Follow Scott and Lisa Nelson's Work at http://kenya.myadventures.org

Overview

Kibera, Kenya is the largest slum in Kenya and is home to an estimate 1.2 million people. It is an illegal settlement with no government services including electricity, water, sewage and garbage pickup. When it rains all the garbage, sewage and dirt wash down the hills into this trench. The people live in these desperate circumstances due to 40% unemployment and immeasurable poverty. We are there to minister to their greatest need – the need of a hope and a Savior.

When people look out on Kibera all they see is garbage, rusted shacks and hopelessness. When we look at Kibera through the eyes of Jesus, we see people in need of Him, people He love and people He died to save. Will you help us bring Jesus to them? We are excited to see all that God is doing through our ministries, explore our site and find out how to join us on this exciting journey. Your donation for the orphanage, school or general Kenya base ministries goes a long way to making that possible. Better yet join us here!!

Staff

Scott Nelson with his wife Lisa is the Kenya Base Director. Scott oversees the operations of the Kenya Base ministries as well as set-up, ministry with local pastors and building relationships that increase our ability to come alongside the church and serve them. He is excited about the opportunity to disciple and mobilize the Kenyans by having the FYM program in Kenya. He has seen the difference that discipleship makes in the commitment of an individual as they serve the Lord and he is hopeful that God will use discipleship to expand the ministry and deepen the resolve of the Kenyan church. Lisa and Scott married in May 05.

Allie Pohlmeier is our FYM Family Leader and Kayla Phillips is the FYM RA. They work with the First Year Missionary students discipling them, assisting them in ministry, encouraging them and organizing the program. Allie is from the Chicagoland area and was a school teacher for 5 years and is now using those skills to further Christ’s Kingdom in Kibera. Kayla is from “Snyder, America”, which is commonly known as Snyder, TX. Kayla was an FYM participant from January –May 05 and returned to be the FYM RA in September 05.

Programs

Orphanage

Scott and Lisa invited the children from the orphanage over to celebrate Easter with pizza, easter egg hunt, and a movie. Twelve children live in our orphanage begun in 2004 in response to the overwhelming need for safe, secure housing for extremely at risk children. There is an estimated 40,000 street children in Nairobi alone.

The blue square house around the courtyard is home to our orphanage. This house was originally rented for use by a Real Life team in 2004 and was then used by the FYM team. In September 2005 it became home to our orphanage. It has 6 bedrooms, a kitchen, indoor bathroom, and a nice courtyard for the children to play. The Kenya base office overlooks the orphanage and is just down the road from FYM and staff housing.

School

New Adventure School was begun in 2003 by Pastor Timothy in response to the need for affordable education available for children in Kibera. The certified teachers work with the 350 children in grades 1-7. Pictured are the children from Standard 1 (first grade) in their literature class.

The New Adventure School is located in this church building. It has been a blessing to have a home but the challenge of teaching 4 different grades in the main room with dirt floors and dirt walls is growing more difficult with increased attendance. We are looking to move the school to a more suitable building with separate rooms for each class, adequate lighting and desks.

First Year Missionaries

The city of Eburru is around 3 hours north of Nairobi located in the highlands. The team spent time doing ministry in Eburru and went on a prayer walk near this sight for possible land for a new ministry for Pastor Steve.

An open-air ministry in Eburru town center allowed the students to do a drama, share testimonies, lead worship, and short messages. This was the first exposure to doing ministry as a team after being in Kenya only a week. Many of the children who attended were severely malnourished and that was the first time that many on the team had been exposed to such obvious and overwhelming need.

The FYM family spent time at Bethany Crippled Children’s Hospital going bed to bed ministering to the children and their families. Hannah was an FYM fall of 2004-May of 2005. The children enjoyed the coloring pages, puppet show, games, balloon animals, skits and face painting. The FYM students found it challenging and rewarding to communicate across the language barrier in an effort to brighten these sick children’s days.

About

Kibera is home to an estimate 1.2 million people. It is an illegal settlement with no government services including electricity, water, sewage and garbage pickup. When it rains all, the garbage, sewage and dirt wash down the hills into this trench. The people live in these desperate circumstances due to 40% unemployment and immeasurable poverty. We are there to minister to their greatest need – the need of a hope and a Savior.