Kenya Mission Trip - Day 4
Lisa:
Today we visited the slums of Mathare Valley. I’m still trying to find the words… and maybe I never fully will.
What we saw was both heartbreaking and humbling…tiny corrugated tin shacks housing entire families. Raw sewage running through the dirt paths. Children with visible signs of malnutrition smiled up at us with eyes full of light and resilience.
The living conditions are devastating…what many would consider uninhabitable. Yet in the middle of that suffering, there was dignity. Community. Laughter. Humanity. And God’s presence.
It’s impossible to walk through this area and leave unchanged. My heart is heavy, but also more awake than it’s ever been. This kind of poverty isn’t just a statistic…I met them today, went into their homes, and prayed with them. They are real people with names, stories and souls.
If you ever wonder whether one person can make a difference…YOU CAN!!
“Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me.”
Matthew 25:40
Jesus is here…in every hungry child, every tired mother, every weathered face. And we are called not to look away, but to see them, love them, and act!
Please pray for the people of Mathare Valley. For nourishment, for clean water, for safety, and for hope. And ask God how He might want to use you to make a difference too.
Because even the smallest act of love matters. We are all more connected than we think…♥️💯
Sam:
Highlight of my day was meeting my sponsored boys’ mother, Jacqueline and their baby brother Jeremiah. I was able to visit their home and see her business. Also, having the opportunity to spend time with my sponsored girl who traveled over 2 days from Turkana to see me.
Jess:
Being greeted by all of the children was one of the highlights of today. They expressed so much love and happiness which warmed my heart and made me feel loved, given the conditions in which they live.
Linda:
So many moments today…walking into MOHI and having the children greet us with songs and dancing & then performing for us. So full of joy! Then loved hearing the story of MOHI…made me believe in & love this mission even more. Walking the slums was so eye opening and touching. Children just running up to you smiling and hugging you… they live in such a harsh poverty yet they are happy. A very humbling experience. The home visit to see a family together and so proud with what they did have…the mom was so happy that she had her kitchen, bedroom and living space all together…again truly humbling. Getting to meet Naomi, my sponsor child was amazing! Her love for Christ shines through as well as her love for her family…so heartwarming. And just having so many children at the school just want to hug all of us with the biggest smiles on their faces. I don’t think I will ever forget today.
Ari:
one of my favorite moments from today was the time we spent in the MOHI school. When we first arrived, the students greeted us with smiles, dances, poems, and excitement. I got to meet the sponsor kid that my boyfriend sponsors, which was such a special moment. Shortly after we walked in some of their homes located in the Mathare Valley (slums). It broke my heart to see the reality of where these kids call home. It made me think back to the pure JOY on their faces when we entered. Despite the conditions, they were full of joy, gratitude, and excitement. It makes me think… what would life be like if we lived more like these kids, with joy and contentment in every circumstance ??
Preston:
One of my favorite moments from today was playing football (soccer) with some of our sponsored kids. It was so fun to kick the ball around and make little games for them to play. One of them told me they will be on the Kenya national team as a goalie. It also warmed my heart today when all the kids ran up to us wanted hugs and high fives. They are filled with joy.
Chuck:
Processing all of the emotions that i have experienced since arriving has been difficult and today was no exception. The total joy that i felt upon arriving as the children greeted us singing songs, dancing and presenting each of us with a neckless was beond words. It was followed buy the heartwarming story of how someone with only a dream has gone from helping 50 children in the beginning to, 25 years later effecting the lives of 33,000 children annually. During a class room visit the kids showed us the same kind of joy and gratitude that has been a constant through the visit. Their huggs are heart warming.
We then were taken on a walk through their neighborhood. Words cannot describe the dispair that i felt seeing the conditions thst alll of these people live in daily. It unbelievable to me that they can live in these conditions and still have such a positive joyfull outlook on life.
Mission of Hope Intl is giving them not just hope but a chance for a better way of life. Here they are learning about Gods love for all people and that they have value. We were told many of them finish school and are excepted into some of the finer universiyies.
That along with their unwavering fath and love of God is a true testimony as to what one person with a dream can accomplish when following Gods plan for them.
Z:
One of my favorite moments today was orientation were I learned about Mary the co-founder of MOHI who I had the pleasure of meeting. Her story was very inspiring. I enjoyed the children singing and playing. There’s nothing more beautiful than the sound of children laughing.
I also meet Prudence. She’s the sponsor daughter of my MCCC friend Reygan.
We are excited to start our VBS tomorrow (Tuesday) with 224 2nd and 3rd graders...pray for us, we're gonna need it 😀 😉 😄
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