The Greatest Gift

Well, it is day four at the PLCC camp.  I remember back over the last few months, wondering what our role at the camp would be and what, of value, I might be able to contribute.  Now I think I understand a key role of our visit.  I am reminded of a quote from an author, Richard Moss, which was displayed on my refrigerator for many years: “The greatest gift we can give one another is the quality of our attention.”  

The children at PLCC have been rescued from the slums.  Some are orphans, but others have been rescued from the streets where they were sent by a parent or guardian to beg for money or food.  Sadly, the children come from an environment where they are often not really seen and valued.  Part of the PLCC mission is to increase their self esteem by witnessing their God-given talents and encouraging self expression.  

Last night was campfire night.  The campfire was started, but because of rain, we moved indoors.  Even without the fire, the purpose of the evening remained unaltered.  The children took turns standing before the group telling stories and singing songs.  They were provided the opportunity to let their light shine in a safe environment... something I think many of us take for granted.  Tonight will be the talent show—another opportunity to “be seen and feel heard”.  

Speaking of gifts, Ursula and I interviewed three of the girls today to get their personal stories, and staff at the Centre did a video recording of our conversations.  I spoke with 11-year old Gift.  Gift is the oldest of four children.  Because PLCC only accepts one child per household, Gift’s 10-year old sister helps take care of the younger children in her family.  Gift is doing her best to share her education with her siblings.  She is very curious about the world and has been asking many of us about the U.S., making notes in a journal.  She would like to someday be an ambassador, visit many countries, and help others do the same.  

We have shared in many activities with the girls over the last few days: candle making, weaving, embroidery, collage making, beading, sports, and even an outing to the Nairobi National Museum.  Perhaps our greatest gift to the girls was just spending time with them.  Time spent as friends who value one another regardless of where we come from.  And, because this gift was returned, all of our worlds are now a bit larger.  We too have been blessed. 

Pangani Lutheran Children's Center

In the historical city of Karen (think out of Africa) is the Don Bosco Retreat Center where 91 orphans from the Pangani Lutheran Children's Center (PLCC) have gathered for a 5-day camp. The day begins with the ringing of bells, breakfast and devotions. Stephen and Dominic, a lay leader with KELC who will soon to be a seminarian in Tanzania, are both leading devotions in English and Swahili. There is a beautiful labyrinth garden in the back full of flowers even though it is winter here now, and we are all housed in dorm-style rooms, which must seem like a palace to these orphans from the streets of Nairobi. There are three meals served daily. Children play team sports in the afternoons followed by dinner and devotions again in the evening.

Our team is joined by four others from Austria, Germany, and Belgium. Mary, the Director of PLCC, and her staff have created teams to organize different types of morning activities for the children. Some of these activities include embroidery, candle making, collages, bead work, and sports. Creativity and resourcefulness were required to make some of these projects a reality. For example, candle making required building a fire to melt 25 kg of wax in small metal containers, and children were industrious, hacking large bars of wax into pieces small enough to fit into the containers. The children also had to braid their own wicks using material "borrowed" from the embroidery group. Except for a few tense moments when melted wax spilled into the fire and flared, all the kids really enjoyed this activity and were proud of the candles they made.

Arise and Let Your Light Shine

The Kenyan Evangelical Lutheran Church (KELC) invited our group to worship at the Nairobi International Lutheran Congregation on the 8^th Sunday after Pentecost. They also asked if there was a pastor among us, because their regular pastor was away; and so I preached this Sunday. Pastor Luke Mwololo led the liturgy and I gave the sermon. It was a special Sunday – it was Youth Sunday, where young people took turns leading different parts of the service, including reading scripture. The music was led by African drums and a keyboardist. We sang several songs familiar to the Grace congregation, including When the Saints Go Marching In; Lord, I Lift Your Name on High; and We Are Marching in the Light of God. The scripture that they chose for this Sunday was Matthew 5:13-16.

I chose to focus on the passages where Jesus says, “You are the salt of the Earth; you are the light of world.” I addressed three questions in my message: 1) What does it mean to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth, 2) Why is it important, and 3) How can I be a light and like salt? I concluded my sermon with these words: “Jesus says, ‘Arise, shine bright. Be tasty and flavorful.’ Jesus is calling on us and He is counting on us. God made each one of us on purpose and for a purpose. Finally, God’s love works through us, but it’s not about us; it’s about others. God is calling us to serve Him through serving others.” We finished the sermon singing together This Little Light of Mine. Following the service, we were invited for Kenyan tea and cookies outside.

History and Culture of Nairobi

On Saturday we had a break from church activities while George took us on a visit to downtown Nairobi. Given that I, nor several others of us, had much knowledge of Eastern African history prior to this trip, it was an education like none other. The day began with a hair-raising careen down the main road to the city center followed by a stop at the National Archives. Featuring the collection of African culture, arts, and artifacts donated by one of Kenya’s early foreign ambassadors, the Archives told the story of the traditions of the East African peoples and their rise to independence from British rule. You could sense the immense national pride exhibited by the Kenyan people in the pictures and mementos of prominent rebels of the Mau Mau revolution. The personification of Kenyan patriotism was Jomo Kenyatta, a leader of the revolution who was arrested by the British army on allegations of conspiracy against the British government and who later became Kenya’s first president. Ben made an insightful statement about Kenyatta being Kenya’s George Washington.

Afterwards we dropped by the Kenya International Conference Center, the second tallest building in East Africa, to take in the breathtaking view of the expanse of Nairobi from the top of the 30+ story building. From the top you can view the happenings of the downtown Maasai Marketplace as well as the extent of the crawl of the slums away from the city center. Viewing the stretch of these “informal housing” districts which we had visited yesterday next to the relatively small downtown area emphasized the extent of extreme poverty in this country, with 40% unemployment and 50% of the people living below the poverty line.

After lunch we visited the Railway Museum, which documented the development of British East Africa through the construction of their railway (built 1901-1906). Before the railway, Nairobi did not exist, and was created as a stop en route to Uganda, the primary destination of travelers of the Kenya Uganda Railway. The railway was constructed by laborers from India who, during the second year of construction, often fell prey to lions suffering from drought/famine. Nairobi has grown substantially in the past century, especially with the large influx of rural citizens into the slums during the past couple of decades.

Before dinner at the famous Carnivore restaurant, where ostrich, crocodile, and camel graced the menu, we did our part to bolster the Kenyan economy by visiting a small outdoor market and purchasing a selection of hand-made arts and crafts. The people working the “booths,” simply laid out on blankets on the sidewalk, are some of the lucky ones in the area who are capable of marketing a skill to earn their living, and were quite excited to see visitors from America along with their wallets. We are planning on bringing some of these items to Grace to sell to the congregation as a way to supplement the mission’s funding.

A home visit to the slums to meet Nekesa

Friday, after paying a visit to the Kiambiu ward chief and acquiring our police escort, we headed to Nekesa’s hut for a home visit.  Nekesa, one of the KELC congregants, is 53 years of age and the mother of three children, 18, 12 & 10 years of age.  Her husband passed away in 1984.

Nekesa and her three children share approximately 3 square meters of living space which she rents for 1500 shillings per month.  Water is carried from a communal area for cooking, sponge bathing and washing laundry.  There is no sewer system in the slums, but for 3 shillings per person, per visit, one can enter a communal out-house for privacy.  But for many in the slums, the out-house is an unaffordable luxury, as they are struggling to put food on the table.  The alternative is to relieve themselves in the trenches or use a paper bag in their huts.  The bag is then tossed out and becomes a “flying toilet”.

Nairobi has a 40% unemployment rate, which is largely made up of people living in the slums.  With no help from the government, they are forced to be resourceful in order to survive.  The streets of the slums are lined with mini-vendors.  When Nekesa feels well enough, she cooks French fries over a fire in the market.  When we called on her Friday afternoon, she and her daughters had not yet eaten.  They were hungry, but Nekesa had nothing to cook.

In 2005, Nekesa tested positive for AIDs, and like many other Kenyans who have tested positive, they live in fear that their illness will be discovered.  They fear being ostracized or perhaps worse yet, being seen as weak and unable to defend themselves and what little they have.  Nekesa expressed gratitude for KELC, a place where she doesn’t have to hide her illness; she is treated with respect and is part of a spiritual community who support each other.  With the counseling she receives from KELC, she is gaining self-respect and learning to value the life she has.

Getting to Nairobi

Well, it was a long journey… the group’s flight from Washington Dulles airport was delayed by 4 hours, so the connection in Zurich was missed. They had to spend the night in Zurich and then get re-routed through Amsterdam for the flight to Nairobi. Sean and I arrived in Kenya Tuesday night as planned; we were in Germany already and had no trouble making the connection in Zurich. Stephen managed to get the last seat on the next day’s flight from Zurich and arrived Wednesday night. The rest of the group arrived just this morning – it is Thursday, and they left Oregon Monday morning!

Sean and I had a productive day in Nairobi on Wednesday. We met with several individuals at Church World Service (CWS), a partner organization of the Kenyan Evangelical Lutheran Church (KELC). Sarah Tum, CWS Regional Program Coordinator for Education shared information about their programs as did Caroline Thuo, CWS Regional Program Coordinator for Youth Empowerment, who also talked about the Water for Life Program. Ephraim Kiragu, CWS Consultant for Emergency Response and Development, talked about their response to the influx of refugees, the drought, and their assessment tools. The CWS really serves as a facilitating body, bringing together and working with different non-governmental organizations (NGO’s), government agencies, and churches like the KELC.

In the afternoon, we attended a press conference reporting results from a visit to the refugee camps in northern Kenya. General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Reverend Martin Junge from Geneva (photo below right), lead a delegation of Lutheran Bishops from Tanzania (LWF Vice President for the Africa Region, Alex Malasusa; photo below left), Ethiopia (Ethiopian Church President, Reverend Dr. Wakseyoum Negeri), Kenya (KELC Bishop, Zachariah Kahuthu and ELCK Bishop Walter Omwanza), and LWF Department for World Service Director, Reverend Eberhard Hitzler.

The LWF is managing the refugee camps, which have recently expanded with an influx of refugees from Somalia. The region is experiencing the severest drought in 60 years, resulting in crop failure and death of livestock – tens of thousands of Somalis have fled the country. This article was published online minutes after the press conference concluded (technology is amazing): http://www.lwf-assembly2003.org/lwf-interspire/display.php?M=2222&C=62d32700e73f86oe4953c6e627d88634&S=451&L=20&N=459

Today the group will get oriented at the KELC head office, which is the compound where the Youth Centre is (this is where we are all staying – in dorm-style accommodations). Our host, George Arende, has been doing an excellent job coordinating our visit, and we have a superb Kenyan chef and Youth Centre coordinator, Irene, who is taking good care of us. At least our group has now all made it to Nairobi, and our work has begun! Stay tuned for future updates…