I call them the St. Cat Kids :)

Denise has spent over two years walking with these kids...during the past year, I have been working with her and spending time with them two or three Saturdays per month...looking back, I now know that it was God who directed me to start going with her on a regular basis...He has a plan - I am not now sure what it is, but I do know that I am to deepen relationship with these special kids!

So - now that Denise is leaving and Twyla (another missionary friend) will be taking over the discipleship I will assist Twyla once a month and then visit on my own in between.

I hope you fall in love with them, just as I have...

The room, ready to receive us

What a reception!  Ishmael certainly made me feel MOST welcome...and I needn't have worried about who would be my assistant photographer...Reagan took the job very willingly!

Jacinta photo bombing!

 Reagan began by snapping random "portrait" shots...

Ishmael

Yours truly!

Me and Jacinta

Beth

...until I asked him to shoot the three girls, explaining to him that I am telling a story with the photos.

Beth, Miriam and Jacinta

 The best part is that I get to be in the pictures!

I started by telling them that I am not a teacher, so will not be teaching when I come to visit - that I just want to chat with them, discussing the work they will do with Twyla, asking and answering questions, and just about anything they want to share...

Jacinta hanging on my every word :)

I started by asking if they enjoyed last week at Twyla's...swimming, lunch and hearing Twyla's story.

Twyla's story had a significant impact on them, generating lots of questions.  We spent much time on the topic of forgiveness...

Welcome Sharon!!

 Then we had lively discussions about salvation, sinning, and the Holy Spirit.

Who was at Twyla's last Saturday?

I spent a few minutes talking about Mwanzo - the book we will study with Twyla...and I reminded them that they are to choose a peer partner, suggesting that they pay special attention to that part of the reading...

Jacinta playing with my camera

But they especially seemed eager to keep asking and answering questions...

Jacinta with a question...

 Lavender, the oldest of the bunch, knows a great deal about the Bible and had some amazing insights.   I shared that God has a glorious plan for His people (I was talking about His ultimate plan of the New Heaven and the New Earth).

Lavender answering - she is a wise young woman!

Lavender asked if someone who has no parents, or has parents with no money and no way to pay for an education...do I think that person could believe that God has a glorious plan for their life?

I challenged her idea of a 'glorious plan' by asking "what if God's glorious plan for you is that you do not get an education and you live in poverty your whole life, would you accept that?"  Eh - that is a hard one, and one I am currently wrestling with...what if God's glorious plan for me does not seem so glorious...

Another benefit of a 'roving' camera...I get shots like this one of someone who is sitting at the other end of the tables!

Dorice

Felix

 Then I broke out Amanda and Joel's adoption book!  These kids LOVED looking at all the pictures...

 They crowded around to get a glimpse...

 ...pointing and reading...

When I told them that Joel and Amanda are wanting to adopt a baby, Miriam said "they could adopt me!"  Funny - this morning as I was thinking about the new baby that will soon join our family, I thought of the St. Cat kids and which one would I want to bring home with me - Miriam is the one!

 ...and Lavender finally got the book (that is her on the right) so she could read the whole thing...

To say I had fun would be an understatement...actually I did not even want to leave...and am so looking forward to my next visit!

Kibera Bible Study on the Holy Spirit...

Yesterday we tried something new...we decided to give the ladies the study a week in advance.  During the course of the week they were to read the material and do the work (looking up scripture and answering questions)...the idea was that we would gather together to share our answers, insights and questions.  According to me it was a great success!

The topic was "Filled with the Holy Spirit"...we underscored the distinction between 'indwelling' and 'filling'. As soon as we confess our belief in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we are 'indwelt' with the Holy Spirit.  He lives in us...

Susan (front), Rose (center in the black) and I led the discussions

However, being filled with the Holy Spirit is a process...we keep ourselves constantly filled as we, moment by moment, yield to the leading of the Spirit.

Christine, far left, is an avid student with many excellent questions!

Josephine (below) shared that we need to give Him all the room inside us, not just a quarter of the room...

Josephine, with her piercing questions, keeps the group lively!

We studied together from the Old Testament and the New Testament, noting the parallels as well as the differences in how the Holy Spirit operated in each...

These two thoroughly enjoyed each other

Before the period of Pentecost the Holy Spirit was given selectively, often temporarily, for a specific purpose or task.  After Pentecost the Holy Spirit is given permanently, to all who believe, at the time of salvation.

These ladies know how to sing and pray in the Spirit!

 As always we ended our time together in songs of praise and prayers of supplication and gratitude.

Captivated by the camera...

I often think "what is the impact on these children, being surrounded by praises and prayers to our Lord?"

Emily and Emmanuel

 Salome closed our meeting in prayer...I love the way all the ladies are eager to participate.

Patricia (center in striped top) truly is a prayer warrior

Rose, Susan and I spent another hour or so together to debrief all we saw, heard and experienced during the meeting...we missed Denise, but God was glorified so we are happy!

Fun in the sun with the St. Cat Kids!

My good friend Twyla will be spending one Saturday each month discipling the kids from St. Catherine's Children's Home.  I will be helping her each month, but in addition I will also go another one or two Saturdays each month to visit with them...to strengthen relationships, to enhance the teaching from Twyla and to help them dig deeper into God's word - I am so looking forward to this new adventure!

Even though I have worked closely with my ministry partner Denise as she has been teaching the kids, I believe God is asking me to move closer and take on a bigger role with them as Denise is preparing to move back to the US...

Twyla and Mercy

We started the day in the pool!  Well, actually just the kids went into the pool...maybe next time I will join them!

This is the apartment complex where Twyla lives...and we had the pool all to ourselves - what a treat!

 You can see that the kids took full advantage...

Felix enjoying the water!

 This is Felix - he is fairly new to the group, but already Denise and I have seen a keen mind and a willing spirit...I think I will enjoy getting to know him...

Ihsmael decided he didn't "have the moods for swimming"...I liked the phrase...think I will adopt it!  Here we are chatting about the discipleship book Twyla wrote and will be using over the next 6 months...

Me and Ishmael chatting

 Twyla with Mercy - who takes care of the kids...she is the daughter to Pastor James who is the director of the home...

 It was Twyla's camera but I grabbed it and took lots of pictures!

Sweet Jacinta

Beautiful smile!

 I have only met Faith a few times, so will enjoy getting to know her...

Faith

Faith

Jane is new - we have not met before...

Jane

Vycala (pronounced Vickla) is also new...and is the youngest - in class 4

 

 

 

 Sharon and Miriam are good friends...lounging in the sun!

 Headshots...

Miriam

Cynthia

 Dorice is another new one...

Dorice

 ...and Brenda is new...

Brenda

Felix

 Erick is also new!  Wow...lots of new kids to get to know - fun! 

Erick

 I love the cool bridge over the pool!

 That is Sharon, Faith and Jane horsing around!

Sharon, Faith and Jane

 I think Jacinta is napping...don't blame her!

Cynthia, Sharon, Miriam, Brenda and Jacinta

 After about an hour in the pool they were ready to dress for lunch!

 I love this shot of their swim costumes drying in the sun!

 After a brief prayer, we were ready to dig in to the delicious food prepared by Gladys!

Gladys and Twyla

 Great meal comprised of Ugali (made of maize meal), potatoes, vegetables, meat and bread - yum!

 

 

 Twyla is good to snap photos of me engaging with the kids...

 I took this one of me pumping water for the kids...

 Twyla made a marker available for the kids to write their names on their glasses...

Vycala and Odris

 I think they really enjoyed the meal - and there was plenty for all!

Brenda, Jane, and Miriam

Faith

Cynthia and Faith

 They just found 'wherever' to eat their lunch!

Odris and Felix

Dorice, Erick and ?

 

 I forgot to take a shot of lunch before I started eating! 

 This was my first time of meeting Mercy also!

 The kids were quick and eager to help take utensils back up to the apartment...I love these kids!

Reagan, Erick and Cynthia

Brenda

 Then we gathered under the trees to hear a bit of Twyla's life story...

 ...she wants to get to know the kids and decided to first start with sharing about herself so they can know her too!

Reagan looks a bit surprised - hmmm...I wonder what part of the story she was telling!

 I was struck by the vibrant colors so just had to snap this photo!

 Twyla sharing about her early childhood...

Brenda, Cynthia and Jane looking intent!

  ...here she is recounting a story from when she was just beginning to walk...

Erick, Dorice, and Miriam

Reagan helped her to act out the story...

 She shared highlights from her first twenty years, culminating in the story of her salvation.

Odris struggled to stay awake!  Not because Twyla was boring...I think the walk from Kibera plus swimming plus lunch was just too much!!

Reagan empathizing with his friend...

 Twyla then prayed over the kids...

 Then we handed out the discipleship books, entitled Mwanzo ('beginning' in Swahili)

 Each kid was instructed to write his or her name on the book so that they will not lose track of it!

 Here she is explaining the "homework" to be completed before our next session in a month.

Mostly they will read about how to use the book and how to read the Bible and about peer partners.

 But - they were also instructed to find a 'peer partner' who they will work and pray with as they dig into God's word...

 She then shared with them another book called "My Safari" which is a great tool for telling one's life story...

Over the course of the next several months Twyla and I will meet one-on-one (or two-on-two) with all the kids, encouraging them to share from their My Safari book any details from their lives that they want us to know...

Twyla explaining about My Safari

Jacinta perusing her My Safari book

 I then spent a few minutes letting them know of my plans to meet with them at least one time each month in addition to the formal discipleship meetings.

They know me from months of teaching with Denise and also attending a huge youth camp with them in August of last year...I am praying that my presence will help them to transition from Denise as their teacher to Twyla as their teacher.

 Then it was tea time!  Even though it was pretty hot out, we all enjoyed a cup of tea together...

 ...and the kids did their own pumping of the water!

Sharon pumping for Jane - Cynthia in foreground

 Ishmael asked me to 'capture' him...which I gladly did...handsome fellow, yes?

 Then Cynthia had to also be captured...

 ...and Jacinta got into the act!

 I love this shot of them feeding each other...

 Chillaxin' after a fun afternoon of playing, eating, learning and drinking!

 Odris is always one to goof around...looks like he might have found his match in Felix!

 Twyla reminding the kids to do their homework and also to remember their books next month!

It was sad to see them go...but I am looking forward to visiting with them where they live - this coming Saturday!

Ishmael had strongly suggested when we were chatting earlier that I need to come on the first and last Saturday of every month...his disarming smile warmed my heart and I may just follow his advice!!