Zebulon

On Friday I accompanied Margaret in the CHE (Community Health Evangelism) department to Mabatini, an area in Mathare Valley in which MoHI opened a center and has begun community programs within the past year. We spent the morning walking in the rain through the muddy streets to visit the homes of multiple women who are a part of the HIV/AIDS support group for their area. The MoHI staff has had to work very hard to establish this ministry because even though about 50% of the people in the slums have HIV/AIDS, the stigma is so great it takes an immense amount of trust for someone to admit they are positive....let alone share it with others in a support group setting.
In the afternoon we 'took lunch' at the MoHI school and then went to visit Zebulon. Zebulon is a man who has been handicapped from birth with legs that are about half the length they should be and of no use to him. Zebulon and his wife use to live in a nicer area of the slum. He would use a donated wheelchair to go into downtown each day and sell candy while his wife walked to the rich area of town to do laundry for money. Then Zebulon was hit by a car (not terribly uncommon) and was in the hospital for a few months before returning to his humble home and being bed-ridden for 3 months.
Zebulon's wife continues to wash clothes for money and on days when he feels ok, Zebulon crawls to his door to sell small packages of peanuts to anyone who passes by. However, the thing that stood out to me the most about Zebulon was not his crippled legs, or the notable scars from the accident, it was the light that shines through his face. I knew before he told us that Zebulon was saved...the light of Christ shines through his every expression. Despite the fact that the only view he sees of this world, when he is able to crawl to it, is that of a vast slum; there is a hope and joy in his every word and expression that is unmistakably that of the hope found in Christ.

About to take flight

In about one week I will be returning again to Nairobi, Kenya to work for two months with Missions of Hope International. I will be leading a group of 18 interns; all working in different areas of the organization, located in the Mathare Valley Slums (home to 100,000+ people and the 2nd largest slum in Nairobi).

As the time to return draws near, I find myself remembering more of of the sights, smells, and experiences that had previously evaded my thoughts.

My heart is swelling with expectation and excitement over what is about to transpire, and I look forward to sharing as much as I can express in written words and photographs with everyone who has helped me along this journey.