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| As I look at
the calendar, I find it really hard to believe that it's July 19th, suggesting that I've
been in Nairobi for almost 6 weeks. Time is flying--and so much is happening. First of all, thank you for all of your prayers...as I reviewed my June requests, I once again see the faithfulness of God. He gave me comfort against homesickness, a smooth transition into my job, protection, and enabled me in so many ways to serve Him. God is good...as they often say in Kenya! The past month has been full of visitors...something I thoroughly enjoy. Summer Jackson (a former Deputation teammate) was here until July 11th. Summer was such a blessing to me and encouraged me so much as I struggled with my purpose here and why I had to leave Seattle--I was really sad to see her go. I know her heart is still in Kenya, but the US Air Force is calling her name and she's obedient. I was also thrilled to have Doug Coulbert here in late June. He is a very kind man that lives in Seattle, Washington and is on the Board of Directors for Homeless Children International USA--and was one of the most influential and encouraging people in my decision to move to Nairobi. Doug, Summer and I were able to take several HCI-K kids to boarding school upcountry in June--it was a really neat experience because Doug was able to meet one of his daughter's sponsor kids and Summer was there to send her sponsor child, Mumbi, off to school. Mumbi was just admitted to vocational training in Home Science. It is such a privilege to see the fruits of my job: Sponsors interacting with their children--and both of them touching each others lives in a way that can only be a gift from God. Ken Kierstad, the Director of missions at my church, UPC, also visited this month. His presence was so amazing...it was a treat to get to know him better and to be able to show him around the different parts of our ministry and to introduce him to my colleagues and especially the kids. He was extremely encouraging, especially because I'm a brand new missionary with merely wet toes. I'm hoping he'll do a slide show of his time in East Africa when he gets back into the swing of things at UPC. He took some awesome photos. Beginning my job has been challenging and fascinating for many reasons. First, on a large scale, the challenging parts have been figuring out how the Kenyan system works: This includes understanding out how people communicate, what is priority to them, and how my culture can be adapted to best serve this community. Although I've was here for two months in 1998...I have a much different mentality now--I know I'm in this long-term and I want to invest more in the culture. I'm still learning and hope to continue learning my whole time here--I don't want to begin thinking I know it all...this seems like a far fetched idea to me right now because I feel so ignorant about Kenya. On a smaller scale, I have walked into the middle of a book that began many, many years ago. Homeless Children International-Kenya began in 1994, but was a vision long before that. It's hard for me to articulate what it feels like to be 21 (almost 22), a recent college graduate with little professional experience (although I've had more than 15 jobs--plenty of stories to tell) and to be in a Third World city (I've never been fond of cities), and serving on the "management team" of a non-profit organization for street children. I am so out of my league. I often ask God why He wants me here...but He just gently pushes me out the door each morning responding, "It's not about you, Sarah. I have you right where I want you--let Me work...let Me use you." This reassurance gives me confidence...because I know it's Him working, not the bumbling, loud mouth, Sarah J. So off I go--sprinting across the freeway, dodging cars, stumbling onto a matatu (a Nissan van that would seat 8 in the US...packed with at least 20, maybe 25 Kenyans), and panting as I arrive at the office after once again dodging cars as I'm booted out of the matatu at Dagorretti Corner. Aside from the crazy commute, my job has much more tangible responsibility than I thought. As a part of a four-person management team, I am on the front lines of major decision making. My colleagues have not held back in allowing me to be a part of shaping this ministry--this has felt weird at times. They often say, "So, Sarah, what do you think about...? What should we do _______ or _______?" After I catch my breath... and analyze the situation, I am often flabbergasted... thinking "oh my gosh, I am making a decision that affects someone's life... where am I?" Sponsorship is my primary responsibility. Therefore, this month I have evaluate the current Sponsorship Policy and rewrote part of it to fit our financial beliefs for the children this ministry serves. Previously sponsorship money (the $35 monthly payment for each child) was allocated only for the education of our children in formal schools(FS). However most of our children are not in formal school...nor would that be the right place for them at the stage of rehabilitation they are at. They are instead at our informal day school where they get more personal attention, and where they are fed and clothed and where they bathe and wash their clothes. Instead of letting that money pile up month to month (100% of sponsorship money is spent DIRECTLY on the child) as they wait to be ready for FS, it makes much more sense to let that money minister to the child where he/she needs it. So, this should alleviate the problems HCI-K has been having in feeding our children and giving them ample school supplies and paying their teacher's salaries. I'm excited to see the changes that come about as a result of this. The whole team believes that this is the way to go... The kids continue to be the biggest blessing. I try to make it over to Woodley School and our girls shelter in the slum every day. Recently, I was so busy in the office that I didn't see the kids for 4 days and I missed them so much! I am meeting with each of them one-on-one to see how they're doing emotionally, in school and asking them if they have heard from their sponsor--and then I have them write them. Several of our kids are without sponsors because our program is growing and growing as the number of kids on the street increases. But, these kids give me so much hope about my job. They say, "Sarah, me, I am not worried about not having a sponsor. God takes care of me. Look at where I am. I pray for a sponsor and I know someday God will give me one, but for today I know I'm okay." I smile and am humbled. Their faith is incredible. It brings new meaning to the verse, "Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for they shall see God." These kids see God alright. The Deputation team, from UPC, taught them Josh 1:9 about a month ago--and today, Kennedy, a boy that was miraculously healed of hip damage after he was hit by a car four months ago came and was talking with me. He's 13 years old and I'm not sure if he's been in school for years (he was admitted to HCI-K after John found him on the streets with his lame leg)--"Sarah, I want you to tell Katie, Peter, Casey and Sarah [the Deputation Team] that the verse they taught me has changed my life. He continued to spout out the verse without hesitation. 'Be strong and courageous, do not be discouraged, do not be afraid. For the Lord, your God will be with you wherever you go." His joy was so authentic... I could tell that He BELIEVED that verse... that his faith in His God was so child-like. Wherever he is, he will know that he shouldn't fear, for his God is with him. You guys, this is why I'm here--Jesus is changing lives here... from mourning to dancing. Thank you all for your support--thank you for mobilizing me to serve here. It is a gift!! I often have to chuckle, because I don't deserve to be here--this is such a privilege. Please continue praying...
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! That's all for this month. Again, please email or write anytime--I haven't heard from many of you and I would love to be updated on your life... I still pray for you from around the world. Please take note of my new email address--I won't be able to access Hotmail any longer... Bless you all. Sarah Jamieson |
For
the decisions that Homeless Children International-Kenya makes... that we would seek God's
will ALL THE TIME.