Wednesday...A walk on the wild side

We spent the morning with Ghetto Light, a sister ministry of Homecare working with youth in the Kibera slum.  We met with the founders, Milcah and Abel, and their workers who shared with us about their ministry.  They minister to well over 100 youth in three areas:  soccer, theater arts, and micro-finance.  The leaders of each area shared about how they are organized, providing skills training and opportunities to complete in soccer and theater.  Two of the young men who have gone through the soccer program are not in the top tier team in Kenya.  These are tools to reach young people, but the primary goal is to lead them to Jesus.  Discipleship is a major component of all the programs, and they are making a big impact in the lives of these young people.  In the micro-finance, they are teaching the young people the value of money, how to use it to begin a business, how to save, and how to plan for the future, valuable training indeed, especially for those who have never had money to know how to manage it.  It was so encouraging to hear about the successes of the young people, the small businesses they have started, how they repay their micro-loans, help their families and learn how to succeed.  One of the leaders devotes her time to mentoring young women in areas of sexuality, relationships, post-abortion counseling (she shared that there is a high incidence of abortions in Kibera done in highly dangerous ways) and Biblical counseling, all extremely needed in this community.  In a place where there is so much abuse, disease, and hopelessness, this was indeed a bright spot.  They are truly shining a light in Kibera and bringing light into the darkness.

 https://picasaweb.google.com/johnacrews1/VisitingGhettoLightInKiberia

This afternoon was our time to enjoy some of the treasures of Kenya, its animals.  We first went to the giraffe sanctuary where we were able to be on a platform that put us eye to eye with these majestic creatures.  We got to feed them, pet them (while being cautioned about head butting J ) and, after a suggestion from one of the caretakers, allowed Miss Daisy, the largest of the ones at the platform, to take a kernel of the giraffe food held between the teeth of the volunteer feeders (some of our teammates!)…..now that was a picture indeed!!

Then we went to the nearby walk through zoo, located next to the Nairobi Game Park, where you can walk through and see various native animals in their natural habitat.  Many of these have been rescued in the wild and brought here for healing.  The way it is arranged, though, allows you to be very close to the animals; very close, actually.  The first ones we saw were the hyenas, which are so much larger than we imagined.  We then met up with the caretaker who is in charge of feeding most of the animals, who in turn became our personal tour guide!  We came late in the afternoon; most of the visitors had left, so he took us personally “behind the scenes” where most don’t get to go.  He let us come close to the fence to feed the enormous rhino; what a sight.  Then we went back with him to feed the hyenas; we could actually hear the cracking of the bones as they devoured the huge hunks of meat.  Then we followed him down to see the cape buffalo, large antelope and went inside the fence to actually feed the bongo (large type of antelope), which is now on the endangered species list.  A rare opportunity, we got to go behind the normal path right up to the link fence to the leopard; gorgeous animal!  From there,  we ventured to the cheetahs.  Previously, we had been able to see them in their space and even had the opportunity to pet two of them….unleashed and unhampered!  When we were talking to Wesley, our now guide, he said they didn’t do that anymore and only for specially paid for occasions.  I guess he could see our disappointment, because before we knew it, he had called his co-workers and arranged for us to go inside and pet the very cheetahs we had been looking at through the glass!  We all got to pet them; they seemed to like being scratched under their chins, and we got pictures galore.  Talk about a special treat!  Then to the lions…the grand finale.  We got to get right up to the fence with the three lionesses, one of which walked right next to the fence so that we could actually touch her.  Wesley told us that the male lion we had previously seen had recently died, and they had just acquired another male just yesterday who was still somewhat sedated from his transfer.  It was now feeding time, so we followed Wesley into the fenced area where they feed them huge portions of meat in caged areas.  The lionesses eagerly began devouring their dinner, growling as they ate (we were inches away).  The new male, appearing pretty woozy, hesitated to stand up, but managed a bit of a roar for us.  What a special experience to have had the personal treatment, up close and personal with these God-designed creatures!  The perfect end to our last day in Kenya!

https://picasaweb.google.com/johnacrews1/WalkWithTheAnimalsOfKenya

Tomorrow we leave for Burundi.  We have been moved, challenged, and gripped by the enormous needs here, as well as encouraged by what God and His servants are doing here.  It’s easy to miss what is unseen -changed hearts -overwhelmed by the blight and externals.  We have much to process and pray about, but one thing is certain……it has been unforgettable.