Brandon A @ Kenya: Power Failure

Due to the nightly heavy rains the power has been off and on at the Kamau house for the last 3 days. Because of this I was unable to write on my blog.

The past 3 days have been great! On Monday morning I worked in the skills department with Meredith and Luisa. I was helping take photograph of their hand made products to be used on a website to promote their merchandise. I also had the opportunity to meet up with Heather Lozada's small groups sponsored child Purity during her lunch break. It took her a while to warm up to me but I eventually got her to have a short conversation with me. She is such a beautiful young lady of God and has grown a lot since I saw her. Unfortunately this week the students had their exams so I didn't have time to take a photo of her. I will be going to her house next Tuesday to meet her family and promised her sponsors I would document it for them. After lunch I starting planning for a video that CMF asked me to work on for them to help advertise to middle school and high school student about orphaned children due to HIV/AIDS.

On Tuesday I walked to Kosovo with Charity from social work to visit my sponsored child Edwin Watulo Wanyonyi. He is a 13 year old boy that is currently in class 1. Currently Edwin is #6 in his class and loves math, enjoys soccer and would like to become a Pilot. He loves in the slums with his Mother and Father (Irene and Robert) and his twin brother Brian. Irene sells vegetables and Robert is a painter. After meeting him at the school office I walked with him to his house but unfortunately is mother had just left for work moments before we got there. So I promised him that I would come back sometime soon to meet his twin brother and parents and to see the inside of his house. Edwins birthday is May 1st so I am hoping to have the opportunity to visit him on that day as well.

Today I worked on starting a video for CCV (Christ Church of the Valley) in PA. Doing an update for them on there congregations sponsored children and Joska. I will tell you more about that project later on.

Brandon A @ Kenya: Microenterprise

On Friday I went back to the Micro Enterprise department. This time I got to go with Joseph to visit the Bondeni Center for 2 group meetings. The group meetings today were very similar to meetings with Verginiah the day before. The first group was well established and was doing great at paying over and above what was expected and the second group was brand new and had not been meeting for very long and was still working on there savings and training. Because the second group was small and was just getting their feet wet in the program I was encouraged by Joseph to encourage this small group of single women. I really liked the question he asked me t before I started talking to the group. "Brandon, if you came back in 5 years and visited this group what would you expect them to have done from now to then?" I responded something to the effect of: I expect that in 5 years these ladies will have gotten married, started their own businesses, be stronger christians, paid off the group loan, had a healthy family, and would be working towards purchasing land and moving their families out of the slums. The group was very encouraged by these words and seemed very excited about what the future could hold for them.

After the meetings were over Joseph and I walked back to Pangani and visited some of his business clients along the way. One of his clients owned a hotel, another started a billiard room, another opened a grain and bean market. We were going to visit more but he and I were both not feeling very good and was feeling worse and worse the further we walked. I had a really bad upset stomach and he had flu like symptoms. Once we got back to the Pangani center we both went to get medication from the clinic on the ground floor. Don't worry I am feeling much better today. It's amazing what a little rest and medication can do for the body. I am just glad got sick on Friday so that I had the weekend to recover.

Brandon A @Kenya: Thur 25 March

While writing this I am sitting on my bed feeling the cool evening breeze on my face and listening to the rain pitter pattering on the ground outside my window. It rained most of the night yesterday and again tonight. As I listen to the rain I am thinking about those who live in the Mathare slums. I'm praying that there homes will not flood...that they won't get sick from the standing water...that God will keep them safe and dry... and that the hot sun will dry the land tomorrow.

I had the pleasure of working with the Micro Enterprise department today by shadowing Virginiah Kamau. While there I learn about how there loan process works and how they train people that live in the slums a traid and how to start there own business. After they will out an application and are accepted into the program they are placed into a group. They currently have about 35 groups with about 10-25 members in each group.

I had the opportunity to sit in on group meetings for Matunda (Fruits) which as 10 members and Kupendana (Loving One Another) which as 24 members. We were only able to make the tail end of Matudas meeting. This group was formed this month and is still in the early stages of getting there loan. This means as a group they have to save 30% of the loan amount before Missions of Hope can give them the loan.

Kupendana on the other hand has been together for 4 years now and is doing very well. It was very interesting to sit thru there meeting. Most of there time together was spent collecting money to be put in the bank to pay back there load and marking in the books who gave what amounts. But after that they started a discussion amongst the group in swahili. I could tell by there tone that this was a very serious conversation but wasn't sure what they were talking about. After a few minutes Verginiah realized that I was left in the dark and filled me in on what was going on. She told me that Kupendana was interested in taking out another loan so that they can purchase a plot of land outside of the slums and divide the land it equally amongst the group so that they can move out of the slums. The debate was evidentially on what plot of land they should purchase. I later found out that early next week they will be purchasing the plot and it will take several years before they will be able to build homes and move there families onto the property. At the end of the meeting I gave them words of encouragement, blessings and told them that they would be in my prayers. It was so good to see a group of people doing so well and trying there best to get out of there current living conditions.

Sorry that I didn't write a post yesterday, I got busy and completely forgot. Let me see if I can give a quick recap of the day... Meredith (another apprentice) and I worked with the social work department and shadowed Jane (pronounced Jan). We took a matatu to the Huruma Center and did a few home visits. But the highlight for the day was watching the kids of the Huruma school practicing for the Missions of Hope 1st annual Talent Show on April 10. I was amazed at how talented these young boys and girls were. I know that they do well in the competition. Below are some photos that I took while they visiting the center. I also took a few videos but I promised the head master that I would not show anyone until after the competition so other centers won't steal there ideas. They are very serious about competitions in Kenya.

Brandon A @ Kenya: The Social Work Department

[more pics available at Brandon's personal blog http://brandoncharlesadams.blogspot.com/ ]

The agenda for the day was help social worker Mary do home visits for students that are new to the Pangani school. The point of these first time visits was to make sure their family records were correct. This is so that CMF can keep the sponsors accurately updated on there students information.

Early this morning four 1st grade students meet down in the Social Work department in the Pangani Center. We then had the children take us to each of there houses one by one. At each home we sat down with the student and there parents (typically there Mom) and filled out two forms with them. Some of the questions on these forms subjects such as medical information, family tree, income, expenses, child's favorite sport, how the child behaves at home, what they want to be after they graduate college.

After we visited all 4 homes we walked back to the center to eat lunch. After lunch we met up with 4 students from grade 2 and went to visit there homes for the same purpose as the first group of students. But this group live in an area that was much worse then the first group that we took that morning. When in nairobi you realize quickly that each family has there own unique testimony on how they got where they are today. It was very encouraging to here parents say things to the social worker like, "My son has grown so much academically and spiritually since attending the Mission of Hope Pangani School." or "My daughter struggled so much keeping her grades up in her old school and now is excelling in your school program."

When doing home visits the families are always so welcoming to us a visitors. The students are very proud to show us where they live and to have us meet there family. To give you a better idea of living conditions in the Mathare slums... there houses are about 8' x 13' and are made out of corrugated metal, wood and cement. This small space normally includes a twin bed that sleeps 2 to 4 people, a small wooden chair/sofa, coffee table, and a few pots and pans for cooking and cleaning. Some of the houses in the slums have just enough electric to run a light bulb or small TV but most of the houses have NO electricity.

Brandon A @ Kenya: The Education Department

Monday, March 22, 2010

This week I am continuing my orientation. This morning I meet up with Stanley Jumbe in the education department of Pangani. I had the opportunity to watch him teach levels 4 & 5 in math, science & Kiswahili. As a guest the students would greet me as I walked through there door. In unison the entire class would say, "Welcome to our classroom, we are so glad you came to visit us, how are you doing today?" and I would respond by saying "I am fine, how are you?" they would then answer and I would tell them my name is Brandon and they would say "Hello Brandon!"

I was amazed at how fast they were comprehending the new material that Stanley was teaching. They are all very smart kids and has a thirst for learning. At the end of each subject the teacher would "mark" the answers to the problems that students had completed in there workbooks. I took that time to walk around the room to talk with the students and answer any questions that they had for me. Some of the questions were quite intriguing/funny. Below is a list of my favorite questions:

• Who was the first US president? ...Was it George Bush?
• Are you married?
• Are you going to get married soon?
• Who was the second US president? ...Was it Obama?
• What is your favorite color?
• How long did it take you to get from Maryland to Kenya?
• How much did it cost to fly here from the US?
• Can you drive a car from Maryland to Nairobi?
• What is your favorite hobby?
• How long are you going to be in Kenya?

Kenyan children are just so precious. You never know what questions they are going to ask you.

Sunday Morning Church, the Kamau's and Baraka

Sunday, March 21, 2010

This morning we (the Kamau's and all the apprentices) attended church at the Pangani center. Todays topic was about encouraging the congregation to go into there community and disciple to those around there homes. They also challenged everyone to invite at least one person to church and disciple them to become a Christ following and to also invite people to church. And if I can barrow a Ben Cachiaras quote, "Pangani is making it hard to go to HELL in Nairobi!" I forgot how cool it is to have two people giving the message. One speaking in swahili and the other translating in English. Between the worship and the message it was a very powerful service. I'm looking forward to visiting more congregations in the upcoming weeks.

Last night I realized that in my blog post that I keep mentioning names and some of you may not know who I am talking about.

Mary and Wallace Kamau - 10 years ago they started the "Missions of Hope International" organization. With in the last couple of years CMF (Christian Missionary Fellowship) has partnered with there ministry. They have 3 children: Faith (13), Victory (11) and David (3). The Kamau family is so amazing and they each glow with His presence in there lives. They have also have graciously expanded there family by opening up there home to Baraka and the 6 apprentices. It will be such an awesome experience to be living with them over the next two months.

Baraka - A 13 year old boy who grew up in the sprawling slums of Nairobi, Kenya. He had three strikes against him: He was poor; he was an orphan; and he was deaf but was was able to go to school at one of the Missions of Hope Schools and through a series of amazing connections of Christians, missionaries, teachers, pastors businessmen and doctors from 4 different countries they were able to supply Baraka with the gift of hearing a speech. (If you would like to learn more about Baraka's story click here. This is one out of the millions of stories of people in the slums.) He is now living at the Kamau house and attending school at the Pangani center. It has been so much fun getting to know him over the past week. He is such a fun, smart, and strong man of God and is learning more and more everyday.

Brandon A - Kenya update Fri 19 Mar

I mentioned the other day that the Kamau children had fun playing with the Photo Booth on my laptop when we were in Mombasa. At the time the internet was being slow and would not let me upload photos or video to the post. So, for your viewing pleasure here is a video David Kamau (3 years old) singing a song with Victory Kamau and Baraka goofing off in the background. You can also check out my Facebook Album to see some of the photos they took that night as well. It has been so much fun getting to know the personalities of each of there children.

Before I talk about my day let me fist say that I appreciate all the comments on my blog posts and Facebook status/photos. I enjoy reading each and every one and feel truly blessed to know that you are praying for all the good work that is happening in the Nairobi slums through Missions of Hope International and CMF. Please continue to pray for me, the other 5 apprentices, the missionaries, teachers and staff bring His light to a dark place.

This morning I woke up at 6:30 AM to get ready for a long day in the slums. I went downstairs and eat breakfast with the family (13 of us) wished Victory happy birthday and hopped in the van around 8 AM to go to the main office/Pangani Center. Today was my second day of orientation with the CHE (Community Heath Evangelism) department. This time I was shadowing Robert to the Baba Ndogo section of the slums. Because it is far from Pangani we had take a matatu there. Which is always an interesting experience.

Once we arrived in Baba Ndogo we visited several of the homes of people who have volunteered to be leaders of a CHE group in there village. Our job was to encourage and pray over those who have recently finished there training and are now trying to figure out what there community project is going to be. Most of the time these visits are fairly short (about 10 minutes) but today our last stop lasted about one and a half hours. Near the beginning of our visit she told us that they though it would be good to open a nursery/daycare center so the mother could go to work during the day. By the end of our meeting she told us about her second idea which consisted of of using her sowing machine that she currently uses outside her home to mend clothing for the community to made mosquito nets and sell them to her neighbors to help prevent the spread of malaria. Both sound like great ideas of ways to help her fellow kenyans and to spread the word of God's love. It is great to see God's hand working thru the people living in the slums change there own community.

After we were done with our visits we hopped (and I mean that literally) back on a matatu to head back to Pangani for lunch and worked at the center until it was time to leave at 3 PM to come home. As I told you earlier today Victory turned 11 years old so, for dinner we picked up several pizzas and a two of the apprentices baked him a chocolate cake with triple chocolate frosting and sprinkles on top. What a great end to a long week!

[to view a video Brandon posted, check his blog.]