Missions of Hope - Friday, July 8th

          On Friday morning, our team got on the bus to take our first ride to Mathare Valley.  From our guest house, we ride for 35 to 45 minutes until we eventually wind down a dirt path, squeeze between tin buildings with people crowded in front, and park in front of a concrete building.  On the front of the building, I read the words, "Missions of Hope International: Transforming the Valley of Darkness into the Mountain of God."  Our team leaders tell us that this is one of Missions of Hope's schools, called Pangani.  It's where we will have our morning orientation before taking a tour of this section of the Mathare Valley Slum.
          As I step out of the bus and onto the dirt of the slums, my mind is reeling.  I see children from the school and from the community milling about.  The children of the community are filthy, some without shoes, all wearing threadbare clothes.  I smell campfire, charcoal, and sewage.  And I realize that I haven't even set foot in the heart of it yet.  A little boy, no older than four, runs past me, smiling.  Snot drains from his nose, his eyes are bright, and he is alone.  No mom or dad or older sibling following close behind.  He is completely by himself.  Something in my heart shifts.  Where am I?  Is this real?  I swallow and walk through the gate in the concrete block wall that surrounds the school.  I notice the security guard sitting by the gate.  I remember that I saw guards and gates around every thing as we drove from our guest house to Mathare.  And lots of barbed wire.  Nairobi can be dangerous.   But I am not afraid.  I know I am walking with God into this place, and there is nowhere I'd rather be than walking with God.  So I walk up the stairs, Matt by my side, and we scan the horizon, breathing in the poverty as we rise above it.  Our group is quiet as we enter the room where we'll learn about Missions of Hope.
          We're greeted by some Kenyans who welcome us, offer us Chai and maandazi (a lot like a donut).  Soon, the director and founder of Missions of Hope, Mary, enters to greet us.  Missions of Hope was her heart's call.  She and her husband, Wallace, are Kenyans, and the majority of Missions of Hope's staff (social workers, teachers, directors, and community health evangelists) are also Kenyan Nationals.  They have a husband and wife missionary team that acts as their liaison between Kenya and the U.S., a U.S. missionary who coordinates with teams like ours as they travel, and several interns and apprentices from the states, but Missions of Hope is an on-the-ground, local organization that believes God has the power to transform lives in Mathare, thus bringing transformation to the entire valley.  As we listened to Mary share their incredible story, I learned so much.
          Missions of Hope trusts God for every step, ever student, ever life changed, every cent needed.  Jesus is at work in Mathare, and He is bringing His hope to the people living here.  Thousands of students are receiving an education in one of the 11 schools operated by Missions of Hope, with many testing in to high schools.  Missions of Hope offers microfinancing programs to give loans to small business owners.  Young mothers and other women in the community can sign up to attend a six month sewing class, learning how to make clothes and other items so they can sew and sell their wares to support their family.  Upon completion of the class, the students receive their own sewing machine (pedal operated) to begin their own business.  Women can also take classes to learn how to make jewelry and how to knit so they can raise money to care for their children.
          At the heart of every action Missions of Hope takes is the driving power of Jesus.  True transformation and healing is only available through Christ, and this organization believes that the people living in Mathare Valley need to be empowered by this knowledge.  God can bring them hope. God can transform their lives.  And most importantly, through Jesus, light can permeate their darkness.