Loving Children in Kenya

It’s not okay with me that there are children in Kenya that do not know the love and power of Jesus Christ in their lives.  Many of them don’t know any love at all because their parents are dead from AIDS or are abusive or just absent.  I love teaching children about Jesus and loving on them as much as I can.  Most of the children I work with live in the Kibera area of Nairobi, a massive slum that is split in half by a muddy, disgusting stream that turns into a raging torrent during the rainy season.  It’s muddy, dirty and smelly in Kibera.  There are few toilet facilities so most people do their business in plastic bags.  They come to my house and exclaim at how large it is for one person (I’m embarrassed because I find it hard to cram all my junk in my tiny townhouse).  We have Bible Club on Saturday mornings in a ‘hall’ made from aluminum sheets.  The kids have a great time playing games, singing, hearing a Bible story, coloring a picture and eating a snack.  Many of them go to the mosque in the afternoon for more food.  It’s a tug of war for their understanding and allegiance, so I pray everyday that the Holy Spirit will breakthrough to their hearts and guide them into the Kingdom of Light.

That’s the little kids.  Then there are the vijana (youth, they hate being called boys).  They are the future soccer stars of Kenya.  They work hard after school practicing their soccer skills on a make shift field next to the railroad line that runs through Kibera.  One time the train fell over just at the field, killing a few people.  But they keep playing there because there aren’t many open spaces, level or otherwise, in Kibera.  They play in competitions where sometimes the refs and organizers abuse them for being slum kids.  That makes them really mad, but determined to play better than anyone else.  It’s tough being a kid from the slum, and it’s tough to convince them that Jesus has the answers.  Pray with me for their hearts and minds, their health and their safety.  Pray that they will rise from their poverty and live lives pleasing to God.  And that they’ll win all their soccer games (and quit wearing out their sports shoes…we could use a miracle there!)

Carolyn Cummings serves in Kenya with AIM