"We cannot help speaking of what we have seen and heard." Acts 4:20

WHEW! What a week! Let me see what I can consolidate here for you:

1. On Tuesday we went to a children's Rehabilitation center, called the Rescue House. For those of you who knew me when I went to Brazil, yes, I also worked in a place called the Rescue House, and also for children who were taken off of the streets. It was a lot smaller though, than the one we went to here in Eldoret, Kenya. This one had 176 kids, ages 5 months to 19 years. They had two compounds right next to each other (one for boys and one for girls). So we split our team that way as well (male and female). In the morning, we went into the classrooms (Many of the kids who are here are coming from the streets where they are on drugs or something - so they are not allowed to go to the local schools because they aren't allowed to leave the rehab center. They have classes onsite.) I went to the oldest girls' class, where they were doing practical work - learning sewing, cooking, etc. The head master told me that their teacher was out for the day so I just had to teach them something. haha. But mainly we just answered questions and talked with the girls because it was a short time. We had lunch with them and delighted especially in how the little ones just stared at us while they ate. They were so impressive too - fitting the adult spoons in their little mouths as they fed themselves. SO CUTE. :)

In the afternoon we had a program for the girls. We did a skit about how God loves us for who we are, and then Lisa spoke about how God sees them as beautiful. We also played some games, sang with them, and prayed for them. Two of the girls were sick and we saw how God healed them too, which was exciting.

2. IDP Camp. (Internally Displaced Persons)
So I think I have said this before, but last year, after the national elections, huge riots and violence broke out all over Kenya. Many people were killed just because they were from a certain tribe, and a lot of people were moved from their homes. Eldoret was a pretty hot spot, and so these camps were for people who needed to relocate from their homes. They told us that last year, this camp held around 18,000 people. When we went on Wednesday, there were about 2,000. The conditions were so difficult to see - tents falling apart that were for whole families, people not having enough to eat, sick children, etc. Some of the people told us that robbery, prostitution, and HIV/AIDS were rampant because people were desparate for money for food and survival. The government was providing food for the people, but stopped in December. Apparently, they wanted the people to go back home - but on the ground level, the people themselves told us that they could not yet return, as much as they wanted to. They had a lot of bitterness and despair. One of the women we met with had the pain that her daughter died the week before. It all broke our hearts - and it breaks the heart of God.

So we just went to the tents that we could - not even making a dent with all of the people there. We cried with them, prayed for them, and encouraged them with the hope of the Lord. And hard as it was, we also saw some good - God really moved and healed. The first tent we went o had a sick baby. We prayed for her and she was healed! The third tent we went to had a woman whose middle finger was probably three times as large as her other fingers because it was so swollen and discolored. She could not flex it. So we prayed for her, and as we prayed, we could feel her finger begin to extend. When we were finished, she said the pain was gone and she could fully extend her finger. We marvelled at the work of the Lord. Finally, the last tent we went to had a guy with serious chest pain. He was going to try and go to the hospital, but after we prayed, he said all of the pain was gone and that he didn't need to go anymore. It was good to see that amidst all of the brokenness and pain in this place, God was still working and fighting for these people. And though we could not see everyone, He is still there.

3. Remand House - Juvenile Center
On Thursday we visited a center for children who were imprisoned until their trials say they can be released. We don't know each child's story, but the ones we heard were difficult again to hear. We also don't know if they were all there because of crime. One girl said that she had been hit by a car and so broke her leg. Then her leg was further irritated because she had been raped 3 times. She was 12 years old. Many of the children just wanted to go home. That was so difficult to hear. Some of the kids stole, though we don't know how much of that was for survival.
Despite their pain, it was still a good facility that was really taking care of the kids well. They were learning about the love of God, which was evident in their excellent behavior, and with a few of the boys who spoke for the whole. We sang with them, played some games, and did a skit about their identity. I spoke and then we prayed for them. It was a really powerful time.

4. Home Visits
On Friday and Saturday, we visited more homes around the church we are staying at. We had more powerful times where we were able to see God heal people, and God move in people's lives. My group (with John and Philip) happened to go to a lot of people who were in college, so it was neat to be able to talk with them.

5. Amidst the broken hearts that we saw this week, amidst seeing the Lord move amongst the people, we also were treated with a few things. Hot showers continued (praise the Lord) and we also were treated to a restaurant by a missionary couple that live here in Kenya! We had Indian food (hi dear!) and salad and ice cream!! It was great.
Also, Pastor Rick from the church has a cousin in American with a Korean son. So 17 year old Bruce joined us on Thursday and Friday and it was fun to have another Asian American on the team. He reminded me so much of my brother - gosh how I miss you Bryan!! It was good to talk to some family on the phone this morning too. :)
Today we went to a cheese factory in Eldoret town (yes Julie! cheese!). I had cottage cheese for the first time in SO long and LOVED it. I think that was one thing that was really difficult to give up in my lactose intolerance days. So I enjoyed that. :)

6. We say goodbye tomorrow. We already said goodbye to some of the pastors who left for a trip to Pokot yesterday morning. They met with us on Friday night and told us some really difficult stories of how people are really dying of hunger in other parts of the country. One of the pastors was our speaker in the last week of lecture phase in Mombasa, and urged us to really pray and think about where God wants us - the needs around the world are so vast and so deep. He told us of how one team he worked with was working with street children after they had been in Trucana, where daily people were burying their children because of lack of food. He said that one girl pointed out the difference between the children - the ones on the street were at least able to eat something every day - even if it is something from the garbage can. The ones in "the bush" literally had nothing, and were going to sleep and not waking up in the morning.

What can I say after that?

Well we head to Vipingo tomorrow (Monday) evening. We will travel by bus and arrive on Tuesday morning. I am not sure when I will get to email again, though I can't believe it is almost August and I have less than a month left here. It's difficult to leave every place we have been, because more and more people keep asking us to talk with more people. But we leave them in the hands of the Lord.