Saying Goodbye...

Last Saturday we went to visit the kids at St. Catherine's...it was time for Denise to let them know that she will be leaving in April...as we climbed the stairs we could hear them singing and walk in to find them singing and dancing...what a delightful surprise!

Look on Facebook for the video!!

Opening words from Denise

Many of them brought their Bibles and notebooks, ready for the lesson...

Faith and Jecinta

...but the lesson today was 'how to see the opportunities presented in the midst of change'...

Reagen and Odris - two of my favorites

Miriam

...the kids took the news very well, asking questions about their 'new teacher'...

Sharon

I was especially pleased when one of the kids asked "what about Joanna?"...all hands were raised when they were asked "do you want her to continue coming?"

Denise prayed for the kids to end our time with them...

...and Reagen prayed the sweetest prayer for Denise, for Twyla (the new teacher) and for me.

Then outside for a photo shoot!  First the 'big kids' only...

...then the little ones jumped in!

Some onlookers...

Quinta looks like she had something very important to discuss with Denise!

What a delight to spend time with these kids...and oh how I am looking forward to continue the visits with 'the new teacher' who is my very good friend!

Our first monthly meeting with the new leaders!

On Monday the 12th of January we held our first monthly meeting of 2015 for the Kibera Bible Study (KBS).  In attendance were Susan, Rose, Denise and myself.  Last year the 'team' was comprised of Denise, myself and Josephine with Rose and Susan as our apprentices. Now that Josephine has married and moved out of the area, we are four.  Rose and Susan will take on a much bigger role in the leadership of the group.

Denise reviewing the first two lessons on the Holy Spirit

These two are close friends and have already established a great working relationship during the apprentice program.

 I am looking forward to watching how God will continue to grow them...

Susan and Rose choosing which parts each will teach

They agreed that the first teaching of 2015 will be on the Holy Spirit...then during our Feb meeting they will choose the next two studies to complete the year.

Looking at four studies to choose from for the balance of 2015

Here Denise is showing them the photos from Josephine's wedding...we attended together and enjoyed our time together so much!

This is a new season for all of us as we look forward to deepening relationships during 2015!

Final Session of A God Directed Life

What an amazing journey with these awesome kids living at St. Catherine's Children's Home in the Kibera slum...  Helping them to discover how God has uniquely created them for His purposes has been a rewarding adventure!

For the final session we helped the kids put all the 'clues' together...

Here Joseph is sharing about the type of people or needs he is drawn to...

For the kids who have attended all the sessions and completed the homework, all the clues are there...

Evans is sharing one of the dreams he had written down

...so today was a time to look at the clues and record them on the handout...

Lavender is sharing what God has shown her

...in order to be able to complete a statement showing; How God has designed me, who I want to help...

Joseph

...dreams God has put into my heart, what my values are, life experiences which have shaped me...

Pacificah

By the end of this session each kid had an idea of God's purpose for the gifts, talents, strengths, weaknesses, passions and values He has instilled in them!

Evans is the one who requested this study

I loved watching as each student diligently studied the clues to get a glimpse of what is possible for
the future!

Dorothy

Sharon

Reuben

Sisters!  Celine and Sharon

Here Denise is helping Celine to find the clues in her notebook...

Reuben and Felix, Celine and Sharon

We ended the session with a word of prayer from Evans...future pastor?  Maybe!

Random shots...

A truck full of people!

Some of them saw me shooting them...

Climbing down the rocks

This series was exciting as we watched the kids discover that God does indeed have a special plan for each one of them...

Monday morning - our final time together...

Our final day together...we assembled in the morning for tea, evaluation forms, short speeches, prayers and goodbyes...

Teacher George, his son Rick, Collins, and Frida

 Collins grabbed my camera and took a few shots...

Job

Evaluation forms were handed to each student; to help us know how to make the camp better next year...

Obviously saying something very important!

 

Beautiful Bev

Every kid completed the form...

 

Tom

Not sure who took this one!

Collins and Bev answering questions

Rick - handsome boy!

Marwa - striking figure

Gotcha!

Bev making sure the forms are completed - good job!

Long shot...

Norene from St. Catherine's - sweet girl...

I think Frida enjoyed us...

Cutie!

 Charles spoke on behalf of the kids...good job!

Then Teacher George addressed the kids; affirming the vision for this new ministry and assuring us all that he will, God willing, improve the venue for next year's camp.

 Actually the venue this year exceeded our expectations and was adequate in every way...

Our gathering ended with a word of prayer by Marwa, who attended the very first CML camp back in 2007...

Group shots!

Frida running out of the shot!

There is always one in every crowd!

Fun shot of the group!!

Random shots...

Do you see something strange to the right?

Pendo, Wyklife, Bev and Collins

New friendships were formed...

 

 

June, Emmaculate and Beatrice

Denise with Maurice, Marwa and Isaac

Wyklife and Sharon

Wyklife and Frida

Photo Bomb!!!

Fun shot...

 

Beth and her dad, Teacher George - goofing around

 

Wyklife and Denise

Why can't I smile, just once!!!???

Pendo and Charles

Pendo, Charles and Brenda

Bye bye to Marwa and Maurice

Almost a smile!

Mercy and Sharon

Sisters!

Cuteness

Love the smile!!!

More goodbyes...

 

Teacher George in front of the older building...

Collins, Sharon and Tom

Norene asked for this shot...

Collins, Evelyn, and Tom

 

 Motorbikes!  Taking the St. Catherine kids...

Caring Collins (in the red)

Just one more bag? Please!?

Pasaka carrying chairs back up the hill

Wait!  Collins, you are not going with them!!!

Collins making sure everyone's okay...

So long!  Charles and Philip...

More random shots...

Beth and Pendo

During our debrief each person expressed what the camp meant to them...parts we can celebrate and what we need to evaluate and improve for next year...great comments were shared all around!

Denise, George, Isaac, Collins, Wyklife, Bev

Through the window...catching a sweet moment between Collins and Frida... 

 Then I stood on the lawn and watched this 'pure delight'...

 

 The wonderful home where we stayed for the duration of the camp...

 Bev on the porch...waiting...

The opening through which we walked through the cornfield and down to the school, which was the venue for the camp...

 Three of the 'founders' of the new ministry...

Bev, Wyklife, Collins

 Walking to town to find the motorbikes which will take us to the bus...

It was a great experience with awesome people...