Martin.

James 4: 14   Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

We are reminded of this powerful truth with every step among the slums and within every moment of investment with the people. There is no denying that life truly is a vapor- Who knows what tomorrow brings. Being within this context keeps us in a contemplative, observant manner- constantly comparing life to the States and life to the slums. It is true that life here is hard- its filled with much heartache and with much pain- just as we become sensitized to seeing ‘crime scenes, murder, theft, poverty’ as its played repeatedly on CNN, the people here also have their ‘normalcy’- rummaging thru trash to secure enough food for the day, walking by dead bodies like its just part of the scenery, and a child’s backyard/playground isn’t a swing set and slide, it’s a trash heap…

As we were walking within the hardest slum in Ngong this week, we encountered a child that has not left our minds and our hearts for months. Martin, a boy attacked fiercely by a mental illness of some kind, limps around the trash heap holding a stick in his drawn up hand, and searching for charcoal in the other. The trash heap is his backyard and his playground is a place that serves as a great burden upon our hearts. In no way can words paint the portrait of a boy who’s life is truly in limbo of living to the next day- but we will attempt to articulate his story. A six-year-old boy who’s friends are a constant drool down his body and ring worm that hasn’t left his face for months- his home nestled within the edge of the trash heap, as his visitors are flies that never leave and a smell that within its horrendous nature is no longer noticed within his own smell. No parents in sight and no one guiding this child who is impacted so deeply by mental illness. When you think of kids his age in the States, you often think of them learning silly songs, playing outside, growing stronger developmentally/physically, and learning the rules of whats right and wrong. This boy and his other companions who live in the trash heap are quite the opposite- their outside time is rummaging thru the trash to find something to eat, learning the rules of right and wrong is being handed a glue bottle (a debilitating drug in the slums) from their big bros and learning to be promiscuous from their big sis in order to survive from day to day. They are not learning silly songs and are not growing stronger developmentally- As they reach out to grab your hand and give you a hug, trash finds it way also onto your embrace and you think once again of James 4:14- Life truly is a Vapor…here and gone in a short while.

  So, when you see this environment and you sit amidst the trash heap as flies attack every part of your body and the smell almost makes you sick its so potent, you begin to think what can I do? How can I take part in changing this ‘playground’ for these kids. We are encouraged by God’s great love demonstrated thru the book of Hosea.  Hosea consistently shows God’s frustration with his creation- there is a constant battle that goes on between good and evil and our perfect Father never gives up on his people. The sins that they committed were horrendous in nature, but we see his graceful, loving character shine through when He says, “I long to redeem them” (7:13). Amidst all the evil, this is the lone phrase in the middle of the chapter that exemplifies God’s grace- We often focus on God’s anger in the scripture, but its these short, but powerful expressions that we should recognize—“I LONG to redeem them.” We are learning that it is ok to hate injustice and sin, but we are not to turn our back on it and run. We are to take the situation to God and allow him to redeem it. Its difficult to grasp the fullness of this grace, but as we sit amidst the trash heap and ‘glue heads’ are encompassing our every move and kids rummage thru trash for ‘nutrition’, this verse screams out.

Why are we here? To feed these kids?- to ‘rescue’ them from harms way?…

We are here to represent and to establish the cause of Vapor Sports Ministry. An outlet to bring redemption upon the people who live within bondage daily. To bring sustainability upon the kids who have never been taught God’s love for them. To train local men and women who can pour their lives into these little ones- being a spiritual mentor for them and encouraging them in the faith. Our prayer is that through Vapor’s presence here in Ngong, that God will be glorified and that people will have a ‘safe place’ to channel their life’s hardships and find restoration thru learning God’s character and His love for them.

For those of you who are already supporting the cause, know that your extension is being used to teach these little ones who’s playground is the trash  heap- songs of God’s love, playground no longer the trash but a soccer field/running track alongside other kids who can understand their lives, learning right and wrong from God’s word, and having an opportunity to grow stronger- physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Isaiah 61: 1-4

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair, they will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”

If you are interested in supporting this cause, check out the website www.vaporsports.org