Chipati is my new best friend.

Another day in Nairobi has come to an end, and we were all over the place learning about different ministries and services that the people of Nairobi are providing to others in Kenya. We first met with Dr. Florence’s (the founder of LIA) brother, Julius. He started an organization called Youth Redemption Africa (YRA).This organization works with different churches, schools, etc. to provide them with the skills and resources they need to get youth excited about God in Kenya. The organization has compiled a one year intensive bible study that Julius wrote that comprises almost all of the important issues about Christianity, from starting out as a Christian to deepening your walk with God. We were able to talk to Julius a lot about how he got to be where he is today. Probably my favorite thing he said was when he said, “I felt called into this work about nine years ago, and so I just starting writing bible studies on whatever I could find.” And now, nine years later, he has a whole book that is an amazing resource for youth in churches everywhere. Awesome.

We then went to talk with REAP. REAP is an organization that works to teach more rural areas how to use plants and herbs around them for medicinal purposes so that they don’t spend their needed money on counterfeit or sketchy pharmaceuticals. I’m a pharmacy major, I like talking about drugs. So this was very interesting to me. The meeting went like this: We walked in to a deliciously herb-smelling small building, learned that charcoal-fired cow bone can suck out snake bites and papaya skin can cure wounds, broke off a piece of aloe plant and rubbed it on our sunburns and left. It was great.

Our last stop for the day was New Life Home Trust, an orphanage that cared for abandoned orphans. It was a super nice facility, full of donated toys, clothes, beds etc. for the babies and toddlers.There were volunteers everywhere caringly helping the children. The facility we visited cared for up to 55 children from ages 1-4, but it had other facilities nearby that housed older children. There had been about 1,100 children that had been there in the past 10 or so years, and over 700 of them had been adopted. Many of the children were orphaned because of HIV/AIDS, and others were just dropped off on their doorstep completely malnourished or brought in by the police after being found abandoned somewhere. The stories were so sad, but the rehabilitation by New Life Home Trust was amazing. Courtney, Holly, and I stayed back to play with the kids. We also were lucky enough to experience play time and potty time. We left with a little more wet biscuit pieces then we had on us when we came, but playing with little kids is always worth it.

That’s it from here. God is good in Kenya. We are praying that you are seeing the goodness of God in America, Poland, or wherever else you might be reading this blog. Lauren… signing off.