Trip Recap

Pastor Galik with Springs of Life Church Preschool Children
at the Edge of the Kaberra Slums
Uniformed school children are the norm in Kenya, and attention from colorless visitors, with hairy arms are the curious delight.

A blow-by-blow account of our first two very busy days:

Day one: Nairobi
Locked into our rooms behind secure gates.
Compound formerly owned by the United Nations.
Breakfast at the compound.
Boiled milk, coffee, eggs.
Travel to downtown.
Uhuru Church.
New ELCK headquarters under construction.
Modern looking offices in downtown area.
15 minutes to Kibera slum.
Springs of Life ELCK in Kibera.
Pastor Dennis Meeker.
Health clinic treated over 800 people last weekend.
80 HIV tests.
100 yards away is the preschool, visited with 30 children.
Journey through a steel gate into the slum.
Led by elder John a former resident.
Walked about a 1/2 mile into the heart of the slums.
A sense of relief to leave.
Passed back through the gate.
From Kibera to another smaller slum, Kawangary and another Lutheran Church and orphanage.
Heard stories about Jesus in Swahili.
Played games with the children.
Listened to “The Conquerers”, former orphans now a singing group.
Visited for lunch with Bishop Obare, head of the ELCK.
Back to the compound, rush to the airport through Nairobi rush hour traffic.
30 minute flight later, arrive in Kisumu.
Frequent city wide power outages throughout the evening, hotel has candles in the rooms for guests.

Mrs. Nelson Reflexively Teaches Students to Read
A gift from St. John Lutheran School 1st-3rd graders, Elizabeth shared the story and images of Jesus from one hemisphere to the other.

From Classroom Presence to Personal Attention Elizabeth Shared Her Gift
This child would follow her around as we toured this orphanage clearly appreciative of her gift of self -- even for a short while

Day two: Kisumu and surrounding area
Our personal driver, Nelson (first name, no relation), picked us up.
Met David ChuChu, project coordinator for ELCK.
Met briefly to discuss projects, went to Nakumatt (a Kenyan version of Walmart) for water and schillings.
On to Matongo complex: Immanual Orphanage, Matongo Health Center, Matongo Lutheran Theological Seminary with 25 students.
Othoro Rescue Center for high school age boys, built in 2006.
Picked up Deaconees Eunita on the way to the next stop.
Visited the Pongo Lutheran Community, miles from the nearest paved road in the Kenyan countryside.
Pongo supports orphans and people living with HIV/AIDS.
Two hour drive dodging potholes back to the Imperial Hotel in Kisumu.
Tuskers at the hotel restaurant and blogging.

Unsure of This Strange Visitor a Mantongo Orphan Glances Toward Pastor Galik
Brief visits to discover great needs makes it very hard to leave....

Day end thoughts: The Lord led us to yet another “ends of the earth” experience! We drove almost two hours on roads designed for steering wheels on the right, passing cars within inches, potholes, bumps and jarring that can’t be good for your kidneys! We turned onto a dirt road that made those look like a superhighway! We picked up a Deaconess on this dirt road who led us on a twenty minute journey at 5 mph -- which was fast for the rocks scrapping the undercarriage. Finally, finally, we came to the end of the road; got out of the car, thankful to God for the walk.

Here, at our next personal ends of the earth place, a group, digging a fish pond stopped to welcome us and welcome us and welcome us. They led us to a group of students in uniform, awaiting our arrival and we were welcomed, and welcomed and welcomed as the guests of honor!

Here we discovered the same Jesus we found deep in the Kibera slums! Here we found the same Jesus blessing HIV positive adults with a community of acceptance and work. Here the same Jesus was blessing orphans of HIV parents. Here we were moved to tears by the same Jesus present way, way, way out in the Kenyan countryside.

Thanks be to God -- here we found Jesus -- again. Imagine that...

In His service, Karl, Kirk, and Elizabeth