Thursday – “We are the Body”

Community---the theme of the day as part of our growing in Intimacy with Jesus.  Adam and Laura presented the importance and role of living in community with other believers to strengthen, encourage, teach and hold one another accountable as we walk this journey with Him.  While the rest of our team was involved in small group and workshops, Laura, Adam and I (Diane) went to the Homecare center, which is near Kibera, to visit the AIDS widows and experience part of the Thursday prayer/praise meeting open to everyone.  I was asked to share a devotional with the widows, and it is always a special time to be with them at their weekly gathering.  The word He encouraged me to share was “Hope,” focusing on scripture that tells us where our hope lies, in Whom our hope lies, and why we can truly have hope.  Only because of Who God is can we have hope, based on His character, provision through His Son, and empowered by His Spirit. It also happened to be the graduation day for the sewing program at Homecare Center, and we got to join in celebrating the five young women from Kibera who had passed their level 3 government exam in sewing.  Each one received her own sewing machine and supplies to start their own business. It was a sweet time indeed. 


Thursday Kenya teen week pictures

During that time, John did something with the boys that was certainly counter-cultural; he exhorted them to respect and honor girls/women, treat them with respect and dignity and serve them.  As a way of doing that, he asked them to pick up the chairs for the girls (the universal white plastic chair!) and allow them to go to lunch first.  Then, they were to offer to take the girls’ dishes when they were finished as a way to serve them.  They even formed a double line for the girls to go up the hill for lunch, clapping and singing as they went!  This is not the norm in male/female behavior in this culture, and frankly, the girls weren’t sure what to make of it.  Once they began to realize that they were being served, and got over some of the shock, they were elated.  What a contrast to the treatment sadly shared so frequently in their personal testimonies of beatings, abuse, demeaning status and disregard.  But stories of abuse are not limited just to the girls; many of the boys shared about their harsh treatment at home.  The more they share, the more we know this week is a pivotal point for many of them to find the courage to verbalize their pain, receive comfort and confirmation from God’s Word that they are truly loved by Him.

When we returned, the workshops were in full swing.  Tomorrow is our last day together before the students present their work at church Sunday, so it was a busy afternoon for them fine tuning their music, dance, play and background scenery painted by the art group.  It was pure joy to observe their excitement and full involvement in what they are doing!  In just a few short days, we have seen these rather reserved young people literally blossom before our eyes!  They are discovering talents they never knew they even had; sparks are building to a flame as they see themselves in a totally new light – one of significance, meaning, talent and potential. Just pure joy!

As we concluded the day with worship and prayer, John again organized the boys to allow the girls to proceed out first to the bus (getting first picks on the seats), again forming two lines as the girls sang their way to the bus.  The boys followed behind, chanting and singing.  What a huge change from Monday!  It’s hard to believe that tomorrow is Friday, our last full day together.  For those who doubt that anything significant can occur in a few days, just ask any one of our team.  Each of us are full to overflowing with gratitude for being a part of this incredible week.  We have witnessed transformation in these young people; we have heard and seen God at work, and we know this is just the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.  As they verbalize back to us what it means to be transformed by God, the role of prayer, Bible study and community, we know it’s “sticking.”  They are getting it.  And we are growing with them, deepening our own intimacy with Jesus in the process.  They, and we, are parts of His Body, and how grateful we are to experience it this side of heaven, knowing that we will spend eternity together.