January 30, 2008
Greetings from Kenya,
Today we began our actual work with the street children and the refugees. We rose early and left the compound at 5:15AM. It was very dark as we drove into the city. We picked up Pastor Boniface and a college helper named Eunice. When we arrived the streets were deserted except for a person here and there in the shadows.
Pastor Boniface and I walked in a small block and did not find any of the children. When we returned to the group there were five sitting on the curb. Then one by one they came, shook hands with each team member, and sat down for the Bible message. Pastor Boniface shared from Psalm 127 and then asked me to share. I read a couple of verses from Psalm 46 and share that God is their refuge. He will never leave them. He cares for them and desires to be their Savior. Theresa Walls shared a word of hope to them. She told them that Jesus is their blessed hope. Then Ron Cockerham shared a testimony of how God had delivered him from many challenges in his past. The boys and one girl listened intently.
Afterwards Pastor Boniface prayed and the team gave each child a milk, five pieces of bread, candy, a hotdog size sausage, and a bar of soap. The children eat the food in a flash. The team interacted with them and they loved to have their pictures taken. Linda and Eunice provided first aid to those in need, from ear infection to cuts and bruises, to a badly infected gash down one of the boy’s arms where he had been hit by a bus and left for dead. These children are looked upon as “street trash” by many in the city but they are precious souls for whom Jesus died.
The best news of the morning was one boy who kept coming to team members asking them to pray. They would say they would pray for him but Pastor Boniface said to Theresa Walls, “He wants you to pray with him to receive Jesus!” Right there in the filth of the Nairobi sidewalk a child of God was born into the glorious kingdom of God. There was shouting in the team as we traveled back to the Mission House.
Once back we ate a quick breakfast and then prepared to go to one of the refugee camps. The IMB and the Ridgeway Baptist Church staff gave the green light for the work to be done. The unrest that was anticipated never arose and the streets are safe enough to venture out.
Ridgeway Baptist Church is a large church of about six hundred with four full-time staff. The Staff included Pastor Wanje, Associate Pastor Fred, Youth Pastor Hamisi, and Children’s Pastor Daniel. Several men from Ridgeway also went with us to the camp. The church felt led by the Lord to respond to the crisis in a tangible way through food and clothing for the displaced persons. It was a blessing to share this day with godly brothers in Christ.
The refugee camp was called Tigoni because it was at the Tigoni Police Station. The camp had about a thousand refugees but most had moved away by Monday. With only 100 remaining the camp was on its way out. Then the MP leader was killed yesterday and by noon today there were over 5000 men, women, and children crammed into a 2-3 acre field behind the station with hundreds more arriving during the four hours we were there. The Red Cross had five volunteers there and to say the least they were completely overwhelmed.
Our combined team (Ridgeway and Stevens Street) divided into smaller groups and went into the camp to visit with the people, hear their stories, and share with them the hope of the Lord Jesus. Pastor Fred and one of the men of the church went with me. As we talked to the people we stopped and shared with a Kenyan woman who had worked in the tea fields. She told of her employer coming to her and the others in the field and telling them they must go. The employer took her to Tigoni and she had no where to go. She was a believer and as we talked of Jesus and His presence even in difficulty she testified to us. Soon a crowd began to gather and Pastor Fred preached a short message. He gave a call for people to accept Jesus and eight people came and prayed for forgiveness, trusting Jesus and committing their lives to Him. Glory, Hallelujah! We promised to meet under the same tree tomorrow and share again.
We walked to where the people were cooking for the crowd. One cooking area for more than five thousand. The women and children would eat first and then the men if there were food remaining. They did not have hope of getting a meal today and it did not look like there was enough beans and rice. We helped and then it was time to go. It was difficult for us to leave the people in such desperate conditions. May the Lord give us direction for our work tomorrow.
Back at the Mission House for the night we had a delicious fried rice meal and did a little debriefing with one of the missionaries. It has been a long day and several have already gone to bed. The needs, emotions, heat, and dryness take their tolls on a team. Tomorrow is a new day with new opportunities to share Jesus.
Keep praying for the team, the missionaries, Ridgeway Baptist Church, and the people of Kenya. The needs are great. Your prayers will make a difference.
Keep praying.
Tim Frank
Romans 1:16
