Ammon:
Adults talk too much. Prove me wrong. Went to 4 meetings / places. B O R I N G. but the day went fast. Weird how it can be boring and fast. Had yummy FRESH hotel food.
Pictures from the 12th – today
LaReita:
(Yes, the hotel restaurant is quite good! Pleasantly surprised.)
George scheduled for us to meet many FMF locations, and other CBO’s (Community Based Organizations) that we have, or might, partner with.
1st stop – a husband/wife duo with the Beautifier Cyber Cafe (with 2 computers) who open it up on Saturdays for children to come take turns learning how to type. It’s in a slum area of Dandora and kids getting addicted to drugs is a big issue. They are wanting to create a soccer team so the boys have something productive to do.
We passed by the G I A N T trash heap on the way to our next destination. Yes, people were on it, scavenging for things they can possibly sell to buy food for the day.
2nd stop – Happy Destiny School in the slums of Dandora. The principal of the school has 52 kids who all come for free, and the teachers volunteer so the kids have a chance at life. Also met other community leaders (physical therapist, husband/wife pastor duo, 2 women’s empowerment coaches, and an acting coach), all who have been called to the work of lifting where they stand. It really is quite inspiring how in the most desperate of circumstances there are still people who strive to do good and help others.
3rd stop – Pighevco (Pig, horticulture, vegetable cooperative) a CBO for the past 10 years doing sustainable farming practices. They also partner with churches to teach/mentor others in farming/gardening. Everything they grow, they sell in the local markets. Farm to table! Kenya government granted them 10 acres in the Nairobi quarry, and they are farming 6 acres thus far. The challenge is water supply/source. The quarry has plenty of rainwater at the bottom, but getting a portable pump to the other 4 acres is their next step.
While we were talking, a trash-devil came through. Ya know, dust-devils? This was a plastic bag trash-devil. Crazy. Dave wished we had videoed it, but was worried they might be offended. I don’t think they would have. It’s just a fact of life for them.
4th stop – Met with a group/co-op of 16 pastors in another slum area. They have an extraordinary vision of how to transform their respective communities with sustainable development. I provided them some training on LifeStory (how to create your vision, and use complete faith and trust it will come to pass).
We were to meet with someone else, but once it is 5pm, it is wise to start heading back to the safety of the hotel. The current Kenyan leadership is doing things that is causing the people to demonstrate, and there have been some unfortunate events the past 2 years. The current president is called Pumba (the Wart-hog from Lion King movie. You’ll learn more about this when you read Day 3 below.
Went back to the hotel. Met a couple from Poland with their 6-7 year old daughter. Ammon had fun playing in the pool for 4 hours after a long day of meetings.