We are back from Kenya! This was my first trip to Africa and what a life- changing experience it was. From the beginning, God was a part of every step. I have been blown away by every detail He planned for me, the Give Amore team and every divine appointment he scheduled.
I have loved traveling since I can remember. I've always wanted to see all 50 US states in my lifetime and am well on my way to that. Over the years I have visited a handful of Caribbean and Mexican destinations and eight European countries. Some were vacations, some were educational trips and some were missionary work. Whenever I return, I'm always ready to plan the next trip. But for some reason Africa has never been a desire for me. That was all about to change. I felt God calling me to Kenya with Give Amore founder Christa Horst last year after running into her at a food truck dinner. Our boys new each other from school. She was just an acquaintance at the time, but God had big plans to join us together as a team. Over the next several months I learned all about her ministry with Give Amore, raised funds use while in Kenya, received all the necessary vaccines, collected supplies to distribute, and had my friends over to help organize crafts that I would take over to make with the children.
We said goodbye to our families Monday morning and departed for Austin Bergstrom International Airport. We made the 30-hour trek across the world to Nairobi, Kenya, spent the night there, then continued our journey to Kakamega, Kenya. We arrived Wednesday afternoon with very little hiccups along the way. God was already answering prayers.
We hit the ground running as soon as we arrived and took advantage of every minute we had. I won't bore you the the day to day details, but here are a few of the things that were on our agenda:
• Shop for fabrics for new tote bags in the open air markets
• Love on the children at Cornerstone School through Bible stories, crafts, songs and games. They have no idea the way they made me feel loved on, too, through their own songs, stories, hugs and smiles.
• Visit the newly opened orphanage at Cornerstone Church to find out their needs
• Make a trip to the local Wal-Mart type store to purchase supplies for Saturday's distribution
• Encourage the adult sewing team and technology team with ways to become successful in the business world
• Visit several previously built clean water wells. What a HUGE eye opener for me to see this in person. Before last year, members of one community walked a mile and a half downhill to the river to collect all drinking, cooking and bathing water. Then they walked back uphill with 75 to 100 pounds of water in tow. Kenyan women are STRONG! Now, they are able to collect water from the well just steps from their homes. No more daily hikes to the river. No more typhoid. Still not the convenience of running water we enjoy, but man, what a blessing this well has been to this community
• DISTRIBUTION DAY!
• Church at Ebulechia
• Bless the newest well that was just completed a few weeks prior to our trip
• A Give Amore team building day in the rainforest
• Sewing students graduation!
I have been asked “What was the greatest experience of this trip?” by several people. How do I pick just one? One that stands out is distribution day. Once a month all of the families in the education sponsorship program come to the Give Amore headquarters to receive their monthly food provisions, health checks, and do community together. Here are a few highlights from the day:
• Helping all of the kids make a special Christmas ornament for their sponsors and seeing them get SO excited about glitter!
• Distributing the "Shoes that Grow" to replace old and worn out shoes or even no shoes at all.
• Passing out stickers, painting nails, blowing bubbles.
• Playing Santa and passing out all the generous gifts sponsors sent to their children.
• Watching a certified nurse teach the life saving skills - CPR and the Heimlich.
I would have to say the moment that stuck with me the most from distribution day was spending time with the mamas of each family. They come from villages all around the area so do not necessarily see each other regularly. However, they took time to put together a song of thanksgiving for Christa and me. If you've never heard Kenyan women sing together, you are missing out. It is extraordinary. The love in their voices is breathtaking. Some of the mamas have also come together to begin a food co-op growing crops, raising chickens and selling eggs. They came together because of Give Amore. What would have been impossible by themselves is now a resource that benefits their entire community. The saying rings true: "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime."
Something else that sticks out to me is not one particular experience, but the overall attitude of Kenyans. The simplicity of life and the pureness of heart is overwhelming. We spoke with many many people over the week we were there and had to PRY for information about their struggles. Not one person we spoke with asked for a handout. They were all grateful for what God has given them and thankful for another day to live on this earth. Wow.
What extraordinary lessons I have learned from these beautiful people. I feel blessed I was given the opportunity to help some of them who were hurting and suffering or who were longing to continue their educations. But more importantly, I'm thankful for a change in perspective in my own life. When I am annoyed the laundry is piling up, or stressed I won't get everything on my to-do list completed in time, or exhausted from a day of playing taxi driver mom, I think back to my friends in Kenya and remember their struggles and their obstacles. How mine pale in comparison. I only hope I can instill these same perspectives in my own children's lives and live with more simplicity, more thankfulness and more love.
