Jambo from Kenya,
How many times do you do something because you were trying to fill time? God uses us in all circumstances no matter our initial motives.

There are many street kids in Kenya, but they tend to live together in clumps dispersed through out the city. Pray for the street kids. To be born again is a difficult decision for them to make, because of the peer pressure they face within their social group. If their group finds out about his/her decision of faith, there's a greater chance of them being shunned and abused.

Some local pastors and university students began a street kid ministry. Local IMB missionaries began partnering up with them to help reach the street kids. I went out with two other missionaries to help take pictures and audio of this ministry. A student pastor began by having the kids turn their glue bottles in. These kids burn plastic to make glue so people can pay them for a sniff to get high and they get high themselves.

The pastor preached in Swahili for the next 10-15 minutes from Ecclesiastes. For the following 30 minutes the kids and university students played an intense game of soccer. There were clothes lying all over the tree as many took off the layers they use to keep warm during the cold nights. When I glanced over to see what they laid down, I saw what looked like a thick plastic potato sack used as a jacket. A boy had a shoe with a flapping sole as he walked barefoot on the other foot. Most of the kids present looked to be between the ages of 11 and 14.

After the soccer game one of the university girls led them in worship. My favorite part of being in Kenya thus far is hearing people worship in Swahili. God hears all languages and understands them despite my lack of ability; he also loves their words of worship. I took note of their enthusiastic singing, dancing, clapping, and laughing they offered up to the only God worth praising. It was encouraging to watch them praise God and find hope in Christ when society would doom them as hopeless.
After worship I helped the university students pass out bread, fruit, and milk. Many times they would take as much as I would allow them so they can save it for later. One of the kids told me to drink some milk because he thought I was too skinny; that was the greatest compliment I've gotten in a while. They were so grateful for all they received.

After they ate if they needed first aid some students would help them out. We then hung out with them the rest of the afternoon. I was talking with a university student then he called over one of the street kids who was standing alone. It seemed like this boy was in deep thought and conviction, because he told us he wanted to receive Christ. The university student translated for me. The boy understood his decision he was making so we prayed with him to receive Christ and the angels in heaven started partying. I took him to tell the other missionaries and pastors of his decision, and learned that another teenager prayed to receive Christ. God was at work and it was amazing to be part of it. We connected the boys with a university student to disciple them and the pastors helped get them plugged into a local body of believers.

When I looked back on Saturday afternoon I saw what we would call a church service. The church is solely a body of believers praising God; that was what we had in the middle of a field in Nairobi, Kenya. There was a spoken word from the Bible, fellowship during the game, praise songs, food, and people loving on one another. In America, we have stuck with our synchronized times and routines on Sunday; I worry that we may have forgotten the whole reason for congregating. We had worship outside on a Saturday afternoon without a pulpit or nice church clothes and God was still glorified; I also gained two brothers in the faith that day. In the states I got bored at church sometimes, because everything was so predictable and routine. Saturday was anything but.

I have learned that when you step out of your routine, you are out of your comfort zone. When you are out of your comfort zone, it is easier to rely on God. When you rely on God he does things in ways that we may not know, which can result in salvation. I have also been learning more about what it takes to be a Christian and have met others like myself whom I can relate to. I fell in love with 36 American college students who have challenged me like none other, but have also been a huge encouragement to my walk.

During my training, one of the missionaries said something that I dwell on constantly and try to apply to my ministry. He said, "The job of a missionary is to fade into the background to get others involved doing ministry. Missions are focused on where people spend eternity." It is so true. I will be in Africa for a limited amount of time, but the nationals live here. If we work together and teach one another, both countries will benefit and God will be glorified.