Out of the Darkness
- Jul 22
- 3 min read
Updated: 22 hours ago
The sun has yet to come up. It’s still dark in the Gichagi slum, but the bustling Ngong community nearby casts enough pale light for Hannah to work quickly, scrubbing the clothing she’s gathered. The lines of her cracked hands trace the story of a mother’s love, of a devotion to make her children’s lives better than her own.
Though it’s still early, Hannah is well into her daily responsibilities. She’s already carried five 40-pound jerry cans of water up the winding Gichagi hills, and that’s just for her laundry clients. She’ll need at least three more to get her family through the day. She goes through her mental checklist: cooking, washing, hygiene, drinking.
Baby Abigail, her youngest, will wake soon. She may need to come along for some of the day’s chores.
Hannah thinks back on these past few years in Gichagi. She remembers following her husband, Solomon, 200 miles from Kisumu. Abigail was not born yet. Makena, her middle child, was strapped to her back, while her oldest, Thomas, toddled in tow. They have come so far.
When the family first arrived in Nairobi, the bright promise of the city lights quickly faded. Solomon’s once-solid masonry work became irregular. Water was hard to come by and, when available, expensive. Food was limited to splitting one small bowl of ugali between the four of them. What would she do if she or Solomon fell sick? Or worse, one of the kids?
Just as the darkness seemed to be closing in, a kind woman showed up at her door with a bag of food.
“Hi, I’m Sarah - I’m a coach at Vapor Ministries,” she said with a smile, handing her a bag of food and pointing down the lane. “The kids don’t have to stay here. They can join the other children at Vapor, where they’ll be cared for, mentored, and taught about Jesus.”
Sarah prayed over the family and shared the gospel.
And that’s when everything changed.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. Isaiah 9:2
Because of your generosity, Vapor provides access to clean water, healthy food, and life-saving medical care to families like Hannah’s who previously had no access to these necessities.
Before long, Hannah began doing small jobs at the Vapor center in exchange for food. When she collects water, she helps launder jerseys and brings home an extra bag of maize flour, rice, and beans. This extra work helps the family afford Thomas's schooling.
Recently, an American family sponsored Makena through Vapor’s Hasmin’s Friends program. She now receives quality education, supplemental food for her family, and essential medical care. At the same time, both Makena and Thomas are being discipled by caring coaches who meet with them week after week, teaching them God’s Word and helping them grow in their relationship with Jesus.
Wringing out the final shirt and hanging it on the line, Hannah finishes her work.
“I’m grateful,” she thinks. “I’m grateful for those who are giving to make a difference through Vapor. I hope they will continue with that same giving spirit that helped me.”
As she stands and wipes her brow, the sun rises, chasing away the darkness. The day will be filled with work, and it will also be filled with hope.
Thanks to you, the light of the gospel, in Word and in deed, is shining on the lives of families just like Hannah's across East Africa, West Africa, and Haiti. Thank you for bringing hope.