CV and Interview Training

The unemployment rate in Kenya is ridiculously high (something like 50%). It is really hard to find work in Kenya even if you have a decent education and some good work experience. Sometimes I think the best thing I can do for people is to open a big company and create lots and lots of jobs for people. 

Our youth really struggle...like I mean really struggle to find anything that can make them some money. Although we can't personally find them work or employ all of them, we can help equip them with the proper skills to attain work. 

On Saturday, 12 of our youth (boys and girls) went to a seminar on how to write a proper CV and how to conduct themselves in a job interview. The session was put on by a good friend of ours who is the Human Resource guy at a large resort. 

The information he was able to give these young people was so valuable! Even I learned some new things! One thing he did was encourage them to change their thinking from believing there aren't many jobs and you have to know some to get a job to being more positive about their job search. 

They made us feel so special and plastered our names on all these signs. Did I mention our friend did this for us for free!? 

We made sure that the ones who came were really interested in learning and not just wanting a day by the pool (which was also part of the package;)). The ones who came were so engaged, asking lots of questions, and even boldly asking for work at the resort! We also had a few good laughs.

 After the seminar, we split up and did our own things. I went swimming with my ladies while Kelvin watched the game with his boys. A few weeks ago, we made these bracelets with the girls. 

I had the camera so naturally I got more pics of the girls. I just adore them. Praying that they will be able to get good jobs!

A guys day out

The day at the pool with the boys was a big success. They totally enjoyed themselves, acted like princes living it large in a fancy resort, poured their hearts out in some teaching sessions Kelvin facilitated, and bonded as a team. God did wonders and we are so thankful!

Kelvin told them to be there at 7:30am. We expected they would be late but most of them showed up on time.

Big smiles even before they got in the gates

I just joined them for the sessions that Kelvin held. I wanted to see their reactions to the things Kelvin was teaching them about. This particular session encouraged them to grow as young men, make goals, work hard, and trust God. My favourite part was when Kelvin encouraged them to remain pure aka keep it in your pants until you are married. Kelvin was speaking in swahili but he made some great gestures as he pointed down demonstrating the way 'it' should be pointed until they are married. He then told them that 'it' should not be pointed up and wagging all around. He moved his finger up and back and forth. We erupted into laughter. I think they got the point. 

Kelvin told me that, during the 2nd session in the afternoon, the guys really opened up about their self esteem issues. On the outside, these guys seem tough, strong, confident but in reality, it's just a cover. Kelvin was humbled as he listened to their hearts. Some of them told him that they don't like the way people perceive them in their community, that they are embarrassed when they are physically abused by their friends, that they feel like they always fail and never do well even though they work hard, and that (this was the hardest one for me to hear) some of their parents tell them they are worthless no bodies. Is your heart breaking for them like mine is? Kelvin dove into scripture and taught them what God thinks of them and how amazing they truly are. 

They had an awesome day.  Thanks to all those who helped make this happen!

Crazy Wonderful Weekend

I am officially pooped. This weekend has been the busiest weekend I have had since I arrived here in Kenya. Friday night we had a youth meeting in town. Saturday we had a youth ministry seminar all day and in the evening was our monthly girls sleepover. We were up at 5:30am Sunday morning to be at a girl's school in town by 8am, then to a church service at 11am, and then finally to perform at a christian concert that went all afternoon. I prayed hard for a supernatural energy this whole weekend and God sure delivered. 

Dave Huizing came with a team of 9 teenagers plus his wife to come and be with us for two weeks. He was the main speaker at our youth ministry seminar as he is a missionary in the US with Word of Life. 

We were excited to see over 60 people attend our seminar. We had youth pastors, college students, Christian Union leaders, and even high school students come from all around the area. 

This is my beautiful friend Ruth. She was working at Word of Life just before I arrived. Now that I have gotten to know her, I wish she was still working with us. Luckily, we get to see her as she still comes for our monthly sleepovers.

 More girls. I tell you, they can talk talk talk and never get tired. They are like the energizer bunny; they just keep going and going and going. They are truly lovely. 

We had the privilege of having the girls from the team join us. Shauna has an amazing voice and sang to us sweet praises to our King. Kate Huizing encouraged us to take our thoughts captive to Christ and not think anything else that is contrary to God's Word. 

Finally, the concert had over 1000 people attend it. Our courageous teen team did one of their very powerful skits for us. Although the power went out in the middle of it, they did a fantastic job. 

All in all, it was a fantastic weekend despite the crazy schedule. The best part is that we saw over 25 people accept Christ! After all, that is what it is all about!

Dynamite

So for the last 3 days, Word of Life has a large mission conference here. There are probably about 800 people attending the conference from 3 different bible institutes. Word of Life is a worldwide ministry. I learned that it is in 65 different countries around the world. We have had the pleasure of listening to the stories and life lessons from the co-founder of the organization. It’s amazing to see how much this organization has grown since it was started just over 60 years ago.

I have also been amazed at the huge international community here on this compound. Last night we had an international concert where various choirs made up of the bible institute students sang songs of worship to the one and only God in their language. We had songs in English, French, Japanese, Korean and even Swahili (which the students from Ontario sang). Dieu, Dios, Mungu, God. I was reminded of the nations and our calling to reach the nations. Sometimes you don’t even have to go to them; they come to you. Here is what the conference auditorium looks like. The first year students take all their classes here. It's quite the classroom.

One of my roommates is from Japan and she has been teaching me a lot about Christianity in her country. She said that 80% of Japanese Christians are saved outside of Japan. They come to other countries and hear the Good News. She also told me how she is hoping to go back and be a missionary in her own country to reach the youth. The average age of a pastor in Japan is 65! Here are some treats she shared with me!

The students from the Bible Institute in Quebec also did a presentation today of the various ministries they work with in Quebec. I was humbled as I realized that that is my country and there is still so much need. A strange and new technique for evangelizing they showed us included dynamite. Yup, one of their alumni was now working with dynamite so they thought that they should blow up an old car with dynamite! There reasoning behind it was that we as Christians ought to have the most fun because we have been given life in abundance! I am just glad that their little dynamite display didn’t end any of their abundant lives.

It’s been a fun couple of days meeting people who are interested in the same things I am and have the same heart towards people that I do.