Safaris and Slums

June 4, 2012

Today was a slower day than the past ones.  We had the amazing joy of riding in a large, pop-top van on a wilderness safari within close range of Nairobi.  I can’t explain the majesty of seeing animals basked in their natural habitat, things like giraffes, rhinos, birds, baboons and so much more!  Every time I see these tapestries of creativity, I stand in awe of God’s amazing creations!  We spent the entire morning there, roaming on the rough dirt roads left by travelers gone before. 

After a lunch at the center, Elise, Angie and I spent a couple of hours working with the kids, singing songs, dancing, reviewing the verses and playing games.  It’s so encouraging to see how much the kids absorb over the course of a few hours of teaching- truly God’s Word does not return void!  We reviewed their salvation bracelets and reminded them to use the bracelets as tools to share God’s amazingly beautiful story of creation with us!  To hear their African English calling out the words associated with each color and to see how they knew the meanings behind it reminded me of just how blessed we are to have so many tools for sharing our faith, and how little we actually use them.

After the kids were released from school, us women and Jerry, our trip babysitter, along with Dennis walked to Jerry’s house just outside of Korogocho, the slum we visited on Saturday.  We wove through the walkways and across a crowded bridge, encountering a very drunk, very interested man on the other side of the bridge.  He insisted on conversation, making little to no sense, as we grew wearier with each word.  Finally, Jerry told him he needed to “move on or he would receive the consequences.”  We weren’t really sure what consequences Jerry was talking about, but after a few more seconds of bantering, the man moved on, and we let him move significantly past us. 

We continued along the crowded streets until suddenly we turned and went through a small walkway, seemingly into another, quieter world, free of the hoards of people.  There were a few children across the way, a few women sitting quietly, and a few shops sprinkled here and there.  We soon arrived at Jerry’s small one room house, split into two rooms with a curtain down the middle.  We sat and talked Kenyan politics, tribal customs, and everything between during the hour we spent there.  Fortunately, the walk back proved much less interesting, and we arrived back at the Center without any hassle.  We enjoyed a last meal at the local “western” restaurant, the same one we have visited nearly every night since arriving.  Tomorrow begins our “real” adventures in the village!