30 May 2009
I finally arrived in Kenya after spending over 24 hours on planes and in airports. I rode my first double decker plane from Amsterdam to Kenya. The Kenya International Airport is bigger than I expected. The most chaotic part was trying to get your luggage. It was insane. Pastor Makuku came and picked us up and took us to the convent where we are staying. It was dark when we arrived but you could still see the many flowers and trees that are in bloom here. The guest house that I am staying in is beautiful. I didn’t think about the cars though. The driver seat is on the right side of the car and they drive on the left side of the road. A lot of things here are like they are in Britain since Kenya was once ruled by the British. The sisters had dinner ready for us when we arrived here. Dinner was rice, green beans, Bananas from Uganda (which tasted like potatoes!), and some beef. That was my first night in Kenya.
31 May 2009
“We need to emphasis what God emphasizes” –Pastor Makuku
I don’t even know where to begin. I ate breakfast around 8am which was toast and honey for me. The bread here is twice the size it is back home. Pastor had told us he would pick us up for church around 10am. After breakfast our team decided on a song to play/sing at church service. George played guitar and the rest of us sang “Trading My Sorrows”, which happens to be one of my favorite songs. Pastor had asked us the night before to have a song ready to sing at church service. Pastor and his wife Martha came and picked us up for church. Everything here looks SO different in the daylight. Most of the roads we took were nothing but clumps of dirt. Kenyan roads are not made for people who get carsick! lol. The site of Kibera is something that I can’t even begin to describe to you. Once we parked the vehicle, we starting to walk into Kibera. There was so much to see that you go into “sensory overload”. When you walk in, you have to hop across on clumps of what you are hoping is mud and have to be extremely careful not to slip and fall. I saw the biggest pig I have ever seen in my life. Kibera is a maze. The “safe” parts to walk on are the piles of garbage and mud. (well you pray it is mud) I can honestly say I have never seen anything like it in my life. After walking for a few minutes, we finally made it to the church. I found out that the MTW teams are the only white people that go into this part of Kibera. The kids practice their English by saying “How are YOU? How are YOU?” as you walk past them. It is almost a chant. The church service was around 3 hours long. Church in Kibera is so very different than church back home. Everyone pays attention here even the kids. The kids (for the most part) come by themselves, parents don’t make them. People are randomly called up to share a word of encouragement or a testimony. The service is very interactive. We had translators so we would know what was going on since the service is NOT in English. The music is INCREDIBLE here. Everyone loved our song that we sang. People were thanking us as soon as we sat down. The sermon was on “Thou shall not kill.” Deu. 5:17. Everything seems so much more relatable here. We went out to lunch at the Java Hut. When we arrived back at the convent, we decided to explore. Lauri found a chameleon. Everyone took turns holding it. That was pretty much it.
1 June 2009
Today is a holiday in Kenya. It is the day they got their independence (so it is like our 4th of July) So we didn’t have any plans until 2pm. After breakfast the team headed into town. It was about a 20-30 minute walk. My new favorite store is the Nakumatt (which is like Walmart but better) Around 3pm Pastor Makuku came and picked us up. (Time doesn’t really matter here) We went to his house, which is SO beautiful. Kenya has so many barn animals (cows, goats, sheep, donkeys pulling carts, etc.) I had my first cup of hot Kenyan tea today. It was AMAZING. We talked about the importance of prayer, our fears, and our expectations while we were at Pastor’s house. God has been so good to me. I’m so thankful for my time here in Kenya and so grateful for all the people who made this experience possible.
2 June 2009
After breakfast Pastor and his wife picked us up to go back into Kibera. We met all the staff and teachers today. Then Jeffery (the Head Master) took us around to each classroom to meet all the students. The students are so eager to learn here. After that we went to the AIDS support group. It is actually called the Neema group, which means Grace Group. The women were all so joyful and willing to help us Americans understand what was going on. Josephine picked me after lunch to work with her. Each teacher got to choose a team member to assist them with their classes. She is so very sweet and funny too. I graded a lot of math problems for her and helped her teach the Apostles Creed. After school was over, Pastor brought us back to the convent. I feel asleep early.
3 June 2009
Today was another day in Kibera. Today I helped teach Grade 1 Science. The lesson was on Food. Chapati and Ugali are Kenyan foods. Chapati is AWESOME! I have already had it 2-3 times since I have been here. Ugali is the staple food for most Kenyans and for some it is their only food. (It is like a cross between mashed potatoes and grits) I am now called Teacher Grace by most of the kids. After I assisted with Grade 1, I went into the church and listened in on the Bible Study. Then it was lunch time. The kids taught me the Chapati song. Then the whole team helped wash dishes. The art of washing dishes in Kibera: 2 buckets filled with cold water, a sponge with soap, scrub in the 1st bucket, rinse off in the 2nd bucket. That’s it. I could have gone without knowing that but the team just keeps praying the God will keep us safe from sickness. As we were leaving Kibera, I saw my first slum cat. Then at the end of the houses, there is a “stream” of sewage with a “bridge”. In the “water”, on my left was the HUGE pig that we saw on our first day in Kibera and on my right were 4 BIG baby pigs. We played Apples to Apples when we got back to the convent. We have been taking turns leading Bible Study each night. My team is super awesome and each day we are becoming closer. PTL!
4 June 2009
I don’t know if I have mentioned it or not but the statement that was made before I left about Kenyans being very modest except for men urinating publicly and women nursing is SO true! I have seen both on many occasions already. Today we went out to the Church’s new property where we dug around 80 holes with VERY simple tools. The girls removed the dirt from the holes after the guys had broken it up with their tools. O the day in the life of a mole. lol. Lunch was Peanut Butter and Plum Jam sandwiches. It was very good. I got a little sunburn, nothing too bad. It is the worst on my neck. I have learned that most Kenyans live a very simple life. A lot of the time it seems the Bible is so much more relevant here in Kenya because it’s like OT times. There are over 50 tribes in Kenya, which are all represented in Kibera. They eat to live (they don’t live to eat). Kibera Reformed Presbyterian Church’s staff is so strong ion their faith and so are their members. My prayer is that I will see and love God the way so many of these Kenyan women do! Their faith is so unshakable no matter the circumstance. It is a true blessing to be around the women here. I am learning so much. I saw the Ngong hills (which have 7 peaks) and the Hill of the Buffalos (which I thought was a mountain). You can see both from the church’s new property. The property is SO beautiful.
5 June 2009
Today is the team’s day off. Around 10am we will go sight seeing with Caroline and Purity. (two of the Kenyan women) I CAN’T WAIT!
Thanks for all the many prayers. I hope that this letter gives you a little insight on what I have been doing and seeing since I arrived in Kenya. Continue to prayer for my team and I that the Lord will strengthen us each and every day. Spiritual warfare is very alive and well in Kenya. Pray for the Kenyan people as well.
God Bless!
LG
Friday, June 5, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
For Those of You Who Pray
Please Pray For My:
Family and friends to be comforted while I’m away for 2 months this summer.
Attitude, that it would be Christ-like and God-honoring.
Illnesses that occur to my team or me be kept to minimum and for speedy recoveries.
Trust in God’s timing of sending our team of 8 men and women to do His work in Kenya.
Hearts of those I’ll be ministering to in Kenya.
“Now Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
"but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:7-8
"But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds," declares the LORD Jeremiah 30:17
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
Family and friends to be comforted while I’m away for 2 months this summer.
Attitude, that it would be Christ-like and God-honoring.
Illnesses that occur to my team or me be kept to minimum and for speedy recoveries.
Trust in God’s timing of sending our team of 8 men and women to do His work in Kenya.
Hearts of those I’ll be ministering to in Kenya.
“Now Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
"but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:7-8
"But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds," declares the LORD Jeremiah 30:17
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
Friday, May 8, 2009
Address =)
I just received my address for the time I will be serving in Kenya. Just a reminder NO PACKAGES please ONLY letters. I have to pay duty on any packages, and it's iffy as to whether they would even get to me (their postal system isn't very secure.) Also I will be flying out May 29th and be there until July 26th, just something to keep in mind when sending mail. =)
Grace Waldrop
C/o Rev. Imbumi Makuku
Kibera Reformed Presbyterian Church
Box 1229 Karen
Nairobi, Kenya [East Africa]
Thanks for all your prayers! God Bless! =)
Grace Waldrop
C/o Rev. Imbumi Makuku
Kibera Reformed Presbyterian Church
Box 1229 Karen
Nairobi, Kenya [East Africa]
Thanks for all your prayers! God Bless! =)
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Amazing Day.
Today is a very special day! Not only was $4000 broken but now there is less than $1000 (only about $700) left to raise!
Current Amount Raised: $4,985 (PTL!)
Amount Needed to Go to Kenya: $5, 582
Thanks to all who have supported me so far during this journey and thanks for all the prayers. Expect Thank You Cards in the upcoming weeks! =)
Some of you might be wondering why the amount needed to go to Kenya has changed from $6400 to roughly $5600. At the beginning of the process each intern is given an Excel Budget Expenses Sheet. From that Sheet, some items can change their cost. Example, Passport MTW says the cost is $100 BUT I already have a passport so I can subtract that $100. Another big item that changed was that we got our tentative flight plans. The cost was $1800 but now it is $1633. Also the cost for my 6 shots that I had done last week/this week had $500, but because my dad is in the Air Force and I got all my shots on base, that cost is now $0. When your items change... the administrative fee (15%) also changes... which is why my amount needed to go has gone down almost $1000. PTL! =) If you have any other questions about the change in cost, leave me a comment and I will get back to you! Have a Blessed Day!
Current Amount Raised: $4,985 (PTL!)
Amount Needed to Go to Kenya: $5, 582
Thanks to all who have supported me so far during this journey and thanks for all the prayers. Expect Thank You Cards in the upcoming weeks! =)
Some of you might be wondering why the amount needed to go to Kenya has changed from $6400 to roughly $5600. At the beginning of the process each intern is given an Excel Budget Expenses Sheet. From that Sheet, some items can change their cost. Example, Passport MTW says the cost is $100 BUT I already have a passport so I can subtract that $100. Another big item that changed was that we got our tentative flight plans. The cost was $1800 but now it is $1633. Also the cost for my 6 shots that I had done last week/this week had $500, but because my dad is in the Air Force and I got all my shots on base, that cost is now $0. When your items change... the administrative fee (15%) also changes... which is why my amount needed to go has gone down almost $1000. PTL! =) If you have any other questions about the change in cost, leave me a comment and I will get back to you! Have a Blessed Day!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Background on the Kibera Slum- written by the Kenyan Pastor Imbumi Makuku
KIBERA
The Kibera slum began in 1912 when retired Sudanese Nubian soldiers from the British Kings African Rifles were allocated land in the area. They served 12 years in the army to qualify. The Nubians are now in their eighth generation. They are mostly Muslims and have kept their culture intact.
Kibera in the Nubian language has two meanings: “to be silenced in a bad manner” and “jungle”.
Over the years other tribal groups began to settle in the area either renting from the Nubians or by being allocated land to build on a temporary basis by the government. In most cases money changes hands before one is given a plot to build on. Kibera is close to the city center and to the industries so most people can walk to work. It is a reservoir of very cheap labor for the city.
It is eight kilometers from the city center.
Kibera borders one of the presidents houses in the city. It is also next to a major golf club in the city.
The inhabited portion of the slum is 225.6 hectares. The annual growth of the slum is estimated at 12 percent per annum.
It is estimated that right now the population is between 700,000 -1.2 million people.
More than 83 percent of the people are underemployed or unemployed. Most make $1 a day. That goes to provide for 4.2 people in the small 10x10 room they rent.
54 percent of Kenyans make $1 a day.
Kibera is divided into 10 areas, and most of the neighborhoods are based on tribe. The Nubians still see at themselves as the rightful owners of the slum and thus they have physically resisted attempts by other tribes to encroach on their supremacy. Iin November 2001, more than ten people lost their lives when clashes broke out over the issue of tenants paying cheaper rent. The tension still simmers under the surface.
It is estimated that there are 22,000 landlords in the slum. Most of them are absentee. The Nubians own 300 size of the land. They have a Kibera Land Committee to fight for their rights. The total acreage of Kibera is 3,000 acres. It is prime property as it is very close to the city center and all the amenities that favor the middle and upper classes.
The land in Kibera is owned by the government, which has the right to demolish it or give the people the right to own it so they can improve it.
Kibera is seen as a reservoir of votes and labor.
The slum is characterized by a lack of all that is basic to living a life of dignity: water, privacy, education, health, family structure, etc.
The people are united by their poverty. Poverty is king in the slum with all the attendant problems that come in its wake. The Church must give the people their true hope.
Houses in Kibera are built of mud walls and iron sheets. In Nairobi as a whole, only 14 percent of houses are made of brick or blocks. Some 86 perfect of all other dwellings are made of temporary materials.
The slum is three square kilometers. The population density is 230,000 if we take the lower figure of 700,000 people. The vast majority of the people are young. Nairobi has 34 percent of its people less than 15 years old, while Kenya as a whole has over 50 percent of its people under 24. Thus they are highly educated, visionaries, aggressive, motivated, and ready to change the society. These young people have come to the slum because of relatives in the slum, housing is cheap, and makes for a stable footing while one looks for a job. This group is highly hit by AIDS. Some 50 percent of all Kenyan hospital beds are taken up by AIDS related illnesses.
Other major slums in Nairobi: Mathare Valley with 147,000 people on three sq. km of land having 49,000 per sq. km.; Kangemi with five sq. km with 36,000 and a density of 7,000; Kawangware with four sq km and 54,000 people and density of 54,000; Kariobangi with one km and a density of 26,000 per sq. km; Korogocho with one km and density of 54,000; Huruma with one km and 63,000. The above estimates are for the year 1994.
Nairobi had more than 133 slums by 1995. Kibera is the largest. Thus the slums in Nairobi need new churches the most. The slums cover 6 percent of the total residential land in the city. The density per hectare is very high with a minimum of 750 people compared to that of middle income residents, which average 50-180 people. It is estimated that over 73 percent of Nairobians live in the slums. Nairobi needs 25,000 new low-rent housing units each year. Many are too expensive for the poor. The slums are able to put up 15 houses each day to meet the demand.
The slums are characterized by the following:
The slumlords have semi-legal rights to the land; the occupation of the slum is temporary as the government can have it moved; the place is unplanned and the structures made of semi-permanent materials; the rental of the rooms is on a room-by- room basis; a room holds 4.2 people; the room serves all their needs of bathing, coking, sleeping, hospitality, etc; the low income and the self employed are the majority; the population density is extremely high making for a very low quality of life; minimal services are provided by the City Council and government[ thus there are only two roads in the area, water has to be bought, there are no toilets, so there is the phenomenon of “flying toilets”; AIDS is a major killer and affects nearly 1 out of 3; mortality rates for infants are very high caused by environmental sewage and sanitation conditions; there are many women who are the breadwinners of the family as they have been separated from their husbands. It is estimated that 20 percent of the homes are female-headed. The rent varies from $15-20 monthly. Drainage mostly flows into where they are located [eastern Nairobi]. Unemployment is close to 80 percent.
Garbage in Kibera is burned or thrown into the river. It is not collected, as there is no provision for that by the City Council. Since it does not exist in government planning, the slum cannot be included in city planning or in the budget of the government. Thus the landlords build pit latrines: one latrine serves more than 100 people. Most are restricted to the tenants of the landlord. Drainage is by open earth channels. Children suffer the most from these unhygienic conditions.
Food poverty is a major problem. Malnutrition is endemic. Kids have one meal per day, thus most end up scavenging in the middle-class area. Those who go to school suffer hunger pangs and cannot concentrate. The poor in Kibera see their priorities as education, food, transportation and shelter.
Common diseases include tuberculosis (TB), AIDS, malaria, sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s), scabies, respiratory diseases, dysentery, measles, diphtheria, whooping cough, hepatitis, and worms. Access to health facilities is contingent on money thus most people rely on quacks and traditional healers. Some give up and wait for death in their little hovels.
In most cases, even the pit latrines are built over to build create new rooms. The room is the center of all activity and is characterized by a stool, a coffee table, a bed, and cooking space.
Vulnerable groups in the slum include widows, orphaned and abandoned children, the disabled, and youth and young girls. Most of these are be unemployed with no professional skills thus with a lot of hopelessness. Many resort to drugs, crime and petty theft, or are hired by politicians for their rallies.
Women bear the brunt of the problems in Kibera as they are socially and culturally marginalized. They are disadvantaged economically, educationally, and have to work in unventilated rooms, use contaminated water, care for the in children, and stave off starvation for their families. The Kibera woman is renowned in Kenya for hard work and thrift!
The children are also vulnerable as parents are off busy fending for them. Schooling is difficult for them as the formal school system needs fees paid, uniforms worn, subordinate staff paid by the PTA, and tuition given after school is paid for. Thus most kids are not in school. The churches in the slum have informal schools that try to fill the gap.
City Council schools have 800 pupils per school and 45 students per class. Payment of pay school fees is a key factor in getting an education.
The poverty is compounded by large families, illiteracy, and a lack of education, inadequate food and a balanced diet, unemployment, and or low paying jobs. The low incomes contribute greatly to poverty.
Intervention needed by the Kibera RPC includes preaching the gospel in word and deed. The church will work to see that there is good nutrition for the families in its target area, health is provided for, vocational training is provided for the youth, and the younger children receive an education.
The Kibera Reformed Presbyterian Church is in the slum for the long haul. Its goal is to plant a solid Bible-based church in each of the 10 neighborhoods of the slum. The church will also reach the pastors through a small Bible institute so that they can be trained to preach the Word properly. A small library will be set up in the place towards these ends.
The Kibera slum is looked upon as harboring all manner of evil people ranging from thieves, prostitutes, robbers, moon shiners, the diseased, illiterates, gangs, drug addicts, violent political activists, etc. It will be the goal of the church to show that these are the people that listened to Christ gladly when he preached the Good News. Our goal will be to plant His kingdom in their midst. It is the slums that we have the majority of Nairobi people living. The people have come to the city usually out of their own choice or in a few cases natural disasters broke the back of their livelihood. They are a group that the Lord would have his church reach with the gospel. They have come to better their lives and with the aspiration of attaining a middle class status. God has brought them to the church for a purpose.
The church will also be an advocate for the people in relation to issues such as land rights, tenure and security of the people, education of the children, etc. Where possible, the church will link the poor with Christian professionals engaged in seeing righteousness and justice practiced in society at large. The church will thus be fully engaged in upgrading the slum, which has been in the doldrums for the past two years.
The church realizes that it will in many ways experience the insecurities and the inconveniences of the slum. This must be so in order for us to throw ourselves upon the Lord and for the people to realize that we are credible. The pastoral mode in the slum will therefore very different from that of a pastor in a middle-class English-speaking church in Nairobi. Helping for the people have a say in what happens will be a great part of the ministry. In short, we will seek to be prophetic in preaching and apostolic in doctrine. The cross must be central in the work of the church in Kibera (John 17:3).
The church will respond to the issue of the poor by responding to their spiritual, cultural, and economic justice through a biblical perspective. Thus land rights, slum upgrading, rehabilitation of houses, vocational training, community organizing, healthy work, advocacy of the rights of the poor, and environmental concern will be some of the foci of the church. This will mean working with marginalized groups such as street hawkers, market people, street kids from the slums, drug addicts, alcoholics, prostitutes, people living with AIDS, the handicapped, and prisoners. In many cases, we will seek to work with other Christian groups who are involved in the same work.
The church will also seek to plant churches in the Kibera area and other slums of Nairobi that are run by slum dwellers who have come to know the Lord and are called back to the slums. It will also seek to have the educated Christians become part of the work. As such, young Christians from middle and upper class families will be encouraged to give both themselves and their resources to the task of reaching the poor. The affluent church will also be challenged to speak out on issues that affect the poor, especially in the urban slums of Nairobi.
The church will also have a strong Christological emphasis where the offices of Christ as prophet, priest, and king will be stressed.
The poor have not been well incorporated into the church in Nairobi as the church is still stuck in a time warp. The majority of the pastors reported in research some years ago as preferring to minister in the rural areas rather than the city. The congregations in the slums see these in the frequent transfer of pastors. Thus the need that the KRPC will have to address discipleship and evangelism so that the lay people can reach the dwellers as part of their calling as light and salt.
Cults are very prominent in the area. These are both Kenyan and foreign.
The Kibera slum began in 1912 when retired Sudanese Nubian soldiers from the British Kings African Rifles were allocated land in the area. They served 12 years in the army to qualify. The Nubians are now in their eighth generation. They are mostly Muslims and have kept their culture intact.
Kibera in the Nubian language has two meanings: “to be silenced in a bad manner” and “jungle”.
Over the years other tribal groups began to settle in the area either renting from the Nubians or by being allocated land to build on a temporary basis by the government. In most cases money changes hands before one is given a plot to build on. Kibera is close to the city center and to the industries so most people can walk to work. It is a reservoir of very cheap labor for the city.
It is eight kilometers from the city center.
Kibera borders one of the presidents houses in the city. It is also next to a major golf club in the city.
The inhabited portion of the slum is 225.6 hectares. The annual growth of the slum is estimated at 12 percent per annum.
It is estimated that right now the population is between 700,000 -1.2 million people.
More than 83 percent of the people are underemployed or unemployed. Most make $1 a day. That goes to provide for 4.2 people in the small 10x10 room they rent.
54 percent of Kenyans make $1 a day.
Kibera is divided into 10 areas, and most of the neighborhoods are based on tribe. The Nubians still see at themselves as the rightful owners of the slum and thus they have physically resisted attempts by other tribes to encroach on their supremacy. Iin November 2001, more than ten people lost their lives when clashes broke out over the issue of tenants paying cheaper rent. The tension still simmers under the surface.
It is estimated that there are 22,000 landlords in the slum. Most of them are absentee. The Nubians own 300 size of the land. They have a Kibera Land Committee to fight for their rights. The total acreage of Kibera is 3,000 acres. It is prime property as it is very close to the city center and all the amenities that favor the middle and upper classes.
The land in Kibera is owned by the government, which has the right to demolish it or give the people the right to own it so they can improve it.
Kibera is seen as a reservoir of votes and labor.
The slum is characterized by a lack of all that is basic to living a life of dignity: water, privacy, education, health, family structure, etc.
The people are united by their poverty. Poverty is king in the slum with all the attendant problems that come in its wake. The Church must give the people their true hope.
Houses in Kibera are built of mud walls and iron sheets. In Nairobi as a whole, only 14 percent of houses are made of brick or blocks. Some 86 perfect of all other dwellings are made of temporary materials.
The slum is three square kilometers. The population density is 230,000 if we take the lower figure of 700,000 people. The vast majority of the people are young. Nairobi has 34 percent of its people less than 15 years old, while Kenya as a whole has over 50 percent of its people under 24. Thus they are highly educated, visionaries, aggressive, motivated, and ready to change the society. These young people have come to the slum because of relatives in the slum, housing is cheap, and makes for a stable footing while one looks for a job. This group is highly hit by AIDS. Some 50 percent of all Kenyan hospital beds are taken up by AIDS related illnesses.
Other major slums in Nairobi: Mathare Valley with 147,000 people on three sq. km of land having 49,000 per sq. km.; Kangemi with five sq. km with 36,000 and a density of 7,000; Kawangware with four sq km and 54,000 people and density of 54,000; Kariobangi with one km and a density of 26,000 per sq. km; Korogocho with one km and density of 54,000; Huruma with one km and 63,000. The above estimates are for the year 1994.
Nairobi had more than 133 slums by 1995. Kibera is the largest. Thus the slums in Nairobi need new churches the most. The slums cover 6 percent of the total residential land in the city. The density per hectare is very high with a minimum of 750 people compared to that of middle income residents, which average 50-180 people. It is estimated that over 73 percent of Nairobians live in the slums. Nairobi needs 25,000 new low-rent housing units each year. Many are too expensive for the poor. The slums are able to put up 15 houses each day to meet the demand.
The slums are characterized by the following:
The slumlords have semi-legal rights to the land; the occupation of the slum is temporary as the government can have it moved; the place is unplanned and the structures made of semi-permanent materials; the rental of the rooms is on a room-by- room basis; a room holds 4.2 people; the room serves all their needs of bathing, coking, sleeping, hospitality, etc; the low income and the self employed are the majority; the population density is extremely high making for a very low quality of life; minimal services are provided by the City Council and government[ thus there are only two roads in the area, water has to be bought, there are no toilets, so there is the phenomenon of “flying toilets”; AIDS is a major killer and affects nearly 1 out of 3; mortality rates for infants are very high caused by environmental sewage and sanitation conditions; there are many women who are the breadwinners of the family as they have been separated from their husbands. It is estimated that 20 percent of the homes are female-headed. The rent varies from $15-20 monthly. Drainage mostly flows into where they are located [eastern Nairobi]. Unemployment is close to 80 percent.
Garbage in Kibera is burned or thrown into the river. It is not collected, as there is no provision for that by the City Council. Since it does not exist in government planning, the slum cannot be included in city planning or in the budget of the government. Thus the landlords build pit latrines: one latrine serves more than 100 people. Most are restricted to the tenants of the landlord. Drainage is by open earth channels. Children suffer the most from these unhygienic conditions.
Food poverty is a major problem. Malnutrition is endemic. Kids have one meal per day, thus most end up scavenging in the middle-class area. Those who go to school suffer hunger pangs and cannot concentrate. The poor in Kibera see their priorities as education, food, transportation and shelter.
Common diseases include tuberculosis (TB), AIDS, malaria, sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s), scabies, respiratory diseases, dysentery, measles, diphtheria, whooping cough, hepatitis, and worms. Access to health facilities is contingent on money thus most people rely on quacks and traditional healers. Some give up and wait for death in their little hovels.
In most cases, even the pit latrines are built over to build create new rooms. The room is the center of all activity and is characterized by a stool, a coffee table, a bed, and cooking space.
Vulnerable groups in the slum include widows, orphaned and abandoned children, the disabled, and youth and young girls. Most of these are be unemployed with no professional skills thus with a lot of hopelessness. Many resort to drugs, crime and petty theft, or are hired by politicians for their rallies.
Women bear the brunt of the problems in Kibera as they are socially and culturally marginalized. They are disadvantaged economically, educationally, and have to work in unventilated rooms, use contaminated water, care for the in children, and stave off starvation for their families. The Kibera woman is renowned in Kenya for hard work and thrift!
The children are also vulnerable as parents are off busy fending for them. Schooling is difficult for them as the formal school system needs fees paid, uniforms worn, subordinate staff paid by the PTA, and tuition given after school is paid for. Thus most kids are not in school. The churches in the slum have informal schools that try to fill the gap.
City Council schools have 800 pupils per school and 45 students per class. Payment of pay school fees is a key factor in getting an education.
The poverty is compounded by large families, illiteracy, and a lack of education, inadequate food and a balanced diet, unemployment, and or low paying jobs. The low incomes contribute greatly to poverty.
Intervention needed by the Kibera RPC includes preaching the gospel in word and deed. The church will work to see that there is good nutrition for the families in its target area, health is provided for, vocational training is provided for the youth, and the younger children receive an education.
The Kibera Reformed Presbyterian Church is in the slum for the long haul. Its goal is to plant a solid Bible-based church in each of the 10 neighborhoods of the slum. The church will also reach the pastors through a small Bible institute so that they can be trained to preach the Word properly. A small library will be set up in the place towards these ends.
The Kibera slum is looked upon as harboring all manner of evil people ranging from thieves, prostitutes, robbers, moon shiners, the diseased, illiterates, gangs, drug addicts, violent political activists, etc. It will be the goal of the church to show that these are the people that listened to Christ gladly when he preached the Good News. Our goal will be to plant His kingdom in their midst. It is the slums that we have the majority of Nairobi people living. The people have come to the city usually out of their own choice or in a few cases natural disasters broke the back of their livelihood. They are a group that the Lord would have his church reach with the gospel. They have come to better their lives and with the aspiration of attaining a middle class status. God has brought them to the church for a purpose.
The church will also be an advocate for the people in relation to issues such as land rights, tenure and security of the people, education of the children, etc. Where possible, the church will link the poor with Christian professionals engaged in seeing righteousness and justice practiced in society at large. The church will thus be fully engaged in upgrading the slum, which has been in the doldrums for the past two years.
The church realizes that it will in many ways experience the insecurities and the inconveniences of the slum. This must be so in order for us to throw ourselves upon the Lord and for the people to realize that we are credible. The pastoral mode in the slum will therefore very different from that of a pastor in a middle-class English-speaking church in Nairobi. Helping for the people have a say in what happens will be a great part of the ministry. In short, we will seek to be prophetic in preaching and apostolic in doctrine. The cross must be central in the work of the church in Kibera (John 17:3).
The church will respond to the issue of the poor by responding to their spiritual, cultural, and economic justice through a biblical perspective. Thus land rights, slum upgrading, rehabilitation of houses, vocational training, community organizing, healthy work, advocacy of the rights of the poor, and environmental concern will be some of the foci of the church. This will mean working with marginalized groups such as street hawkers, market people, street kids from the slums, drug addicts, alcoholics, prostitutes, people living with AIDS, the handicapped, and prisoners. In many cases, we will seek to work with other Christian groups who are involved in the same work.
The church will also seek to plant churches in the Kibera area and other slums of Nairobi that are run by slum dwellers who have come to know the Lord and are called back to the slums. It will also seek to have the educated Christians become part of the work. As such, young Christians from middle and upper class families will be encouraged to give both themselves and their resources to the task of reaching the poor. The affluent church will also be challenged to speak out on issues that affect the poor, especially in the urban slums of Nairobi.
The church will also have a strong Christological emphasis where the offices of Christ as prophet, priest, and king will be stressed.
The poor have not been well incorporated into the church in Nairobi as the church is still stuck in a time warp. The majority of the pastors reported in research some years ago as preferring to minister in the rural areas rather than the city. The congregations in the slums see these in the frequent transfer of pastors. Thus the need that the KRPC will have to address discipleship and evangelism so that the lay people can reach the dwellers as part of their calling as light and salt.
Cults are very prominent in the area. These are both Kenyan and foreign.
The following message is from Opal Hardgrove who is with the New Ministry and Mentorship
Development at MTW:
Hope you are all well. I just returned from Kenya Friday. I met with the Makuku's and they are looking forward to you all coming over. We talked a little about what you all would be doing and here are some of his thoughts.
1. Be in very good physical shape: come prepared for hard labor. We are in the process of building a new girls home in the Gong Hills so there will be some manual labor!!!! Sounds fun huh?
2. Please prepare yourself to eat the food there. In the past there have been issues with people not eating the food. This can be a little culturally inappropriate so please be prepared to eat just a little. Food is very important to the folks there and when they see us picking at their food it is a little disheartening.
3. Pray pray pray. You will be heading into an area that is very dark spirtually and he would like for you all to understand and begin practicing regular and fervent prayer.
So for those of you who wanted some more prayer requests for me there they are. I need to find time to continue to go to the gym, start preparing my body for the food, and continue to be strong in my prayer life. Thanks for the prayers! =)
Development at MTW:
Hope you are all well. I just returned from Kenya Friday. I met with the Makuku's and they are looking forward to you all coming over. We talked a little about what you all would be doing and here are some of his thoughts.
1. Be in very good physical shape: come prepared for hard labor. We are in the process of building a new girls home in the Gong Hills so there will be some manual labor!!!! Sounds fun huh?
2. Please prepare yourself to eat the food there. In the past there have been issues with people not eating the food. This can be a little culturally inappropriate so please be prepared to eat just a little. Food is very important to the folks there and when they see us picking at their food it is a little disheartening.
3. Pray pray pray. You will be heading into an area that is very dark spirtually and he would like for you all to understand and begin practicing regular and fervent prayer.
So for those of you who wanted some more prayer requests for me there they are. I need to find time to continue to go to the gym, start preparing my body for the food, and continue to be strong in my prayer life. Thanks for the prayers! =)
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Safety.
I was asked about safety tonight and here is what I found.
Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520
This information is current as of today, Sun Apr 05 2009 23:38:24 GMT-0500 (CDT).
KENYA
November 14, 2008
The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Kenya. American citizens in Kenya and those considering travel to Kenya should evaluate their personal security situation in light of continuing threats from terrorism and the high rate of violent crime. This replaces the Travel Warning of August 22, 2008, to note increased security concerns in northeast Kenya near the Somali border.
The U.S. Government continues to receive indications of potential terrorist threats aimed at American, Western, and Kenyan interests in Kenya. Terrorist acts could include suicide operations, bombings, kidnappings, attacks on civil aviation, and attacks on maritime vessels in or near Kenyan ports. Many of those responsible for the attacks on the U.S. Embassy in 1998 and on a hotel in Mombasa in 2002 remain at large and continue to operate in the region. In November 2008, armed groups based in Somalia crossed into Kenya near the town of El Wak and kidnapped two Westerners. Travel by U.S. Embassy personnel to border areas of Kenya northeast of the town of Wajir has been restricted until further notice.
Violent and sometimes fatal criminal attacks, including armed carjackings and home invasions/burglaries, can occur at any time and in any location, particularly in Nairobi. As recently as June 2008, U.S. Embassy personnel were victims of carjackings. In the short-term, the continued displacement of thousands of people by the recent civil unrest combined with endemic poverty and the availability of weapons could result in an increase in crime, both petty and violent. Kenyan authorities have limited capacity to deter or investigate such acts or prosecute perpetrators.
American citizens in Kenya should be extremely vigilant, particularly in public places frequented by foreigners such as clubs, hotels, resorts, upscale shopping centers, restaurants, and places of worship. Americans should also remain alert in residential areas, schools, and at outdoor recreational events, and should avoid demonstrations and large crowds.
Americans who travel to or reside in Kenya are encouraged to register through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi. The U.S. Embassy is located on United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya; telephone (254) (20) 363-6000; fax (254) (20) 363-6410. In the event of an after-hours emergency, the Embassy duty officer may be contacted at (254) (20) 363-6170. The Embassy home page is http://kenya.usembassy.gov.
Updated information on travel and security in Kenya may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada, or for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. For further information, please consult the Country Specific Information for Kenya and the Worldwide Caution, which are available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website at http://travel.state.gov.
So keep me in your prayers but also remember that God is good and in control. =)
Much love,
LG
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