Had the funniest time when my friend James (who also works at the school I'm teaching music at in Kibera) took me to visit his family further into the slum. I decided to whip out my uke and play a song for his sisters, but before we knew it, all the kids in the area were congregated out the door singing praise songs with us. Well you know what, I was like, who cares if we don't have space, we'll just squeeze outside in between the huts and have a dance and jam altogether! 

 

Soooo, spent my first night in Kenya at Kibera, the largest urban slum in Africa. It's really another place.. But I'm blessed to have friends with Spur Afrika, an NGO founded by Patrick Achola, who was once an orphan in the slums but now is using his skills to run health clinics, youth empowerment and community development projects as well as a sponsor program for 31 children in Kibera. So cool to meet his team & they'll be showing me around the schools and families they work with!

 

Spent the morning around Kibera with Spur Afrika's founder, Patrick Achola; the sponsor child manager, Nico; and the Australian director, Rosalie. They showed me two schools that they're working with in the slums. The conditions were very tough - 65 kids sitting elbow to elbow, sharing benches in a cramped room, 700 kids in a primary school that had only 8 toilets. I truly respect these guys for what they're trying to do, to equip and mentor children and youth who have lived all their lives knowing nothing else. It's an uphill battle when a deep-rooted poverty mentality can be so debilitating. Nevertheless, Spur Afrika is touching a generation of youth who are willing to take responsibility for their lives and who want to be a part of social change. With a practical God-centered idealist like Patrick and his capable team of young Kenyans, I pray and believe they'll go far.