Meet Rose

Hello from Kenya! We landed safe and sound about 24 hours ago, but feel like we've been here for seven days already. Here's our team before boarding in Houston!

And here we are after just landing in Nairobi.

It’s currently 10:00 PM in Maai Mahiu and we just finished our first full day here. Our eyes may be a little (a lot) tired, but our hearts are full and ready to work.

We spent the majority of the day sitting around the table getting to know one another, learning more about Lulu Place from Isaac and Esther Karanja, and meeting the rest of the staff of Rift Valley Fellowship. (A few of us had the honor or meeting Pastor Isaac and Esther a few months ago while they were visiting Houston.) That honestly sounds like a really light day, and while it was, we were also briefed on the history of the girls who are moving into Lulu Place this weekend and that was far from light. Esther, Isaac’s wife and also the one who dreamed up Lulu Place, is an angel. I think if you asked any of us after listening to her tell her story, they would agree. What I love about Esther is how she trusts the Lord. Every other word out of her mouth is about her belief in a GOOD Father who provides endlessly and takes care of them. We ended that time by praying for Esther and Carline. It was sweet and I think both parties know that they can only do what they do by the power of the Holy Spirit.

My favorite part of the day was after our conversation; Esther took us to meet Rose. Rose lives here and is a housemother to seven street boys, works hard and loves Jesus. Before we met Rose we were told she could pray the house down. Unfortunately, we have yet to experience that but are looking forward to it, no doubt. Rose radiated joy.





















Later this evening after dinner, we went back to see Rose and meet the young boys she mother’s. We were surprised to meet not only seven boys, but 30 of them. THIRTY. To our delight and surprise, the Lulu Place girls were also there, which means between the 36 kids, there were plenty of hugs to go around. We discussed later on that after our day of learning their history, and then seeing their faces, we each could have wept. It’s an indescribable feeling when you see that hope and brokenness can co-exist. Dare I say it exists in all of us? These girls come from so much hurt, so much brokenness, so much damage, and yet they have a future with so much hope. Not to be cheesy and quote Jeremiah 29:11, but the Lord, through Esther and Isaac, is giving these girls a future filled with hope, with, God-willing, redemption, not to harm them, but to give them Himself. And that is the best news of all.

I feel like we’re just now in the shallow end of what the Lord desires to accomplish this week while we’re here. But I know it’s going to be good. And hard. And hope-filled. Just the small glimpses we’ve had have left us in awe of all the Lord has already accomplished, the tapestry He’s already woven and the details He has taken care of. And it’s just the beginning.

Tomorrow we are going to visit the girls’ homes. Not Lulu Place, but where they are currently living. We’ve been prepped for what we’re going to see, but I have a small inkling words don’t do it justice. Will you pray for us? For these girls? For their mothers who are bound to a lifestyle they assume they’re never going to leave? Or even have the opportunity to leave? We know that Jesus is bigger. That He alone breaks chains and sets people free. And not just that He can do that, but that He WANTS to. Because He loves them so much.

Signing off for now. It’s time to shower and head to bed, and we’re all ready. We still can't believe we're actually here and get to be a part of what the Lord is building here. You guys are the best. Thank you so much for your support and prayers.