T-Minus 2

Hello faithful readers!

2 more days...that's all I have left here in Kenya. Crazy. I'm ready, but its somewhat bittersweet. Its so ironic that I am saying that now. 4 weeks ago I was struggling with the fact that I had another month left. I was homesick and frustrated with a lot of the cultural difference. Now, with only 2 days left, I have come to appreciate the differences, love the students, and bond with my team. God is so good and I am so happy to have been brought through this "wilderness experience". Hands down this has been my most challenging summer. But, regardless I have also learned SO much! My idea of God has been so far expanded and that could only come through the tough times I faced here in Kenya.

Lets see...this past week...

On Tuesday we went back to the slums. Before we went, we stopped at Nakumatt (Kenyan Walmart) and stocked up on notebooks, pencils, backpacks etc... We grabbed what we could fit in the cart. We headed off to the Jamii school where we had visited before. By the way, Jamii means family in swahili. Once we were there we played with the kids and had a great time. Most of the time I spent with one girl named Sabrina. She had soo much energy and spunk. We have tons of video footage of her so I am sure you will all get a glimpse of this little cutie sometime soon. Last time we were there she would not let go of Greg's hand the whole time it was so cute! But, since he was filming this time, I got to hang out with her :) (Greg may have been a little mad)

Afterwards we went to the Tunza Children's Center (we also visited this place last time). It is an orphanage/school where 90 kids live. The owner of the orphanage goes by the name Mama Tunza. We donated more supplies there and also gave them the guitar we had bought in the states. You should have seen her face! I wish I could upload the pictures here. She was so ecstatic! She speaks very little English but her expression said it all. They have been hoping to start a music program at the school but all they had was empty plastic containers to use as drums.

We went up the office and I got a chance to talk with Abraham, the social worker, who works at the orphanage. He told me that it takes 12,000 Kenyan shillings per day to feed the children. That translates to about a little over a dollar a day per kid. Often times they go without food and there is nothing they can do. That is definitely the greatest need of their center. Also, the teachers that work there often go unpaid. For 8 months they did not receive any of their $40 per month salary. These teachers have families of their own but because of their dedication and love for these children they continue to go unpaid. They recognize that the children must be fed first.

Mama Tunza started the center back in 1998 when she was taking the trash out late at night and came across a week old baby who had been left by the garbage. She took him in and then a month or so later, a young girl came and just left her child off at the door. 11 years later 90 children have a home at the Tunza Orphanage. My eyes welled with tears as Abraham told me about how many of the young girls that they find wandering the streets as orphans had resorted to prostituting themselves for money or food. I felt like I could feel my heart breaking inside of me. I talked with Abraham about how we could further support their center and I am very excited to raise money for them once I am home.

Thursday night...was awesome! Our team all hung out in Chris' room and shared our testimonies. It was so cool to learn so much more about everyone. One thing that really stuck out to me was that all 6 of us are interwoven into each others stories and we didn't even know it. When the team was first finalized to come to Africa I thought "wow this is a pretty random group of people I wonder what this will be like". But after hearing every ones stories, I realize the group is not random at all, its perfect and so planned. First off, Brett, Nick and I spent an incredible summer together last year at GMS, the same goes for Hil and Greg 2 years ago. Next, on the spring break trip that totally changed things for me and my walk with the Lord, everyone was there for that. Not only that, but Chris was my bible study leader and Hil and Greg were in that study! Also, at the end of that spring break when I knelt before the cross to surrender it all to the Lord, Greg was playing "Lead me to the Cross" on the guitar, the song that will forever remind me of that moment. Nick and Chris were discipled by the same guy, and Greg and I were in church when Nick took the step to get baptized. How cool is that! I just love these 5 people and that night definitely brought us so so much closer.


We have our farewell party tomorrow afternoon with the students. I think it will be a lot of fun but sad at the same time. Brett, Nick, Hil and I head off to the airport at 6pm Kenya time (11am PA time) on Sunday. Its going to be really sad to leave a third of our team behind (Chris and Greg are travelling for 3 more weeks).

Finally, a verse I have really enjoyed meditating on is Psalm 27:4 : One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and seek him in his temple.

My prayer has been that God would work in my heart and help me to say these words and mean them. I want this to be the one thing I ask of the Lord. How cool that David was so consumed by the greatness of God that all he wanted in life was to dwell in the Lords house and gaze upon his beauty.


This may be my last post from Kenya...we'll see though :)

Thanks for reading friends!

-Sacha