GOODBYES, AND FINAL THOUGHTS
February 6, 2019

Yesterday we left Sweet Waters Preserve.  Our first stop in Nairobi was a favorite, Kazuri Beads.  Their inspirational story is worth sharing for those who haven't heard about this company.  Kazuri (small and beautiful) was started in 1975 by an English woman with two local Kenyan women as the first employees.  The mission then and now is to provide a safe work environment for single or widowed women.  Their health insurance is paid and covers immediate family, and they receive a salary. We were fortunate enough to meet Elizabeth who was one of the original employees; 44 years on the job and still going.  Faith is nurtured through daily community devotion and prayers.

They now employee 340 people.  The mission hasn't changed over the years, but now they also employee a few men to do the "heaving lifting" and we also met a young man who is an apprentice, although he cannot hear or speak.  They utilize clay from the Mount Kenya area, and create beads in various sizes and shapes.  Each bead is hand painted then fired.  We each tried our hand at molding some clay.  Let's just say we'll leave that to the more skilled ladies of Kazuri.

Today we did some additional shopping prior to leaving for the airport.  Nairobi is by every measure a typical large city.  The areas we passed, and shopped, had sky scrapers and some very modern appearing homes.  This provides a sharp contrast to the outlying areas of Kenya we have visited and worked.  In contrast one of the last areas we pass before entering the airport is the Kibera slums.  Our driver tells us this is the second largest slum in Africa, the largest found in Soweta, South Africa.

We have tried to accurately report the facts of the people we've encountered and projects completed.  We hope that the emotions we have felt throughout our trip have been conveyed through the stories.  For those of us who have been on prior trip(s), leaving Kenya is like leaving home and each visit we leave a piece of our hearts.  We are thankful for the past two weeks, and we begin to look toward another trip hopefully by 2021.  For those new to the team, we hope they have found the same beauty in the country that we see; but more importantly the beauty in the generous, loving, and faithful people we serve.

Mission is going strong in Kenya, just as in many parts of the world, by the grace, love, and call of a common God.  For those we've served we pray for continued blessings.  For those on "the ground" at Maua Methodist Hospital, and their families, we give prayers of thanksgiving and commend their continued faithfulness.  Daniel Kibe and his drivers Peter, Edward, and David not only kept us safe but were patient with our endless questions, and informative about facts of Kenya.  Lastly, for the bishop and mission staff at the conference office, as well as evangelist and pastoral staff serving the Wamba area we know God has great plans.

In the Rule of the Missionaries of Charity (founded by Mother Theresa) we find these words:
Service means an unceasing and wholehearted labor in making ourselves available to Jesus so that He may live, in and through us.

And pray:
Lord Jesus, 
We want to imitate you, who told us:
"I am meek and humble of heart."
We ask you, that day by day, you lead us in this path.
We wish to bring you, dear Christ, to others.

We can't wait to share additional stories upon our return and hope you will take the opportunity to share with others as well.

Acton UMC Kenya Ministry
"Christ's Mission, Our Mission"