Africa Part II: Kenya

My time in Kenya was very different than my time in Ethiopia. The biggest factor being that Matt was there with me! Our reunion was a blessing and we were both very thankful our time apart was over.

During our time we worked with ELI, Empowering Lives International, an organization that is based in Kenya. We worked in a small village just outside of KipKaren, about a 45 minute plane ride from Nairobi. Kierra Higgins, our good friend from APU, works with ELI and we were blessed to join with her and her ministry.

We spent time visiting ELI's training center, children's home, and medical clinic, along with lots of time spent in relationship with the ELI workers and missionary staff. ELI has truly made a great impact in KipKaren, empowering people in job training, educational opportunities, and spreading the word of Christ.

The children's home is truly an amazing place, filled with God's blessings and provision. There are 96 children who live at the home, all orphans. And 80% were orphaned by HIV/AIDS. There are four "families" in the Children's home, which include house parents (a mom and a dad), 12 boys, and 12 girls, and these parents really serve as mom and dad for all 24 kids! The kids live at the children's home, receive 3 meals a day, medical attention, and attend the Brook of Faith school that is located on the same property. Our favorite time with the kids was during their daily devotions. Before the parents even arrive, the kids come together and start to praise and worship God. It is truly a blessing to experience 96 kids come together and sing aloud their praise to God! Gives me chills just thinking about it!

The Medical Center is also a great blessing to the surrounding villages. Since it is the only clinic for miles, they serve a large portion of the KipKaren region. And with God's provision, they will soon be expanding to include a dentist and optometrist. It is hard for us to imagine here in the US not having a medical facility available to us at any time of day within only a few miles. It puts a new light on how blessed we really are.

I think the highlight of our visit though, was when we were able to meet Betty. We've been hearing about Betty from Kierra since she began going a few years ago. Betty is a single mom who is HIV positive with 2 boys in highschool. Before hearing about Christ, she brewed alcohol in her home to earn money, but after ELI started investing in her, she gave her life to Christ and stopped brewing. Since we have been helping to support her family here by recycling, our one request was to meet Betty. She is an incredible woman, a true example of what Christ's love is all about. She has nothing going for her on the outside, but it's what's inside that radiates from her soul. She has so much wisdom and longs only to reach people for Christ. Due to her illness, she is very weak. But she prays earnestly that God would give her just enough strength to reach the lost in a nearby village. That is her only prayer, solely to reach another soul for Christ.

In all, Kenya was life-changing for us. We were truly blessed to serve the people there, and are still reminded of the things God taught us during that time. I encourage you to visit the ELI website and learn more about their ministry (www.empoweringlives.org). They are truly changing lives.