As you may or may not have heard, there was a terrorist
attack in Nairobi a week and a half ago that killed over 60 people and injured
around 175. Christine and I were lucky to not have been anywhere near the mall
the terrorists attacked and even in the past we have only gone there 4 or 5 times
since we have been here. Still, it was absolutely devastating hearing that so
many men, women, and children were victims of this attack. All of Kenya is
still in mourning over this terrible crime against humanity and my hope is that
all of the culprits have been apprehended and justice will be brought to the
victims, survivors, and their loved ones. What is comforting is that God is
still on His throne and His promises are still true in Revelation 21:1-4.
Jikaze Pre-teen Bible Study
I first heard the news of the attack while were about 2 hrs
from Nairobi in the opposite direction. Lydiah, one of our Kenyan staff members
who is the Head Discipleship Coordinator, Christine and I were in the Great
Rift Valley in Jikaze continuing our bible study we started about a month ago
with the young girls. We were anticipating that we would continue our ministry
with high school girls there, but most of them are in schools farther away and
aren’t in Jikaze during the term. So, our dynamic has changed from high school
girls to girls about 9-13 years old. We still rejoice though!! God has given us
an opportunity to reach these girls at younger ages so that by the time they
reach high school they will have a more solid foundation on where they stand
with their faith and beliefs. Our hope is that we can influence this younger
group of girls to become the leaders now and be prepared when they enter into
high school just like our girls at Uhuru Academy. Our first two lessons with
them were just to see how much they know
about the Bible so we started with Creation and then the Fall and will continue
to work up to more challenging topics. I am really excited to see them open up
more (because they seem to be pretty shy and intimidated right now) and really
understand what the Gospel means to them personally. I want to see how the
Spirit moves in their hearts and brings them into a deeper relationship or
maybe a relationship for the first time with their Lord and Savior instead of
just head knowledge or adapting what their parents believe! We wanna see girls
come to know JESUS! Oh yeah, I get to practice my Swahili with them too since
most of them have not had a lot of English classes yet!
Kamadura Girls' High School GLOW Club
Also, we have been trying to start our life skills club
called GLOW club (Girls Leading Our World) in another girls’ secondary school
in Limuru called Kamandura Girls High School. Over the past two weeks however,
due to the teacher’s strike that happened earlier this year, their students are
making up exams. BUT, on Monday, Christine and I went to their morning assembly
and made an announcement to the students about GLOW Club to see if we got any
interest. BOY DID WE! We showed up Tuesday for our first GLOW club at
Kamandura, and literally, I think the whole school showed up. Now, that may
have been because we are white and they were curious, but hey, what ever gets
them there initially! GLOW club can finish the hooking and sinkering! If I had
to estimate, I would say there were about 150 girls there. WE WERE OVERWHELMED!
We had plans for nametag making and ice breaker games….NO. We had to improvise
and think fast and just did a make shift self-esteem lesson on the fly! I think
it went pretty well and the girls got a good idea of what our club is going to
entail, I just think Christine and I need some advice on how to managethat many
students! It’s definitely a change of pace from our 20 students at Uhuru
Academy!
BUT THE LORD WAS FAITHFUL! He got us into Kamandura and gave
us more girls to impact than we could even hope for so we trust He will provide
the means necessary to teach and equip them!
Christine and I have also joined a bible study at the church
we attend in Nairobi! Its full of girls our age committed to Kenya for a year
or more and they are all single! We had been praying for more friends since we
live in a rural area, and God delivered through this group of young ladies. We
are both so excited to develop deeper relationships with them, and not take for
granted the gift of community that is easily looked over when we lived in the
states.
Lastly, I am coming home to the North Carolina for about 10
days for a best friend’s wedding and just to visit! I would appreciate your
prayers for a safe trip there and back, and good quality time with my loved
ones :)
