Eldoret Town 6:00 PM

The sun is setting here in Eldoret. The team is pretty tired at this point from all of the travel, and some of the energy and romance have faded as we continue to travel and listen and network.

We've spent the last couple of days visiting the slums of Eldoret. I went to the hospital and met Peter the other day. Peter was once a healthy young man, who became infected with AIDS and now is barely hanging on to life. He's fragile and unable to speak. He lays in his hospital bed and moans silently. His family members won't speak with him because of the stigma of the disease. Dr. Oronje is slowly bringing him back to life. While we were there he coaxed him to drink some milk and take some anti retro virals. Peter was found in his home a couple of months back, locked away waiting to die. It's so shameful here in the country to have the disease, and many will just suffer silently until its too late.

Jennifer is a woman of 40. She was once a healthy lady, and had an affair several years back. Unfortunately the man was sleeping around with others and she got HIV from him. She was fired from her job, and then went blind. Her family members won't speak with her, and they constructed a shabby tin room built on the road to the cemetary to ensure a cheap burial. Jennifer spends all her days in her little one room home. We visited her, and ate a simple meal. She was absolutely thrilled that we were there, and it was so touching to see her come to life as we spoke and laughed with her. She's been recieving free anti retro virals from Indiana University, and she most likely has many more years ahead of her because of the treatments.

This morning we visited a horticulture dairy poultry project run by Indiana University as well. Under the name of Empathy International, this project encourages "Positives" to grow healthy foods and meats in their own gardens. It was a very encouraging tour.

We are over 3 weeks into our journey. I can say personally I'm tired and emotionally frayed. I feel pretty weak compared to my tireless brothers and sisters here in Africa who live these stories every day and still push on with joy and hope. We 4 westerners are also at the stage of critical analysis of our surroundings. It's impossible to change whole systems of culture or lifestyles overnight, and often our methods might merely be more efficient or comfortable for us, but they are less relational and loving in the context.

And the questions are always there: What's going on here? Why this sad sad state for our friends in the region? How do we fit in? Can individuals make a difference? Does love mean preference or equality? What is one's responsiblity when hearing these stories?

We have about one more week left here in Kenya, and then we'll be joining Jo French down in Tanzania. Please pray for us:

1. That our team would have strength and health to carry on and love for each other.
2. Pray for the local team here (especially Dr. Oronje and Nick Kemboi) who work long hours, travel long distances to care for those with AIDS.
3. Safety in travel and security in crowds and at our locations of stay.
4. That cross cultural differences will be minimal and we will be able to be servants and love those we stay with.
5. And you can pray for direction and we choose the people and organizations that we are planning to partner with and support as an organization.

Thank you all for the love and interest. May God give you peace and lead you gently on the dusky path.

- Dan