Untitled from Bowen Behenna on Vimeo.

Today is the first day I have ventured back into the Mathare Valley slums since the face slapping incident of 2009. This time there was a hand extended my way in form of a hand shake. So that’s good. Don’t think I could take the public shame in a foreign land much like a drunken local accustomed me to a couple years ago. Our day started more on the outskirts of Mathare. BTW, here is a link if you are interested in more info, http://www.matharevalley.org/about_mathare_valley.htm. Read the first line :/. When we arrived, we sat in the front of this bigger sized classroom facing the entire faculty and students. They gave us a presentation involving the history, purpose and talent that makes up the school. The video above is a segment. The purpose and role that Compassion International has with these communities are amazing. Compassion only plants in locations where there is a legit local church, and provides food, medical needs, schooling and the Gospel to children and families throughout a community.  Understand, Compassion does not replace the church, they come along side. When they were finished, we were asked if we had any talents to share for the school. I immediately felt a little tension. Keith, our trip leader, leans over and asks, “Would you mind singing a song?” The ultimate answer is no, i don’t mind. However, I began to draw blanks with any song lyrics. Didn’t do it. Disappointing, but Keith’s wife did get down with the fiddle. That was awesome and educational for all involved!

After that, we broke into groups where we sat in and observed classes. Walked in. Sat at a desk. Looked at the teacher and he writes the word “puberty” on the board. Awesome. My parents never allowed me to sit in on any sex ed classes growing up. First official in a Kenyan 9 to 11 year old classroom. Go figure. “When girls go through puberty, they get more fat,” is how he started. Whoa now. You cannot say that in the states…wheels off. Concept was simply to explain the natural changes in physical stature. To prove his point, we all went outside to compete in an athletic gender war including tug-of-war and a relay race. It was fun playing with the kids, and at the end the men were victorious! The teacher concluded with, “You see. As boys grow older they become much stronger.” Class dismissed.

We also visited the home of a young girl named Deborah. She is a young 16 year old mother that is studying hard to go to college and become a journalist. She wants to bring attention to the conditions of her village. She wants to help people. She understands that there is a social injustice taking place around her. She gets it. I am grateful for the community, encouragement and desire Deborah has while moving forward. Have a feeling she is going to do something. Very grateful for her and her loving mother. Hearing the questions in my head, “Your name’s Bo, right? Yea, what do you do?”

Lunch was incredible. Some kind of beef tips, rice, fried chicken and some of this goodness, http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/kitchen/2009_02_11-Chapati.jpg. It was honestly a great meal. Talked to a teacher named Felix while I ate. Talked about the challenges facing the different people we are trying to reach. The reality is that there are so many similarities in both our cultures, but it is so different all at the same time. Spiritual poverty that is driven by different circumstances. Grateful for him. Felix is gifted and is living out his calling. No doubt whatsoever.

Simply enough, the local church in Mathare is active.

That’s it. Hanging out with Jared and Drew now trading war stories. Tomorrow is church.