AID for AIDS
Well, Mike has been down the past 24 hours. He chomped down on a greasy beef samosa, and we think it might have been not the best food for him. He's been puking and sleeping for the past day, but is ready for lunch and more adventures today. You can be praying that he will recover completely.
We've tranistioned now into the HIV/AIDS phase of the trip. We are now in Nairobi Kenya staying at Mayfield with my childhood friend Nick Kemboi. It was great chatting with him about the challenges and approaches that he and the team are taking in Eldoret.
This morning we met with a Canadian doctor helping with HIV/AIDS sufferers in the Kenyan slums. She had lots of amazing wisdom to share with us from her work. One point was the importance of school fees. Helping kids stay in school keeps them off the street, which means less drugs and prostitution, which means less AIDS in the long run. She also stressed the importance of discipleship in AIDS work. If the human is not met and developed on all levels - including the spiritual needs - the work can been retarded or even useless. Also, she mentioned the importance of partnering with local national movements rather than coming in and setting up a "Western" program that will collapse when the Westerners move out. Good advice. Also she said she prefers not to use the term "Victim." Those with HIV/AIDS still can have a profitable 15 or 20 years ahead of them, and if they merely see themselves as victims, they won't address their current life, thier spiritual condition, and they will merely rely on handouts. Those with HIV/AIDS can be the biggest link in the chain of support and care for those still in secret about the condition and those that could get it because of risky lifestyles.
We are thinking of stopping in the central town of Nakuru to visit some friends there that are working on partnering Western donors with national community groups. Haphazardly throwing money into the mix can often just make the problem worse. But... there are needs and outside assistance can be invaluable - so it takes a huge deal of planning and wisdom to properly assist anyone on the ground here.
We should be heading out today into Kenya's notorious Kibera slums to visit some work there and talk with a local doctor.
Thanks to everyone for your prayers. Please remember Ezbon as his house was robbed recently, and also pray for our safety as we travel and move in areas where theft is high. Kwaheri (bye) from Kenya! - Dan
Well, Mike has been down the past 24 hours. He chomped down on a greasy beef samosa, and we think it might have been not the best food for him. He's been puking and sleeping for the past day, but is ready for lunch and more adventures today. You can be praying that he will recover completely.
We've tranistioned now into the HIV/AIDS phase of the trip. We are now in Nairobi Kenya staying at Mayfield with my childhood friend Nick Kemboi. It was great chatting with him about the challenges and approaches that he and the team are taking in Eldoret.
This morning we met with a Canadian doctor helping with HIV/AIDS sufferers in the Kenyan slums. She had lots of amazing wisdom to share with us from her work. One point was the importance of school fees. Helping kids stay in school keeps them off the street, which means less drugs and prostitution, which means less AIDS in the long run. She also stressed the importance of discipleship in AIDS work. If the human is not met and developed on all levels - including the spiritual needs - the work can been retarded or even useless. Also, she mentioned the importance of partnering with local national movements rather than coming in and setting up a "Western" program that will collapse when the Westerners move out. Good advice. Also she said she prefers not to use the term "Victim." Those with HIV/AIDS still can have a profitable 15 or 20 years ahead of them, and if they merely see themselves as victims, they won't address their current life, thier spiritual condition, and they will merely rely on handouts. Those with HIV/AIDS can be the biggest link in the chain of support and care for those still in secret about the condition and those that could get it because of risky lifestyles.
We are thinking of stopping in the central town of Nakuru to visit some friends there that are working on partnering Western donors with national community groups. Haphazardly throwing money into the mix can often just make the problem worse. But... there are needs and outside assistance can be invaluable - so it takes a huge deal of planning and wisdom to properly assist anyone on the ground here.
We should be heading out today into Kenya's notorious Kibera slums to visit some work there and talk with a local doctor.
Thanks to everyone for your prayers. Please remember Ezbon as his house was robbed recently, and also pray for our safety as we travel and move in areas where theft is high. Kwaheri (bye) from Kenya! - Dan
posted by Dan Holcomb - Lahash at 12:27 AM
1 Comments:
Hi peeps! Pics are on the way I promise...
In the meantime...wow. I am so excited for the next adventure! I am prayin' that God would guide you as you offer support - physical or financial. And Mike, my son! So sorry the beef samosas you were dreaming about for so many months had such a disastrous effect. See...vegetarian is GOOD ;) Hope you are feeling better!
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