Compassion Kenya - 4

Sorry it's taken me so long to get this post up about the trip. The last few days of the trip were a whirlwind, and I never had the time (or the internet) to get this up.

The last day we spent with the LDPs we...
-Went to church
-the preacher had tons of scripture memorized, tons
-there were evidential only two settings on the sound board in the church: "off" and "very loud"
-Visited the home of one of the LDP students
-Went to the University of Nairobi

4th type of Poverty: Spiritual Poverty
Spiritual poverty is the lack of hope, the hope that is found in Jesus. The moment you realized that you are beautifully and wonderfully made by an eternal creator who loves you is the moment your world changes. Spiritual poverty convinces people that they are worthless, and if there is a creator, He could care less about you. At the core of Compassion is the key stat that every single child WILL hear the gospel of Jesus. And the gospel of Jesus is the foundation of all transformation. On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.

Here's the LDPs. These guys are the real deal Holyfield. Their lives are incredible stories of transformation.

Iberahim

Compassion Kenya - 3

Today:
-Went to the Methare Valley (the second largest slum in Africa > 500K people)
----Was floored
----Put all my goals, dreams, and desires back on the table
----Reconsidered everything
-Ate dinner with some Compassion graduates
----Discussed the secrets of the universe
----Wished my wife was sitting there to experience it with me
-Wrote this blog

3rd Type of Poverty: Economic Poverty
There might be a little more to economic poverty than most people think. Obviously economic poverty has to do with the fact that monetarily people are challenged. People don’t have or make very much money. But it’s not just that, economic poverty is like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Impoverished people aren’t educated, because they can’t afford to go to school. With out an education they have no skills; which means they have no job, which brings us back to having no money. Economic poverty feeds it’s self with more economic poverty. Compassion combats economic poverty by paying for school and teaching the children skills.

And now Eric's favs. OBTW, Eric met the child he sponsors today. It was awesome. Here's a link where you can see those pics.
--
Our fearless leader, Benjamen.









This is an over head view of the slum. It's as far as you can see in both directions in the middle of the valley.

Compassion Kenya 2

Another bullet point list of today's goin's ons.
-Drove out to Middle of Nowhere, Kenya to witness a rural rural Compassion project
-Got to see the Masai tribe - probably the most famous of all the African tribes
-The wind blew dirt and dust all over everything. I'll be surprised if the camera works tomorrow
-Interviewed 3 of our 6 LDP graduates
----Was reminded of how Compassion works, really
----Thought about me and Tiff sponsoring an LDP student
--------Realized we can't afford it just yet
-Ate roasted goat that was cooked whole (minus the head) over an open flame
----While watching the dude carve the animal up was reminded of STEVE (same body type more or less)
-Drove home and passed The Cabrera Slum, the largest slum in Africa (1million + people < 2 sq miles)
-Wrote this blog

And now for the 2nd installment of the 4 types of poverty: SOCIAL POVERTY Social poverty says that because you have nothing and come from nothing you’re worth nothing to our society. One of the keys to defeating poverty around the world is to teach and show impoverished people they are not worthless. A lot of people who live in poverty don’t believe in themselves, and this is where Compassion comes in. Sponsored children are taught every day that they are precious to their sponsor and ultimately to God, and that their lives are very important. The Bible is clear that every single life is precious to God, therefore social poverty must be stopped.

Here's Eric's best shots (according to him) from today. He's getting really good. Please click on either of those two links in the previous sentence.

Compassion Kenya - 1

We spent our first full day in Kenya today. Here's a bullet point list of what we did:

- Toured the Compassion Kenya country office
- Met the country director and alot of other people who are changing the world
- Ate at an Italian food restaurant - I had red snapper
- Visited a Compassion project in a rural area
- Visited the home of Compassion child (11 years old) and her mother, both of which are infected with HIV/AIDS
- Gained some real perspective about HIV/AIDS
    - Was convicted about how apathetic I've been thus far in my life towards HIV/AIDS
    - Committed to at least begin praying for those infected with HIV/AIDS on a regular basis
- Ate dinner with 6 graduates from Compassion's Leadership Development Program.
    - Was reminded how transforming the work of Compassion is for the ump-teenth time
- Wrote this blog

Now, part two of these Kenya posts:
I'm going to attempt to explain each of the 4 types of poverty that Compassion is attacking in 100 words or less. For tonight I'll start with the easiest one, PHYSICAL POVERTY.

Physical poverty is the image you see in your mind when you think of poverty. It’s malnourished, bloated tummies, drinking unclean water, no shoes, no clothes, no shelter, and no modern medicine. It is the result of having no money. Physical poverty brings with it hunger, sickness, and pain. It is the easiest form of poverty to prevent, obviously by giving food, water, shelter, and medicine. Compassion International gives those exact things to over one million children who are in their program all over the world.

Here's Eric's best 8 from today.

I am wholeheartedly convinced that the only reason individual Christians, and entire church congregations aren't involved with Compassion International is because they are un-aware or mislead about exactly what they do. Compassion is the most transforming ministry/organization I have ever heard of. 

Nairobi, Kenya

Today, begins another Compassion journey.

Lucky me, I get the amazing opportunity to experience the work of Compassion International once again. Yesterday we arrived in Nairobi, Kenya.

I'm going to do my best to keep a good record of my experience on this blog. Eric, once again, has agreed to let me use some of his pictures.

It's midnight where you are, and it's 9am where we are. The weather feels great, like Southern California

That's all I've got for now.