202/365

202/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

Last Sunday our team went into Kibera, which is the second largest slum in Africa. The first thing we saw was this 700 pound pig drinking from the black river of waste that flowed throughout the slum. The next thing we saw were children running from every crevice to come and greet us, to hold our hands, to hop in our arms.

I took some of this from Wikipedia:

Kibera is a division of Nairobi Area, Kenya, and a province and neighbourhood of the city of Nairobi. Kibera is the largest slum in Nairobi, and the second largest urban slum in Africa, with an estimated population of between 600,000 and 1.5 million inhabitants, depending on the season.

Located roughly 3 miles southwest of the city center of Nairobi, Kibera encompasses an area of about 1 square mile, accounting for less than 1% of Nairobi's total area while holding more than 25% of its population, at an estimated population density of 1250 per acre. Conditions in Kibera are extremely poor, and most of its residents lack access to basic services, including electricity and running water.

This is my third time here and I have only seen Kibera from a distance. I am just happy I didn't wear sandals that day. I wish I could upload all of the pictures I took but it takes so much time and money to upload more than one photo. So I'll tell you what we did.

Our friends here have a connection with a pastor of a Baptist Church and a school inside of Kibera. He took us in to tour the place and also to tour one of the huts. The family of that house had lived there for 28 years and just lost an older brother. We prayed for them and thanked them for welcoming us into their home. We took with us bags and bags full of shoes for the church to pass out. But honestly, it was the kids that got to us. They didn't ask for anything, they just wanted to hold our hands and play with us. They smiled and they laughed and they LOVED our cameras.

Amy and I are learning about two schools in Kibera who are desperate for volunteers. We came here without a specific plan, just an open heart and an open mind. So, we hope to volunteer at the schools on a regular basis starting next month! I'll keep you updated, of course.