Kibera

Today we visited St. Martha's Ministry in the Kibera Slum. It's a ministry for HIV+ women, founded by a couple named Caleb and Eunice, who live in the slum and are both HIV+. The women meet for Bible study every Thursday, so they were already there when we arrived today. They introduced themselves and shared their stories. I was so moved by their testimonies. These women are all widows, living with HIV, trying to raise their families in the largest slum in Africa. They have every reason to be angry at God and to be miserable, but they're not. They all talked about how they're "living positive," how they're thankful for every day, how they're grateful to God, and how God has sustained their families. It was convicting for me, because how many times do I tell people that I'm thankful to God for my life? How often do I acknowledge all the ways God has blessed me? Not very often. Not enough, that's for sure. And I live such a charmed life. I'm healthy, my whole family is healthy, I always have enough to eat, I live in a comfortable house where my bedroom is five times the size of the houses in Kibera, and I go to a great college. I have so much, and I take it for granted, but these women who have so little are grateful for every single day.

We walked through the slum to go on home visits. I've never seen anything like what I saw there today. There were tiny tin shacks as far as the eye can see, and the streets were full of garbage and raw sewage. It was poverty like I have never experienced before, except maybe in movies. But what stood out to me was the kids we saw. They were so full of joy. It was a stark contrast to the depressing surroundings. These kids had the hugest smiles, and when we'd walk by they'd either yell "mzungu!" (which means "white person") or chant their chorus of "how are you! how are you!" in their adorable Kenyan accents. They loved to high five us or shake our hands. They were absolutely precious and they totally made my day, but at the same time it broke my heart seeing where they live, and knowing that, most likely, they will spend their entire lives in the slum and never get out. There are over 1000 NGO's in Kibera, and they have had virtually no impact. Nothing seems to be able to break the cycle of poverty. It does make me feel grateful for people like Caleb and Eunice, who are working to make life better for HIV+ women in Kibera. And most of all, it makes me even more excited about Oasis. Because of Oasis, those 100 kids on the Hill aren't living in Kibera or someplace similar, trapped in a never-ending cycle of poverty. They have hope and a future. After today, I am filled with an even greater passion for the work Oasis is doing, and I am so humbled and grateful to be able to be a part of it over this next month.