Updates from Genesis and Greg

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Mt. Kenya Cyber

Posted on 6/28/2011 by Greg Lanier (link)

It has been a looooong time since I have been able to post. I have been busy with seminary and Genesis has been busy getting a new business started in Kyangombe slum (per the prior videos). Thanks to some initial financing, he and Faith were able to purchase equipment and computers to start a cyber cafe, which they are calling Mt. Kenya. They have also consolidated Blessed Hands Beauty Salon to the same location to cut down on transportation and rent. After several months of preparations, the cyber opened for business a few weeks ago.

As it turns out, the cost to get DSL service is quite high, so internet connectivity has been a problem. However, we are hoping for a little more funding to come through to get everything fully up and running. Photos are below.

Computer desks

Laptop
Laptop unit

Front window

Third video

Posted on 2/14/2011 by Greg Lanier (link)

I've completed the third video in the series from my trip to Kenya to visit Genesis and Faith. This one provides an introduction to Kibera itself. View the full size version here.

First videos after trip

Posted on 2/6/2011 by Greg Lanier (link)

I've returned from my 10 days in Nairobi with Genesis and Faith. It was a wonderful time to spend with them in their new home outside of Kibera, though we also spent 6 days in Kibera as well. I am still working through the several hours of video and nearly 400 photos. We've posted one video that summarizes a business plan for a cyber cafe, and a second video (below) provides a glimpse into life with the Njerus. View the full size version here.

Upcoming trip to Kenya

Posted on 1/9/2011 by Greg Lanier (link)

This update is long overdue, but not from lack of activity. Genesis, Faith, and I have been busy making preparations for a trip I am taking to visit them later this week. I'm looking forward to spending time with them and meeting some of the individuals in the book face-to-face. More later.

Heart still in Kibera though our home is no longer

Posted on 11/27/2010 by Genesis Njeru (link)

Just over a year after the release of Slum, Faith and I are very excited to announce that we have, by God's grace, moved to a new home outside of Kibera. I am able to get to Kibera every day. We are very thankful for this dream come true. Yesterday we had our service in the room that we left in Kibera, we just finished the letter of Paul to the Romans. We will move in to the book of Job in the old testament. We have not been able to hold our concert yet but we still pray that God will enable us to do it before we cross over to the year 2011.

Dealing with insecurity

Posted on 11/1/2010 by Genesis Njeru (link)

In Kibera there has been insecurity here and there, many of the young people are getting into this behavior every day and this makes the slum even more dangerous. It's not advisable at the moment to walk during the late hours, and late hours means even from 8 pm. The small paths of Kibera remain dangerous even during the day. We have seen a lot of people complaining that their special belongings have been snatched, most of the victims being women.

Just next to the bridge that connects Laini Saba and Lindi, people have been complaining that most of the youth hanging up there have been stealing their hand bags and their belongings.

While I have a couple of friends who I know used to be involved in that behavior, this thing bothered me. Last month I took the step and started talking to them one by one, the main idea was to bring them together. I gave them an idea and asked them that we could come together and form a small group.

We started meeting immediately, and everyone accepted the idea. As we are talking now, they are running a group by the name "Kibera Uprising." They have already set the activities that they are doing, including garbage collection, going around the houses distributing polythene papers and later collect them with garbage. They get 20 shillings from every house they give the paper.

They have already registered with the government and they have gotten their certificate. Most of the people are coming to learn how they are making it. I decided to let them lead the whole thing they have elected their chairman and they have activities running. They call me Senior Advisor.

This is a great relief in the society. The youth who had been known as "reaping where they did not plant" are now helping the community to preserve environment. The chairman called me today and told me that they should be getting a printing machine very soon. I am so happy for this great change, and I am looking upon God for more change. He has given me a lot so I should give out. May the Lord bless this group.

Long overdue update

Posted on 10/5/2010 by Greg Lanier (link)

It's been a while since we have posted an update, but that is not because we have not been busy. Just some highlights from the past month or so:

Genesis and Faith are teaching the youth group how to use a computer. I had begun doing Word and Excel lessons with Genesis and Faith a few months ago, so it's great to see them teach others
Blessings is growing and doing well
Genesis and Faith were able to go to see a wildlife park in Nairobi
The electricity has been off and on but the Blessed Hands Beauty Salon is still doing well (see photo below)
Genesis and Faith are looking to start offering small microloans to people in Kibera using some of the proceeds from the salon

Salon

A great picture

Posted on 8/24/2010 by Greg Lanier (link)

Genesis visited the youth at the Diguna camp multiple times during the week (see prior posts), and he was able to have this picture taken.

It is one of my favorite pictures from Genesis (who is the handsome fellow standing on the far right) because it shows him with the youth group, who have been a central focus of our project since we published the book. He is able to have a transformative impact in their lives because he knows them and cares for them.

Beautiful day

Posted on 8/18/2010 by Genesis Njeru (link)

Yesterday was the most beautiful day in the history of my youth children, we have never had such a great moment in our group. We left Kibera at 2:30 pm and we all boarded a full Matatu. They youth could not imagine and could not wait getting to Diguna camping site. Apart from the 15 who are campers now, we also traveled along with Faith and Blessings, Mark (the boy in the book) and another girl who joined the group recently.

The we left the 15 youth in the camp and my family went back to Kibera. I will be going there during the day, just to check on how it is going. I have also received a phone call from Eva who confirmed that they are doing great. I love that.

We have 4 youth who joined the group recently; we have been stable with 14 students who are in high school, and the money from the book has been helping pay their school fees and textbooks.

God is doing great things, and I can see us going somewhere. I love this work and I love these youth, and I have confidence that God is going to help us get there.

Diguna Youth Ministry

Posted on 8/8/2010 by Genesis Njeru (link)

Our youth have been provided an opportunity to attend a youth camp later this month sponsored by a Christian ministry in Germany. I met these people and they have agreed to help sponsor our youth to attend. We are very excited!