God's Plan

Today was a chapter out of God's book! Before we left for this trip, we had originally scheduled to repair some homes of the FOCUS children; however, God has some different plans for us today!

We started off with breakfast and devotions and then headed over to FOCUS. This was our last day with them and the FOCUS workers who we were partnered with. We arrived and as soon as the children saw the bus, they were ecstatic. They were jumping and waving and shouting at us. When we got off the bus we had about an hour to play with kids while Scott and some of the other workers went to get bedding (mattresses and blankets) for some of the kids' homes. Now, I want you to understand that mattresses here are not what we have in the states. they are pieces of foam with a fabric covering. When they returned we loaded the bus and headed out to deliver them to the kids' homes.

As we were going to deliver them, we would walk up and the FOCUS worker would tell the mother, grandmother, aunt or whoever the kids lived with what we were doing. We were invited into their homes where we presented them with the mattress and blanket. Most of their homes were about 8ft by 8ft and one room! They were not the homes we are used too in the states. Once we gave them the gift, we asked if we could pray with them. You should have heard the awful situations that some of these people were in. They are struggling like no one else I know. They are worried about getting food to feed everyone. They are being kicked out of their homes with five children and no place to go. We heard stories much like that one all day and prayed for them. We would then leave and move on to the next house. The last house we went too was a different story though.

There is a little girl named Joyce that Debbie Jo and Leah have really taken too this week. This little girl came to FOCUS about a year ago and she was very malnourished. Because of that, she had no hair, she could barely walk, and she was very sad. Once she got into the program, she was able to eat twice a day and had joy back in here life. After about three months of this, she was a totally different girl. After six months, her mother moved and she was taken out of the program. Then, one day she was found again by one of the FOCUS workers. She was put back in the program and is there now. She was not at school yesterday or today though. When we arrived to deliver her mattress and blanket, we found that the five kids were home alone and the mother had left at about 4:30am to go to work. We also found out that they hadn't eaten in two days.

When we found this out, Scott and the FOCUS team immediately left to get food for them. On their way out, they noticed that many of the other kids in the village had not eaten that day either. So, they came back with food for Joyce's home for the next two days and bread to give the children. Once we gave it to them, they perked up. We sang some songs with them and then I prayed for them. It was a heart wrenching sight. This was TRUE poverty!! Not having enough money to eat for two days and barely surviving is what real poverty is! We saw it first hand today!! This was one of those moments where you really decide what you are going to do with your experiences here. Are you going to go home and forget them in three months or three weeks, or are you going to do something about what you have seen? What can I or am I going to do to make a difference?

After we had delivered about 23 mattresses and about 33 blankets, we headed back for lunch. Everyone went to a local Kenyan restaurant for lunch and it was good! We got some real Kenyan food there and, though some of it was different, it was great food! We loaded the bus back up and headed to FOCUS and played some more with the kids. Then we had a bit of a going away ceremony where we gave them stickers, candy, and some other things. They thanked us for coming and we thanked them for an amazing and life-changing experience. We then said goodbye to our partners and they gave us gifts too. It was sad saying goodbye to them because we have built relationships with all of them and don't want to leave.

We then came back for dinner and our final download time. Now we are all emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually exhausted from an amazing two weeks of ministry! It is time for bed needless to say! We have one more day here in Kenya and it is so hard to believe that our time here is almost over. It has been a whirlwind experience and we have learned so many things! But we will all savor our last bit of Kenya before we leave VERY early Saturday morning!

We love you all and miss you! Two more days and we will see you face to face!! And then you will have to listen to all our stories, so be ready!!

I love you Mallory!

- Jameson