October has
been quite the month. I have enjoyed getting to meet a lot of the different
community health staff and seeing how they do their jobs. I have truly been
blessed by their servant hearts. Early on in this process I asked for you to
pray for me to love this place and the people here. Some days, it’s a struggle.
I drive through horrible traffic where everyone is just out for themselves. I
hear the stories of the rampant corruption here – everyone out for themselves
again. I see the results of this “for me and mine” attitude in the lives of the
people I meet in Mathare each day. Instead of a growing love, sometimes I just
can’t wait to get out of Kenya.
As I was
praying about this attitude one Sunday, God reminded me of the beauty I see in
the midst of all this. One part of that beauty is the staff of MOHI, who
instead of being out for themselves, give of themselves each day, walking
amongst the squalor of the slums to bring the light of Jesus. These are bright,
good people who could be doing many other things, but instead, have a heart for
Jesus and a heart for the people of Mathare. Getting to work and interact with
these staff and see the love they have for others has encouraged me and helped
my love to grow.
Walking one
day, we came across an elderly woman. She stopped us to chat, and rather than
move on quickly, the CHE trainer stayed. Instead of rushing on to our next home
visit, she slowed down and took the time to encourage this woman, over 90 years
of age with no family around and living in a small shack filled with old
clothes and blankets. It reminded me that sometimes we need to forget our
schedule, the next appointment, and engage with the person in our path. The old
woman, Rebekah, loves Jesus, and I think she encouraged me as much as I hope we
encouraged her.
Alcohol is a
big problem here. One week we went each day to one of the centers where a medical
camp was being conducted, walking by an area where they make the local brew.
Even a young boy who couldn’t have been more than five was helping. The CHE
trainers on multiple occasions have shown the gentle love of Jesus to those drunk
with this local brew. One woman came to an antenatal training very drunk and
pregnant. She walked in late and was loud, disrupting the group. Instead of
asking her to leave and judging her choices, the CHE trainer asked her to sit
quietly and said she would explain anything she didn’t understand afterwards.
Changed lives comes when someone is willing, like Jesus, to sit and talk with
us even when we are at our worst.
I have
really enjoyed getting to see all the good work that is going on and meeting
the amazing MOHI staff, but I am still not exactly sure how I fit into this
whole thing. However, I am thankful that I have this opportunity to slow down,
to see another side of Nairobi, and to learn how to love from the MOHI staff as
they live out their Christian lives each and every day. I think each and every
one of us has these people in our lives. The people who remind us what it means
to be Jesus’ love in the world. Who is that person in your life? What can you
learn this week from them?
On Tuesday I
have a meeting to discuss what I have seen and learned and where I think I can
plug in more. Please pray that this meeting would go well and that we can find
a good fit for me. I will send an update after that meeting!
