Change is hard...

I went back to Unga today, honestly a little heavy hearted. I was on a mission, to find Mama Diwani and Mama D. Mama D (Mary, the wife of the pastor of the church) still eludes me, but I did get to spend a good hour talking with Mama Diwani in her beauty salon. Fortunately for me I was also able to catch up with several of the ladies who attended the CHE training in November as they just happened to stop by.

Then the talk, my purpose today was to share with Mama Diwani and Mama D some changes that are going to take place pretty quickly. I learned, that as I wrestle with these changes, they do too as Mama Diwani and her daughter asked question upon question upon question of how these changes will affect CHE in Unga. I tried to reassure her that CHE in Unga will go on, that God is doing something miraculous in Unga and that CMF is thrilled about the future of this project. My heart grieves as I am not so sure she believed me.

Then my heart grieved some more as I learned life in Unga has gotten more difficult. water is only coming into the slum 2 days a week now, because apparently there is an extreme water shortage, which is odd since it has been raining. Mama Diwani also eventually worked up the courage to let me know that my friend Elizabeth had passed while I was gone. I was speechless.

I will try again tomorrow to meet up with Mama D. Pray this meeting can take place.

Return to Unga

A lot has happened in the last month since my travels to the USA. It was refreshing to go back to Unga today.

I was jet-lagged, exhausted, and for a variety of reasons a little stressed, but it amazed me how just walking onto the church compound and being greeted by my old friends just restored my soul.

I tried to contact Mama Diwani and Mama D, both were not around, but the lovely ladies of the compassion project were there, and of course I had to explain my long absence. I realized I don't know the words for riot, war, etc as I was trying to explain my re-route and being in the USA longer than expected.

Standing Amazed

On Wednesday Kendra and I returned to Unga to prayer walk and talk to some of those who attended the TOT last week.

We arrived at the church and there was a different seminar taking place, so we parked and talked to the pastor a bit. He raved and raved and shared that he had only heard good things about the TOT. That made me excited, to hear that people are sharing stories about what they have learned!

We then went and talked to Mama Diwani and she told us that they had selected a committee! This is the first step for them starting their own CHE program! It was exciting. She also mentioned they were gonna meet this coming monday to talk strategy and let us know what they want to do! You know what this means folks? It means that they get it. It means they realize this is theirs and that we are tools. This is totally cool.

On Thursday Tami and I went back for another walk. This time we went to a different part of Unga and visited some of the mama's that I had known months ago. Mama Jackson has still moved away but that doesn't mean I can't stay connected to those I met through her. We visited Mama Zumra and she insisted we eat. She through together some Ugali and some fish and we ate. I wrestle with this part of the culture. Regardless of who visits, they will cook, and well, knowing that I have just eaten lunch I hate for her to make a meal, as I am full, and i know there are days, many days that people in this community wonder what "to feel full" seems like.

On our walks this week we learned of a health concern for the kiddos. It appears that Chicken Pox is working its way through the schools. A few of the classes in the schools in Unga are just not meeting, because SO MANY kids have Chicken pox. Pray that they heal quickly, and that they can keep from spreading it. Pray for those kids who are HIV positive who are battling Chicken Pox, pray for those who aren't. I know this is a normal childhood illness in the USA, but any illness here is more dangerous because of the lack of healthcare.

Its only just begun...

Yesterday was the final day of our week long Training of Trainers for a new Urban Poor CHE project in Unga Limited. It was another good day with a lot of discussion, ideas, and inspiration as a group of people who have nothing want to use what they have to minister to others. I am floored by this group of women, and encouraged by the two men that also attended the entire week.

We ended our day asking them to develop a plan of action. We challenged them that if they want to start a ministry they need to be strategic and think it through. We gave them a few ideas and sent them off into small groups. I filled with excitement as those groups buzzed with energy about what they can do. We cam back together, and they shared, and they said they wanted to do CHE, and that they were ready to develop a committee and select trainers. We encouraged them to do so and told them we would help them in any way.

We then proceeded to close out the day, bless them, give our thanks and receive theirs. There was singing, dancing, gifts and prayer. It was precious. As we were closing out, I was encouraged as one of the key women in the group asked the others to stay late so they could select a committee and a group of trainers. I smiled huge.

A marathon day...but yet another good one!

No pictures today folks, but then again, today was more of the same...small groups...short drama's, and discovery. I begged our other teachers to allow me to leave early today for a gathering of Americans to celebrate Thanksgiving...I got my wish, but that meant I did the opening, and taught both morning sessions, back to back. It was loads of fun to share with them the importance of prayer and how many people had already been praying for them, and to encourage them to do the same in their future ministry. Then we talked about mapping and discovering all there is to discover about their community. Ultimately we would like to know everything that we can know, what schools are there, how many, are they good, where are the drugs, where are the street kids hanging, which areas are most affected by crime, are their clinics? witchdoctors? you know...everything.

It was a fun, and like I said marathon day. I can't believe that tomorrow is our last day, and honestly, that I am done "teaching." for the week! My job tomorrow is not to teach but to spur on, and to develop a plan of action with the group. It too should be fun!

More pics from today

What beautiful feet!

I know, I know it is so cliche' but really, these are beautiful feet! They are feet that desire nothing more than to know Jesus and follow Him, to bring Him to their community. These particular feet walked easily a couple miles today, just to get to the training...

Today was another incredible day! We had a guest teacher, for the whole day, which was good, as I was still tired from the last two days! I was amazed as I watched Dr. Declare share from his heart and with all of his being about how God has equipped them to change their lives, and how God views people with HIV/AIDS and about how they should. It was fun to watch their minds and thinking be transformed a bit...as well as to watch them continue to share and learn and grow together. Today we had more skits, more small groups, more lessons, and well just more of everything! It was another jam packed day of learning, and growing, and yes, it was so very fun! Who would have thought that sitting in a week long seminar could be so fun!