A Rainy Day

It hasn't been raining much in Nairobi lately. I think the last rainy day we had was a couple of weeks ago when there were opposition rallies planned (we were so happy it rained because we hoped it might keep people inside instead of outside doing stupid stuff). Yesterday we thought it would rain but it was just really hot, humid, and cloudy off and on. But this morning when I woke up I could hear the rain. It's dark and dreary and I think I'm getting a low-pressure headache. But the change is nice cause it's been really warm and I don't have very many short-sleeve or sleeveless shirts – actually when I packed, silly me, I mostly packed ¾ length shirts not remembering the fact that Nairobi is ALWAYS hotter than Londiani and it is January/February, meaning it is SUMMER time here. So yeah today, I will get to wear something different!

Things are looking up! Today, hopefully, we are going to visit a place where there are some of the displaced people, mainly children (or so we think). Mom and Dad went to a meeting at our church (Nairobi Chapel, Ngong Road) a couple of nights ago. They were working on planning a strategy for helping displaced people. My mom said that Pastor Faith (the pastor heading the teaming helping displaced people) said no one could leave without a job. But my mom didn't really hear about anything that seemed to fit her and afterwards she was talking to Pastor Faith about just touching lives and children and Pastor Faith told her about this place really close to our house where she could do just that. We would have gone yesterday but there was a rally planned and you can never be sure what is going to happen when there is a rally planned.

Yesterday we kind of just hung out. We went shopping and I think it was the slowest paced shopping trip I've ever been on. We (mainly mom and I) just moseyed our way through the store. It was kind of silly because one of the things our church is doing is fasting every day, and here we were, fasting and wandering around the supermarket looking at….FOOD. Needless to say, it made us a little hungry! In the evening, we went to take back movies – I think we are keeping the DVD rental store in business. Of course we got a few more to watch, then we went out to eat at Java House (Mom and Dad are fasting 6-6, I'm fasting lunch). I also did a little shopping and for the first time in my life actually bought workout clothes! Cute black and grey capris and a white and grey tank top for those that were interested in the colours J. Mom also bought me a birthday present – a cute new outfit, but I don't get it for almost a monthL.

Back to the future: Dad got an SMS (text message) yesterday for Pastor Oscar (the head pastor at Nairobi chapel). We had originally asked him if he could help us find someway to help. Anyways Nairobi Chapel in working together with a number of other churches in Nairobi figuring out what to do to address the crisis in Kenya. They have set up a secretariat and are doing a number of different things. They are planning a Caravan of Hope. This will involve 300-500 pastors from Nairobi area who will go out from Nairobi to visit all the area of violence. They want to spiritually cleanse the country, dealing with witchcraft (the politicians regularly consult with witch doctors to ensure that they win), and bloodshed. They will also take supplies to area in need and will counsel people who have been affected by the violence. They are hoping to get the Caravan going within a month or so. Another thing that the Secretariat wants to do is bring a positive influence on the media. They want positive stories to be published instead of the constant negativity. They said they would pay for them to be published if necessary. They will also work closely with the relief work and helping the displaced people.

So in light of all that Pastor Oscar said that they need lots of help at the secretariat which has been set up at Nairobi Baptist Church (the former pastor of Nairobi Baptist is also the former head of the National Council of Churches of Kenya – a very powerful Christian influence on politics and polices of Kenya – and a current Member of Parliament). He wants Dad (and mom too I guess – if she wants to) to help down at the offices and he wants me to work with the media team!! We are supposed to show up on Monday ready to get started!

God definitely seems to be up to something! Finally J.