Lovely Sunday

I woke up under my mosquito net to the sounds of church services near by. I could look out my windows and see people walking in their Sunday best to their churches. From not adjusting the best to the time change, today I decided to have it be a sleep in Sunday since I was headed to Kibera at around noon.

Slowly dragged myself out of bed to grab a quick breakfast. Wasn’t feeling any sort of eggs so I just kept it simple with toast, fresh bananas and hot cocoa. Enjoyed my breakfast outside. Came back up to my room, had a nice shower and then grabbed two Christian books that I’m reading right now: Becoming the Answers to Our Prayers and Celebration of Discipline. Took in the wonderful sunshine and read some thought provoking works while enjoying the African worship music from the church next door.

It got close to noon dropped my books back off at my room then headed down to the guard stand to chat with the security guards while waiting for Joseph to come meet me. Ruth, the lady guard, and I chatted about the most random collection of things from God to politics to checkers. Eventually Joseph came and we headed off to Kibera for the Sunday Kiscodep meeting.

The meeting was attended by 10 of the members. They ran through minutes from the last meeting and then introduced me to the group. I got to say how I had visited the past two summers and how I’m from North Central College who will also be sending another group to visit in July. They covered some business stuff and then we closed the meeting.

I had originally thought that the meeting and a little visiting was all I was going to do. The Vice Chairmen invited us to go to his home for an early dinner. We walked probably 15 minutes through Kibera to a nicer part of it where is home was located. There we meet his wife who had been preparing the meal. I had some rice, chicken and soup along with a really refreshing Fanta. There was a small television where we watching some interesting African rap music while enjoying our meal.

After the delicious meal, we thanked his wife, and headed back to the office. The one last stop was a time to give away maize that had been bought by the donation from Rick and Desiree which I didn’t realize until I was there. Poorer folk from Kibera had come with bags to get some maize from Kiscodep. Joseph and the others urged me to be the one to scoop the maize for the people. It was strange; here I was the person who only delivered the donation and being thanked. I kept trying to explain it was from Rick and Desiree and I was only the carrier. I also tried to explain to a woman that they gave the money because they see that Kiscodep is doing the Lord’s work and they wanted to make a contribution. Eventually, I handed the bucket off to another member of Kiscodep. Being neutral in a donation situation is very hard line to work. I didn’t want to be involved in the process because I wanted the donation to be seen as works of Kiscodep not the young American girl bringing the resources in. Regardless, who the maize was from they were very gracious people.

Six o’clock rolled around and it was time for me to catch a matatu headed back to Shalom. Someone please call Guinness Book of World Records because today we surpassed the number of people who can fit in one Nissan van with a colossal 18 people! Tomorrow maybe 19…?