REC students are all smiles during snack break

KENYA- Week Two Report-

Well, I have just completed two weeks in Kenya and wanted to share a few more faces of the students and families with whom I interact daily in the REC (school), church ministry, orphanage and on the streets (more like muddy roads!) of Kibera.

Margaret is teaching "Making Samosas 101"

I am learning Kiswahili and am given opportunity to practice it daily, and just yesterday I learned to make samosas- they are soooo delicious! Margaret was able to make and sell samosas to earn the needed money to put her two children through high school. I am continuously amazed as I learn by watching my new family walk in faith as they earn their needed wages for their daily meals and needs.

Catherine and Ruthie at the Samosa feast

 Although I have adapted my lifestyle somewhat over the last four years in order to save and prepare for mission trainings and outreaches, I am far from living a life of sacrifice or of a full dependence upon the Lord. I was reminded how I used to plan my menu for the month and purchase the needed groceries for two - three weeks of meals in advance from SAM's club (like Costco). In Kibera, the resident live in 'economy mdogo' (as Pastor Paul puts it), buying small amounts of maize, flour and oil for one meal...and I am reminded how often I have failed to truly give genuine thanks for the abundance which I enjoy each day. I am challenged to live more purposefully each day as I witness the way the people in Kibera produce their goods (doing their part) as Margaret and many others do with small handcrafts, soap, woven goods, then rely on our Heavenly Father to do His part in bringing in the needed customers and thereby providing their daily bread for their families.

Ruthie with her REC little people!

I learned yesterday that there has been a shortage of funds since many parents in Kibera cannot pay the KES 250 monthly fee for school (=$3.20), for their children. This has resulted in the teaching staff not receiving their wages, which are needed to pay their monthly rent in the Kibera slums of KES 1500 (less than $20).

Thank you for continuing to lift the ministries in Kibera, and asking God to provide for the financial needs of the individuals, families, the school, children's home and church. I love the verse in Isaiah 65:24; “Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” I truly believe at the moment we intend to lean on God and rely fully on Him for our provision, the answer or the solution is on the way, many times before we even part our lips to express the need! For every need, I know He is able and I know that our prayers will ‘grease the wheels’ that bring the provision!

Kibera buddies- these guys were curious as we visited the opposite end of the slums. Over 40,000 children live in Kibera.

I want to thank each of you who have sent words of encouragement to me and who have selected certain children for prayer! I am delighted with the response to my last update and I have shared with some of the children that many are covering them in prayers across the globe!

One last request- I am mid way through one of my ICLS courses and would appreciate prayers to finish well, as I have a final project (which is related to my ministry here) due the day i am scheduled to fly home! :-0  God has always proven faithful even when I plan unrealistic schedules, and I do trust Him to assist me in finishing strong! BTW, my professor is leaving for Ethiopia and Tanzania tomorrow and will be here in Africa as well! I love how my instructors are not behind a desk but are out on mission two to three times a year, enabling them to sow seeds of experience and wisdom into my life, and further developing me to serve in cross cultural missions with greater effectiveness.

This terrific trio (Trizah, Catherine, and Eunice) are talented seamstresses. They sew all of the students' uniforms!

Famous last words: Each Thursday is “wash day’ for me, which entails four tubs, homemade wash powder (made by the local ministry as an income generating project!), collected rainwater, and lots of hand scrubbing! I will very probably look like Pop-eye when I return at the end of July! LOL

His for the nations,

Ruthie :-)