Only a week

Only a Week

This week has been a very long week. I can’t believe I’ve only been here for 7 days now. It feels like I’ve been here for a month already. I have learned so much in these past few days. I think I have learned at least 5 new phrases in Swahili each day. I’ve seen the ministry here and it’s amazing. This week I have been working with CHE and we have been doing home visits, meeting with the CHE committees in different villages, and also going to the different Centers to observe what is going on there. It has been great work, and it has been very tiring and emotionally draining.

A few days ago we went to visit this mother of two in a village called Kosovo. Her oldest son, Simon, has some major disabilities and we went to her house to encourage her and to pray with her. Simon has gone blind, he cannot walk, the left side of his body is almost completely paralyzed, and he has a very hard time talking- it’s very difficult to understand him. The saddest part about the whole situation is that just a year ago Simon was a normal boy, playing with is friends, going to school, and doing the things that normal children can do. Simon got sick with meningitis a year ago, and because his family is so poor, he was never able to get proper medical care. All of his problems could have been avoided if only his mother had the money. But now she must watch as her son deteriorates day by day, knowing that something could have been done for him, but she was unable to provide.

As we went into the tiny shack, Simon was sitting on his mother’s lap. We started talking with her, just trying to encourage her, when all of a sudden Simon started talking. Of course, it was very difficult to understand him. But he said that he wanted to pray for us, and he told us to bow our heads. After he was finished praying, he lifted up his voice and began singing a worship song to God. It was one of the most powerful and humbling experiences I have ever witnessed. This 8 year old boy who understands that his body is falling apart more and more each day, was praising our God. Simon had the whole room in tears. Here we had come to offer our words of encouragement, and little Simon was the one encouraging us.

I wish that I would have gotten a picture of this amazing little boy, his mother, and their terrible living conditions. Everyone ought to know how this family- and all of the families in the Mathare Slums are living. After leaving Simon and his mother that afternoon, I asked the CHE workers if anything could be done for Simon now—if he were taken to the doctor right now, is there anything that could be done for him. And they told me yes. He might never ever get his sight back again, but if he were taken to a good doctor, he would definitely lead a normal life. And the sad reality is that he will never lead a normal life because he is too poor to get the proper care that he needs.

Simon’s story is not uncommon. In fact, I visited countless homes where the disabled children could all become healthy again if only they were given medical attention. But they are all too poor. It is a crisis. And it is so devastating to watch.

Being here in Nairobi and working among these people is very trying. I love them and I want to offer all that I can to them, but what I have is so little compared to the great need that is here.

But there is hope. The ministry going on here is so big and it reaches throughout all of the Mathare Valley. People’s lives are being changed, their living conditions are improving, children are being educated and fed. It is an awesome sight to see.

Even though it’s hard to take all of this in, I am glad that I have been here to see what is going on in this place. It is a huge learning experience, it is very humbling.

Thanks again to everyone for all of their prayers. I have really needed them this week. It has been a very emotional time for. But I really appreciate all of the emails, and the comments and of course the prayers.

In Him,

Sarah