The day begins with the sound of birds’ songs and insects’ hum. A rooster crows like clockwork as the sun rises for a new day. I hear the beat of drums in the distance as a reggae type worship song is being played somewhere nearby. Our team is resting, but everyone is healthy and happy.
We have spent the last 4 days in this village of Ilula at the Empowering Lives training center and our time has been rich. We were welcomed (after a 10 hour drive from Safari ) to the village with staff and children from the children’s home singing and dancing, offering formal greetings, handshakes and bouquets of flowers. Natalie was chosen to cut the rope symbolizing our entry. We met Peter Maiyo, our host, and his precious family who we bonded with and shared lots of music with this week (They are a family of musicians as well!)
It had been over a decade since Daniel and I had been here and the compound and community has been transformed. Once a farming community with a stronghold of alcoholism is now a bustling town with many believers, self -sustaining gardens and small businesses, churches and fewer alcoholics. Neighbors know each other well and support in whatever way- a picture of what “loving your neighbor” looks like.
This week we spent much time in local schools. Started by ELIs Kenyan directors, the Teimuge’s, these Christian schools offer excellence of learning and a warm loving environment for students and staff. Orphaned Children from the children’s homes attend these schools. Education code has recently changed requiring creative arts be embedded into curriculum so our timing here seemed divinely orchestrated!!
The managers, headmasters and lead teachers joined us for dinners to discuss the program and on Tuesday we carried over our instruments and supplies to begin our 3 day Arts camp at the primary school.
200 children, sporting their bright red uniforms and wide white smiles, gathered in the dining hall for opening session where the Gluck family band led songs (what a special gift to play music together again!!) taught a scripture verse, (Ephesians 2:10) and Titus shared a message (God’s creativity -day 1, how He made us in His image to be creative-day 2, and to glorify Him with our gifts- day 3.).
Daniel wrote a Swahili greeting song that has become the new favorite here and you can hear children walking to school singing it now!
Every day, each of us ran a different station- rotating the children through creative arts experiences. Then they chose their breakout -“freestyle” as they called it where they specialized in art (taught by Titus), dance (with Chloe), songwriting (with Natalie), drum line (with Joshua) and worship band – (learning instruments with Daniel and Alyssa). We were amazed to see the talents of these students emerge.
The week led to a “Showcase” where the different groups performed and wow! What a show! Natalie’s small group wrote a beautiful song to Psalm 95, Chloe’s large group of energetic dancers danced to “Jireh” and even had a “sur-prise” with scarves, Titus’ artists displayed their amazing water color painted elephants, our worship band of 25 kids were able to play a Swahili worship song (4 kids per keyboard and 5 on the drumset!) One of the highlights was Joshua’s drum line with buckets and shakers who played a tribal type beat infusing energy through the crowd! The hillside church team we partnered with had put together a recap video on the projector- which the kids delighted in because they don’t often see pictures of themselves.
When partnering schools heard of this camp they reached out to ElI and requested we come visit them! So yesterday was a really FULL day- starting with an early morning program at another sister primary school of 800 students, creative arts camp showcase, and in the evening we visited a junior high secondary school for a brief program. We slept WELL!
We are leaving with full hearts and so many memories! “for we are Gods workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which He has prepared in advance for us to do” -Ephesians 2:10
Daniel Gluck 
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