Thursday Travels - Day 2

After our time at Dandora Dump, we went to Anga Afrika Tented Camp for the evening.  This was a wonderfully relaxing place and the perfect place to unwind and think about what we had just seen.

The tents are permanent structures.  The front part is tent material with lots of fresh air, but there is a concrete bathroom attached to the back, with a full shower, two sinks and a toilet.  My kind of camping! 

We had a beautiful porch to hang out on and read.

The food at the camp was amazing.  We were not hungry after dinner!

The next morning we headed off to Nairobi National Park.  It is the only national park inside a city.  Seeing the skyline was a unique view. 

Our team..

I didn't get many good photos of the animals on my phone, so I'll have to post about them later.  This is an ivory burning site.  Nairobi NP, and the Kenya Wildlife Service, is working hard to stop the illegal ivory trade and the poaching of elephants and rhinos. 

After seeing the beauty at the national park, we headed to Kibera, the largest slum in Kenya

We went to the Compassion Project.  These children and teens all have sponsors somewhere in the world.  This sponsorship is changing their life!  These kids are given extra help with their school work, food, basic healthcare and other assistance that may be needed.

We were then able to visit the home of one of the children.  This home was large by slum standards.  I am not zooming we are really that close to everyone.  There is a bed behind the family, and one beside the girl in the red sweater.  I am sitting on a bench.  This home is where nine people live.  I have seen it, and still can't imagine how it is going to work. 

My home was unique in that there were two parents.  The father is a trained mechanic and sometimes he can find work.  The mother is a homemaker.  They are both loving and kind people and are trying their best to make a good home for their children.

Leaving our home, we headed down many paths to get back to the main road. 

It is like a maze and I think I would get lost!

Back at the project, we met some older kids who shared with us all that Compassion has done for them.  We can see the dreams for a better life are real and attainable thanks to the support they have received.  One of the things Compassion stresses to these children is that there is life outside of Kibera.  Kibera does not define you or limit you as a person.  Most residents in Kibera never leave the slum, nor do they realize that there is potential and opportunity for a better life maybe a mile away.

We started our day with a feeling of hopelessness but through Compassion we can see potential and possibility.  

I challenge each of you to consider sponsoring a child through Compassion.  We can make a difference one child at a time.