So Good !

Its my last night here in Kenya and I've been reflecting back on the last 6 to 7 months, and thinking about my time here. One of my thoughts has been; what imprint has been left with the friendships I've made here. What will they remember?  "Wess Stafford" was speaking here recently and said this, thinking about when he was a child. He said, as a child he would put his hand in wet cement, and an imprint of his hand would take shape. This hand print would last long after he left. Days and years after It was put there. My thoughts went to what imprint has been left on the people I've come along side here. There're so many times in life, when you and I, have the opportunity to impact someone's life, and how we use the time is so important. I so enjoyed being here, and being in a place 7 months ago was so foreign to me. I remember that first night when I arrived here in Nairobi, standing out in front of the airport and yelling to myself inside,  "Oh my God, what am I doing here!". And as the days and weeks went by, that frighting statement, changed into a prayer. "Oh my God, what am I doing here?"
It was at that point, that defining moment, which I had to look outside myself, my own shallow understandings, and lean into Him. That seems to be that place where He wants us, but its a Good place.

Thank you all for spending the time reading my blog, your prayers and support have been and are so appreciated.

I will write again soon on my blog once I've return home.

Dave

Not just a drought of rain, but leadership

Hi friends and family, I just wanted share with you some thoughts on Kenya. I've so enjoyed being here. I will stay connected to Kenya !


Its Sunday morning here in Kenya. I've got my window open, hearing the barks of baboon's and colobus monkey's off in the distance, mixed with the occasional honk of a distinctive horn from a matatu (african taxi).  

Its a constant reminder, I'm not in the U.S.  I woke up last night hearing the rain hit the roof of my house, its a welcome sound. The sessional rains, which used to be so predictable, for some reason have become illusive and hard to predict. Just one, of the many struggles for Kenya here.  

Droughts are not necessarily confined to weather and rain. After living here the last 6 to 7 months, I've noticed another drought which has become so evident. Its a drought of leadership, "Alan Keith of Genenteck" states that, "Leadership is ultimately about creating a way for people to contribute to making something extraordinary happen" And  "John Maxwell' sums up his definition of leadership as "leadership is influence - nothing more, nothing less." This moves beyond the position defining the leader, to looking at the ability of the leader to influence others - both those who would consider themselves followers, and those outside that circle. Indirectly, it also builds in leadership character, since without maintaining integrity and trustworthiness, the capability to influence will disappear.

There's a great need for these type of leaders here. The need to equip them, support them, be with them in their visions to move beyond, build and change.
I've been encouraged meeting and working with some Kenyan's who are true leaders, and have a passion for their poor, the sick, the people that are treated as if they were disposable. The passion I see in these leaders is active, moving and compassionate. These are the people I've been fortunate to work with, come alongside, helping them advance there vision. Please pray for these leaders and future leaders. 

Thika, Nairobi, Kijabe Town

To live by grace means to acknowledge my whole life story, the light side and the dark. In admitting my shadow side I learn who I am and what God's grace means."
B.M.

So sorry its been a while since my last blog, life in Kenya has been going great, but very hectic. About 4 weeks go, an unknown sickness began to spread through the students and staff of RVA. Nine blood tests samples were sent to Nairobi to be tested. Eight of out of the nine samples, tested positive for the H1N1 Virus (swine flue). The school was very responsible and and took the appropriate actions to limit the exposure to other students and staff and also the community outside the gates of RVA. After it ran it course over about 3 to 4 weeks, close to 200 students were likely sick with the virus. Were now dealing with a contaminated water from our water wells. The school took quick action and installed more filtration systems at the bore hole sites to kill the bug that was in our water. However there're been some GI Track problems with some individuals. But its seems to be getting better.  So its bottled water for us, as it is in most of Kenya anyway LOL. 

A few weeks ago, I went to Kijabe town about 4 miles from RVA where one our the Security staff lives.  His name's John, he's a Baptist Pastor in town. He showed me his house and the land around it. There was about 2 acres. I asked him why he isn't planting a shamba "garden" in that acreage. He told me, he can't afford to have a tractor cultivate the land,  and has no money for seeds. John's 9 year old daughter has a long term illness, and much of his money goes to her medial bills.   We were able to get a tractor there last week, and the land has been cultivated.  John and his family will be planting Corn and Beans and a few other vegetables which will help his family, as well as other people from his church and the community. 

This last Christmas, my family decided not to give any Christmas gifts to other family members, but instead the money which would have be spent on gifts, would now go to a Water Project in Thika, Kenya.  I've talked a little about John Njane who has become a friend of mine. His sister died last November, which left 6 children orphaned.  John's mother is trying to take care of all the kids which range in ages from 3 to 17. There's  about 3 family homes very close to each-other,  and there are other homes in the area. Clean water is such a huge need in Kenyan's as it is for everyone.  Last week some materials were delivered to begin construction of the Water System.  This system will redirect the rain  water from the roofs of the homes, into a 5 thousand gallon holding tank. The water stays clean and good for almost up to  1 year in this tank. 


My time here has gone so fast. I've learned so much from the Kenyan's and who God is to many of their life's.   But also I've  learned more of who God is to me, and I begin to understand a little more of His HUGE Love, that love which is constant, despite me.  He Is So Good!   


I'll be doing more blogs and adding more pictures shortly. 


I'll also be flying out of Nairobi on April 4th and will be back into California on the 5th.  

Thank you all for your prayers and support.

God Bless

Dave

life

"I want neither a terrorist spirituality that keeps me in a perpetual state of fright about being in right relationship with my heavenly Father nor a sappy spirituality that portrays God as such a benign teddy bear that there is no aberrant behavior or desire of mine that he will not condone. I want a relationship with the Abba of Jesus, who is infinitely compassionate with my brokenness and at the same time an awesome, incomprehensible, and unwieldy Mystery. "
— Brennan Manning




I've been in Kenya almost 3 months, and beginning to understanding more of Kenya and its people. I have a peace knowing this is where He wants me, for this period of time in my life. Though at peace in some ways, restless in others. You see so many basic needs that people have, food, clothing, for example, and your heart aches for them. You can meet some of the needs with some Shillings (money) for the moment, but, its not lasting, sustainable, and in 2 day they can be back in the same predicament of basic life's needs. Some of these people are Guard, or Maintenance Workers  and others are people in the Community who I come across.
Almost every morning leaving my apartment,  I stand in my front yard and look out into the Rift Valley and think and pray, how do you bring a generation of people, a mass of humanity, out of a cycle of poverty and disease and brokenness, and bring them into a relationship with Jesus, a God who Loves them so deeply. .
 There are Christian Men and Woman here, who have a passion for bringing this Country out of this cycle of pain. Many Kenyan's have leadership skills, and a deep faith I'm continually trying to grasp.  Often they work alone with very little help.  But as you and I have needs for people to come alongside you,  support you, challenge you and love you,  so do the Kenyan's. Our encouragement, and just working alongside them, helps them realize they're not alone, is so appreciated by them.
On Saturday I was able to use a friends motorcycle, and went down to Kijabe Town, which is about 4 miles out of RVA. I visited 3 Kenyan families who live close to each other. They have a borehole for water that is virtually dry. This is a common problem in Kenya. We were looking at other ways to collect and store water. This is something very knew to me,  learning how people live with this shortage and lack of water. One of the easiest ways to collect water, is from off the roofs of a house, when it rains.  Sometime with in January,  a Kenyan friend and I,  will be installing gutters on a couple houses. We will direct the water to a  tank which they already have. This tank was used for the borehole well, which is now dry.  

Some of the photo's I posted are of a trip I made to Masi Land to visit Givan one of the Guards here at RVA. I had lunch at his house which was great. He also showed me the little school next  to his house where small Masi children attend.  I sat in Givan's small house and listened to  him share about his life growing up as a Masi Warrior and now a married man with 2 children.  Such a great story.
I will write more about it soon.

RVA will be on break for the month of December, therefore I'll be making a trip back to California for the month, then back to Kenya on December 30th. I hope to see you all.

I hope all is going well with you, thank you for your prayers and support.
God Bless

dave

You don’t’ determine a mans greatness by his talents or his wealth or his education. But you determine a mans greatness by what it takes to discourage him (Bill Hybels)

Hello Family and Friends,

Sometimes moving towards Gods will is a scary thing to do. But is So right!

A person may not know exactly how God wants to use you. But when you begin to move in the direction He's leading, and you embrace that time and place in life, and its opportunities, the "why" He put you there, becomes clear.

I've got an office in the maintenance building at RVA. All the people working around me are Kenyans. Its so very cool. I keep my door open, and many Kenyans who walk by, come in say hi and we talk. It happens all day long. It gives me the chance to get to know, not only the Security staff, but also the numerous other Kenyans who work in and around this building.

One Kenyan named John, began stopping by everyday, I got to know him. John is 29, he works part-time at RVA working on Cars and Motorcycles. He's married, and has one daughter who is disabled. I went with him down to Mia Mahhu, a valley town. Its a pretty large town. John works with Street Boys there. Street Boys are boys who are maybe 6 to 17 years old, many of their parents have died from Aids, and the kids are on there own. They sleep under Big Rigs Trucks at night. John is investing in these kids life's. He rented a small room, so they have a place to sleep at night. He also provides clothing and food for them. He has a vision to try and join these Street Boys with Widows who are alone and live in the area. Many of the Widows who are lonely, and alone, could take care of the Boy(s) who no longer have parents and someone to watch over them. Such a great idea to help both the Widows and Orphans.

John and I have been talking and praying for his Sister who is in the hospital, he goes there everyday to feed her. She has cerebral malaria. She has 6 children and no husband. I received a Text from John a few days ago, that his sister has passed, and to please pray for the 6 orphans. I'm trying to go with him to his sisters services on Thursday. John's mother is going to take care of the 6 orphans at this point.

Despite all that is going on in John's life, he told me "She (his sister) is with God now, its good". He is confident, God will take care of these 6 orphans, and the Street Boys and Widows. He isn't discouraged!! He isn't discouraged !! He presses on because of who God is in his life.!!!

There are many "John's" in Kenya who love God, and his people, who are poor, broken, hungry sick. God has given me the chance, to come alongside these "John's", encourage him, support him and to live life with them, and just be "there", to help them Love and Care for this mass of humanity, to try and make a sustainable, positive, lasting impact in their life's for HIM.

It humbles me.

Sorry to be so long winded :)

Rain in Kenya

This Country is in such need of rain, and its been raining in the Rift Valley for 2 days on and off, Nairobi is also getting some rain from what I here.

So Good

Arrived

When I landed in Nairobi, and walked out into the smoke scented nighttime air of the city, I knew I was in a place which I was no longer familiar with. My thoughts began to move to, "Oh my God, what am I doing here! Who am I?" It's was a helpless feeling, where you can't rely on what you know, but more, who will you rely on. Its that place in your life, where all you can do is pull HIM closer to you. Which is where He wants us.

I have been at RVA working with a team of 24 Kenyan men, many of which are Christians and love the Lord in a way which I'm still trying to understand, coming from America. I have one Guard named Nehemiah, I was walking with him one day and asking him about his life. He shared with me, that he helps take care of 21 kids with Hiv/Aids. I was floored, but more ashamed I guess. The pay in Kenya is very low, Nehemiah isn't rich, in fact he's poor. But even though Nehemiah is poor, he has a heart to help people who have even less than him, and in this case 21 kids with Hiv/Aids. He does this because of who God is in his life. He knows that God will provide for him to take care of these 21 Kids,,,, and God does....

I am so blessed to come alongside these men, help them, support them, train them and encourage them, to face this Raw Humanity, that God loves so much called Africa.

Thank you so much for reading this, I'm not a great writer, but am just trying to share my heart.

Your Prayers and Support are so very much appreciated, and I thank you all, for your help!

Dave