Jamburi Day

Pure happiness was found today.

December the 12th is known as Jamhuri day, a 43 year celebration of independance from colonial rule. The governement run a large celebration/performance in the centre of town which is depicted on national TV. There are planes, bands, and public addresses all rejoicing over the last 43 years.

We didn't go.
Korogocho is a small segment of land approximately 1km by 2km wide. It lies just on the east of the city. We could here the noise and see the jets as they twirled around above, but for the most part no one took any notice as we walked.

Korogocho is home to between 120,000 and 150,000 people. As slums go it not the worst, but it does make Kangemi look like up-market suburbia.

The smells sear your nostrils, the flies and dust make you squint as you choke on the smoke of burning rubbish. There are thousands of people crowding around, the children grabbing at the white hands dangled by your side.

Here we met Sister Agastino who has worked living in the slum for the past 5 years. She runs a hospice for those sick and dying of Aids. Each day she meets those who are forgotten by families tossed out to die. They take them in and insert love into their last months of life.

They also run programs for ARV (anti-retro viral) administration and home counseling services

for those stricken with the disease.

I physically felt my heart ache as we where brought to a 'crisis centre' where children have lost parents to Aids and also have the disease are taken in. Words fail to express the hurt as we met Faith as little 14 month old girl who has no known realtives and has HIV.

Faith with Mbugua

Money comes by the grace of God via NGO's and any businesses that wants to lend a hand, but the real heros are these ladies who have dedicated their lives to this work. They are hidden to the world, doing work through the love of Jesus Christ....they are amazing!

My pain however was mixed with a strange sense of confusion. This was given clarity when speaking to one of the workers. "They are happy" Those three words rang in my ears the whole day. Who could anyone living inches away from a open sewer be happy? How could anyone who knew that there was no chance of having an education, a profession, or a home be content?

But I knew it was true. The children with their laughs, their games, and enormous smiles. The women with gaggles as we passed. These people should be the ones on prozac not the West. If you are searching for happiness - I found it.