MONDAY, JUNE 30 see the Photo gallery

Hey Everyone!
The flight was long but arrived on time with no problems till we got to the airport and found that we only had 2 of our 9 pieces of luggage. Dan and Susie were the lucky ones finding their luggage, but Sarah and Mandy didn't have their nor did we have our 5 tubs of gifts and crafts! After reporting our missed luggage, we found Lisa and headed to our home for the week. We're staying at the home of CBF missionaries Sam and Melody Harrell. It is very nice and comfortable. We brainstormed a little about our VBS that started today, Tuesday since we had no crafts.

We were up at 7AM this morning and ready by 8AM. and met missionary Keith Ham who we are working with this week. He first took us to the Pangani Center in the Mathare Slums. They were having recruitment day for the children to signup for school. There were 100's of kids. 70% of the people in Nairobi live in the slums. We met Wallace and Mary who began Mission of Hope International, NGO here in Kenya to help the children in the slums. They have built at least 3 centers where they provide Christian school for the children. There are a 1000 children in the school at Pangani Center. We did a little orientation and then left for Bondeni Center which has over 250 in school. That's where we began our VBS today. We were late getting started but first took all the children outside and Sarah Walters with help from Mandy Buie led them in music! They loved it! Then we divided the children in half and Lisa and I did Bible study with a group while the other group had Recreation with Dan Abe and Sarah Walters. Then we switched groups and gave them a snack. We also took pictures of each child for a craft that we have planned later in the week if our materials show up.

Then we headed to Kosovo Center which has 358 children. We were treated to a Kenyan lunch first then divided the children into 4 groups and rotated them from Bible Story, Snack, and Recreation. We ended with music this time. The children are very well behaved and so beautiful. Most of them live in tin shanties and I must admit I wanted to buy them all clothes and shoes! Our Bible story was about the birth of the baby King...Jesus. They listened and knew the story well!

The children at Bondeni had never had a VBS before so that was fun.  We know we met most of the children that Snyder families are sponsoring, but the children at Kosovo where most of the Snyder children are didn't have name tags and with 358 children if was hard to find each one..but we promise to try better throughout the week. I can tell each of you that your money is making a difference in their lives! You can only see where they live to understand that. Pictures will never do it justice. These are truly the "least of these."

Thanks for your prayers...continue praying especially that we receive our supplies tonight on the next incoming flight from London. Tonight we changed over our money, ate dinner and went to the grocery. We'll head back to the airport tonight to see if out things arrived. I know Mandy and Sarah would enjoy seeing their suitcases as well. Enjoy the pics!

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2

Hey Everyone!
Well, the luggage arrived Tuesday night, and thanks to the diligence of one of the airport employees, we got it! There was one man who said that all of the luggage was off the plane, but another was willing to go and look, and guess what - our 7 missing pieces were in the crate! We thank God for the diligent man! It was a really late night for us Tuesday night, because after we got home from the airport we had to cut the pictures we had taken so the children could make their "God Made Me Special" picture frames yesterday. What I wish we had a picture of is the children's faces when they turned their frame over and there was their picture - priceless moments! Last night was another night spent cutting - hearts and straws and yarn for their "I Love God" bracelets today. Tonight, no cutting! We had a Kenyan meal with some of my co-workers, and they shared a little about Kenyan culture. Tomorrow is the last day of Bible School at Bondeni and Kosovo, but we will get to see the children at Kosovo again on Monday, and meet the children that people at Snyder are sponsoring. We're looking forward to that. Tomorrow night we will go to Keith and Kathy Ham's (Keith is the missionary we are working with) to celebrate July 4. This is an amazing group that has come to work with these precious children, and I am grateful for the emphasis that Snyder Memorial puts on missions! Thanks for your prayers for all of us! Here are some ways you can continue to pray for: our health, for a way we can continue to make a difference in the lives of these children, for the closing of the Vacation Bible Schools tomorrow, for continued safety on not the best roads ever!, traveling to various places in Nairobi. Can't wait to see what God has in store for us tomorrow!
Gratefully, Lisa

Friday, July 4

Happy 4th of July to all of you in America!
We finished our VBS today. It was sort of sad as the children definitely wanted us to come back tomorrow. We started the day without Sarah as she was feeling under the weather. She stayed at the Harrell's home with their houseworker. Mandy pinched hit with music and did a great job. We were planning to go to Bondeni first today, but Keith (the missionary) took us to Pangeni (another center with a 1000 children). For some reason we were delaying going to Bondeni. We finally went and saw first hand what the children there live with day in and day out. We'll share more about it when we get home. The children were ready and waiting for us when we arrived singing all the songs that Sarah had taught them. Today our Bible story was led by Lisa and was on the death and ressurection of Jesus Christ. In crafts we made cross necklaces and the children loved them. Dan led the games again, but I do believe that music may be their favorite part as the children sing the songs all day long. They love to shake our hands, give us five and today we were hugging them and could hardly get out of Kosovo. It was hot today and it amazes me seeing these children and adults in coats and hats. We were all sweating. At the end of VBS at Bondeni, we gave out the sundresses that another church had sent with us. We gave the dresses to the nursery girls and they were so cute holding them up in front of them. We gave the boys toothbrushes and toothpaste that Mandy had gotten from her dentist. We also had the 40 hygiene kits with coloring books made during Operation Inasmuch, and we were going to give them out, but Alice asked if she could keep them to give as incentives for the children later and of course we said that was fine. She did pick out 2 children, a boy and girl, who had behaved well and participated in VBS and we gave them each one.  

Then we headed off to Kosovo for our VBS for 360 children. We always eat lunch when we get there...it's usually rice, ugali, or mashed potatoes with some type of stew and cabbage salad. Then it was off to do VBS again. Everyone had a great time...I must admit doing crafts in a building with no electricity, I keep wanting to turn the lights on. Still hard for me to imagine how these teachers teach with no supplies hardly. It's unbelievable. The head teacher at Bondeni, whose name is Alice, is just inspiring. She loves on those children, but knows how to encourage them. We have learned so much and hopefully shared as much. We have given WOWS all week.

We did make it to the Masai Market after we finished VBS and did a little shopping for souvenirs. Then we headed over to the missionary's home, Keith and Kathy Ham for a big 4th of July celebration. They had invited their teammates, us, and all the interns working in Mathare along with Wallace and Mary who actually started the Mission of Hope International work in the Mathare slums. Unfortunately it rained, but the fellowship was good anyway and the time ended with a little fireworks, well, some sparklers.

Tomorrow we will visit the boarding school where the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th graders attend and do a few home visits. I think it will be hard for us to imagine how these children live. We will also spend a little time with Wallace and Mary to understand how they began this ministry. It is really unbelieveable what they have done. Continue praying for health. Sarah was feeling better this afternoon and went with us to the Ham's tonight. Continue praying for safety for all and we will continue to share our hearts here and learn as much as we can. Susie

SATURDAY, JULY 5

Hey everyone!
Today was a day of learning for our group.  We started out meeting at the Pangeni Center this morning with Wallae and Mary who began Mission of Hope International. They are 2 of the most passionate people I've ever met. Mary shared about how it all began and how it has progressed from starting with 50 preschoolers to running 6 schools with 2400 students...all children from the slums. They do other things as well like Community health evangelism, HIV/AIDs program, micro enterprise, along with the education and feeding program. The schools even meet on Saturday because they know the children might not have food otherwise. After our chat, we left to do some home visits in the Pangeni area of the Mathare slums. We walked through the mud and trash and sewer to get to the first house or shanty...maybe a 9x12 feet square covered with tin, no electricity, mud floor, with 2 women and 5 children living there. Tears ran down by my face as I looked at the beautiful little children sitting on her lap and beside her and on the floor.  We prayed with her. She had become a Christian after she sent her oldest child to school at the Pangeni Center.  Then we moved on to another home, a little bigger space with some old furniture packed in it. Naomi was a Christian who had HIV/Aids as did her youngest son in school at Pangeni.  Her oldest son had been murdered last year. As we walked along the mud, children with their flipflops and coats ran to greet us saying, "how are you?" and wanted to hold our hands as we walked. The last house we went to was down a hill, and we had to be careful, going down in the mud.  This woman, Elizabeth, had 2 daughters both at the Mission of Hope Boarding school. Elizabeth had once tried to make a living by gathering sticks where she had to prostitute herself to be able to enter the area where she could get the sticks; Her daughter was one of those first 50 students who got to start at Wallace and Mary's first school.  Elizabeth then became a Christian and now makes chapatis to make a living.  Her smile was beautiful! We took her picture to take with us to the boarding school so her girls could see her. The visits were gut wrenching, but listening to Mary share how it was all worth it as she watched these families come to know Christ and blossom made it all worthwhile to her. This mission is named so appropriately. The people working here are giving hope to the hopeless.  It's truly what the gospel is all about and gives new meaning to "the least of these."

After a wonderful Kenyan lunch at the Pangeni Center we left on an adventure to the boarding school in Joska. We traveled with Wallace and Mary and Julius was our driver. It was quite a drive as we left the highway and traveled on the bumpy dirt paths to the school that seems to be in the middle of nowhere. But yet, there in the middle of nowhere was this school full of hope!!! 450 4th-7th graders living in temporary dormitories till the permanant ones are built.  120 girls sharing a room with bunks 3 beds high.  We toured the facilities and then went in the make shift auditorium where the children did a presenation for us. As we walked in they were singing, Come Now is the Time to Worship and tears again ran down my face. The sang several more worship songs and then danced and did dramas to music for us. They prayed the most beautiful prayers and recited memory verses for us.  Hope is alive!  Seeing the homes we v isited this morning in contrast to the children being pulled out of that enviroment and have an opportunity to change their lives, not just with school, but with the hope of Jesus Christ. We returned home tired, physically and emotionally drained. We had a late dinner and will turn in early tonight as we will worship with the children of Kosovo tomorrow morning. I can't wait!  Susie

SUNDAY, JULY 6

I am not sure if the word incredible or exhausting would be best to describe today. Well, lets just pick both! My throat is killing me, my legs are tired and the love of Jesus never ceases to leave my prescence. I forgot what actual worshipping was until I walked in until the church at Kosovo and heard the most beautiful acapella sounds I have ever heard in my life. We kept time with our hands and went for 2 and a half hours non stop worshipping the Lord. The children from the 2 schools we worked at came in and performed screaming bible verses and silly songs they learned from me, of course. I almost forgot I was video taping while I was watching the children present. This was because I couldn't stop smiling and beingproud of what song I had taught them. I don't speak there language past "How are you?" and "Fine," but we sure did have a LOT of conversation when we had music time together. I will never forget the smiles on their faces. What beautiful children the Lord has ma! de!

Later on after lunch we went to New Life orphanage and held precious little babies. We sat with the workers, loved on the babies and Dan Abe wore an apron. We then ventured over to the toddlers and got a work out. And still, Dan Abe wore an apron. It wouldn't of been so hard to leave, until some of the children cried when we put them back in to their rooms to eat some dinner. Then it got sad for Mandy and I. Oh and I almost forgot, Dan Abe wore an apron with flowers on it.

God has overwelmed me on this trip and in a good way. He has opened my eyes and I have seen people who give all they have to make it through the day. They will always be in my thoughts and prayers. Later on after the orphanage we went to Mary and Wallace's house (the people in charge) for dinner and saw monkeys in their back yard! How cool is that? Then we went on a walk and began to get hungry and we were right by banana trees, mango trees and passion fruit bushes. Dinner was very, VERY Kenyan and was quite delicious. It has been a wonderful day and I thank God for keeping us safe on the off roads.

Throughout the day I continued the recite parts of a poem I heard once. Its about being thankful and realizing what you have. (And boy was I reminded of that today.) "....Lord forgive me when I whine. I have two eyes, two legs, two arms and a home....the world is mine."

Dear God, bless the children that we won't work with again on this trip. Thank you for the ones who can only say "How Are you?" Keep the children safe as they live in horrible living conditions. Be with the children who don't have a blanket to carry around beside them all the time. And for the children who have no one to hug them and tell them that it will be alright. Bless the children who are influenced by drugs to forget their worries and bless the children who only want to hold someone's hand. And the children who don't have a nightlight during the night to assure that everything will be ok. Thank for the children God, I love them all.

In Jesus' Name,
Sarah Stuart Walters

MONDAY, JULY 7

We started off the morning like any other typical morning here in Kenya, with chai tea and mandazis. After breakfast we headed further into the slum to the houses of some of the children sponsored by member within the church. There we did a unique ministry of "Bringing The Light," in which we shared our faith and what it is like to have salvation in Christ while some of the men put fiberglass paneling on their roofs to allow light into their houses. We were able to bless three houses with light and the word of God. Out of the three houses we entered, one decided to become a follower. The experience to witness to and see the transformation Christ did within her before our eyes was amazing. Just like in 1 John 3 it talks about the darkness disappearing and the light consuming and growing, we were able to see that literally with the light in her house and within her spirit.

After sharing God's word and bringing the light, we had lunch followed a one-on-one time with all the children that members of Snyder sponsors. We were able to meet them, take pictures, and give certain ones gifts their sponsors sent.

Then we were brought to the big room for a celebration. To our surprise the Bondeni  children joined us in our farewell. The children at both centers put on skits, recited memory verses, and sang songs for us. We all sat back like proud parents with smiles from cheek to cheek. They ended with a song and dancing that we never thought would end. We found out it was so long because they were trying to get us up to dance with them. They finally pulled us out of seats and presented all of us with individual gifts. We all became emotional to see that those with nothing would still find a way to give us a departing gift. After the presents were presented and words of thanks were expressed, they continued and brought out a very large cake that said "Thank you and God bless you." Most of us only became more emotional when Alice explained to us the purpose of the cake. She made a comparison of the last supper and how the disciples didn't want Jesus to leave but knew that the time had come for him to go. We all began to lose control of our tears as Alice explained. We then got up and cut the cake in the manner that they traditionally do. Everyone grabs onto the knife and all together as a unit cut the cake. Mary fed the cake to each of us and then we were sent out to go feed the children. Still some of us could not control the emotions. After all the cake was dispersed we headed out ready to leave Kosovo for the last time. The presence of Christ in the room with all the children and teachers was unexplainable! The moment was priceless and unforgettable. Leaving the children and workers was very hard for us all. The children and staff left a huge imprint on us as we did with them. The opportunity that Christ gave us all is irreplaceable and unforgettable. The learning experience we all will take away from the kids and staff in non-teachable. God blessed us with some amazing people we can now call rafikis (friends).

We later went to dinner at an ethiopian restaurant which was an experience for some of us. And for one individual, Sarah, it is an experience she will not want to partake in again. After the fun dinner we went to Java House to enjoy in normal desserts of ice cream and coffee.

Amanda Buie

Tuesday, July 8

Today has been a day of 'tourist' stuff, as we have reached the end of our time together. We went shopping this morning, then to Amani ya Juu (peace from above), where we heard the ladies sing for us, then had a tour of their shop, and saw the unity quilt, which depicts the way that people in various countries solve their conflicts. I've seen it several times, and still get goosebumps when the 'tour guide' points out the fact that none of our conflicts can be solved successfully without the blood of Jesus Christ. After lunch at Amani, we proceeded to Karen, where we spent a little time bonding with a few giraffes! Then it was back to the other side of town for some last minute shopping and supper, before heading back to the Harrell's to shower and pack.

Traffic wasn't too heavy on the way to the airport, and the line moved quickly for them to get inside (too quickly for me!). I watched until they were out of sight, then headed back to Rosslyn. Hopefully their flights won't be as turbulent as riding on the roads of Nairobi! They were thankful that that part of the trip is behind them. (Even me, I think I will walk everywhere for a few days!)

We have had a great week together, and I am grateful for this group of 4 who came to minister to the least of these in Nairobi. They have lots of stories to tell, and lots of ways to share how God can use a group of 5 to minister to a group of 600, but moreso, how He can use those who have so little to show us so much! Thank you for sending this amazing group to minister in Nairobi!!

Lisa