A Video of Our Trip: Kibera Slum - Nairobi, Kenya

Link to Video of Our Trip to Kenya

No words needed! 

-Simply Sublime

Painting a school in the Kibera Slum is about WAY more than the paint.

If you have been following this blog you are probably aware that our family has a HUGE heart for the kiddos in the Kibera Slum in Nairobi, Kenya. My dear hub and I, along with a sprinkling of our kids, usually make an annual trip leading a team to see, experience, grow and FALL IN LOVE with these precious people.

This year one of our projects was to paint the newly acquired school building. This is an additional location to the original school. With this new (to them) building they have doubled in size in the last six months which leaves them at almost 520 students. YOWZA! Can you imagine? The doors of Saviour King Academy first opened just 5 years ago and now they have over 500 children enrolled.

The education and hope these children receive by these priceless teachers will no doubt change the face of life in the Kibera Slum. With the wealth of love and encouragement deposited into these kids at school they have dreams of being Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers, Nurses, Pilots...they have BIG dreams and they KNOW they can achieve them with God on their side.

These two schools in the slum are doing an amazing work of bringing hope for a different kind of life outside of the slum. This school building we would be painting is more than just a building where they learn - it is a safe place where the love of Jesus is at the very center. It is their family...it is their hope.

walking to the new school building

As our team approached the school on our scheduled paint day we instantly noticed many of the students & teachers just waiting inside the doors ready to help. As always when you arrive on the scene of Saviour King Academy you are first greeted in song and worship. Today's welcome would not leave one person disappointed.

Once the music and dance came to an end it didn't take long until side by side the team members, students and teachers were busy dipping their brushes in paint and giving the worn metal siding a face lift.  The fumes of the freshly brushed oil paint in the warm stagnant air was creating a bit of a dizzying effect but was still oh-so worth every breath as the relationships of those working side by side were building, the pride in the school was swelling and the love of Jesus was shining. Not one person would have traded  a moments fresh breath for the precious time spent in the slum on this beautiful day. 

There was a moment when Dave and I were painting the handrail and a deep, overwhelming emotion hit me like a tidal wave. I was flooded with memories of a multitude of prayers over the years. Six years prior we were dreaming & praying with precious friends there would one day be a school - then we watched with eyes wide open and hearts rejoicing as it opened it's doors in May 2008 with 100 kids. 

Each year Saviour King Academy would continue to grow at a very rapid rate. As we visited  year by year we watched it become absolutely packed to the brim with kiddos. (When I say packed you may envision a classroom with 30-40 kids in it? Well, try to wrap your brain around this... A normal size class room divided by rough plywood dividers into 3 classrooms with wooden benches for desks containing a total of 90-120 kids - now you have a better idea of what packed looks like.) With the abundance of kiddos and limit of classroom space our prayer requests would soon change to the provision of a new building with more room. 

Classroom in original building in 2012

Right about here in the story is where you find me overwhelmed with God's amazing ability to accomplish far more than we can ever even imagine...here is where you find me on my knees painting what seemed like the impossible dream. Here is where you find me in tears, humbled that God would allow me to take part - or to even witness first hand His majesty, His love, His provision...His plan. This is a chapter in His story of LOVE that so perfectly represents his heart to sweep in and rescue, provide for and bless those who he loves so dearly. (and those He loves are EVERY SINGLE ONE of his children)

There are more stories that could be told here - stories in the details of God's amazing provision, His abundance - His "blow my mind I couldn't even see that coming because it was more than I could ever imagine". Those are for another time. For this moment I will just say this building represents a lot to our family - it is a very, very personal reminder to us of God's faithfulness even in times of trials, tragedy and division - that every dip into the valley is for a very specifically designed purpose. It is a reminder to us that when God calls you to move forward blindly like he did Abraham it is time to simply trust & follow His lead... for He is trustworthy.

Along the way I think we are all learning that the journey isn't really about checking off OUR tasks and accomplishing OUR goals - for those by themselves will lead to pride and disappointment in the long run. This life we have been given is really about how we love others while we check off tasks and accomplish goals. In the end if we don't have a lot of check marks showing our accomplishments - let us make sure loving others was at the top of the list and was our first priority. Love never fails.

Our team didn't get to completely finish the painting project (hey, it's a BIG school) but our heart mission of loving others well was most definitely accomplished. We laughed, we sang, we played, we danced and we painted...we LOVED WELL! 

Here is a photo of what the school looked like the day we left. Doesn't it just amaze you how it stands tall and proud? 

Colossians 2:6-7  Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

This school building is not completely purchased yet, they still have a balance due. If you are interested in helping make a difference in the lives of many feel free to leave a comment with your email and I will get you the information on how to make a donation.

          -Simply Sublime

It's as simple as going to school - or is it?

If you have been following me at all - you know Africa is near and dear to my heart. In the last 5 years I have made 5 life impacting trips to Tanzania and Kenya. Therefore I have 5 x 500 life stories that have rocked me to my core. Perhaps for some the routine exposure of poverty may end up leaving less mascara on their pillows at night. As for me? Whew - one story heaps on top of another story and weighs even heavier. Every little face has been pressed within my memory bank, especially the stories of children.

Just today I received an email from a little precious I met this last month. This isn't the first email in my inbox since I got back - this is email #3. Just weeks after returning three different boys have emailed me all with the same basic request: 

"Please Mama - can you pray that God would provide for my school fees. I have tested with high enough scores and it is time to go to Secondary School - but our family cannot afford it." 

Look closer at his precious little face. 

He even sent me a very proud copy of his school test result. He made it! This is HUGE!!!

Testing in Africa is not easy. These countries do not simply move kids up because they have reached a certain age. Unlike the US, where there is basically no holding kids back anymore, only a select few make it to Secondary (which would be like our High School). Making the grade is difficult because it takes focused time and energy over years of classroom learning and evening homework.

 Let's revisit what the basic day looks like for these kiddos: 

Breakfast is Tea with a little hot milk, possibly. Lunch, if they get this meal, could be a small amount of leftover from the night before. Dinner - if they are going to eat on any given day - this is the meal they will make sure to take in. They believe this meal will sustain them throughout the next day. So typically, Ugali (corn meal thick porridge) and possibly beans. Hmmm - this is a little different then what the typical US child consumes on any given day isn't it?

The problem for these children in Africa is these meals are not routine for most. Many times within a week families find themselves having to go without. Children are hungry, starving. When children are so, so hungry it is almost impossible for them to think, let alone lift their heads to take in what is being taught.

The other problem these wee ones face is chores. Their chores look a little different then our kiddos daily chores. You have probably heard before that the kids have to walk miles to fetch water? Seriously! This is true - they walk far and it is heavy. I asked many kids on this last venture what their daily tasks at home were after school. Many cook, many fetch water, many help wash the dishes and clothes. Where they live we aren't talking the typical throw it in a machine, watch it do the work, 5 minute kind of chore. These chores require hours of vary hard work. So by the time the kids get home from school, which is anywhere between 5 and 6pm, they have a couple hours of hard labor to do at home. What does that look like when they need to be studying hard to make the grade? Can you even image?  By the time they can sit down to study they are exhausted. And - 6am time to leave for school comes early. 

One of the saddest things I see happens when we visit the schools. It never fails - there are always a few kiddos slumped over in chairs using their arm to prop their head up. Even though they have the rare opportunity of visitors that would usually bring a bustle of enthusiasm, a few kids are scattered throughout the room that can barely move. They are hungry, they are tired - their life is hard. Hard like most of us can't even comprehend.

School is not something they simply go to because they have to. School is a luxury. School is their way to a hopeful future. School is the ONLY avenue to their DREAM!

As I continue to be faced with these situations of hardship God is continually showing me I am not the answer. There is no way I , one weak person, can solve the worlds problems. As much as I would LOVE to have a wallet that is overflowing with resources to help provide for the needy. I don't. God is showing me the real power for change happens in prayer. Prayer will lead change. Prayer will lead change in places we can't see and  in people we don't know. Prayer will spur others on to help make a difference of lasting change one by one. 

Don't get me wrong. I don't believe we simply pray and we stop there. I believe that true prayer, where you are in relationship with God, leads us to ultimately be stepping out in faith (taking ACTION) with God leading in bold new ways. 

So as I bring this post to a close I will challenge you to be praying for these three precious boys (and others like them) who need family income in order to go to school. Or they need to become part of a sponsorship program. Or...Or...Or...

God knows exactly what needs to happen and our prayers will help fuel that change. In that same sweet, precious,  prayer time why don't you also start asking God to show you how to help make a difference. Where might God be spurring you on to take a step into helping others? It could be in your family, neighborhood, your city, your country, or somewhere out in the world. I may even be so bold to say - it is probably all of those! 

"Prayer is not monologue, but dialogue. Gods voice in response to mine is its most essential part." ~ Andrew Murray

James 5:13-14 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

-Simply Sublime

Elissa: God's Promise

 Elisabeth nickname:(Elissa)
\e-lisabe-th, el(i)-sa-beth\ (Hebrew),the meaning of Elisabeth is "God's promise; God is my oath, God is my vow"

If her Dad and I were going to list off a few words to describe this preciousness we would choose: fun, loving, affectionate, deep, HILARIOUS,leader and powerful. 

Elissa has a BIG personality with a lot of love to share. When this girl is passionate about something just try to hold her back. She can't help but share her heart with almost everyone she comes in contact with. Despite the many roadblocks that life may have put up in front of her, this girl has developed the muscles to hurdle over them. She is strong and bold in her faith. 

This may surprise some that don't know her very well...She is also extremely tenderhearted. She has a love for children that is so deep and raw. As we witnessed her this summer loving on the children we visited in Africa (many orphans) we were once again reminded - this is what she was created for. 

The Abba Heart of God!  Pure Religion.

Let me give you a little bit of history on this treasure of ours. When she was 13 years old she attended a youth group called Teens for Christ. Well, one night when she came home she plopped herself next to us and said "Guess what my prayer request was tonight?" Hmmm...we had no idea. A kitty? New pointe shoes? A family vacation to somewhere tropical? No?.... 

Okay - as we are guessing it is about killing her.... she is about to burst. "No, no, no! I asked that we would be able to adopt a little boy from another country." 

----------------------

WHAT? Your prayer request was what? 

Our expressions must have been greeting card worthy...and I mean those greeting cards that look so ridiculously funny that just the picture itself makes you giggle.

As we stumbled through the next few moments trying to collect our thoughts about this idea -we must have had quite a range of expressions. I believe the final response was something like this. 

"Well - keep praying because it will take a MIRACLE!" with a possible hint of sarcasm.

***I would like to add a sweet lil' note right here and say a word to the adults out there - do not look down on the youth - the prayers of the young are righteous. And BOY did God prove this to be true. 

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, 

but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, 

in love, in faith and in purity. 

-1 Timothy 4:12

Well you can probably guess what happened from here. Elissa kept on praying...kept on praying...

It is a TOTAL God story. We will leave all of the details of our adoption process for another post - but I will tell you God orchestrated the next two years of events like only HE can. It simply was... A MIRACLE!

Meet our Son, Nate.

Isn't he precious??? 

(Nate is 6 years old in this photo.) 

Since our first peek into the window of Elissa's heart for orphans we have been given many opportunities. She has been to Tanzania and Kenya three times. She has returned to the Philippines. All of these trips to work with and love on children.  

She continues to amaze us with her ability to  L O V E & her passion to D O something with that love. When in her element she simply LIGHTS up the room with her smile - it is contagious. Why? Because she was created for this by her Father. Her Abba Father who adopted her.

 If we look back to the top of the post we see Elissa's name means "God's PROMISE". God's promise  - HIS VOW - is simple. We BELIEVE in HIM - we understand our need for Him,  accept Him as our Savior and we are guaranteed we will spend an eternity with Him in His DEEP, ABIDING LOVE. That is the heart of our Abba Father - a heart of LOVE. That is God's promise to us. You see he has a heart for the orphans who are longing for their Father's love. We are ALL orphan's who have a deep, yearning  need to be adopted into His family. His arms are opened wide and he is waiting.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- - Ephesians 1:4-5

So then, brothers,we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. - Romans 8:12-17

Isn't this the cutest? LOVE it!

So what is Elissa planning now? Well, after our recent trip to Nairobi, Kenya to work in the Kibera Slum she has decided to return for a years time to work with the children. She is working hard to raise support and get everything in line to make the move within the next 6 months. What can we say but she has her Daddy's heart for orphans.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world - James 1:27

God has been teaching us, as parents,  what it means to TRUST him completely with our precious ones. What we once thought of  as far as keeping our kiddos safe & protected has now spanned the globe. We have come to realize the ONLY safe place for our most prized possessions is in the will of the ONE who created them - for HIS PURPOSE.

Elisabeth: God's Promise