Seeing the world through their eyes...

When asked why I was looking forward to serving in Kenya, one of my biggest reasons was the chance to serve with the young people on our team. I was looking forwrd to "seeing the world through their eyes", and absorbing some of their energy and enthusiasm.

With only one more day of ministry left, I can definitely say that has been one of the highlights of our trip. I've known most of our youth for several years now, but really haven't gotten the chance to spend much time with them. After serving with them for two weeks now, I can't say enough about how much respect I have for each of them.

They truly have hearts for God, and are so willing to serve in any way they're called. I've seen them face their fears, become more confident leaders, communicate effectively, and make very difficult decisions. They've had to wake up early (which I'm sure hasn't been easy), keep a busy schedule, and spend two weeks away from their friends, cell phones, and other important parts of their lives. They've done this all with great attitudes, big smiles, and the desire to become better servants of God.

Thank you Beka for sharing your beautiful voice and musical talents, way beyond your comfort zone. Thank you Steven for being such a sensitive communicator and team leader, and for honestly sharing your hopes and fears. Thank you Kristene for making the drama so impactful, and demonstrating a true heart for God. Thank you Dakota for being so couragous in facing your fears and becoming a great member of the worship team. Thank you Daniel for your fun personality, sense of adventure, musical talent (playing the cooler) and enthusiasm to grow in your faith. And thank you Jesse for your honest desire to develop a heart for the things that break God's heart.

So I really want to thank the "younger members of our team" for letting me see the world through their eyes. It will be an experience I won't forget, and one that I know will change me forever. You guys rock!!

Bwana asifiwe (praise God) for you all!

Heather

A Message of Hope...

This is the drama that the youth performed at The Farm. It really touched the kids there who had been rescued from the streets. The drama shows how Jesus' love can deliver us from the sins and temptations of the world...

Monkeying around...

We took a walk on the Windsor Golf Course yesterday, and made some new friends. I guess Vervet monkeys like apples...

"Michael Lives" at the Mcedo School!

Yesterday we visited the Mcedo Beijing School in the Mathare Slum. We were surprised to be greeted by this "dancing machine" when we arrived at the school...

VBS at the Nest Orphanage

What a fun day! We spent the morning at the nest orphanage, singing. doing crafts, and playing with the children. This is a video of Barb's new favorite song, "10 Men"...

Learning to Love Like Jesus

Dear Friends:

On Monday we visited the Eastleigh Community Center, which provides education classes for street kids twice a week and programs for single mothers and their babies. The community center is also home to Made in the Streets ministry, a program that rescues young boys from the streets, teaching them a trade and providing a place for them to live until they are 18 years old. The ministry was started by Larry and Holly Conway, missionaries who moved from Texas to Kenya more than 20 years ago.

In the morning, Larry took us to the “bases” where the street boys live. We walked many blocks through the slums, escorted by Anthony and Kennedy, two former street guys. As we walked through the dirty streets, we passed a few boys whose eyes were red and glazed. They carried old soda bottles filled with a brownish-colored glue, which they sniffed to get high. They wanted to shake our hands and greet us. My first response was to walk quickly past them, but Larry wanted to introduce us to his friends. I tried to look into their eyes and connect with them, but they were “no longer there”. It broke my heart and my eyes filled with tears.

Finally, we reached a large mound of garbage alongside the sewer, with 8 boys sitting atop the pile. In Kenya it is an honor to have visitors, so we crossed the sewer to meet them. A few of them looked happy to see us and thanked us for coming. We talked with them, introduced ourselves, and Anthony shared a message of hope. They nodded their heads in acknowledgement, and bowed their heads as we prayed for them.

The fact that we came 9000 miles to visit these boys in their “home” made them feel very special. Larry told us that talking with these boys and showing them love and respect had more impact than giving them money. Money was temporary, but the memory of someone shaking their hand and showing them love was something that would last.

This was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. I realized it was probably the first time I had really tried to connect with someone living in such horrible circumstances. If I saw someone like this in Seattle, I’d probably walk on the other side of the street or look the other way. Most likely, I would never walk into a neighborhood like this in the first place.

But once you look into someone eyes, shake their hand and pray with them, they are no longer a stranger. It’s impossible to stay emotionally detached, and you enter into their world of pain and suffering. When Jesus calls us to “love our neighbors” we often choose to define what that means. But truly living a life of compassion requires stepping out of our comfort zone and loving those that the world has forgotten. It’s a difficult journey, and I humbly admit I have a long way to go…

Bwana asafiwe (Praise God) . Mungu yu mwema (God is good)
Heather

Many Thanks to Lighthouse Christian Church

This is a video message from Pastor Paul of Kayaba Free Baptist Church. He wanted to thank the members s of Lighthouse Christian Church for donating money to buy the property on which the church now stands...

Africa Sings a New Song

Here is a video of our first concert at the Kayaba Free Baptist Church in the South B Slums. It was so exciting singing a New Hallelujiah with our new friends...

We CAN Make a Difference

Today we visited the Comido School in the Kwan-Njenga/Mukuru slums. We walked over a mile through a sea of metal roofed shacks, many selling items like old clothes, used shoes, charcoal for cooking, assorted vegetables, dead birds, unidentified animal organs, and anything else they can sell to earn a livelihood. We were greeted by many children yelling “mzungu” meaning foreigner, as we passed by.

When we finally reached the school grounds, we saw a large group of children kicking a soccer ball around a dirt field. The ground was strewn with garbage and waste, and a few malnourished cows grazed on food scraps amidst the piles of garbage. The children laughed and screamed as they followed the ball around the field. The fact they could experience joy, despite their horrific surroundings, brought tears to my eyes.

The slum is home to more than 100,000 people, many of them children. The Comido School has grown from 60 students in 1998 to more than 400 students today. Though the school provides an education for 400 students, many more are unable to attend, due to lack of money or the inability of the school to accommodate more. Many children peer through the barbed wire fence surrounding the school grounds, looking longingly at the uniformed children playing within.

When you think about all the children in that slum who are unable to obtain an education, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with despair. But today we got the chance to catch a glimpse of hope. Last year’s team chose to use a portion of their support money to provide scholarships for three children living in the slums. These children were provided full-ride scholarships through the 8th grade. We got the chance to visit these children and their families, actually going to the “homes” where they live.

The first girl’s name was Happiness. Her father died of cancer in 2007, and her mother struggles to raise 5 children in a single room shack. As we crowded into their small room, her mother continuously thanked us and praised God for providing the means for Happiness to attend school.

Nahima, is the second of seven children. She lost both her mother and father to aids. The grandmother raised the children, until she became paralyzed and bedridden due to a stroke. Their cousin Suleka, now cares for the children in a single rented room. When we arrived, we crowded into the small room. Nehima’s grandmother lay in bed, looking very frail and sick. Suleka spoke for the family, thanking us for giving Nahima the chance for a new life.

Heroll is an only child, being raised by his single mother. His father died of meningitis in 2000, and his mother makes a small income washing other people’s clothing. She told us how she thanked God everyday for the blessing of Heroll’s scholarship, and was so happy that we had come all the way to see them.

Listening to the stories of hardship these families experienced was heartbreaking, especially since their stories are so typical of children living in the slums. But seeing the smiles on the children’s faces and hearing the gratitude of their mothers made me realize their lives have been significantly changed.

Though we may not be able to help all the children in the slums, we’ve definitely made a difference to these children and their families. Thank you so much for supporting our Kenya mission team. It’s because of all of you that these children and families have new lives of hope and promise.

God Bless you all :)
Heather

Amazing Grace... and so many blessings :)

We finally arrived in Kenya, after almost 36 hours of traveling. Though we just arrived, God has already blessed us in so many ways. We were overwhelmed by the many family, friends and loved ones who got up AT 5 AM to see us off at the airport. Many thanks to Liz Wong for the yummy zucchini bread and gourmet spam musubis that helped sustain our long journey.

We were able to pack 26 suitcases, right up to the 50 pound limit, with all the clothing, school supplies, toiletries and dental supplies donated by many Lighthouse family and friends. The most amazing part was that they all made it to Kenya... unopened and unharmed! Mike said that every other team has lost something in transit, so God was definitly watching over these precious gifts for the Kenyan people.

Each of the team members had fears and concerns about the long journey here. Some had worries about motion sickness, others not being able to sleep during the 3 flights. Barb and Anna made it through the flights without much problem, even though we experienced a bit of turbulence. Most of us were able to get at least a few hours of sleep, even though the planes were fully packed and not very comfortable. Bekah and I forget to bring our proof of immunizations, and found out we needed them to obtain a VISA into the country. We waited in line together for a long time, praying and trying to calm each others fears. Amazingly, the woman never asked for the forms, and we obtained our VISA's without a problem. I told Bekah that God would never let us do the concerts without her :)

I'm sitting here typing as we rehearse our music set for this week's concerts. I'm actually in tears, moved by how beautiful the music sounds. Another amaizing blessing is that all the instruments and equipment made it here safely, and we were able to obtain a keyboard, jembes, a guitar, speakers, an amp, and other sound equipment that will help us reach so many more people with God's message of love and grace.

God truly is good, and his blessing are neverending. Thank you all for continuing to support us with you love and prayers. We are so excited to get our trip started, and will keep on blogging as we go...

God Bless you all :)
Heather

Sharing God's Love through Music

Our team has been blessed with special gifts in the areas of music and drama. It was so exciting to hear that the people of Kenya love to worship through music, drama and song! I feel that God has big plans for our team, and I can't wait to see how He'll use us during our time in Kenya. As we prepare for our trip over the next two weeks, could you please pray for the following:

• The team will stay healthy and get good rest
• Our last two meetings will be productive and help us focus on God's purpose for our trip
• The music and drama team will feel prepared and ready to go
• We will be able to raise the final portion of our financial support
• We will continue to grow as a team, supporting and encouraging each other

Thank you all for your prayers and support. We could not make this trip without you! Please continue to check our blog, as we keep you posted on our progress and prayer requests...

May God Bless you all =)

Heather

The Hyodo Family

The Hyodo family: Mike, his wife Trisha, and their children Nikki, Blake, Tia and Joshua.