Jrogerdavis’s Weblog

Chris Kinsley and I arrived yesterday in Ukraine after some fun travel and lost luggage through Paris. Yesterday was a long day as we worked through the final details (mostly Radooga staff and volunteers worked through those details.) Upon our arrival into Kiev we visited a former camp location that Radooga was able to use up until 2 years ago when a construction company took it over to use for their workers. Well the good side of the bad economy according to Oleg V is that that campsite may now be available to them again this summer. So we went on a walking tour of the facility.
During the height of communism students would attend camps during the summer that were called “Pioneer Camps.” They basically were one of the primary ways that the Communist Party would indoctrinate the next generation of leaders and people. Was told that there were about 900 of these camps in a 60-mile radius of Kiev. About 20 of the camps still exist offers some form of summer programming. In addition orphanages (many of you know Randy and Val Hall have been very involved in Orphanage relationships and ministry here in Ukraine) they actually receive government funds to send their children and students to camps for majority of the summer. Last year Oleg said he got a $50K gift by the government paying for orphans to come to camp….and according to him they had know clue of the magnitude of that. Thus instilled in the Ukrainian mindset is a camp mentality. That style of experience is not new to the people and even the churches here.
We then visited the Radooga offices, which is on the 8th floor of a big blue building here in Kiev. Lots of activity at the building as the staff of 6 and volunteers get ready for the Conference on Saturday. Was great to finally see their home..
The team was not able to begin loading into the auditorium until 9:30 pm so it has made for a real late night. Everything seems to be coming together, but we are all tired. And now after 37 hours of being awake I am going to sleep for a whole 6 hours before we have to get back the auditorium for the conference.

I have not watched the prime time TV show Law & Order for some time. Have always thought it was well done, but my schedule has simply not allowed for it over the last year or so. However, tonight I decided to watch the episode that was airing on NBC. I pressed the info button to read that it was about two divorce lawyers that were murdered. You know how the show goes, first the crime, then the detectives (Law) do their thing and they slowly hand it over the DA (Order) and the court system.

Tonight was about a lot more than two make believe murders. The backdrop of the show is the real struggle of the children and people of Haiti. This is a struggle that came more in focus to me as I discovered more about the poorest country in the western hemisphere just before I visited in November. (54% of the country’s 8.9 million population lives on less than $1 US dollar a day.) Some of the Student Life staff and I were down there with Compassion International to film some stories and learn how to be better voices for those children living there. The days spent there were full of amazing experiences and all of us that were there left knowing the need was great. Compassion has been serving the children of Haiti for over 40 years now and

While there the term Restavek became known to me. This is a term given to a child that is basically sold into slavery. It has become the focus of a few prime time features including ABC’s Nightline over the summer and was the backdrop for tonight’s Law & Order episode. It is a real issue that is beginning to get more needed attention. 

A child would be sold for a small amount away from their family to a family that has the means to take them in. They would then be put into the service of their new owner cleaning, cooking and doing whatever assigned duties are given to them. Contact with their family is usually cut off.  Check out http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20293963 for more on being a Restavek in Haiti.

It has been reported that in 2008 1.2 million children have been trafficked, many being caught in the awful sex trade, forced into become a child solider or to become a Restavek or child servant. One estimate that I read said that 9.5 billion dollars is made annually through human trafficking (never sure about numbers you read, but I think it is safe to say the number is a lot.) Often the mindset is that the child will be better off working in a good home rather than having to fend for themselves on the streets in a place such as Port-Au-Prince, Hait. Better to be semi-well feed rather than going with out a meal. Better to have a roof over their head working (for no pay by the way) rather than having no place of security.

All of these thoughts are idiotic and those that align with them in my opinion are robbers of innocence and authors of injustice.

As I watched Law & Order my spirit was saddened to know that this actually goes on. Children actually live in this situation. The most innocent are the biggest victims. They have little to no voice . And as a believer in and follower of Chirist, this is were my voice has to continue to speak. I told someone just Friday night that in Haiti you can be dropped in the city and drive an hour in any direction and all you see is poverty. Tonight I again thought about those drives and my eyes are filled with tears.

Isaiah 58
6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”

www.compassion.com
www.ijm.org

Today we spent the day in Mlango Kubwa section of the Mathari Valley Slum. While Kibera is the most popular slum in Kenya the Mathari Valley is referred to as the oldest and the worst slum in Africa. The badly constructed homes are just minutes from downtown Nairobi. The area is known for its crime and often drunk and drugged children and adults alike (we traveled with two armed plain clothes policeman for safety today.) It is reported that many are afraid to visit here because the crime is so high and for safety we made sure we were out before the sun began to set.

Most are unemployed or they work selling stuff on the street. The road or better to say path side vendors are selling vegetables, fish, charcoal and trading in second-hand clothes. The slum is packed full of people with an estimated population around 500,000 people living in a very tight 1.2 miles by .2 miles section of the city.
Lots of looks as we headed into the project on the tight and trash covered paths surrounded by tin and wood shanties.

The project we visited was not only a refuge for the 300 children that are registered in that Compassion Child Development Center it was a light to and in the community. Literally. Crime and problems are so bad after sunset in the slum that the church began working with the government to install these huge lights that have floodlights lighting up 360 degrees. The massive poles were at least 200 feet in the air and could be seen from almost anywhere in the slum. Quickly Matthew 5:14 came to my mind, “You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.” And then later, Luke 11:33 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a hiding place or under a basket, but on a lamp stand, so that those who enter may see its light.” The people say that the lights bring peace to the community and are a great source of safety. It clearly spoke to me.

Home visits were strong today as we got to go into some amazing families houses. Most are slightly bigger than my daughter’s walk-in closet, but many of them are full of love. We sat in two homes with our LDP students that were born in those rooms over twenty years prior. In one home we heard Ibrahim talk about his mother dying and then his father when he was 12. His older sister who was 14 and he found a way to make it in life staying in that home and now he is graduating with a degree in Political Science. And his project is very proud of him…they have painted his life story on the wall of the project with his first day in the project, growing up, studying and then graduating. Quite a success story and if there was ever a kid who should have not made it, it was Ibrahim. But after a few moments with him you understand he has overcome poverty thanks to hard work, Compassion and as he says the grace of the Lord.

Our other LDP home visit was a blessing to all of us. We went to the home of Diana Aluso Majimbo. She graduates this summer with a degree in Communications and Marketing. We got to meet her mother Veronica and father Charles. Not many families have stayed together like this one has. We sat in a room that was about 7 x 10 feet that was the living room, kitchen and bedroom for the kids. We had about 12 people in there and Diana told us that 8 siblings and cousins counting her slept in that room every night, on the couch, on the floor and in the chair. Unbelievable.

It was a joy to sit and listen to her father Charles talk. He is a strong wise man who is not employed after loosing his job as a mechanic. So rather than sitting around like many other men he began growing a garden. And it is a pretty nice garden for the location. He has also been married to Veronica for 29 years, impressive in any environment, but astonishing in this one. He told us that he has remained faithful when many have not and that his promise to his wife and kids was never for what tomorrow may bring, but he would provide what he could today. Diana says much of her success has come from the encouragement of her father who has always been behind her. His daughter graduates from college this year. Something he never thought he would see based off their circumstances. He will be very proud on that special day and he should be.

A final thought tonight…What we have in the states is really unbelievable when you compare it too much of the world. The stat that half of the worlds 6,744,345 people live on less than $2 a day is not just a stat. It is a reality and we touched it, smelled it and saw it today.

Hard to fully put it in words and I think I am simply done for the day.

Today we traveled about 2 hours outside of Nairobi into the Maasai lands. The Maasai are one of the last African tribes that have kept much of their native customs.

As we arrived all of the children were dressed in the traditional Maasai clothes and were singing in their native tongue and English, “you are welcome in this place, our hearts are glad and you are welcome in this place.” As we drove into the quite large compound in our Land Cruisers (we had to switch out of our vans due to the terrain) all of the children continued to walk toward us singing and then the women of the village began chanting and walking in a rhythmic style toward us. This project did not have many older children and I think it as only been here for 5 years. A very nice welcome for the Muzungu’s (white people.)

I was then introduced to Ian Mariet who Becca and I have chosen to sponsor. Since we have three birth children we decided to sponsor a third child in addition to Mary in Tanzania and Rudy in Guatemala. Since I had met Mary a few years ago and have been with numerous people as they have meet their children I kind of knew what to expect. I also had the privilege of representing my sister-in-law and the rest of the Robert’s family as they have begun sponsoring a little boy named Justin.

One of the ways the Maasai children great elders is by putting their heads out so you can put your hand on it an bless them. To the westerner this may look quite strange as often the children look like mountain goats going to battle. I put my hands on the heads of both Ian and Justin and began talking with them. We attracted a large crowd and after moving away from the group had some better connection.

Ian at first did not let on that he spoke much if any English. But I quickly realized when I knew he understood much of what I was saying that he is actually pretty good at English for a 10 year old that is living in the Maasai bush. I was glad to learn that he is actually pretty good in academics in general. Three years ago he was number two in his class of 42 and last year and this year he is number one in his class of 41. I asked him if he got rid of that other person, but he just smiled and said no he studied harder. He has perfect scores in English and Swahili.

One thing that was a surprise to me was to find out that his mother is not living with them. It was a surprise because his profile said he lived with his mother, but it was also an amazing example of the impact and value of Compassion International in the life of a child. Ian has never known his father and his mother married another man over a year ago. This man lives 5 hours away from the village we attended today. So a dilemma arose, as there is no Compassion project where the mother was moving. So she made a tough decision as a mother and choose to leave Ian and his four-year-older brother behind. It was said that the village would take care of him and if he moved away he was sure to spend a life living in poverty (the new husband is also very poor), but if Ian stayed he would have a chance. They had hope for him. This is one of the reasons his mother left him, because he has an opportunity to really do well with his studies and obviously gets the medicine and food. She has been gone for over a year and Ian is living with his aunt and uncle. This is a pretty high value when you decide to leave your kids behind so they can stay in the program He understands the opportunity that he has been given.

It was cool that Herzon one of the LDP students was with us and I got to introduce them and talk about how he grew up in the same conditions, but because he studied and worked hard and knew that the Lord would guide him got to go to college and now has a degree in Computer Science.

I also went to his other Grandmothers home who lived in at traditional Maasai home. I as well as a few of our other big guys almost broke my neck getting in and then almost caught my pants on fire on the open flame. In the home 10 of us squeezed in and heard about the traditional home and life there in that area.

When I first meet the grandmother who was decked from head to toe in traditional beads and dress, I asked the here if she has ever had a white man in her house. She looked at me and said once. His name was Michael W. Smith. I grabbed her hand and began singing Friends are Friends forever…she just looked at me funny. Language barrier I guess.

I and the rest of the team where also given many Maasai beads of bracelets, necklaces, etc… We also had a traditional goat prepared for us and then one of the Warriors (mostly cattle guys now, but ain’t about to give up the title) chopped it up. Had our host convince Bo that he was selected by the village elder to drink the cow’s blood. He looked worried for about 45 minutes.

At lunch I asked the project director Daniel who has been with Compassion 15 years with 10 at another project and 5 at this project, why he does what he does. He said most of the others that started when he did have gone on to other things and he also has been offered other jobs and more money, but told me it is about the kids for him. He continues to serve and do it for them and their future. He travels over 1 hour each way every day to get to the project. I had the privilege to pray for him and I pray that tonight he knows that he truly is serving the least of theses and the Lord is very proud of him.

In November Wess Stafford the Compassion president was in the offices of Student Life. During his time sharing he told us the saying from his little African village that it takes a village to raise a child. Today I had the privilege of experiencing that first hand.

I traveled with our team to a small town outside of Nairobi where I meet Agnes. Her status is HIV positive. She lost her husband to AIDS in 2004. He refused to get tested or take medicines. She watched him go from a healthy man that built their home and had four children with her to a sick dying man. After two years of struggle he died in their home that I now sat in. A few years of struggle and sickness caused her pride to be broken and she went and got tested to find out that she too was positive for the HIV disease in her blood stream. Hard reality for a single mother of 4 with the oldest at the time 12. Then Compassion. Compassion the organization, but even more compassion from the Lord. She came to the realization that regardless of what her society felt for her Christ accepted her. She began to get involved with a HIV women’s support group at the church that her second son Philip was enrolled with for Compassion. It was a hard transition going from denial to acceptance.

Today she and about 12 other women all HIV positive sang a song for us. She sang “we know we have HIV and we want to make people aware, we know God has brought salvation to us and for that we are glad.” They stood in front of me and gave thanks to God for forgiving and saving their souls. “While their earthly bodies may fail and die, they will one day have a heavenly body that will know no disease.” It was a great experience to watch them sing with great joy with smiles on their faces. I thought to myself the words of Paul to the church in Corinth when he wrote “O death where is your victory? Where, O Death is sting?” It did not seem to be dancing before me.

After out time at the church we split up and went on home visit. The home I went was that of Agnes. During our time in her small home, she said it was very hard for her and her kids to watch her husband die. Pride would not allow for him to get help (which is a problem with many, especially men) She said it has been very hard since he passed, but by God’s grace they are making it. Compassion bough her a goat to help keep her strength up from the milk as well as that of her children. He children are Joseph, Philip Sophia and Lucy. None of which are HIV positive (lucy the youngest was born just before her father got sick.) Great family. I love what she had painted on her door. it to say God is Able.
Hope to have some pictures of today on facebook.

Was told today that Obama stands for Obama Born African, now Managing Americans. They are quite found of him here as I have seen him on billboards, office calendars and books about him for sale on the streets.

Was told today that it is not just about him being Kenyan, but it is about the possibility that he represents for so many people.

And another said that former presidents would never visit Kenya. They would go to Uganda, Tanzania, Ethopia, but always by pass Kenya. But now, now even if he the president does not come here…they have a Kenyan living in the most important house in the world.

This morning we went to the Compassion Kenya office and meet with the staff. 75 employees working together to facilitate Compassion projects for 67,000 children that are living in poverty. That means those special people are giving hope to thousands of thousands of Kenyan families…and the beauty of it is they are doing it as a response to the Great Commission. Beauty indeed.

The Country Director, Sidney took over an hour of his time to share with us his vision for the children of his country. I am always impressed by men in these positions and today was no exception. He left a successful career in marketing and PR to come to Compassion. After just a few months on the job his former employer tried to get him to return for more money, but he said his calling to be a voice for the children was clear.

A few thoughts that he shared:

“The Problem with Poverty is a problem of Character.” He feels that if the right leaders with the right character (Godly) were making decisions, a lot would be different. He shared that one problem they have been having is that some government officials are allowing for Kenyan foods to be sold in Sudan because they can get 3-4 times the money for a sale there. While the funds sound great, the fact that Kenyans are starving does not make sense. The food they have is going away and the money is not making it back to the Kenyan people. It is going into the pockets of the wealthy.

In the Slums there is a “water cartel” just like the drug lords that sell drugs. He said that if he went to by water in Nairobi it would be X price, but in the slums where they do not have access to water people bring it in and charge 4-5 times the amount for that water. He said the people can not afford clean water, therefore they are getting water disease and then they can’t afford the medical attention and they get deathly sick and often die with preventable diseases…all because the rich are again robbing the poor.

He also said working in the slums is very hard, because a child might be here one week and gone the next. It is very hard to track due to the awful conditions and instability. The slums produced the worst rioting when trouble erupted last year.

He shared that many other NGO’s (non government organizations) are trying to do relief through child sponsorship, but many in the community are rejecting it and are only wanting it if it is Compassion. Said that is due to the fact that it is proven in the communities and the people say there is something different or special about the program. He knows it to be that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone. He said they have had a few other organizations that have tried it and just decided they can not be effective.

And in an interesting conversation we began talking about Kenyan long distance runners in the olympics and major marathons. He said that they are running differently than the rest of the runners because they are “running from poverty.” Said that each of those people know that if they can win, they will forever change their families for generations to come. The Boston or New York marathons might pay as much as $100,000 US. That can by a lot of goats at $100 a head.

After over 24 hours of travel that included Atlanta-Amsterdam-Nairobi…our team made it. This is my third time to East Africa with prior visits to Uganda and Tanzania. Beautiful place with very warm people. I once again look forward to the experiences of the next few days.

Tomorrow we will begin our day visiting the Compassion Kenya office. Every time I get to go to a Compassion country office I am very impressed and walk away more satisfied about what this ministry does. Some of the sharpest people in the country will base an amazing mission out of that building. We get to have lunch with the staff and country director and then will head off to our first project visit. Tomorrows project (KE-722) is one that has been hard with the HIV/AIDS epidemic. While there I will also get to meet Kelvin Munga who my father-in-law recently began sponsoring.

When we visit on these filming and exposure trips we get to bring gifts to many children that friends and family are sponsoring. I believe we have 8-9 backpacks/gifts to deliver during our time here. Lots of fun.

But now it is 1:11 am Nairobi time and i have to get to sleep.

Becca and I are sitting at the Birmingham airport waiting a flight to Ashville, NC to meet up with some old friends….I can tell we are aging when we begin having “old” friends.  A group of us that have been involved in life and ministry together since the early 90’s always gets together for golf tournaments twice a year and on occasion vacations together with our spouses.  Well a new tradition has recently been created as the first of the couples (Chad & Wendy Norris) celebrated their 10th anniversary.  Tonight we will all get together to celebrate the 10th anniversary of David & Kim Rhodes.  10 years of commitment, 10 years of love, 10 years of family and 10 years of growing together for better or worse.   This time together was birthed out of a few thoughts.  1. Celebrating 10 years of marriage.  Evidently in this culture that is a big thing.  2. Celebrating the community that the Lord has allowed us to “do life” with. 3. We never get to get all of us together. For Becca and I it is also a reunion of sorts.  This group has been together at times, but we have not all been together since our wedding almost 6 years ago.  Attending will be the Chad & Wendy Norris, Chad & Angie Johnson, Jonathan & Leslie Helms, David & Courtney Reichley, Chris & Audrey Brooks and obviously David & Kim Rhodes.  Seven of them where in our wedding. We have a bed & breakfast for all of us to enjoy dinner and stay the night in.  Looking forward to reflection of great memories as well as new ones.  We always have a laugh when we are together. And times like this remind me of how blessed I am with friends and how much more I enjoy spending time with them.  I think they make me a better husband, father and man. 

Today we wrapped up our time in Davao City by spending some time with the LDP students that we have selected as candidates to travel with our teams this summer in the US and going to the market to purchase some gifts and things to remember our time here in the Philippines.  One thing that I have come to understand about people that we have been spending time with is how gracious they are.  Today while visiting one of the shops Brad (one of our directors) saw something he liked and was bartering with the shop owner.  He decided to walk on it for a bit and see if he found it somewhere else.  Awhile later he returned to the shop and the item was no longer there.  Eunice our host and one of the LDP students had bought it for him as a gift.  Brad felt terrible, but she refused for him to pay her for it.  Later she presented us with a carved Philippine Eagle for our office lobby, necklaces for all the girls and wives and a heart felt word of thanks for us.  Humbling.

            But my “moment” of the day (and each day there are many) came when we visited a local fruit market to taste some of the local fruits (our host said we have been the most adventurous group they have every had, especially with food.)  We instantly had a crowd around us trying to sell us something as well as numerous adults and children begging for money of food, many of the children where half-clothed or naked.  Then I saw the difference that Compassion makes in the life of a child.  I have seen it numerous times before, but this was another example of the success of the Compassion model.  Eunice and Rafonzel, both who lived in poverty but had a chance because of the work of Compassion stood there with children around them grabbing for food and having no sense of order.  And it was like I was looking at a before and after picture.  Here was their life of starvation with no food or hope, but because Compassion registered them, a sponsor provided for them and people invested in them…they have been forever changed.  Rather than become a product of the streets they became the promise of a future.

We are wrapping up our time in Manila tonight before heading to the airport at 3:45 am for a day trip up to Tokyo, Japan where we will be spending tomorrow night before journeying home.  I think all of our team is tired and ready to return home and see our loved ones, but we will all enjoy a brief stop in Tokyo (a first for all of us) on the way.  This experience has been one that I believe will mark me for a long time.