Sat. Sept 22: Today is a full day of Nairobi Urban Poor. WOW today should really be called Day 1. Today was the first day of real work – carrying the backpack with cameras and tripods, scrambling around to get the shots I want, and leading people through interviews. Instead of going to the slums inside Nairobi, we went to a new boarding school. CMF and partners opened it up to teach the upper elementary students in a setting out of the city and away from the negative distractions of the slums. This was a great day and a day that I was really proud of CMF. This ministry is very young, growing fast, and shows no signs of stopping. I don’t think it’s a fad that will fade either. We were greeted by 200 4th-6th graders singing praise songs. Most of which Katie has used in Pre-Teen worship! This was pretty powerful. These kids come from areas that have been described as hell on earth and they are in nice uniforms, singing praises at the top of their lungs, and dancing to the motions. Then Keith started introducing me to the staff and their was Barry! Katie and I met him 4 years ago in the Kibera slum (completely different area of Nairobi). He had no connection with CMF, but we ran into him at a slum clinic and he was very very excited that CMF wanted to help in the slums. Because of him I was able to get for into the inner slums and into a home. This is the only footage that CMF has had to use for 4 years. I have thought about him often and how that was a blessed meeting. Well, now he’s a teacher living at the boarding school and making a huge impact in the Nairobi slums. He didn’t recognize me at first, but I said I visited about 4 years ago with my wife Katie. That did it. He remembered Katie. He is a man filled with the joy of the LORD!

Sun. Sept 23 The church service was not unusual for me at least, cement block building with a tin roof and wood pews. What was crazy was the sound system. It was SO loud. I wasn’t getting great shots so I decided to move to the front corner to get more faces. That put me right in front of the speakers. I could hardly bear how loud it was. The LORD can heel blown eardrums too. They fed us after the service – the same rice, potatoes, mystery meat, a rolled up tortija, and a coke in a bottle.

Walking us through the maze of shacks. The only thing between these shacks is a narrow dirt path barely wide enough for two people to get past each other that usually has a thin stream of raw sewage that has eroded away part of the path. Most shacks are the size of a small US home bathroom and it holds the whole family. We went in one and over twenty live in it. The children were mostly full of smiles to catch a glimpse of the mazungos (foreigners). Imagine dozens of children following you, touching you, and repeating over and over, “how are you – how are you” in the hopes that you will feel compelled to answer them and actually talk to them. That was a pretty powerful day. Because of safety issues, Joe just shots stills and I shot video. This is a real blessing of having Joe along. Joe’s got some amazing shots

Monday Sept 24: After three hours of dodging most of the worst potholes you’ve ever seen, we arrived at our first stop – the Kidjiado Training Center. Katie might remember it better as the place she blacked out and threw up red Gatorade in front of a handful of Maasai men! Although those few minutes four years ago were pretty scary, we’ve had many many laughs sharing that story. So it was a thrill to be back particularly with Joe so I could point out every scene of the well-known story. We got the usual tour. A room that at Camp Allendale we would bunk 12, they bunk 80 men during a week of training. However, the Maasai are getting more modern and not wanting to sleep so close anymore. One man there was there the last time. That’s a neat feeling. This is where I met Daniel Dooke. Daniel was put in charge of the CMF drought relief project that perhaps saved many lives. He is a great guy with a great servant heart.

We got here! Pretty uneventful trip. I’m a little out of the habit of all the flying protocol, but it was nice to know my way around Amsterdam’s airport. I told Joe I knew of this place upstairs that had really comfy chairs and was kind of away from everything. It was right where I remembered.
On the flight from Detroit we had the worst seats – the middle of the center section. That’s a long flight to have your arms crossed in front of you – and with no chap stick! Amsterdam makes you go through security again at the gate (annoying). But these seats were WAY better. I had the window and Joe had the aisle with an empty seat in between us. We both got an hour or two of sleep on this last flight. We always prepare for answering customs interrogations, but for a full 747 they had like one customs officer and he just let everyone walk right past him. Outside was a guy with a sign reading “Gerber” that I had asked the CMF team to hire for us. We followed him out to the van and I asked him where he was told to take us. It was the right answer so I felt easy about hopping into a car with a stranger in a strange land. We drove through the city at night. It’s so fun to see it through the eyes of Joe. I told him I wish I had a mic wired to hear his thoughts. We met brand new CMF missionaries, the Browns, at the outdoor mall where Katie and I have been. They took us to the Crum’s house. It was so good to see them, in their new house, and catch up. They are perfect hosts! I’m so glad for Joe that we’re staying with them. Joe and I have our own rooms. They have a internet cell card for their computer, but it costs per kb used. So we’ll reserve photo/video uploading for the coffee shop with free WiFi. (That’s where I’m posting this from – Java House.)

On Wednesday I return to Africa for another two week mission trip to document CMF’s missions. It has been 4 years since my last trip, so I’m a little out of practice. There are many new ministries to cover. This time I traded Katie for a friend, a coworker, Hannah’s babysitter, a photographer, and a videographer, Joe Bouterse. Joe has been interested in using his skills on the mission field and made the mistake of mentioning that to me several times. So finally one time I said, “Are you waiting for someone to ask you? Come with me to Africa.” Joe will add a lot and hopefully will want to keep going on future trips for CMF.

Here’s where you come in. Please pray for us in these ways:
1. Our families left behind.
2. Logistics of travel, equipment, ect.
3. That God would use us and open our eyes to who He is and what He is doing around the world.
4. That I will shoot everything I need to get.
5. That God will make this a great time for Joe.