Kenya

On May 13, 2007 John and I traveled to Kenya, Africa with a group of students and faculty from Baylor. I still can't believe it was over 2 years ago. It was John's second time to go and my first time and our first time together. It was an incredibly life changing trip and one that I will never forget. I was asked to write something for a Service Journal that our department does and I reflected back on our time there. I've been thinking about Africa a lot lately and thought I would put my words from the journal here.



“How are you?” This phrase is one that I frequently heard as our team drove or walked through the streets of Nairobi. Children would often run to meet us shouting these words. Typically, we responded, "I'm well. How are you?" The inquisitive children would giggle and once again ask, "How are you?" This was one of the only phrases they knew in English and would repeat it several times. Their excitement was infectious. Spending time with children who smile when they have no reason to smile as they desired to be held brought tears to my eyes. They only wanted attention, love and safety. Talking with women of faith who were refugees from Sudan about the hope they now have after they left that place was enlightening.



Most of my life service to me meant doing physical labor such as building a house for a family in Mexico, or painting a house or doing yard work for an elderly couple. Service took on a whole new meaning when I traveled to Kenya in May of 2007 with a group of Baylor students, faculty and staff.



I remember feeling overwhelmed looking out over Mathare, the second largest slum in Kenya, and knowing about a million people live there in poverty. What was I going to do to help? What we were there to do that day was simple. We went to the supermarket as a group to purchase flour, sugar, rice, and cooking oil in bulk.





We took this food to the Good Samaritan Children's Home and Rehabilitation Centre, a children's home in the Mathare Slum area. Wayo Wayo (a traveling song and dance group from Nairobi) went with us, and some of their friends guided us through the slum on foot.





Again, we were left speechless by the sights we saw. The children's home cares for about 220 children ages 1 year to 18. Their main objective is to promote the welfare of children in especially difficult circumstances and AIDS orphans in the Mathare Valley. We found this place to be a ray of hope in a very dark place, and we felt the work being done by the workers is actually making a significant difference in the lives of the children.



In spite of this, their facilities are less than adequate; the second floor did not have a roof. We were there to give them food and play and love on the children. They had created a playground using trash. The biggest attraction was the old tire. The kids would run, jump on the tire and do a flip and land on a cushion of trash. This kept them entertained for about an hour. They only wanted attention.



They loved when we would cheer for them and encourage them about how high they could jump. When we left that place we were changed. Yes, we had gone there to do “mission work” with orphan children in hopes to somewhat change their life, but my life was also changed. We were not the same.



After returning from Kenya I realized that service is about providing someone with what they need wherever they are in their life whether it is tangible or intangible. We live in a world where we constantly feel like we have to do but with these kids all they only needed was for us to be there and love them and hold them. We provided food for them to help fill their tummies for a couple weeks but we also loved them. We spent time with them and played with them. It is important that we see the needs of others and try to fulfill those needs. We don’t have to build a house. Maybe all we need to do is love.