Backpacks and Giraffes

Today was much like yesterday. We started off with another fantastic breakfast here at Heart and then I led our devotion for the morning. I basically talked about what God has shown me over the past month in my quiet time and how this trip has really brought it out and put it in perspective. I have been reading through 1 John and God has really been showing me that ministry and my relationship with Him is only about 2 things: Loving Him and obeying His commands. If I can do those things and if our ministry can do those two things, then I am being obedient to what He has called me to do. Being here has really brought that to the forefront of my mind because it seems like in America that we have to have so much more than that when it comes to our faith. We have to have programs and activities and videos and PowerPoints and all this other "stuff" when really God has called us to only do two things and to keep it simple!

After our devotions, we loaded the bus and headed to FOCUS. Once we got there, we unloaded the bus and then loaded all the backpacks to be handed out today. Half of us rode to the school where we were giving them out and the other half of us waited back at FOCUS. I was in the group that waited. We just hung out and talked with our partners from FOCUS and basically learned about each other's cultures. Once the bus finally came back to get us, we loaded up and then went on a tour of Nairobi looking for supplies for the day. We went and picked up cups from a couple different churches, a generator from a store, and then the sound system from one of the workers houses.

On our route through Ruiru, we had stopped to pick up the generator and there was a young boy about 13 years old lying on the sidewalk. His eyes were open and you could definitely tell something was wrong. When we started to load the generator, he got up and walked over to the bus window where Scott was and asked for some bread. Scott got off the bus and went and bought him some bananas and came back to the bus. When we were driving off, Scott told us that he was a "glue boy". This means that he sniffs glue all the time to get high. He was asking for bread so he could potentially sell it and get more glue. He also said that these boys live for getting high and that's pretty much all they do. The boy looked lost and without hope. He looked high when we saw him and it broke my heart to see a young boy in that kind of shape. Totally desolate and without hope or joy. I just wanted to tell him that there is SO much more to life than that. There is so much more out there. There is a God who is greater than the feelings he is receiving off of glue!! It broke my heart!!

When we finally arrived at the school, we unloaded everything and began to setup all the backpacks and get ready for the ceremony. Parents began to come and sit down in the school desks that all the children had moved outside for us. We got everything ready and had the ceremony. It was much like the one yesterday with introductions, the FOCUS team doing a skit, and then the Gospel being presented. After Scott gave the Gospel, he asked everyone who prayed the prayer to raise their hands and there were about 10 adults and several kids who raised their hands! Praise God for that! We then handed out the backpacks and then let everyone go eat lunch. When all the adults were eating, all the kids began to dance and sing along with the music we were playing. Megan McLean jumped in the middle of them and joined right in! She had many of the older kids ask if she was married too!

After everyone had eaten, we loaded the bus and headed back to FOCUS. Once everyone got back there, we loaded the bus again and went to the Giraffe Center. This is the place that you can go and feed the giraffes and they will take food out of your hands and even your mouth. It was SO cool! We would hold the food between out lips and the giraffes would come and eat it with their tongues. It was a very interesting experience!

Then we headed back to Heart and had dinner and now we are going to bed because tomorrow is a long day! We love you all and know that you are praying with us!

I love you Mal!

- Jameson