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Updates
From the Field: Kenya # 42: May 20, 2009 |
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| Dear Friends and Family, I used to have a really bad back. The doctor said that I literally had the "weight of the world on my shoulders" which resulted in stress related tense muscles. Though I am very aware of my tendency to feel responsible for everyone in every situation, I still try to people please and problem solve. This is a very selfish way to live. God cares about people a lot more than I do, but I still try to fix things myself and worry when I don't see a solution I can carry out. I struggle with this inclination even more in Kenya, because I often feel that I am in a better position to help people than they are in to help themselves. I make the arrogant assumption that Kenyans need foreigners to alleviate the social injustices that permeate the society. It's true that assistance from other countries is essential since the poverty is so high and the resources so little. However, that does not mean Kenyans can't be empowered to help each other, and I have been greatly convicted of that fact lately. I told you all about a nursery school in the middle of the Kibera Slums called Laina Saba. When I visited the school last year, I was shocked at the horrible conditions and lack of materials. At that time, there were about 20 children attending. As I walked into the sanctuary last week (a hall made of mud and sticks), I was shocked to find close to 80 children. The captain there said that she knew they had very little to offer the children, but she was convicted to do something. She saw too many children taking care of themselves during the day. We are very lucky to have donors from USA who are going to give some money to the centre, but this Captain would have continued on even if no one gave her anything. To her, a room was enough. She saw a need in her community and found a way to meet it.  On Sunday, I had the privilege of meeting with a group of Salvationist young adults who call themselves "The Futurist Torchbearers". These young Kenyans decided to form a group whose soul purpose is to plan and participate in community service projects that aid needy children. They are finding ways to make money (cleaning buildings and selling tea or soda after church) and use that money for their projects. It's amazing. They came to Kabete Children's Home in February and made a huge impact on the children. They brought sweets and toilet tissue, told a Bible story, planted a tree, and played games with the kids. It was really touching to watch. I met with them to give them some more ideas for future projects. I told them how touched I was that they were "Kenyans giving back to Kenya". They informed me that most of them are unemployed (many young adults are in Kenya) and just find ways to scrape by. Instead of worrying about themselves in these tough financial times, they have chosen to serve others. When I assume that people need me, I am demeaning them. All my actions should be pointing to God and not to myself. With God's help, people are empowered to do what they can to help each other. God has revealed to me this week that He is going to do "even greater things" in Kenya. I often pray that we will 'get by', but God is bigger than that. He can do so much more. He is going to provide through me, through donors, through prayer warriors and through His Kenyan children. He has amazing things planned, and I don't have to worry about doing it on my own. It's time for me to take the weight off my shoulders and lay it at Jesus' feet where it belongs. The verse of the week is :
"With God's power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine." -Ephesians 3:20 Love, Armida |
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