Kenya, Orphans and Denise.

Here are a couple excerpts in blue from recent emails from my friend Denise Roberts. Following her emails is an article I had written in early November… but never posted.  Please! Please! Be praying for Kenya, the orphans and Denise. Although Denise is currently back here in the US…it’s extremely difficult not knowing if your “kids” and friends are ok.  For more updates, visit  deniseroberts.myadventures.org

 

12-30-07 Hey, you can pray for the kids. Stuff is really bad in Kibera. I’m going to call in a couple hours when it’s early morning there but the kids are all with relatives for the holiday and it’s going to be hard to know for sure they are all okay. It’s bad. Sort of the extreme worst case scenario of elections. Opposition was assumed to be the winner then the government “intervened” and now the president has been deemed re-elected. So the opposition has decided to declare himself the president elect and to appoint a “parallel” government. And in Kibera (opposition stronghold) it’s sort of magnified with police shooting youths who have machetes. I wish there was some way to know the kids were safe.

 

12-31-07 I don’t have everyone’s email in this computer so please forward to the rest of the team. I spoke with both the Mzee and Eva last night.  It’s bad.  They are reporting a massive shortage of food and overwhelming chaos.  This is an article I just came across that is specific to Kibera http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22440430/  The kids, thankfully, went to be with relatives for the break and only Eva, Moreen and Shosho are at the house.  We just seriously need to pray!

Mzee talked about how they could only stay in the house because of all the violence and police and insanity.  Mzee asked for all of us to ask all of our friends to pray. Eva is holding up.  She’s trying to get to the bottom of a rumor of people trying to break into the orphanage searching for food — which is ironic as they have only tea and nothing else.  Nothing is for sale and not matatus or buses are going up country to the gardens so even the vegetables that is on the street is 5 times more expensive than normal.  Pray for calm and peace to return.  It sounds like Kibera is a focal point of the violence because of Raila with many youths screaming “No Raila, no peace” and the police shooting first and asking questions later.  I will be calling every day throughout and will try to update on what I know.  I’m going to try to get a hold of Francis and some of the more scattered friends tonight.  Will let you know what I hear. Eva made sure to say “God is in control and will take care of us but please pray!”

 

At AIM, people are always coming and going. ..and that’s how I met Denise Roberts.  Denise is a TCK (Third Culture Kid)… a MK (Missionaries Kid) from Congo. Immediately this connected us. Our stories are very different but felt very familiar.  It was comfortable… we skipped all the formalities…and began sharing things from our pasts…recalling things I hadn’t remembered for years…because after all, who would understand!

In the past month while she’s been working out of the AIM headquarters, I’ve enjoyed getting to hear about this ministry with the orphans in Kiberia, Kenya. In 2003, the orphanage was birthed as a result of an Ambassador team …with Scott and Lisa Nelson. They could only rent out the property for 6 month increments and after the Ambassador team completed their 3 months…there stood an empty building and many kids without homes. Thus the beginning of the AIM House…bringing the Father to the fatherless! 

Last year Denise was the dorm mother for these 14 kids. In addition there is a school AIM is involved with called the New Adventure School.  I love to hear the stories. One minute they have me in tears…the things these kids have experienced and seen…and then the next moment she’ll have me laughing. Denise has introduced these kids to many things….one of which is swimming! (However, sadly they were asked not to return because they don’t have proper attire). They’ve each now celebrated a birthday with cake and frosting. A first as some did not even know the year in which they were born.   

Currently Denise is back in the US to visit friends, family and churches. For now she spends half the year traveling around the US and the other half where her heart is – Kiberia, with her kids. Joining her soon will be Michelle Benz and Kim Shaw…both of which are incredible women who long to love and teach these children of Gods love. If you are interested in hearing more about this ministry or get involved, please contact Denise. 

 

On her website kenya.myadventures.org is a powerful video: then stop by her AIM Blog at: deniseroberts.myadventures.org

 

Together we have talked about my “possible” visit to Kenya next year.  Kiberia is known as the world’s largest slum.  Anyone want to go…love on orphans…encourage the AIM staff in this ministry and experience life in Kenya?  Contact Denise…or me…