Just a quick update to everyone before the morning work picks up. I would like to start off thanking you for your prayers and support. The work here in Nairobi is prolific and challenging. There have been many opportunities to build relationships wether it's with construction workers down the street or the women out of work just outside the compound. Yesterday I ran into Evening (one of the ladies) who started explaining why she needed money. Luckily I was carrying some plumbs at the time and quickly offered them to her. Without much thought she grabbed and continued to ask for money. Thinking about it now makes me laugh. I told her in the end I would pray for her. She shrugged her shoulders and walked away.

A lot has happened since my post on Kibera. I visited Bonfce's church and later invited him and some of his friends over for a New Years party. We cooked for a total of 13 people that night. It is such a joy to know Mr. Bonfce. He's so jovial in his present plight. Most Kenyans in Kibera seem to carry a smile despite their sufferings. Oh, how much we can all learn from Africa.
(I time lapsed the New Years party and will try and post it soon!)


Since the new year has started, so has the work load. When the office opened, my free time closed. I desperately worked hard on organizing footage from a north African trip. Organization is key to an efficient workflow. It serves as the agonizing, yet very important, primer before the real work begins.


So after finishing that project, I moved on to interviewing cast/crew members from our movie, "A Distant Boat". The interviews went wonderfully; however, we did run into power issues along the way. One interview had to be rescheduled after the power went out for half the day! It has been such an amazing experience working on these projects and I thank God so much for the opportunity to do my best here at OFM (On Field Media).

It was wonderful interviewing the cast and crew, but then came the editing. Eight hours of interview footage does take it's toll on the poor editor (me). Two weeks later, the footage was organized. This week I've structured a really-cool-outline, as I call it, on paper. The unspoiled paper was supplied by the Delorinzo who have a knack for keeping things organized. I confess that I did grab some scissors and without telling Mr. Delorinzo, but I returned them later.

Speaking of the Delorinzo family, I apologize for never introducing the OFM team properly. Mike D. is our team coordinator and hyper organized. He's much like a master samurai with tons of skills, especially in writing. Andy, who directed the film, is such a gift. He's a skilled muscian, composer, graphic artist, editor, father (of three I think?), and so much more! Not to mention he has an amazing hair dew (even after he takes of his motorcycle helmet!). Ted, our previous team coordinator (Mike D. took over) just went on furlough back to Texas. He was the Director of Photography for our film and is as solid as a tripod. You can listen to him tell amazing life stories for hours! Bess is basically my sibling, and we can just like it! When we occasionally have our run-ins, she usually wins as she is older than me, but not more than a year! Taylor is a cowboy/ninja as I see it. He owns crazy cool stuff and lets me play with his camera equipment whenever I ask. He's wise and knowledgable and best friend to me. Lately, I've realized that just as he starts talking I start laughing. It's great. Then there are the Thulins who are a new addition to our team and basically have mastered the art of being awesome. I share an office with Josh and we have a plethera of nerd conversations. It has been such a joy to work with this team and already I have learned so much! I'll post a picture of them and you'll see why it's so wonderful to work with them.

It has been a journey full of growing experiences, relationship building, joy, and mourning all mixed together. Kenya has and always will have a special place in my heart. I'm so blessed by the opportunity to come here. Even though the media work may be expensive and require a lot of time, it's reaching so many people!

By media ministry, we're making a break into what people are consuming. That means instead of consuming Hollywood/Bollywood productions (many of which have no meaning and can be very sensual), we're fighting back with the gospel message and encouraging the broken and lost to find God! I may only meet a few people over the span of my life, but media reach out to tons of people. So many missionaries have come by and thanked me for the work OFM has done. I've joined a ministry that has touched many lives already and am so proud to be a part of what God is doing here.

God is awesome! He has enabled me to be here and he is using you too! I will never forget the prayers and support of my fellow brothers, sisters, and councilors in my life. Christ has used you so much already in Africa. There is still tons of work that needs to be done here at OFM. Unfortunately, my support runs out in April this year. I believe God wants to continue to use me here for His purpose and finish a years time commitment on the mission field. I used to have problems asking people for support; however, now I realize that thinking is silly. There is so much awesome work to be done here and I know that if God is behind it, it's where I want to be. For me to stay until August (Max time for a short termer) I will need just over $3000. I know God can raise this for me if he wants me to stay here. Please continue praying and supporting the mission trip!

May God richly bless and shine his countenance on you!

David Hikari Sekiguchi

Distant Boat Website

Wrap Party at Osteria, Karen. (Cast and Crew)

Donate by Paypal or send checks to:

Tomo and Cindy Sekiguchi
30555 Butte Creek Road
Lebanon OR 97355
USA

    I closed and locked the door behind me as I faced toward the wide open city. Confidently, I walked past the guard and through the gates that marked the thin line between a dangerous city and a safe compound. I thanked Francis, the guard, and stepped out into the open. By now my lungs had adjusted to the thick exhaust and honking cars that speed eternally by the busy roads. Feeling rather comfortable in my 3rd world living state, nothing could have prepared me for the culture shock that I was just minutes from embracing.

    Nearly 20 minutes later I met Bonfce and Rueben (from prison ministry) at Nakumatt Prestige (a super market) just off Ngong Road. Smiles and warm welcomes were exchanged as we shook hands. Bonfce’s face lit up like a lantern in the dark. His smile was grateful and his spirit seemed to soar as we walked together. We chatted and walked together leaving the busy street of Ngong behind us. Casual conversations convinced me that a pleasant evening would be in store--how wrong I was.

    The first thing I noticed when I descended the long ramp into Africa’s biggest and worst slum is that the mud is thick and strong. I noticed a stinging odor that entered into my brain and didn't  leave any space to breathe. I noticed that green waters filled with feces that wind their way in intricate patterns through the entire slum. Between the houses they flow making their way down streets and small alleys trying to escape the slum. As I began to soak in the atmosphere, I noticed children are everywhere. There were too many to count. Many walk barefoot or in torn shoes and almost everyone wore tattered clothes and ripped rags. I digested the scene slowly. Barking dogs, playing children, hammers falling on metal, fire licking frying fish, flies desperate for food competing with slum dwellers, torches from welding, carts flying in all directions, axes biting their way into wood, blown out speakers screaming over crowds, and goats joining in on the slum quire. It was chaos.

    After I felt that I could take no more, we arrived at Bonfce’s house. Glad for a small break from the noise, I stepped into what must have been a 250 square foot house. Shocked, I sat next to four people shoulder to shoulder. The tour of that house lasted about a minute. “Here is the kitchen.” Bonfce would say as he pointed to the corner snuggled between two beds. “And this is my stove.” He pointed to a tiny coil suspended above a very small gas canister that lit a flame for cooking. I asked about a refrigerator. My friend threw his head back and bellowed with laughter. He finally answered, “You can’t have a refrigerator in Kibera. If you try and plug it in, it would take more power than the city can supply to the limited number of houses that were lucky enough to have power!”

    I questioned how food could be stored and saved. He replied that many people in Kibera live on a day-to-day basis. It is common to forget breakfast completely, lunch too, and just aim for dinner. There are never any leftovers, and only things that last without refrigeration can survive. Bonfce’s house was one of the few that have electricity--when the city can supply it. Many times the power goes out when a rain storm rolls in, which has been quite frequent since I’ve been here--and we’re in Kenya’s summer. When this happens, not only does the power cut out, but in the slums, the drainage gets blocked and sometime overflows into houses. Feces wreak havoc in these unfortunate homes which only adds to the slum’s sanitary issues.

    We continued our journey and countless stories leaped from the mouths of these people who have lived their life in unimaginable circumstances. For example, post-election violence led to a man being slashed to death next to a rail road. I learned that if you’re caught stealing in certain parts of Kibera you will be burned to death. Then there are the countless teenage girls who have given birth to unwanted children because they were lured into traps by nasty men. I choked and silence fell on the conversation. Finally I asked what the slums most prominent need is. Bonfce replied, “Education.” We discussed empowerment to the people would give hope and establish self-worth. “We need to empower the people. Teach them things that can sustain them. Show them how to save money. Give them skills. Give them hope. Show them that they are cared for,” concluded Bonfce. The journey ended with this thought lingering in my mind.

    It was time for me to say goodbye to my friends. Heart-broken and exhausted, I trudged back to what I call home. Twenty-five minutes later I closed and locked the door behind me feeling that if I locked the door, it would somehow help me forget. Plopping down on the couch, I stared deep into the ceiling. I couldn’t get over what I saw. The sounds reverberated in my mind and choked out the stillness around me. Faces of innocent children flashed in my mind. I saw little fingers pointing up at me accompanied by big round eyes crying, “Mzungu!” which means "white person". I remembered the children’s faces lighting up like fireflies when they saw me. They ran in circles all around. Simply seeing a “white man” brightened their day.

    Since coming here, I’ve appreciated being able to live among such beautiful people. Nairobi is a culture inside itself. The slums are a much harder culture inside the city. I could go on and on; however, I believe I’ve shared enough for the picture to be drawn in your mind. Among the impossible living conditions of slum life, the people persevere. And what’s more, they have smiles to prove they appreciate life. God is at work and doing amazing things in my life. Every day I’m closer to understanding His/my purpose in life. What is more, this is just the beginning...

Moses' church compound

Tap water next to sewage

Bonfce, Ruben, and me

Huge bonfire fueled by garbage