Another Week

Tim and I were placed with the Community Health Evangelism (CHE) program when we first got here and as you know we really enjoy the guys that we work with in that program. Community Health Evangelism is such an amazing program and is so impactful in the community. Basically, it is about getting people in the community involved in solving problems within their community. With this comes a sense of ownership that has many times been absent in communities such as those in Mathare Valley. They teach basic health lessons on hygiene, cleanliness, preventing illness, HIV/AIDS awareness. One of the goals is for these practices to spread throughout the entire community in order to promote change and wellness. This works through multiplication as in you learn how to keep your environment around you clean and then you tell your friends and they tell others and so on and so on. These lessons also incorporate Biblical principles and teachings which allows the Gospel to be shared throughout communities. It is really cool to be a part of something that is led by nationals. Next week we get to be involved in one of their training seminars. We have really been wanting to see what it looks like and we will finally get the opportunity. Also this weekend one of the communities is doing their first project-a garbage cleanup. We were invited to be a part of this and we cant wait. If you have seen pics of the slums you know garbage abounds everywhere so this will be no easy task, but it will be so neat to see the community get involved in making their place cleaner and healthier. This CHE group is run by some really young men and we have continually been encouraging them to keep changing their community because they are the future of Kenya.
Last weekend, we went to an outreach of the CHE group in Bondeni. Every Saturday morning they feed porridge to the children in the area. Anyone can come and they can get as much as they want until the large pot is empty. The kids come early and hang out so we got to spend some time with them which I always love. Before they get the porridge some of the guys lead them in signing songs and reciting verses. It was beautiful to watch kids sing songs loudly to Jesus and to know that their bellies are full. It has also been a great way to get the community to come and inquire about CHE. I love that it takes place in Bondeni since that is the community Westside is supporting. The guys in this group are great and they are really reaching out to their community. I wish you all could see it. Speaking of seeing it I'm sorry we have not put many pictures up. It takes a very long time to upload them at the Internet cafe and we don't always have a ton of time. We will continue to try and we have many photos and video to share when we get back.
Much love.