Kenya - a look inside the Huruma Slums

This week Josh and I are off on an epic adventure with an organization called When I Grow Up. We had the honor of going to represent LifePoint and this organization. We are traveling to Nairobi, Kenya to a community of deep poverty. Here is a look at what we are seeing and experiencing. We hope this will encourage you as you imagine life beyond what you know today. 
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This morning, our team of 11 headed out on our first visit to the Huruma Slums. It is hard to fully describe the sights, sounds, and scenes of the area but below is an effort.  You can also view photos here.
 
Our drive takes us through side roads, highways, and what we would call alleys primarily made up of packed dirt. The roads wind ever which way through town. Giant potholes where the road may have been washed out many times over are filled with mismatched rocks making some sections extremely bumpy and hard to navigate as we ride in the Matatu (van). The roadways are filled with cars and people walking everywhere. Streets are lined with trash piles (some burning) shanties, and make-shift huts filled with everything you could want to buy – none of it appears to be new but more like all the things you would find at a garage sale (and not one we would consider “a good one” in America). The closer we get to Huruma, the tighter the space becomes, drawing more emphasis to the hundreds of businesses that are stacked wall to wall – leaving no space empty. In this area of two-square miles, 600,000 to 800,000 people live life – selling everything you can imagine from clothes to shoes to food to milk, etc. Food has been brought in from other markets (carried in by locals each morning), particularly today we noted huge heads of lettuce, fruits and veggies of all shapes and sizes, and goats. And by goats we mean either goat carcasses being carried on men’s shoulders or herds of goats being ushered along the highway headed to the market for slaughter). A particularly eye-catching, stomach-turning item available for purchase is the less-than-delicious looking tables filled tiny fish (minnows or sardines) – piled high on tables and covered in flies. (It actually looks like fishing bait but we soon learn that people actually eat it as a source of quick and affordable protein. We didn’t try it – as it would be quite a risky choice for us mizungos (white people)
 
Right in the middle of this scene is our destination. We quickly exit our two Matatus and are immediately greeted by several teachers and leaders from the Furaha School. We are guided down a slender alleyway, through a short orange painted metal doors and into a small room where we meet the staff and begin to hear their heart for their home community.  They share about the school’s beginning and of its continued growth and success as a top performing school in Nairobi. The school’s name, Furaha, means joy. This word is so fitting for this place, for a true sense of joy echoes from the staff, teachers and the students all day as we get to know them more and more.
 
It is truly amazing to see how much love and compassion they have for their community. Three of the people in the room helped begin the school. They started it because they wanted to make a difference in their community that would last for many generations. Today the school has 480 students in the primary school. This school not only provides education, which can change the course of a kid’s life, but it also provides them with a guaranteed meal each day (that not everyone in the slums can have).
 
After some time chatting with the school leadership, we head into the main schoolyard for a celebration assembly. Kids of all ages sing many songs for us and with us; we dance crazy dances with them and cheer with them often. Recently the school performed at a music competition and received a #1 ranking. As an amazing treat the students perform their dances for us with painted faces, intricate moves, vocal solos, drum beats and true African style. Music is just one more way of expressing their joy, hope, sorrow, doubt and more. The students and staff are excited about their recent music ranking and hope to get to perform these same dances for the president; this would be a huge honor for the kids and the school.
 
Throughout our time together, praise to God is lifted up continuously. Over and over again the kids sing out “Jehovah is the King of Kings, the only way; Hallelujah”. The words to one song remind us all to be thankful for the basic things that God provides. …  “He butters my bread, He sugars my tea, He covers me with clothes me, and He puts a shelter over me.”
 
The amazing thing about going to a place like Huruma is to be able to look in the eyes of these kids and see so much joy illuminating from them even in a place that is less than ideal by our American standards - even the people in the community gathered around the school peering in from the balconies of homes surrounding the school to see what was happening. When I Grow Up and Furaha is a beacon of hope and joy – an enchanting light for their community. Hope grows because the people of this organization trust in a God who provides daily.

Two people particularly stood out today. One was the school principal (Calvinese). When thinking of someone serving in a job or role they are made for, this young man is a true picture of this. This young man (in his 30s) loves to dance and share hope with the kids. His joy and love for the students and God is infectious! Each time he spoke the principal reminded us, and the kids, to not praise God lightly or weakly, but to praise Him with all our hearts, voices and bodies! And so we did this many times over today in the middle of Huruma.
 
Our whole team also captivated by the sincerity of a young boy (between 8-10 years old) who they call “the pastor” who held his green Bible and read out Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
 
This verse has a whole different feel when you hear it from the words of young boy in the middle of the Huruma Slums.
 
In finishing today’s update, please pray for the teachers and leaders at the primary school. Pray that God’s light and love will continue to shine through them.
 
Thanks
Josh & Jennifer Brown