Kenya, A Week In

This is Royce.
It has been almost a week since Lauren and I landed in Nairobi. I have been getting progressively more stuffed up every day until this morning; I am thinking this is due to the air pollution, dust and pollen I am not used to. The air pollution has been noticeably greater than anywhere I have been before and so has the ground pollution. All the pollution still can't diminish the beauty that can be seen nearly anywhere you look in Kenya. The tropical trees, amazing small critters and variety of people that are all crammed into Nairobi ensure each day I see/experience something new.

Today we will be viewing even more of the splendor Kenya has to offer, but what I am most looking forward too is visiting Nairobi's biggest slum tomorrow. I have been on a quest of sorts to understand differences between the average Christian in Kenya compared to one in America. So far obvious cultural, economic and historical differences have been seen, but the substance and depth of the average Christian are strikingly similar. After having visited with many lecturers, professors, educators and pastors it has become clear that many Kenyans (like Americans) are nominal Christians at best. The tendency towards mere religious practices (showing up to church on Sunday and knowing "Christanese" for example) is rampant among Kenyans. This has been a bit of a shock to me because African, Latin American, South East Asian and any other marginalized Christianity (as seen from western eyes) has been glorified by those around me and in my own life for its authenticity and ability to live out the most real form of Christianity.

But tomorrow when I go to the slum and visit with people there I hope to see how Christ's kingdom is being ushered into one of the poorest areas on earth. I know the Trinitarian God of creation is at work in the slum and I am excited to see his church following.

Royce