Thanks for the emails and pictures of the Red Hill Bible class. It's really good to see everyone. Things here is fine and moving along on "African Time." It was a good week of classes and is always encouraging to see the Lord using the Word to build up the men. Isaac, Derek and Isaac are doing great and adjusting more every day. Attached are a couple of pictures which will give you an idea of just how big their smiles are now that they have something to smile about. It's especially good to see Isaac smiling. Joshephat related some of the stories of abuse he's endured so it's understandable why he didn't have much to smile about when he first arrived. He's starting to feel safe and secure for the first time since his mother and father's death. He knows that now there are people who truly care about him. He and Isaac really enjoy going to school (you'd think they're attending a first-rate boarding school). Slum kids realize how important an education is. They realize without it, they don't have a chance to ever get out of poverty.
I bought them some drawing paper and colored pencils and they are enjoying drawing-it's not actually Paula's quality of 'art therapy' but I think it helps. They try to copy pictures they see in magazine and book but don't really know how to draw from their imagination.
It always amazes me to see how people here the Kayole don’t even have the simpelest thing of life, like paper. Even Joshaphat will write on little scraps of paper because it's in such short supply. I'm going to buy them a ream so they'll have it available for a while.
Joshephat came by the house Friday because his school was out for the day and we sat and talked. I made him a sandwich, which is novelty for Kenyans. He had never had mayonnaise, olives, tomato juice, or broccoli.
Hope you guys are able to make it over soon. There's a lot of teaching needed and it would be great to see you. Well, I'm off to pay my bills, which as you know, is a process. Go to the post office or designated place-walk in and show the security guard the bill you're there to pay a bill-have the exact cash in hand-wait in line-which is always long-explain to the next person what bill you want to pay-go to the next person and pay-go to the next person to get the receipt. In Nairobi they use at least three or four people to do what one person does in the states. I guess there's plenty of cheap labor but it sure makes doing business a headache.
Stan
P.S. first pic -Derek is on the left and Isaac on the right, second pic -Derek.
