An Interview with Sarah, My Other Medical Assistant

I made my weekly visit to Kibera Reformed Presbyterian Church (KRPC) today.  I took Sarah with me today.  It was her first visit.  As she is a bit more talkative than Ben, I "interviewed" her when we got home to get her impressions of her first visit there.  The following is that interview.

Mission Safari Blog (MS Blog): Where you excited about going today?  Why?

Sarah (SHE): Yes, very much.  I wanted to see all the kids there.

MS Blog: What was your goal for the day when you went into Kibera?

SEH: To help my dad and to make friends with the kids.

MS Blog: What did you do when you were there?

SEH: Mainly I played with the kids.  I handed out stickers.  I read to them.  I colored with them and handed out crayons.  I also helped you (my dad).

MS Blog: What did you read them? 

SEH:  Veggie Tale books on “colors”, “opposites”, and “time”. 

MS Blog: Did they like the books?

SEH: Yes.  They copied (repeated) everything I read them.

MS Blog: What did you do to help your dad?

SEH: I weighed them and measured them before my dad saw them.  I helped them onto the tables.  I talked to them while they were being checked.

MS Blog:  What was the hardest thing about going into Kibera? 

SEH: The hardest thing was the poverty and the smelliness.  It was hard walking over the sewage, ducking under the tin roofs, stepping in trash, and seeing all the poor people.

MS Blog: Were you afraid to go to Kibera?  Why?

SEH:  No.  Because I knew the people were friendly.  But I was a little afraid of the dirtiness.

MS Blog: Was it as bad as you thought it might be?

SEH: No, I had seen some of the pictures before, but it was smellier than I thought it would be.

MS Blog: What was the best part about going to Kibera today?

SEH: Ummm…getting to play with the kids.  They were real happy about everything. 

MS Blog: Did it surprise you that even though they were very poor that they were able to laugh and play with you?

SEH:  Yes.  A lot.  I was very surprised that they seemed happier and nicer than some rich kids I have met. 

MS Blog: Why do you think they were happy?

SEH:  Hmmm.  I don’t know.

MS Blog:  Did you meet anyone that you really liked playing with?

SEH: Yep.  There was this four year old boy.  He had a fun personality.  He was so cute.  He tried to learn as much English as he could.  He thought it was his responsibility to tell me who had stickers or not.

MS Blog: Do you want to go into Kibera again?  Why?

SEH: Yes!  I want to see the kids again. I like helping with the medical stuff. 

MS Blog: Do you think you might want to do medical stuff when you go to college?

SEH: Yes.  Maybe I will be a nurse or something.

MS Blog: What would you tell others that might be afraid to go and work in Kibera?

SEH: Don’t be too afraid even though it doesn’t smell nice because the people there want to be good friends.

MS Blog: How do you think God is making a difference in Kibera?

SEH:  God is using the pastor and church to help feed the kids, school them, and helping them with their health. 

Comments

[tony sheng]

Wow, that is such a great, great interview. So cool to see your kids really involved in your work and giving them opportunities to see God working. Awesome stuff!

[Jean Griggs]

What a wonderful way to give me an insight to your world. Good idea to interview Sarah. This encourages me to show God's love despite differences, even if it stinks.

[Elecia Tucker]

I was so touched by your interview with Sarah. I am a mother of three and sometimes it is so hard for me to show them how really blessed they are...then I read your article and like always God shows me something else...not only the opportunity to share this article with them but to reaffirm for myself how blessed I am. The thought of the joy those children got from having a book read to them touched me beyond words...I want to take them all in and read to them and love them. Thank you.

[Tim]

Very cool. This is why we post our stories. To educate. To inspire. To challenge.

And hey, if you can't come into the slums here and read books, consider doing so in your area. Even in "small town America", there are always kids on the "wrong side of the tracks" who crave attention and would love to have somebody read to them.

Blessings.

Tim

[Alfagreyus]

Hi!
Without taking into account the issue of establishing a stone by God, which he won't be able to pick up, how do you think, may be something in this world, what can God never see?