Today was day two in the Mathare Valley slums. The group began again with a pleasant breakfast during a steady rain – sitting under the patio umbrellas we read Psalm 46, with its references to “a river whose streams make glad the city of God,” and the God of Jacob who is our “fortress.” Cities, glad rivers and fortresses… as we prepare to head into a different kind of “city” with crumbling, rust-covered walls and rivers running with the waste of 800,000 humans. Is this, too, the city of God?
We began at the Pangani Center – the original school started by Missions of Hope. Here we had an orientation, detailing the history and various programs this mission offers. Mary, as usual, overwhelmed us with her vision and their story of progress. Currently they serve over 2300 children in all of their schools, and they anticipate being up to 10,000 by 2010. This may seem a drastic increase, but considering that last year when our group visited they were around 1000, their rate of growth seems proportionate to their expectation.
Last year, we had a similar orientation in a single-floor building. A second floor had been started, but only the stick-scaffolding was up at that point. Today we stood on a fourth floor of classrooms (27 classrooms in all, over 950 children at this one school). As we stood on that upper floor balcony, a couple of us had a moment to stand at one end with Mary as she surveyed the view of slums. She pointed to a small, brick-roofed building in the distance, indicating that was their start – one small portion of that building (a single room) that they rented when they started the mission. She then scanned to the right and pointed to another small building that they had rented when they outgrew the first building. We said, “Look where you are now: On the newly-built fourth floor of one of several school centers.” She said this was actually her first time standing on the balcony of their fourth floor, of a building they own debt-free, and was able to see the two former sites from this vantage point. At this she began to cry. For those of you who will have the honor of meeting this woman someday – you will discover that she is focused, tough, determined… but the view of how far God had brought them in just 6 years was overwhelming for even her. Pointing to that tiny first building, she said, “That was just the beginning…” We all agreed: With God, it’s always just the beginning…
We visited the new library located on the 4th floor also. Surrounded by windows, this room is sun-bathed and squeaky clean. A beautiful soft blue with a new tile floor. The librarian proudly reported that they currently have 4000 books, and are always looking for more. We then toured 3 classrooms and were treated to beautiful singing and recited memory verses. Some brief play with children at recess in the courtyard and a tour of their new, expanded kitchen. Finally, a visit to a room where 5 women were being trained in sewing – a part of their micro-business development program which trains adults in marketable skills and business organization.
Next we took our first journey down into the slums themselves. Immediately it became apparent how drastic of a change this mission is making in children’s lives. The children in the slums ran free, many malnourished and evidencing illness, and playing in rivers of human run-off. Seeing these children’s desperate situations highlighted how greatly the mission has improved the lives of the children under their influence. There are waiting lists at all the centers for the children who currently are unable to come to the schools due to lack of space. We were graciously invited into three separate homes, each about 7x5 feet. The home Dave and Linda entered (we split up) was home to a woman raising 6 children, and 8 grandchildren. Her oldest daughter (mother to the grandchildren) was the primary bread-winner, until her recent death. Funeral costs for her meant the grandmother had to abandon her business. All of this living under one tiny, rusty shanty. These stories are more common than not.
Shell-shocked, we came back to the center and had lunch (a little challenging to do in light of what we had just witnessed). We then discussed work plans for the remainder of the week. Our plan is to hit on a variety of projects including a program called “Bring the Light” (installing fiberglass sunroofs in homes), home visits to HIV/AIDS victims – as well as a medical screening clinic for the children of the Kosovo slum neighborhood. Dave and Linda will be positioned to screen these children and make recommendations for treatment. The rest of us will be helping with various support aspects of this as well. I (Tim) will also be leading a small “art club” of about 10 hand-picked children that will make art as well as paint some small murals on partitions for their classrooms. We’re very excited to be utilizing our primary areas of giftedness to help these people. (There was some question as to what we would be doing – and at first it seemed we would be doing the traditional tasks that most teams do. But when we made it clear: Use us how you wish. If we were staying indefinitely, where would you plant us? – Mary, without hesitation, pointed at Dave and Linda and said, “Medical” and she pointed at me and said, “Art.” No-brainer for her. With Megan’s natural ability and experience with leading children, and Josh and Steve being magnets for the kids - that’s how we’re being used! We can’t wait! I am sure more details on these tasks will become clear in the coming days…)
Came back to the hotel around 6:00, and after a brief clean-up and rest we are going to find something to eat and debrief a day of overwhelming experiences.
After this day, surveying all the good that is being done, I do not know whether to call the slums the city of God… or whether the contaminated river is able to make anyone “glad.” But we can say without question that God’s kingdom is present and active in this place.
