George Washington and the Young Presidents - KENYA

Wow…  So much is happening it is impossible to capture it all but I will try to hit some highlights.  We attended Church at the “ghetto church” – one of the few churches that is willing to welcome street kids, probably because they are also so poor.  We played with their children for quite a while afterwards, they covered in dirt, but are so precious and fun to be with.  We played and talked with street kids at Agape – an organization that takes street kids in, giving them a safe place to live and eat while teaching them with the eventual goal to integrate them back into society.  The kids are AMAZING.  They are so incredibly clever and gifted in many way.  The invited Zack into their soccer game and though almost all of them were barefoot, they were way better than Zack (don’t tell him I said that).  However, he scored a pretty sweet goal and they all celebrated.  All of our kids are doing such a great job of playing with the kids – they have a very natural way with them and all of us parents are so proud of them.

Probably the most amazing thing that has happened so far was when some of our team members meet a group of street kids outside of a market.  They ranged in age from around 6 – 12ish.  They are easy to spot because they are covered in dirt, wear tattered clothes and have no shoes.  A sad sight indeed.  When we asked the oldest his name, he said “George Washington”, so we have taken to calling them George Washington and the young presidents.  We told them to meet us in the same spot the next morning and we would take them back to the same church where they would be welcomed.  We were so excited to see them there, and they piled into our van.  The entire day was filled with many amazing memories as we discovered how incredibly talented and gifted these kids are.  The most poignant example was when one who’s real name was Philip asked to play the piano.  We expected him to just pound on the keys but he proceeded to play the most beautiful worship song, and the other children joined in with singing that was better than the the Church’s worship director.  We were all in tears.  It’s so sad that the vast majority of the people truly consider these children trash (when we were hanging out with them outside of the market, a passer by screamed “they’ll steal from you!”.)  They are so wrong about these kids.  They’re greatest joy was to take pictures with our digitial cameras throughout the day, all over the church (which is a tin building with a dirt floor) and all around the grounds outside.  I have to admit that we were nervous we would not see our cameras again, but they were all faithful to bring them back.  They are fiercely loyal to each other and share what little they have.  At the end of the day, we took them to the park where we could pay to give them a shower, it’s what they wanted more than anything else.

Later than night, some of our team was trying to get some food to them and we found one of the boys walking alone – his clothes torn and he was crying.  He and one of the other boys had been badly beaten.  We cried with them, and told them how much we loved them and how valuable they are.  We are trying to get them into the Agape house, but they won’t go until they are all willing to go.  Many things are complicated here, at it’s not always easy to know how best to help, but we are believing that by being here and choosing to be with them in the midst of their pain we are indeed helping them.

We’ve also had the chance to visit a sustainable farming project in a more rural area that is incredible.  There’s a local man who is teaching them how to grow sustainable crops so that they can feed their children so that they won’t have to go to the streets.  We are going back tomorrow to play and hang out with their kids while they learn more practical skills.

So much more has happened and will happen.  We look forward to telling you more in person and we are so grateful for your continued prayers and concern!

- Dave