Kisumu After Dark

One place you don't want to be at night as a white man is in downtown Kisumu. You especially don't want to stroll through fanana park after hours. I spent lots of time with one of our best players named Basil (not BAY-zll Baa-zil) today and he informed me about Kisumu after dark. He said that fanana park is the worst place to be when the liquor stores have emptied their stock of the cheapest and nastiest liquor. Basil told me that women will walk through the park half-naked and drug use is rampant there as well. The irony starts with the fact that this place is where ministry happens every sunday with the street boys. A hundred or so gather to sing and hear the word of God on the very same ground where debauchery and crime flourishes. I asked if I would be okay to come at night even if I had no money to steal and he said I would likely get beaten anyways for not giving them any money. I will just stick to daytime ministry for now.

My first game with team Hovic was today. It was a real Kenyan football match. The politics of Kenya and the corruption in this country even manifest in the local men's soccer league. This is disturbing, but true. The Ref was afraid of a beating from the other team so the calls were skewed making for a 2-1 defeat to a wrongly called p.k.. And our opponents must have trembled at a bunch of street boys plus one random white man beating them in the match. They were older and more skilled, but the street boys were a hundred times more daring and brave. They would give their left leg to win one contest for the ball- blood gushing and all. Their bravery is what may make them good football players one day. I knew there was something wrong when my players advised me to not go for the ball because I quote, "they will likely injure you". The street boys knew of the corruption and it made for an intersting match. I looked half African after the match from the dark dirt-sweat combination all down the left side of my body. And I only bled a little, but it was all worth it!

Tomorrow is a turning point for these boys. I hope to purchase eight soccer balls in the morning followed by their first REAL football practice. I am bubbling with excitement, but also cautious at sharing a fortune with boys who have nothing. The balls that I am buying are the best. "Losing" and then selling a ball would mean food, rent, pleasure, and survival. I recognize the temptation presented so the balls must be well gaurded and they will clearly be labeled my property for the time being.

The spiritual aspect is this. The boys know some about the Lord. Their undestand rides along the surface and has never truly been explored. Are they truly born-again going to heaven Christians? I don't really know. Time will tell. The word of God changed and is changing me and I know the same will be true for them. Tomorrow I will have a Bible on the field and continue fulfilling my self-proclaimed role as team pastor. Things may get hairy because the enemy is truly fighting for the souls of these boys, but hakuna matata as they say.

Life is good, God is good. I am fully alive and so happy and content with life. I love being here and may find my way back some time. Thank God today for all He has done for you and all that He has blessed you with. He is worthy to be praised and thanked continually. Isn't it?