New Year Happenings
We celebrated New Year's Day here in Eldoret, Kenya after a nice little day drive on an Akamba bus line. We are joining Nick Korir and Dr. Oronje and their amazing team with their courageous fight against AIDS. There are over a dozen members of the Silas Christian Foundation with more and more joining in the battle. We are here to support them and record stories and pictures to give their movement a voice.

Eldoret, Kenya was rainy the week before we got here. The roads are muddy, and many have turned to streambeds. The little white ambulance has been stuck since we arrived. Most of the time we've just been walking around the area.

The slums here are more rural than the ones in the capital of Nairobi. There are several thousand people living on a hill and the poverty is intense. The families cannot find enough money to make ends meet, and don't have any land for gardening. This has led to a breakdown of family structures and many have become unemployed - with many turning to prostitution or beer brewing. This is a frightening combination for the spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. A couple years ago the Silas and Munyaka slums led Kenya in infection rates.

Nick and Doug and I grew up together in the early 1990's, and Nick still lives in the area. He founded the Silas Christian Foundation 3 years ago when he saw hundreds falling sick and observed people dying every week from the sickness. Since that time the team has joined with Dr. Oronje and many other community members in offering counseling, prayer, advice, representation, and gifts of food, soap, rent assistance, and school supplies for kids. It has become a beacon of hope in the area and it's really rewarding to be here and see the inroads that they've made into the community.

Anya and Dana are both perfecting their skills at interviewing the HIV positive clients in the area. Many of the rest of us are encouraging the friends here and taking pictures of the work. We are also delivering packages of clothes, food, and essential living supplies to single mothers, families with AIDS, and toys to some kids. Everyone has been very grateful and most have been open about their personal stories. This is despite the fact that many times their neighbors and family members don't know the fact that they are HIV positive. The stigma still has a stranglehold on businesses, communities, and churches.

We are staying at a local church hostel where many of Nick's family have been cooking some delicious food for us. We arrive back at the house each night exhausted and sunburnt, and settle down for a good meal of Kenyan cusine.

Nick told me he had a surprise when I arrived, and he brought a couple of us to his home and his wife. When we arrived he brought out his newborn son! He had named him little Daniel - which was a really kind honor. His wife is a kindergarten teacher and they are dreaming of setting up low income school that will assist the poor kids and orphans in the area.

We are spending the rest of the week here in Eldoret. Thanks to all of you for your prayers. Our team is feeling strong and unified right now, and excited to join in partnership here.

I apologize for the lack of photos in this post, the connection is really bad. We'll get some up soon. We love you all.