Shika Baba

In Swahili, "shika baba" means "hold onto the Father".  We have been learning what that really means.  Saturday was an incredible emotional day for the team, learning to extend love, comfort, hope, and peace to a group of 29 orphans and staff who were mourning the loss of precious Veronica.  We loaded up the matatu with the team and kids and headed to the burial.  The children sang then entire way...songs about how their lives our changed by God and they will be together again one day.  I wept.  Our team was large enough, along with the TI staff, to make sure that each one of the children had someone to sit and comfort them through the service.  All of these children have already experienced the loss of both parents, so this was painful for them too.  We were glad to be there to comfort them.  We were happy to end the day playing and offering them much joy.  Soccer, bike rides, hand games, hop-scotch, etc.  It was a great way to end our time with them.

Sunday was a day of rest.  Some of the group went to church, while others stayed behind to read.  Then we all met up in town for lunch together.  Some people experienced their first "boda-boda" (back of a bicycle with a kenyan driver) and "piki-piki" (back of motorbike with a kenyan driver) rides.  Some of the ladies and gents learned that you should NOT hold onto the kenyan driving you around.  That is too forward.  There are little handles under the seat and behind the seats that you should hold onto.  Meredith was racing around on her bike to get the attention of our group to tell them to let go!  It was comical.

We came home and began working on dinner.  Four of the team members had the opportunity to kill the “kuku” (chickens) for our stew.  It was an entertaining experience for all watching!  The laughter could be heard for miles as they learned to kill, pluck, and roast the bird.  Jeriah says she is now ready to survive in the wilderness.

We headed over to hang out in the home of Daniel Juma, a man who has taken 20 street kids into his home for him and his wife to care for.  He shared how the children are rejected by society.  Neighborhoods don’t want the kids near their houses and churches are also unwilling to accept them.  It is so sad.  After hearing their stories the team went outside to play, play, play!  

We came home, spent hours making chicken stew and chapatis for dinner.  Laughed over memories and food, prayed together, went over the plans for the day, and headed to bed.

Today (monday), the girls are heading out to spend the day with the 6 girls at the neema project.  We are hoping relationships are built quickly.  The boys will be building a chicken coop for the neema home.  

We are excited about a new week.  We are hoping that we can serve well, stay rested and refreshed and stay present with any individual we encounter.  Pray that the team stays unified.  we are around eachother 24 hours a day, which can be a challenge.  The Lord uses all those things to stretch you and scrape away many things.  We need grace to continue serving well together.

Thanks again for praying for us.  We are having a great time!!!!  What a privilege it is to serve here!

Faith