for me too. Falling on the grass is way cooler than falling on dirt. Thats a fact!

I know that if I was given more time the possibilities with these boys would be endless. Their poverty isn't really their problem. Jesus himself had no place to lay his head. Poverty wasn't a problem for Him. Hunger isn't a problem for these boys either. Jesus went 40 days without food and it only made Him stronger in the end. Education isn't even a problem. The disciples in the book of Acts were astonishing people left and right at how they knew such things. Later it became apparent to the people that, "they had been with Jesus." These boys just need to be taught the Bible and how to follow and walk with Jesus. Soccer is the means by which this is possible. Soccer is also a great way to keep there bodies strong and teach them great lessons that can cross into the spiritual realm. If I had more time here I could see even more wonderful things happen in their lives. I will leave them in the best possible way for them to grow while I am absent. I am praying God would raise up at least three leaders to fill my shoes. Even that will of coarse take time.

I am gonna miss buying a big fat meal for $.30. That is just a random thought.

I am gonna miss going anywhere in town on the back of a bicycle for $.30 as well.

I am gonna miss Maasai war stories and hugging little street children, who don't get many hugs otherwise.

I am gonna miss so many things.

This will be close to my last post here on this blog thingy, but maybe I will start one called Steve-Slo.blogspot.com. That will keep me on my toes back at SLO.

I look forward to seeing all of you back at the States. I will be there next Monday. Give me a call or I might call you. I have tons of roll-over minutes by now. :) - steve