Plastic cups

Bridgette and I did well today - we didn't cry. And, for what we did today, who we met and what we saw we did well. Well except for the plastic cups. Early this morning we met Nick and Charles at the site of the new rescue center...more on that in another update. After praying together at the site we planned to go to Mathare Slum to see the children at the rescue center. But, Charles had told us his younger sister lay "dying" from Aids. In fact, after at first refusing to let Charles see her she asked Charles to take her to their home village on Wednesday so she could die. It is cheaper to go home when alive than to be transported in a coffin charles explained. She had given up hope and was prepared to die. We ask Charles if we could see her. Driving 30 minutes through difficult roads and climbing what seemed like 12 flights of stairs we found her in a small room laying on the sofa which had become her bed. She is very frail with thrush in her throat and herpes zoster on her back. She could barely eat and while she could stand she could not walk. She allowed me to examine her and I found no open sores as Charles feared. We told her she was not going to die as the medication (ARVs) can help her live. George told her of his family who is infected but on the medication are doing well. George then prayed for her. She agreed to stay in Nairobi and fight to live...Charles was so encouraged.
We then went to the rescue center. We took hard-boiled eggs and peanut butter sandwiches for the children. Bridgette had dyed the eggs as an Easter surprise for the children (not easy when you have no Paz!). The children and the adults were delighted at the bright colors of the eggs. They peeled the colored shells and ate the egg - Nick said it has been a year since they had eaten eggs. We did well until when answering Bridgette's question about what they needed most Nick explained they only have four plastic cups. But it isn't too much of a problem he said as they just feed the smallest children first and then wash the cups continuing the process until all are given drinks. There are 34 children in the rescue center. Such a simple thing....I have many cups, even seasonal cups. Tomorrow we will buy the children cups and new plastic plates. Just simple things that we take for granted but that will be a huge blessing to these children living in a slum in a rescue center.

Blessed to serve the children,

Connie and Bridgette
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