Mathare Slums

As you drive into the slums and look down the ravine to the right you can see these people making illegal moonshine. They saw us looking and taking pictures (we didn't see them at first) and started yelling and throwing rocks at the van...not fun.

Here is a picture of what I talk about below...can't really describe the smell except to say that it is a combination of trash and sewage.

Mathare Slums: These were probably some of the worst conditions I have seen yet. Every time we travel into the slums I have some difficulty emotionally. I have a hard time when I see children in such poor conditions. When we were driving in one side of the road was covered with trash, where goats and other animals were feeding and wandering around. As I was looking that direction I noticed that a young boy about 3 years old was squatting down. What I saw next was something I will never forget. He starting going to the bathroom right there in the open, next to the road.

One of the encouraging things for me was walking around the slum with a young man, one of the teachers named Ephent. He grew up in the slums, went away to college and now is back helping the young people of Mathare. He talked about transforming people and the area one child and youth at a time.

At the worship concert about 35 youth and children came forward during the alter call to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
At Comido School in South B slums about 25 and at our worship time after our dental/food outreach another 15 youth/children came forward. So the total number of commitments was around 75 or so. It is amazing to see people give their lives to Jesus Christ. Each and every member of our team has contributed in big and smalls ways to the eternal decisions that were made. I praise God for the privilege of serving God in this way and watching Him work so powerfully in and through our team.

Missing everyone, especially the kids.

In Christ,

Trenton

Soccer is a Universal Language

Kids playing and Trenton Kicking the ball at our Dental/ Food outreach, Worship concert

Trenton (far left...I know the Kenya sun has made it so that I am only a few shades lighter than everyone else here) playing soccer with the boys at the Farm.

Trenton kicking the ball (plastic wrapped with rubber bands)

Trenton playing with a swarm of kids at the Comido School in the Kwanjeng Mukuru slums (and yes I fell down)

Later at the Mathare slums I started juggling with a large crowd of youth. After I was done I asked them how many of loved soccer. Almost all of about 35 kids raised their hands. I told them I loved soccer and Jesus. I then told them to keep playing soccer and also follow Jesus. Their response was interesting...they looked at me intently and said "I will".

Playing soccer with everyone allows me to connect before I even meet and talk to any of them. Because I can juggle better than any of them they automatically gives me respect and listen to me. Some don't speak English well, but we can play together and I can love on them.

In Christ,

Trenton

Another day and more pics

Apparently you can't take pictures of the US Ambassador's residence...Erika didn't know. Later we read a sign that you can be arrested if caught...so far they haven't shown up to get her. Just in case could you please send bail money. jk

Here I am with a few of the boys at the Farm. Alex is in the yellow and Charles is in blue. Charles was on the streets from the age of 7 to 11. They have such a wonderful spirit and love to play soccer. Be praying for them.

Here are Anthony and Kennedy after they were introduced to Ultimate Ninja. They were both street boys in Eastleigh. If you saw the conditions and places they used to live and what they used to be like you wouldn't believe it. Listening to Anthony preach and share the gospel with on the streets was powerful.

Here is a little boy at the community center (Made in the Streets) who wouldn't go to sleep, but found a lot of comfort on Anna's shoulder.

Here is a trash pile where some of the homeless lived in Eastleigh. They were looking for food and sleeping on it because it was warmer. You can watch video and see pictures, but walking around places like this is different.

Tuesday...we went to the Farm where the street boys from Eastleigh are taken. They have to be clean from drugs and want to change. Some of the boys I met and talked to had been on the streets from the time they were 7yrs old. Living at the Farm they go to school and learn a trade. Seeing how the gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to change lives, bring light to dark places and give hope to people is the most powerful and amazing thing.

In Christ,

Trenton

P.S.

Hi Brennen, I hope you are having fun at your tournament.

Sydney, you would love the worship times (you too Brennen and Gabe).

Gabe, you and Josh would have a blast together here. He loves dancing and worshipping with us.

You would love to see so many youth and children give their lives to Jesus Christ. They are so happy and thankful to see us here. No one ever comes to visit them.

One of the saddest things I saw yesterday was when a three year old boy who was standing by the road in some trash pulled down his pants and pooped right there. It is very dirty in the slums and it makes me very sad. I am glad we can come and encourage them and provide food and clothes for some.

I love you, Daddy

Watching God change lives in Kenya....mostly mine

Well, I guess I haven’t been a good blogger since I haven’t even been on. Thankfully everyone else has kept you up to date and Erika has written for us. Here are some of the highlights from what we have done so far…..
Day 1: we held babies and cried a lot as we looked into their eyes and knew the difficult lives ahead for them.
Day 2: Erika told an amazing bible story at the Nest Orphanage. Then we did VBS songs and crafts.
Day 3: We visited our first slum today. I felt equal amounts of anger and sadness as we walked through the area and saw the conditions that people lived in. I had to fight back tears as we listened to some of our brothers and sisters share about their faith despite the struggles in life they face. Kids swarmed around us and cried out Mzungu (foreigner). Our first concert and evangelistic time was powerful. About 25 youth and children gave their life to Christ.
Day 4: We visited a Church and did their Sunday service today. All I have to say is that they preach and pray differently. One of the pastors who came and visited was louder without the microphone than with it. This was the longest prayer time I have ever seen. I thought it was going to end four or five different times….but it didn’t.
Day 5: At “Made in the streets”, some of us went and visited the bases where the street kids lived. Some were completely stoned (from sniffing glue). They were filthy and the area was filled with flies and trash. Some even lived on top of the huge trash piles, picking food from it, and using it to keep warm. At the two bases we visited one of the things that stuck out to me was how polite they were. We would each take turns introducing ourselves and sharing a word of encouragement. Then…each of them would take time to introduce themselves. We shared the gospel message with them and then closed in prayer. They were respectful and courteous.
Three young men travelled with us. Anthony, Kennedy, and Moses who were all street kids at one time made us feel completely safe. They used to run the streets and looked exactly like the youth we visited. If you saw them now you would not believe it. (we’ll post pics) But then the message of the gospel transformed them…and things are different. You should hear Anthony preach…it is amazing. Larry, the missionary (Texan who speaks fluent Swahili) who won’t go out in the streets without one of these guys made a comment that is appropriate…”who says that God doesn’t do miracles”.
Trenton