older kids and Kibera

Friday afternoon I got to know the mothers better. I stayed around while the kids were napping and actually shared in their joy as volunteers bought them a new stove. The time of conversation and taking the volunteers pictures with them and the stove, etc. made it so they accepted me a little more in their world (as strange as that may seem). I was on a level with them, not just with the kids. My reason for staying was to meet the five kids to go to primary school off site but I am glad at what else it became. It was also nice to have play time with all 13 of the older kids (8 I already knew from doing school on site) instead of just being with babies all day. Today I can and went to church with those kids. They went off to Sunday school and I stayed in church with one of the mothers. It was all in English this time!!! And I wasnt called out as a new person. I liked it because I didnt feel like everyone was watching me and I could just remain in worship with them; even though it was a bit of a different way of preaching than I am use to.

Yesterday my host parents took myself and two other women to see Kibera. Kibera is the largest slum in Africa and second in the world (first being in India). There are over 1 million people that live there. We only drove around the outside of it and then walked up to a hill overlooking all of it. There is a lot of theft, rape, etc. etc. with crime that goes on inside of it. It was def good to see and eye opening. Even though it is a slum and very poor it is still a functioning community. People that live there pay rent, there are churches and schools within Kibera, there are even antenas on the top of their houses (some mud houses, others shacks) to get television! One thing I have learned from the people and the lifestyle here- they are happy. Everyone knows what they have, what is in reach, etc. and makes the best of their life. So often in America I feel like people are wanting and wanting and never happy with what they have. Some people may live in Kibera but they are still living, still praising God, still loving life. There is more faith and more religious ways of life here in Kenya that I have seen then most places I have been to in America. I love it. People love people for who they are, not what they have. Okay, okay I'll get off my soapbox for now....