Let Freedom Ring

Today we danced, we sang, we praised, we joined out hearts for the children of Kenya and we celebrated as one in freedom.

As we sang in church, I felt like this is what heaven is. Every tribe, and every tongue will praise God as one people, binding our hearts and souls together in amazement of how great our God is. Today was a glimpse of heaven at Victory Faith Church in Nairobi, Kenya.

Freedom.free·dom
ˈfrēdəm/Submit
noun
the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.

the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.

What the Lord intended for good, the enemy corrupted, perverted, twisted for evil. Children are in bondage of slavery, of poverty, of disease, of abandonment, of a live sentenced to death. But God comes and sends others to break them out of these strongholds and set them free. Every child in this world needs freedom. Christ can break chains and give the sweetest freedom. I’ve seen children broken from chains, and dance and play in his freedom, the freedom Christ offers us, the freedom that we were all meant to dwell in.

A word that holds so much promise, hope and meaning. A word most people around this world never get to experience. They might not even taste it. Not these children today, they’ve tasted it, they live in it, and they know the Lord is good, and true freedom is found in Him.

Today in Nairobi Kenya we sang in Freedom because that is what God is doing here through Orphan’s Promise projects on the ground who are allowing the children who are apart of them to live in complete freedom. To have a life free of darkness, pain, abuse, or abandonment and enter into a life of freedom, a life found in Christ.

Orphan’s Promise felt lead to start recording CD’s with different projects to give the children they serve a chance to let the world hear their voices. To let their songs be heard throughout the nations. The first CD they recorded was with the children they serve in Ukraine. These children are coming from the gypsy camps which carries so much meaning. These children may have the least ability to share their voices because of the negative stigma they have in society. This was the nation Orphan’s Promise started in, and they called it the Hope Project because they know their projects are spreading and giving hope in a war-torn place.

Then they felt lead to Africa, Kenya in particular. I remember last year when they were setting off to record the album with children who I spent the last two days with, and children in a Maasai Village who I will meet in a few days.

What is AMAZING about this project is that they were able to write the whole album in 2 and a half days! Normally it takes 2 or 3 months to write and produce an album. What I love about this music is it is a real partnership with the children and culture in Kenya. They used Kenyan instruments, wrote in rounds which is common here and allowed the children’s beautiful voices to be heard. From the capital city and the children in a remote Maasai village.

When I heard it played for the first time a song called Holy Fire I got chills and started tearing up. This is the freedom the children are living in, it needs to be heard, and I pray their voices fill our homes and hearts and allows the world to hear their story.

As we sang these praises today I prayed that children all over this continent will sing. That this album will unite the children of Africa so the world can hear their voices and be changed by the power of the holy spirit moving within these songs.

Lora, who works for Orphan’s Promise and is a friend of mine shared something that really touched my heart and is something I feel the need to share. She was on the ground last year recording and writing this album. They needed someone to sing a solo in one of the songs called Holy Fire. Lora felt God tell her that a boy named Samuel needed to sing this solo. Everyone doubted her and questioned her decision, but she was firm in knowing what the Lord had shown her. He did it, and has a passion in music, he knows he is good at singing after struggling in school and questioning himself and his purpose. I thank God Lora listened to his voice. He always has a plan.

I got to see him hear his voice on the CD a year after recording it. The way he smiled was something I don’t think I’ll ever forget. Watching him sing and praise on stage today as the album was released showed me the power of God’s hand on our life. Here is a boy who was brought up from the dust and now has a future, found a purpose and given hope, finding freedom in through it all. 

Today was one of those days where your heart feels like it is going to explode. Over and over and over and over…again.

I encourage anyone reading this to buy The Freedom Project on iTunes today! You will not regret this and will end up listening to it all day. When you purchase this album you are saying yes to freedom. You are saying you care about the children of Kenya and you stand with them. That you have heard their story and their cry and you make a promise to listen and share it with the world.

As I heard and watched them dance in freedom I prayed these songs would be sung around the African continent. That this album would be an anthem for all African children. When you buy this you are standing with the children of Kenya, the children of Africa and the children of this world whose voices need to be heard.

I stand with the children of Kenya, I stand and believe in their freedom, I see it, and I want every children to not only taste it, but live in complete freedom found in Christ.

Let the world hear their voices today!

let freedom ring throughout the nations

2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is the spirit, and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

 

Karibu Kenya. Welcome to Kenya! 

I’m writing from Nairobi, Kenya. This is my second time in East Africa, first time in Kenya. For anyone whose asked or may be curious Kenya is extremely different than Ghana, you may see some things that are similar but African countries are each unique and different and it’s impossible to group them together. Even within one country there’s a mixture of its own cultures, languages and customs. 

I’m here with Orphans Promise which works in over 60 countries seeing some of the projects they sponsor here in Kenya. This is my fourth day in Kenya and I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed my experience and look forward to more of what we will do or see. I actually didn’t expect to like it as much as I have! Who knows what God will do down the road 😉 

Today we visited a project called Mission of Hope which exists in one of the largest slums in Nairobi Kenya. We drove through it today, and saw some thousands of shanty homes shattered all around. The amount of trash in the streets was unbelievable. My words can’t do it justice. I would have included photos to help you visualize but we weren’t advised to be holding phones or cameras anywhere near the window. So for that reason, I have no photos. The three below are ones I found off Google Images to give you a better idea. 

 We passed through what seemed like thousands of shanty homes, that barely seemed to stay straight up. These homes fit anywhere between 4-10 people stretching across 3 generations paying 20 dollars a month rent to basically just have a room. To give you a better idea the school the children go to at Mission of Hope costs 40 dollars a month. Now you can better understand how without the school provided sponsorships the kids would never have a life beyond, or chance st education.

With God nothing is impossible! His plan NEVER fails. 

What that 20 dollars a month rent goes to is just a small tin structure. If they are lucky to even have a bed, they can only fit one inside. Nothing else, no bathroom, plumping or electrity. I can say I felt extremely blessed for everything I have. I never want this to go wasted on me, I never want to overlook or forget the reality of how most people live in this world. And just having the chance to shed a light and share it is a blessing. That these stories can pass through from me typing on an iPhone in Kenya can reach you wherever you are is amazing. Let’s not forget that.

Here is one photo I snapped from inside the school. 

What I admire about the organization we visited today was that it existed in the slums and had a presence about it that felt safe, welcoming and God centered. The couple who started this is a Kenyan couple who visited the slums and left with hearts changed and started asking what more could we do? 

 What started with schooling 50 children to 150 in a small and tight room in the slums to now 15,000 in schools across the slums and other rural villages in Kenya! Isn’t God amazing. What started with a simple yes, moved by compassion and taking one small step of faith had led to this growth and expansion. What I admire is their compassion and vision to see a life outside the slums. This is not a place most people ever want to step foot, or ever desire to do ministry work, yet here they are.

This was a great reminder of how God lays different burdens on our heart so all people groups can be reached. I love seeing what God can do through ordinary people like you and I. It doesn’t even have to start with a plan of action, it just starts with a simple yes. And he’ll take us from there. 

 I was inspired to witness so many lives having the chance of getting an education in hopes of furthering their journeys beyond the slums. 

After we toured one of the schools we drove to another school in a different slum community and had the chance to do an outreach with 400 beautiful and joyous children. These are always my favorite parts of these trips. I met a young girl at the age of 15 named Lucy. She was sitting alone and I felt the Lord moved my heart to speak to her. She ended up singing her favorite song to me. Amazing Grace. Hearing her voice and looking at where she comes from and how she can sing a song with lyrics that can actually describe her life up until this point was a moment I’m not sure I’ll ever forget. We sang together and laughed. I took her photo so I’ll never forget her face. I felt this girl needed prayer and direction, if anyone feels lead to pray for her, please join me. 

I think anyone who may experience a slum community can get overwhelmed by the amount of people living in such horrible condition. So much so that they feel as if there is nothing to do. Mission of Hope is an example that nothing is impossible when you have God in it. This place was built from the ground up in a rough place and God is creating such an impact here in Kenya. I can feel it, I can see the joy and hope in the eyes of the school children. 

I looked around at the masses of people walking through the only place they’ve ever known. I see them. They are significant. They matter. They have stories and voices that aren’t heard, but they matter. 

Two things that stuck out to me today was a quote Terry shared on the bus. 

You don’t have to be seen to be significant. 

This applies to each and every one of us, who feels insignificant if we aren’t “seen.” Whatever that means, if you feel you aren’t noticed or important, I’m here to tell you that God sees you. God hears you. There is only one you, and your life has significance. 

Our culture especially millennials focuses on being seen, recognized or acknowledged. We want to feel significant, so that people notice us and our lives. We fear being or feeling insignificant or lost in this world. Where our worth is based on a social media following, a collection of likes or comments yet the fleeting satisfaction of feeling significant in that moment passes quickly and doesn’t last leaving us wanting more, and more and more. Simply know that God sees you all the time. 

Then Stacey shared this when she was interviewing the founder of the schools we visited. Call them by their names, ask them their names. 

I looked around at the vast number of children living in the slums. The thousands in that school, and wondered about how many outside. How many names and stories existed in those slums. Ones that I’ll never know, but God knows them. He sees them and they are significant. 

And then I saw this bible verse and knew that it was what the Lord would want me to share after such an amazing day in the slums. 

Imagine how much greater God knows OUR names, and calls us each by name. 

Thanks for reading. I’m actually blogging from my phone due to wifi connection on my laptop;) it’s not my favorite way to blog or write but I am so excited to share this experience with y’all! Thanks for coming to Kenya with me 😉 if you have any questions or want to know more please reach out! If there is something in specific you would like to me write about, again reach out! 

 I’ll try to share as much as I can on this trip! So far I’m loving my time in Kenya and can’t wait to see what God has in store for us for the next week 

You ARE loved, 

You are seen,

You are significant.

Dev