Kenyan Life

"Even in the city of Nairobi, many do not have running water or electricity."  I made this statement in my last blog post and throughout the night, the Lord has impressed upon me to go deeper and explain how personal this statement is.  It is not just a "there are hungry children in the world" kind of statement, it is personal.

Anna is our babysitter for our children on Tuesdays and Thursdays while we are in language school.  She is wonderful with the children and loves to play with them.  They LOVE Anna!  Nathan prays for Anna pretty much every night.  I am not sure but I think Anna would be considered "middle class" in Kenya.  On Thursday of this week, I inquired how she was doing and she told me she was very tired because Wednesday is water day.  I asked what that meant.  She said that she collects water from the spigot on Wednesday.  Where she lives, she is allowed to collect water 1 time a week for her entire family.  She carried 20 "jeri" cans (almost a 5 gallon bucket) of water from the spigot to her home.  As I thought about that, my first thought was, "wow, that is hard work!", then I started thinking about how much water my family consumes, uses for bathing, cooking and washing.  I seriously doubt I could get by with 100 gallons in a week!  I have not asked, but I am pretty sure Anna does not have electricity either.  

Another person, Mr. Benard, one of the guards on our compound.  Mr. Benard is wonderful, he has worked for our company for about 10 years, and is always waiting for us with a huge smile.  I had a conversation with him last week about his home and family.  I knew he had 2 children but what I did not know is that his wife and children do not live with him in the city.  They live in his home village about an 8 hour bus ride, and he sees them about 1 time a month.  They have lived this way for 10 years!  This is very common in Kenya, maybe in Africa.  The husband will go where there is work and send the money home so the children can go to school.  We know 3 men who live away from their families like this, they are all wonderful, godly men and they are doing the best they can for their families with no complaints.

I got sidetracked with Mr. Benard's story but he also lives without electricity and water.  I often wonder what they think of us Americans who turn on the generator as soon as the power goes out.  Since it is Africa, I will never know their true thoughts.  The Lord is constantly reminding me that Africa does not need me, I need Africa to see the hand of the Almighty at work.

John 4:13-14 Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 

but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."