One thing that's not to fun about Kenya is that their tourist visa's only last for 3 months.

After 3 months you have to renew... which I've done...

but now I'm coming up to the end of another 3 months which means that re-newing can only be done by leaving the country.

 

I heard rumour of an East African visa which combines all countries in East Africa

and just to scare me a little I was told that I would have to leave East Africa all-together.

this would require a plane ride and lots more money than planned.

 

but THEN I found out that if I go to Uganda, they will issue me a Ugandan visa

and if while I'm in U my Kenyan visa expires, then when I re-enter the country I can get a brand new 3 month visa.

 

this is all very tricky and a bit of a hassle to be honest, but it's worth it for now to be able to live here.

 

So it looks like March 10th I will be getting on a bus to Uganda and returning to Kenya on the 13th.

Thankfully the round trip bus is only about $60USD and to enter Uganda is $30 and to get back into Kenya it's $50

 

....still MUCH cheaper than a plane ride.

there are many times when I experience something here that makes me grin ear to ear...

A phrase, a friend, a circumstance, an event, a joke, a moment, an absurd encounter, a miracle

they make me stop and often I think, "There is no other place I would rather be right now."

 

Kenya is full of surprises

but it's the daily moments that can seem so small that bring such joy.

little things like a conversation or the way the sky is always a bright blue and clouds are always fluffy

it's the feeling of being known as I walk down certain streets and the friendships that I never imagined I would make.

 

here are a few things that make it very easy to live in Kenya

 

1. Our landlord's wife, Pauline, is pregnant and on her way to the clinic for a checkup as I pass her on the stairs.

She punches me in the arm twice to which I reply, "Why are you beating me?"

she responds with a simple, "because I love you." then continues on her way.

 

2. Our friend Ronald drives a taxi and is always so willing to help us out whenever possible.

He took our van to the mechanic to get fixed and brought it back not only sounding better but completely clean, inside and out.

 

3. My friend mercy calls just to see how I'm doing and to pray with me.

 

4. Every Thursday myself and 4 friends meet to worship, pray and encourage each other.

We also meet during the week have dinner together and watch lost!

 

5. Cecilia, a neighbor of my friend will often help us with the cooking, and never gets angry when some of her mendazi's (triangular donuts) go missing.

A few times she has even had homemade pizza ready for our arrival.

 

6. The kiosk owner on the ground floor of our building knows that I use a lot of phone credit.

He has ordered the larger cards to have in stock just for when I need credit in a hurry.

 

7. Brenda and Abdul, who work at my favourite Indian restaurant, can complete my orders without me even telling them.

I like it mild and with fanta orange.

 

8. I've gotten free ice cream on occasion from Rendezvous.

Another place that is frequented by myself and my roommate because of the free wireless Internet.

 

9. The stars seem from Naivasha are absolutely gorgeous.

 

10. Driving home late and knowing where the speed bumps are. (trial and error got us there)

 

That's just a few things that I can think of at the moment.

but there are so many things that make me smile here

and so I am constantly thanking the Lord for bringing me to Kenya

Having no concept of time as of late.

I seem to be begging the clock to slow down…

Just today I realized that we have begun a new month… in fact, February snuck up on me without my noticing over a week ago.

 

There’s a new team in town, a 3 month team of 22 members and 3 leaders. It’s a lot of management but I find myself loving every minute of it.

Part of it is the freedom of not being a team leader.

I am able to complete my work and go home to my own house, a break from ministry which I hope not to take advantage of, but I am very very grateful.

 

One reason I didn’t know that February had come is because of the daily lists of things to accomplish…

Take the team here, have a couple of meetings,

take the team there, have some more meetings,

Take the team home then make 40 phone calls.

 

One day in particular I had 6 meetings and ended up being on foot in Kibera for 4 hours…

a wonderfully productive, yet scorching day.

The easiest way to describe my ministry is to say that everything that the team does in Kibera, I have scheduled and or set up.

They are part of 10 different ministries in Kibera,

all 10 of which I have contacts for and have to keep in touch with regularly.

This requires a lot of phone calls but even more walking because,

I’ve found that meeting in person is much more successful for translation of plans and vision.

 

So, let me tell you what the team will be involved with in the next 2 months.

 

-Ask The Lord prayer (ATL) – the entire team will venture into Kibera every week with no agenda but the Lord’s. they will pray for direction on where to go that day and undoubtedly experience God working in amazing ways.

 

-New Adventures Primary School – 12 of them will be tutoring students in English and math

 

-Miracle and Victory Centre – 5 of them will be helping teach, correct homework and cook lunch for about 50 pre-schoolers

 

-Women with HIV – 5 of them will be ministering and hopefully helping to improve the business plans of a group of widows with HIV who are doing everything they can to support their children

 

-Detention Centre – 12 will be visiting about 20 captured street boys twice a week to get to know them, invest in their lives and teach them practical/Biblical ways to deal with things they commonly experience, such as fear, anger, rejection etc.

 

-Kibera Community Youth Program – 5 will be working with the drama outreach team as well as teaching basic computer skills to young and old as well as helping professionalize admin work for this growing haven for Kibera’s youth.

 

-Bible study for men and women – 5 will be conducting a weekly bible study and home visit group to teach, learn from and get to know a handful of Kibera’s older generation.

 

-Alpha Bible study – 5 will be meeting weekly with a group of new believers/non-believers/former Muslims to discuss the basics of Christian faith and learn from their lives.

 

-Alpha Kenya – the entire team will be travelling with Alpha Kenya either in March or April to do a conference on the basics of Christianity.

 

That’s about it for now as far as ministry in Kibera goes-for this team. It’s sure to keep them busy but even more so, I’m sure God will use these ministries to challenge, strengthen and grow each of them.

I’m really excited for them to begin on Monday, and so thankful to God for making this set up incredibly easy.