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

Thanksgiving & Remembrance

Look at these precious faces. Look deep into their eyes. They are just babies really - still so young in years but as you can see their eyes reflect a depth that usually comes with age, with life experience, with pain. These children know pain...every single one of them. 

They know very well the pain of hunger,

 the pain of loss, the pain of abuse. 

Safety for them means making it through a night where their family has not been pillaged in the dark of night. Home really means shelter: a rusty metal roof over a one room shanty with no running water or electricity. 

Food is sometimes, if fortunate enough,  the possibility of a meal once a day. What is a meal? Maybe - rice and beans. It can also mean a cup of chai (tea). They are hungry. In most cases (as graphic as this is) the worms in their little tummies get the majority of the nourishment they consume.

I have had the honor of wrapping my arms around these sweet children. I still cannot believe God has given me the opportunity to be in their presence and experience the joy they have despite circumstance. They may or may not remember me...but I...

I REMEMBER them!

As I am preparing to spend a day with my family rejoicing over God's bounty He has given us: 

a land of opportunity

a family of LOVE,        a  Safe HOME,

Freedom of Religion, and so much more.. 

I simply cannot be blind to what I have witnessed, to what my hands have touched. My heart aches for them. Don't get me wrong - I am not ungrateful. I appreciate and love most things about the land God planted me on - I am equally as humbled wondering why me? Why was I born in the US where we have an abundance of resources and help? Why God do these children suffer so? How can I appreciate what I have been given knowing I did not earn it, when these children work so very hard for so little reward.

Some things just can't be answered this side of heaven. I know deep in my heart I can totally TRUST my ABBA Father. He knows ALL - and my limited vision is short sighted the majority of the time. When the weight of their reality is settling heavily on my heart & mind I will continue to cling to him. I am often reminded when my heart breaks for what breaks His, well... it is then that He is pleased with me. 

So as spoiled as I will feel sitting down at a feast at our Thanksgiving Table, as undeserving as I honestly am to be placed in the land of opportunity - I will take all of that and see what God can do with it. He is in the business of restoring the ugly into the B E A U T I F U L. He, no doubt, will use my internal chaos and refine it into something pure. For that I am... 

TRULY THANKFUL.

Isaiah 61:1-7 The Message

^1-7 The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me
    because God anointed me.
He sent me to preach good news to the poor,
    heal the heartbroken,
Announce freedom to all captives,
    pardon all prisoners.
God sent me to announce the year of his grace—
    a celebration of God’s destruction of our enemies—
    and to comfort all who mourn,
To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion,
    give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes,
Messages of joy instead of news of doom,
    a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.
Rename them “Oaks of Righteousness”
    planted by God to display his glory.
They’ll rebuild the old ruins,
    raise a new city out of the wreckage.
They’ll start over on the ruined cities,
    take the rubble left behind and make it new.
You’ll hire outsiders to herd your flocks
    and foreigners to work your fields,
But you’ll have the title “Priests of God,”
    honored as ministers of our God.
You’ll feast on the bounty of nations,
    you’ll bask in their glory.
Because you got a double dose of trouble
    and more than your share of contempt,
Your inheritance in the land will be doubled
    and your joy go on forever.

-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