What travel blog is complete without pictures of food? Started
off my first morning in Africa with a fresh omelet, fruit,
yogurt, and granola. Not sure what was better-- the food or my
view from breakfast (pictured below). For the first two nights
we will be staying at the Amani Gardens, in Nairobi, before
heading out to the bush. Amani Gardens is a bed and
breakfast that specially serves missionaries.
off my first morning in Africa with a fresh omelet, fruit,
yogurt, and granola. Not sure what was better-- the food or my
view from breakfast (pictured below). For the first two nights
we will be staying at the Amani Gardens, in Nairobi, before
heading out to the bush. Amani Gardens is a bed and
breakfast that specially serves missionaries.
After breakfast, we drove to the Mathare slum to serve in a local church. We were greeted by Pastor John and taken to our workspace for the afternoon. The chiropractors set up in the main space of the church and welcomed locals to come in for free adjustments. In total, the doctors saw over 100 people and worked for over 5 hours. Lots of straight spines were created today! Angela, pictured on the right, specializes in pediatrics. It was adorable to watch these itty bitty children get adjusted. They had no idea what was happening to them!
While the doctors went at their work, some volunteers and I assisted community members in painting their local church. To many Kenyans, worship is a critical aspect of life, so having a peaceful space to honor the Lord is greatly appreciated. It was fantastic to work alongside the locals and hear about their experience as a Kenyan. The boys were also very curious about American culture. Most of our conversation revolved around food, but who doesn't love to talk about food!?
After completing our work at the church, our group took a walk through the Methare slum. A kind young man named Dennis (pictured in the green shirt) guided us through. Below are some photos of the shocking conditions. Trash is pervasive throughout the slum.
The amount of trash in the slum is terrifying. It's heartbreaking to see people living in these conditions. As we walked through the living quarters, I could feel my feet sinking into the squishy ground, most of which was garbage. We had to be especially careful where we stepped because there were rivers of sewage running through the slum. The smell was indescribable... And not in a good way. Picture a bathroom that has not been cleaned for a year. This kind of living is unacceptable--no one should have to be subject to this kind of poverty. I don't intend to sound negative in my description, there just simply is no way to describe how depressing these conditions are. However, despite the rough lifestyle, the kids in the slum were as happy as clams. When we entered they flocked to our group and immediately started pulling at my arms and touching my hair. They are fascinated by long blonde hair! This is a trend I noticed last time I was here as well. My grandmother, who lives out in Kenya, once explained to me that to the children it's as though they're seeing a Barbie doll in real life. I'm definitely no Barbie doll, but I am amused by their fascination!
The kids LOVE to have their picture taken. They are fascinated by any technology, really. They were also very intrigued by my Fitbit. Discovering snapchat for the first time was a blast for them! This little girl kept looking at me after the sunglasses and headband filter would pop up on the screen to make sure that we had not, in fact, changed outfits all of a sudden.
This is what a "playground" looks like in the slums. The kids run around piles of trash and sewage, with no toys or equipment to play on. Despite the situation, they were incredibly joyful and energetic! Imagine, though, to have this be your childhood "playground"...How would you feel?
This young boy caught my attention on the "playground". At only 7 years old, he was carrying around his baby brother everywhere. It was so endearing to see a big brother care for his little brother like that! I had the chance to sit down and talk with the older brother, George, about what it was like to be a big brother. He was very proud!