Hello from Nairobi

As some of you may know, today was to be our visit to the Beacon of Hope ministry in the nearby town of Ongata Rongai.  This particular ministry works with the people who reside in the sizable slum found in that town.  The team knew that this was an important visit to make; however, as this area, particularly the slum, had seen some incidence of violence in the post-election period there was some concern over the safety of the team during the visit. But with reassurance from our travel agent, Peter Kariuki, we continued with our visit.

I should mention that we were graciously hosted by the Kariuki family yesterday evening.  Peter, his wonderful wife, Esther, and their daughter, Mercy, warmly welcomed us home.  We were amply fed and treated as the family members they consider us to be.  They send their greetings and love to our support family in the states.

(Continuing with the Beacon of Hope visit.)

As I said, we were told that the visit was safe, and so we pressed on.  After the 45 minute drive on the roller coaster that is a Kenyan highway we arrived at the Beacon of Hope compound.  We were warmly received and given a tour of the facility; which includes an HIV/AIDS clinic, administrative offices, a vocational school and shop, and a preschool for community children.

After spending our time at the compound we took a brief drive through the slum area before heading back to Nairobi.

Their is a great deal one could share from the day:  the hopeful faces of HIV+ patients at the testing and treatment clinic, the bright faces of the children who were overjoyed just to run their hands through your hair, or the smiles and voices of children greeting us as we visited the slums.

Today we saw the overflowing joy in lives many consider to be hopeless.  We saw plans and people excited for how God might work in the lives of those who have nothing.  We saw people who understood care for the poor to be a scriptural and spiritual obligation, rather than a gracious act of charity.  Today we saw and heard stories of our brothers and sisters living and dying in ways and places that they were not created to live or die in.  These people, who are so rich in hope, can be counted among the least of these, and it is necessary for us to love them as Christ loves them.  The Beacon of Hope ministry is certainly living up to its name as it answers God's call to serve the poor no matter how hopeless the situation or circumstances might seem.

Love,

Griffin Bonham