Wednesday in Nairobi

This was a day of extremes. From the Kibera slum to dinner at a fine restaurant, our day was plentiful. Breakfast at the guest house was followed by our group devotional, led by Andrew. 1 Corinthians 4: 14…++. This was followed by a very moving and special witness by Debbie, currently serving SIM in Theangreol. We have been awed and inspired by the people whom we’ve met who are willingly and graciously doing God’s work in the Sudan and Kenya.

We then walked to the SIM offices to take care of some business. Unfortunately we had another team member go down on the walk to the office. We lost one to the sewer yesterday and one to a pothole today. An Ace bandage and Neosporin was procured and we are hopeful of a full recovery. At the SIM office, our team members who are going to Doro (Dean and Andrew) met with the medical director and found out more about their assignments. Perhaps it may have been better if one of their major assignments was kept as a surprise. Apparently the latrine in Doro is nearing capacity and a new one is badly in need of digging. They have a (word I’ve been asked not to use) job ahead!

Then we arranged for a driver to take us to a small shopping center. There, at a sort of international food court, we settled on Indian fare, which was quite good. Next we went to procure the last necessitites needed for our flight into Sudan: toilet paper, mosquito nets and rat poison. What a telling combination!

Next, we had the special experience of going into the Kibera slum. If you’ve seen the movie “The Constant Gardner” this is the place. We were taken in by Raul, who has a ministry that focuses on bringing the gospel to the Muslims in Kabari. Kibera is home to approximately 1-million, the second largest slum in the world (I’m assuming the first is in India). Our preconceived ideas of being swarmed by aggressive, pick-pocketing beggars were not what we experienced. Adults humbly went about their business, running shops selling things you would never expect to be sold in shops, many hairdressers, frightening butcher shops, linens. Several churches. Stores were mostly mud or tin faced, with corrugated tin roofs. The outer layers of the slum were relatively garbage free, but the further we got in, the more trash we encountered. All in all though, not too bad. The ground was rough with water running randomly across and beside. But the most remarkable thing were the children. “How are you” (imagine in a pinched English accent) ringing out wherever we went. Little hands reaching out for a shake. Enormous smiles and shy grins. All they wanted was to be acknowledged. School was just getting out and we crossed paths with so many happy little children. Though some were accompanied by mothers, most were seemingly on their own, happily holding hands and laughing. Some running ahead and alongside our group. Just wanting to greet us. We did not take so many pictures, as it seemed more genuine to relate than to snap and the we tried to be sensitive to the conditions and the adults around. This is something that we will have to remember more in our hearts than on film. The conditions are so very rough. The children so happy. The adults so tired. In one area there was a great deal of activity. Near the edge of the railroad track. Great big panels of corrugated tin were being fastened over the side of the hill. As we looked over the expanse, huge plastic prints of eyes were strewn over the roofs of slum huts below. We found out a French NGO was preparing to shoot a film. The tin on the side of the hill would be covered with these large banner prints of eyes too and a helicopter was to fly over to do the film. A strange thing to happen upon.

We shook many hands through the slum, left hands even as the children put out whatever wasn’t being used to carry backpacks. We met our driver at the other side and when out of sight disinfected (just want our families to know we are being careful). And then returned to the guest house to rest for a few hours before being picked up for dinner. Dinner tonight was at the Carnivore, the best known restaurant in Nairobi. We experienced a multi-course meal. Since we expect to have not much more than beans and rice for the next few weeks this was probably the ultimate opposite. Here, many gracious waiters, in safari get up, were attentively serving this multi-course all you can eat meal. Hang on. Here is the list of what we were offered (the meat being served from large skewers, carved right at the table): cornmeal sticks with tomato chutney; bread rolls and butter; a green salad with vinaigrette; salad; small side dishes of corn, rice, collard green like vegetable; baked potatoes; barbequed pork rib; ostarich meatballs; pork loin; turkey; sausages; chicken livers; chicken; crocodile; alligator (note, not served in this order, just trying to remember); beef; lamb (fortunately all meat pieces were small so you could try everything you wanted and not leave much on the plate uneaten); choice of dessert (the fruit sorbet was the winner); coffee or tea.

Now we are back and most have retired. Internet is VERY slow and not very stable. Things taking forever to load and mostly disconnecting so I will post for tonight (Inshallah) first without pictures, and then, if possible add those in later.

Oh, and thank you to those leaving messages on the blog. We've gotten them all and it's so nice to hear from home!