Day 4 -Visit to Living Positive WEEP Center

I don't know if I can truly express my feelings about this day. I certainly can't describe it to its fullest impact. First, we went to a grocery market to pick up food for the 25 women we would be visiting. A bag of beans and a bag of Ugali (cornmeal flour), and some oil equals a month of food for them. From there, we headed to a slum in Gnong where the WEEP center is located.

When our bus pulled in, all the women started pouring out the door, clapping and smiling then breaking into song and dance.  They hugged each of us as we toppled out of the bus.  Can you just imagine how our hearts felt as we were greeted with such love?  I'm still so moved by that.

They led us into a room in the center - all 25 of them plus all 10 of us and the three women that joined us from the HEART center all snugly fit into a room approximately 8x11. We spent our time in there introducing each other then moved on to another small room that women just starting their program learn to sew. Today they were presenting new sewing machines to these ladies. From there we had a tour, visiting the  social work office, another sewing room and their little gift shop where they sell their crafts.

Next, we went to visit some of the homes. First we stopped at Dorcas' house.  Dorcas is a miracle. She has lost 2 children to starvation, survived cancer (enduring 7 surgeries), has been abandoned by her husband and family and has AIDS. Due to her cancer, she has lost her vocal chords but was blessed by a little machine that she puts up to her neck that gives her an electronic voice. She has overcome so much and just wants to help others now. She is a firecracker. Forever imprinted in my memory. She now runs a business and has been able to buy herself a home of tin and is able to support her children.

After our visit with Dorcas, our team split up and visited other homes so we could encourage these ladies and get a feel of their environment.  This was truly humbling.  Jeanne and I went to the home of Leah. She is fairly new to the program.  She was married, had two children then when she was pregnant with twins she was diagnosed with AIDS. Her babies were born 2 months prematurely but had survived, two months after their birth, her husband died of illness.  His family came in and took all of their belongings and left her sick with brand new twins and two other children. She was desperate, devastated and very weak. By God's grace, she met a woman from the WEEP center who invited her to visit. Now she is in the program and starting her journey to recovery. I will never forget her face.

Then, there is Naomi and Jenn, Everline, America and many more with these horrific stories they have lived out.  Their living conditions are devastating. Have you ever seen pictures on TV or magazines of miles of tin shacks, falling apart and filthy with small children playing in the garbage covered roads?  We were there.  Right in the middle of it.  And we've been told we haven't even seen the worst yet.

After the home visits we returned to the WEEP center where we were greeted with a meal they had prepared. Our first true experience with Kenyan food.  It was actually really good!  They served rice, homemade African tortillas, cooked cabbage and beef stew. Although, I confess I didn't eat the meat, I really enjoyed the meal. And I loved the joy they exuded as they shared it with us.

As we started to leave, they embraced us with such joy. I felt we were able to lift their spirits.  But they lifted ours with their singing, dancing and hugs and wanting lots of pictures taken.  They loved seeing themselves on the digital cameras.

Another amazing day.