I don't think I can add too much to what Mitch told you about our last day in Nairobi, other than it was more emotional than I can explain. You'd almost have to experience it to understand. After an all night flight into London, we cleaned up and headed out to see the sights. The contrast is overwhelming. Even the "richest" in Kenya don't have what has been built here. We visited Harrods, a HUGE and beautiful department store in London, very impressive, but I felt sick to my stomach being in there. All I could think of is those kids in the Orphanage and Mary. One sweater from Harrods could feed them for a year. We are too comfortable with our indulgences. I don't mean to be such a downer, but the contrast is so fresh, that it's hard not to "reflect" a bit on what we've seen.
We are ready to come home, and ready to make plans for future trips to Kenya and figuring out how to get Mary to Wenatchee. So many of you have already shown your support in that area, it excites us for the possibility.
I look forward to seeing each of you and sharing more stories and pictures.
Love and Blessings,
Amy
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Nairobi Orphanage
Amy and I have arrived in London. We are enjoying some sites, fish and chips and the comforts of a modern city.
Our last day in Kenya was unforgettable and difficult.
We spent the majority of the day in Nakuru Game preserve. We saw amazing animals. It was a neat experience.
Then the difficult part began. We made our 3.5 hour journey back to Nairobi. We planned to see an orphanage run by a young couple that we met on our first morning in Kenya at the Mennonite guest house we stayed at in Nairobi before we headed to Kijabe. This was my first time out of Kijabe since arriving in Kenya two weeks earlier. I discovered that Kijabe is a wonderful mission compound that is sheltered from much of the poverty and needs in Kenya.
We planned an exchange from our safari driver to the young couple in Nairobi. The drive through Nairobi to the exchange point took us through back roads and Nairobi suburbs that are off the beaten path. The living conditions looked challenging. We then drove through the "high end" part of town where the prime minister and others with important positions in the government live. This was like a "lock down" neighborhood. Their was high steel gates at each entrance with barbed wire or constatine wire surrounding each home. Guards were at various entrances.
We made the exchange and stuffed everything we had in Rev Phillips and Rea's small car. They took us to one of their two orphanages for kids abandoned to the streets. As the locked steel gate of the orphonage was opened, we drove in and were greeted by the singing of the 30-40 orphans that were prepared to greet us. They swarmed the car, greeted and hugged us as we got out, and never let go of our hands as they showed us around. The conditions they lived in were very Difficult. The quarters were cramped. The kitchen was very basic. It was in a shed with one large cauldron over a fire pit, no amenities. I would estimate the living area about 1,000 square feet for everyone.
Rev Phillip said times were very challenging and they had recently closed two other orphanages. I asked him how much money they had for food. He said none. They go day to day. He had to take food on that day from a grocer by credit. He did not know how he would pay for that day's food or for any of the future days.
The children were beautiful, kind, and intelligent. It is difficult to have seen and to know of their plight.
As we drove through the embattled, disorganized, crowded, dangerous streets of Nairobi to get to the airport (which also took over 1.5 hours for a distance that would have taken 15mins in a developed country), Philip and Rea explained about all the other homeless children they try to bring bread to whenever they can.
I feel so helpless and overwhelmed by the need. I feel guilty for the resources we have in developed nations. I do not know what to do.
Rev. Phillip teaches his children to praise and be thankful to a wonderful and almighty God even on days there is no food. They have a saying that the "E" on their cars gas gauge stands for "Enough" with God. I am so thankful for Phillip teaching me about God's love and faithfulness...I can believe Rev Phillip since he is one who believes it and trusts God every day.
We somehow got to the airport. We filled Phillip and Rea's tank with gas and gave them most of the money we had left in our pockets to feed the children over the next several weeks. We flew away....it is just all different now.
London has been wonderful..we are ready to come home.
Mitch
Our last day in Kenya was unforgettable and difficult.
We spent the majority of the day in Nakuru Game preserve. We saw amazing animals. It was a neat experience.
Then the difficult part began. We made our 3.5 hour journey back to Nairobi. We planned to see an orphanage run by a young couple that we met on our first morning in Kenya at the Mennonite guest house we stayed at in Nairobi before we headed to Kijabe. This was my first time out of Kijabe since arriving in Kenya two weeks earlier. I discovered that Kijabe is a wonderful mission compound that is sheltered from much of the poverty and needs in Kenya.
We planned an exchange from our safari driver to the young couple in Nairobi. The drive through Nairobi to the exchange point took us through back roads and Nairobi suburbs that are off the beaten path. The living conditions looked challenging. We then drove through the "high end" part of town where the prime minister and others with important positions in the government live. This was like a "lock down" neighborhood. Their was high steel gates at each entrance with barbed wire or constatine wire surrounding each home. Guards were at various entrances.
We made the exchange and stuffed everything we had in Rev Phillips and Rea's small car. They took us to one of their two orphanages for kids abandoned to the streets. As the locked steel gate of the orphonage was opened, we drove in and were greeted by the singing of the 30-40 orphans that were prepared to greet us. They swarmed the car, greeted and hugged us as we got out, and never let go of our hands as they showed us around. The conditions they lived in were very Difficult. The quarters were cramped. The kitchen was very basic. It was in a shed with one large cauldron over a fire pit, no amenities. I would estimate the living area about 1,000 square feet for everyone.
Rev Phillip said times were very challenging and they had recently closed two other orphanages. I asked him how much money they had for food. He said none. They go day to day. He had to take food on that day from a grocer by credit. He did not know how he would pay for that day's food or for any of the future days.
The children were beautiful, kind, and intelligent. It is difficult to have seen and to know of their plight.
As we drove through the embattled, disorganized, crowded, dangerous streets of Nairobi to get to the airport (which also took over 1.5 hours for a distance that would have taken 15mins in a developed country), Philip and Rea explained about all the other homeless children they try to bring bread to whenever they can.
I feel so helpless and overwhelmed by the need. I feel guilty for the resources we have in developed nations. I do not know what to do.
Rev. Phillip teaches his children to praise and be thankful to a wonderful and almighty God even on days there is no food. They have a saying that the "E" on their cars gas gauge stands for "Enough" with God. I am so thankful for Phillip teaching me about God's love and faithfulness...I can believe Rev Phillip since he is one who believes it and trusts God every day.
We somehow got to the airport. We filled Phillip and Rea's tank with gas and gave them most of the money we had left in our pockets to feed the children over the next several weeks. We flew away....it is just all different now.
London has been wonderful..we are ready to come home.
Mitch
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