I am in Kisumu

I have just arrived in Kisumu and I had an amazing day today. I left the group of Americans from thousand oaks after spending a few days with them in Mombasa on the east coast. We had a great time visiting an orphanage there. I was so sad that the time there was so brief. I envy those orphan children. On average they are filled with more joy than any American including myself much of the time. Many of them seem to have vibrant walks with Jesus. Their singing was INCREDIBLE!!

There are approximately 42 tribes in Kisumu, which each have their own language/dialect. In the region of Kisumu is the Luo tribe. I have been practicing so hard to learn Swahili and now I want to learn some Luo so I can communicate to people in the language where they are most comfortable. The national language is Swahili so everybody can understand that.

I rode on a boda boda (back of a bicycle) today. Actually, I rode on one and my luggage rode on another. I arrived at Steve and Dianne's (Americans) house this morning and then we went straight to go do outreach with the street boys. Outreach days are wednesday and sunday. I just happened to make it at the right time to go do outreach with Steve. I ended up meeting some of the street boys and practicing my Swahili with them as much as I could. Then they started a soccer game out of nowhere and handed me a whistle. I instantly became the Ref. It was a team from the street boys against a team from the Hawkers (local young vendors). The street boys won 2-1 and they were actually very talented. With some coaching and cleats they have serious potential.

A lot of the street boys sniff glue and get high all day long. It is so sad to sit there and watch a seven year old nurse a bottle of glue, which smells so awful. I almost cried as I held the hand of a little boy named John, who was so cute and small and yet he is hooked on that garbage. It made me angry and hurt at the same time. Many many many street boys have this addiction. I want to see it stop. "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength". Pray that God would use me mightily in reaching these boys.

I then went to a local juvenile hall. The kids didn't seem to be very juvenile. A lot of them love the Lord and are there for various reasons. We taught them some scripture and played with them a bit and then were on our way. They are really bright as well.

I will probably go see my two friends Anna and Kevin tomorrow. They live on a Farm run by a ministry called Nehemiah International. They are my friends from Cal Poly. I hope that it goes well with them. God bless you whoever is reading this today. Praise God for His love and mercy!! God wants our worship and our lives. He is worthy of it all.

I am here!!

I made to Kenya!!! After 2 days of traveling and almost no sleep we made it. We missed our first flight in LA and Chicago was a nightmare to the point where we nearly missed our flight, but after all the nerves and panicky prayers we made it. Praise God!!

I have spent lots of time with David and Matt in the last week and I am growing closer to them as brothers, which has been really cool. My initial response to Kenya was that of intimidation and feeling REALLY out of place. I was intimidated, I think, partly because of watching Blood Diamond on the airplane to Nairobi. It is a very violent and intense movie. I think it would have been better if I watched Finding Nemo or something. I still feel out of place, but I am not nearly as intimidated.

The Masai People are so interesting. I spent two full days with them and I learned a lot. I sat in on one of their community meeting out under some trees. I sat in some red dirt for almost two hours and listened to many older men get up and say things of which I understood none of it. I spent some of the time taking pictures and the rest of the time praying for the Masai. I met two Christian Masai men named Daniel Laon and Ben. They are my new friends. The Masai live out in the bush of Africa and live in mud huts. They are the largest tribal people in Africa. I witnessed the gutting of a goat and a Masai BBQ as well. They cooked goat only because we were there (the mizungus: white people). The medical facility is underway. They are digging for the footings and taking 300 tons of aggregate there as we speek. I have much more to say, but I need to go so Dave and Matt can use this computer. Thank you for any and all prayers. Pray for the Masai and the group of 40 americans that will be here shortly.

Steve
"Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you."

I leave in 7 hours!!!

I am now in Corona, California and I am so excited to be flying out in just a few hours.  My friend David and I are at his house and he is chatting with his girlfriend while I start this blog.  I hope that this blog can be a blessing to you all and that the Lord would use it to encourage and challenge its readers.  I still don't know exactly what will be in store for me there in Kenya, but I know that God has led me to go and therefore I am very excited!!!  I think that I should get off the computer, but I hope and pray that this blog will continue and that it would be a blessing to you all.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.  Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight."  Prov 3:5-6

I love you all