Updates From the Field:  Kenya # 4:  March 12, 2007
Dearest Friends, Today marks the end of my eight week in Kenya!  Some things are getting harder and some things are getting easier.  Everyday, my role as social service secretary becomes clearer.  It is not an easy job, but understanding it is half of the battle.  I started running the Social expenditure board on my own, and the world has not ended yet, so I count that a victory.  Our big project right now is a social seminar being held on April 3rd.  It is a time for all the centre managers and I to get to know each other.  We are also hoping to define roles and clarify essential needs (books, budgets,stats, job descriptions, sponsorships, etc).  Please pray for that day and on that day.   I also found a personal project that fulfils me greatly.  As of last Thursday, I am teaching YP songsters at the Kabete Children's Home!  Though the children are not fluent in English, they are good at singing in English!  With the help of a housemother who translated, we had a wonderful time!  For fun, we learned "Inright, Outright" and "Peace Like a River".  The kids liked the motions.  We are working on "Lead me, Lord" as a performance song at the Kabete corps.  If this goes well, I will attempt to teach Sacred Dance to the older kids.  As you can imagine, they are much better dancers than I am (everyone is a better dancer than I am), but I think it will be fun for them to learn something new.   Wish us all luck! As I said, some things are getting harder.  I am struggling with a loss of independence.  Since I can't drive stick shift ( I will learn, but haven't had the time yet) and public transportation isn't very safe, I depend on others to go anywhere.  I realize that this is a small problem compared to others, but it is something that I have to get used to.   You will all find it funny that I spent 550 shillings (about 9 dollars) on a box of Frosted Mini Wheats!  Anything imported (aka, anything familiar) is extremely expensive, but I think that comfort food has its place.  In comparison, I pay about 25 shillings for a loaf of bread and 40 shillings for a pint of milk.  I might have to learn how to cook!   The hardest problem I face is the immense need.  The poverty and disrepair is beyond words.  I visited a school in Kithituni last week that has about 69 students.  Their classrooms have no doors or windows.  If you look at my on-line pictures, you can see it.  Despite the poor conditions of the rooms, the leaders were very proud that the children did well on their exams.   Again, people do the best with what they have.  Because of the extent of the need, it is hard to know where to begin.  Thank you for those of you who viewed my small projects list and want to help.  The hardship is picking one project over another.  It is also hard when there is a centre struggling with everyday expenses such as food.  That is an ongoing problem that cannot be fixed with a project.  I am learning to depend on the Lord's wisdom and not my own.  That is my only option.   All in all, I am doing well.  I am trusting and learning.  My verse for this week is: "For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men"  I Timothy 4:10 Please continue to send e-mails, because I love hearing from you!  You are my encouragement.  Love to everyone! Armida