A Muslim on the roadside and finding life in abundance...

Yesterday I had the opportunity to go back in to Jangwani and do some home visits. I took the American LIA interns with me, which was great. We first went and met Faith and her mother Immaculate at their home. It was a joy to be with them - their home is one I visit every time I am in Kenya. We then visited Mama Naftali, Mama Mwendwe and ended at Sarah's home and visited her mother for a bit. We carried some food to each of the homes.

It is an incredibly humbling experience each time I visit each child's home, because they live with so little, and don't always have a bed, but they have found joy in things beyond what I know. While doing the home visits we ran into some of the other children - Christopher, Diana, another Diana, Agnes, Njeri, Mercy and Sammy. Consolata and Bella (two of the main staff with the project) have such a love for the people of the area and were a pleasure to be with once again.


We then traveled (which took forever might I add) to the Methodist Guesthouse on the other side of town. LIA was having an end of the year party, as well as a send off for the Interns. It was a joy to be around the LIA staff and volunteers. I had conversations with Dr. Muhudhia, Nancy, Muema, Bukachi, Ken and others and I had one thought at the end of the time - These people are living out what their organization stands for. They are living life abundantly and helping others to do so as well. They have found that John 10:10 has more depth than the wealth of this world - the abundant life that is described is simply living in the knowledge and understanding of the grace of God and pursuing a life that reflects that grace that God has bestowed upon us. It was just a great experience, and was another affirming moment as to why I have partnered with such a wonderful organization.

Lastly, I had an interesting experience on my way home. I left the guesthouse to get a matatu to go to Anne and Chege's for dinner. As I was waiting with a number of Kenyans at the bus stop, a man in an old Mercedes pulled up and told me to come to the window. He asked if I would like a ride. At first I was slightly hesitant because this is not something that happens very often, but then I said yes.

The man had a slightly Arabic/Indian look to him, so my first thoughts unfortunately were, I wonder if he wants to chew me out for being an American and how terrible my country was. Rather he asked where I was going and I told him, and he asked if I knew my way around and I told him, yes that I had lived here for a year. He told me that whenever he sees a westerner or Asian on the roadside he generally asks if they need a ride because he figures they are lost. He told me he was a 4th generation Pakistani Kenyan. His great grandparents had come to Kenya to work on the railroad from Mombasa to Nairobi. They now own a butchery in an area of Nairobi called Hurlingham.

I noticed a small porcelain object on his dashboard. It was in the shape of hands holding a book that had Arabic written on it. I asked him what it was and he said it was praying hands holding the Koran opened to a page reminding him to pray. We talked a bit more then he dropped me off. I add this to the blog for this reason...in a world where we hear about so much hate, about bombs blowing up people, about the war on terror and the hate between Christians and Muslims, I had the opportunity to experience a completely different side. My Muslim brother (although I don't agree with his beliefs) out of kindness offered me a ride, and then we sat together in conversation for a bit and headed our own separate ways. Things like that, unfortunately don't get on the news - it is only people committing heinous acts. So, that was my Thursday.



One thing I have forgotten to add - we've had a sad moment at the project. One of the little boys, Elvis who is 4 years old, just lost his mother 2 days ago to pneumonia - it is unclear whether HIV/AIDS or TB had anything to do with it. I have his picture here so you can be praying for Elvis. Thanks...