Hey everyone!

Finally, I have time for a significant update! I hear that some of you (e.g., Colin) have been disappointed with my lack of posting. What can I say? I am doing my best, but email access has been pretty scarce so far. OK, I'll give you all a run-down on the types of ministries I am doing here. We are working in 3 slums (Kibera, Kawangware, and Muthiga) and another place called Dagoretti Children's Home. This is what we do in each place:

Kibera: This is one of the largest 2 slums in Africa (tied with one in South Africa). There are approx. 1 million people living on 1 sq. mile of land. There are no roads, permanent structures, trash collection, or plumbing. As a result, the people live in complete squalor. Sewage runs through ditches and people burn their trash right outside their front doors. HIV/AIDS is rampant, along with typhoid, worms, etc. We are assisting a church supported by MTW called Kibera Reformed Presbyterian Church. There are about 130 people in the church, but the composition (by age) is very different from an American church. About 60 of the members are children and another 30 are between 20 and 28. I'm usually in Kibera 2 or 3 times a week. I often teach in a slum school near the church. The usual teachers are volunteers and have little to no training. I have taught mostly math and english, but my goal is really to just love the kids. They are very well-behaved and have an incredible desire to learn. In Kibera, we also help with the preschool run by the church and sometimes help make food for the students. The church has a feeding program for all of the children in the preschool. We are starting a football (soccer) ministry to youth in the slum, as well as an outreach program to street children in the area. Street children are homeless, orphaned, and often addicted to sniffing glue. The women on our team help with AIDS support groups and visitations of people living near the church too sick to leave the house.

Kawangware: This is a "nicer" slum, but still far more destitute than a slum you'd see in America. There are some permanent structures, and some buildings have electricity and plumbing. It is less crowded and a little cleaner than Kibera. We are assisting a Presbyterian church in the slum as they start ministries to hundreds of Sudanese refugees living nearby. These refugees are the "Lost Boys" you may have heard about (if not, go read about it!). The church is starting a school and feeding program for the refugees, so we are helping to start both of those programs. Despite fleeing their homes and/or being forced into the army at age 6, and then walking from Sudan to Kenya without their parents, many of these young men are incredibly joyful. We are sharing the Gospel with them and encouraging them to come to the church.

Muthiga: This is a smaller slum and more agrarian. The land is tropical and lush, allowing residents to grow some crops. It is adjacent to a rock quarry, where many of the men work. There is a very small church (about 50 members) that we are working with. The women help with a women's Bible study every Monday, but I usually just do door-to-door evangelism. This is a huge challenge, but it really helps me learn alot about Kenyan culture and the different religious beliefs that people have. People are very hospitable and generally offer us tea and/or food.

Dagoretti Children's Home: I described this ministry in my last post, so scroll down to see that.


We are going on safari this weekend, so that is pretty exciting. I'm hoping to see at least one cheetah, since we missed out on that last year. On Friday (July 2nd), we are inviting many of our Kenyan friends over for an Independence Day celebration. We will be cooking hot dogs, hamburgers, etc. It should be really fun to host them and serve them for a change.

Please pray for me in the coming days, as I have been asked to preach at the Kibera church on Sunday, July 11th. This is a huge challenge, but an opportunity for God to use me. I have never preached in a church service before, much less in a completely difference culture and through a translator. I'm asking God to take away my fear and replace it with a spirit of power. I need His wisdom to know how to communicate a message from Scripture to people drastically different from myself. Pray that my preparation time in the next few days will be fruitful.

If any of you have specific questions about anything, please email me (medelen@jhu.edu) and I'll try to answer the questions on here. There are so many things that I could share, but I'd like to know what you are most interested in hearing.

Grace and peace,
Mark