THE GIRL INTERNS

WHY AM I IN KENYA?

When one thinks of coming to Kenya they imagine working with orphans, widows, street kids and the poorest of the poor. Working in a village with dirt roads, mud huts and extreme poverty. Children with ragged clothes and empty eyes. This is the image we hold of being a “missionary”. This is what we WANT to do!

I knew that this trip to Kenya would be different for me. Although I would do all of the above there was something else for me to do with my time here. My main purpose was to help with the internship program and the five young women who were going to be part of it. Being the mother of three boys I was so excited to be able to parent five young women for three months. And I was never disappointed. It is a joy to be part of their lives and to watch them grow in their personal lives, to discover who they are becoming and to watch them learn and react to a county of children who live in poverty they never imagined. As I look back on these last three months I know I will never forget being part of these young women’s lives. It is truly one of the top “experiences” of my life.

Stephanie, you are growing to be such a wonderful and godly young woman. I was able to watch you change before my eyes.

Julia, you learned so so much about yourself and who your are becoming. You worked so hard on the TI videos and yourwork with them is so professional.

Steph, oh gosh, what a delight you were every day. I never knew what you would say but you always said it with a smile.What a blessing to occupy the same space everyday that your joyful soul occupied.

Jennifer, I got to discover who you were without all the “loud” people in your life that you meld with. You are a beautiful young woman and you have no idea the growth you experienced yet. I look forward to being part of your life for a very long time.

Hannah, what an amazing young woman. You gave of yourself until you were exhausted and than gave some more. I look forward to many more times with you and will make an effort to keep you as part of my life even if we don’t live in the same state. All of you enriched my life!!!

I also had the amazing pleasure of spending time with the “white” women who live their lives in Kenya. I have had a burden for these women who gave up their comforts to follow theirs and their husbands’ dreams to live in Africa and make a difference. What an honor to meet with you all once a week and encourage you in the way you are living your lives. We met for Bible Study but is was oh so much more. I treasure our friendships and long to be with you again.

Kenya is always full of surprises and this visit my surprise was the fellow American that God brought my way. I will never forget any one of you.

Because it is another side of Malindi

One day while sitting in a restaurant in Malindi I began to wonder if the Italians who vacation there ever see the other side of Africa. Malindi’s main tourist population is Italian and the locals tell us that they also buy and sale land there. The resort we stayed in was owned by an Italian as well. What would it be like to come and vacation there, flying in and out of Nairobi, getting a taxi, visiting the resorts, the beaches and the fine restaurants in the area but never experiencing a piece of poverty, struggles and hopelessness that surrounds the town. Even the children who beg outside of the resorts seem to be professional. They are dressed nice and have perfected a “wail” when told we will not feed them. I felt somewhat judgmental of the “Italians” until I stepped back and realized every time I get off a Cruise Ship and tour in Mexico or Jamaica I too am missing the essence of what that community is all about. I only see what the locals want me to see. Because we are working with the local people here and are in tune with the reality of this country I was able to see the needs in this tourist community.

Several people in our group felt a pull to explore further and to see if this is an area that TI would like to expand in. And if they did what would that look like? It is exciting to always see what God will have for TI and to be able to sit back and watch things happen. We will see!

Because it is good to visit again

Another trip to visit Ruth’s family and sew in Jua Kali

We ventured again to visit Ruth’s family in Turbo as Daniel did not have the opportunity to visit them on our first trip. I decided I would go alone the day before in order to spend the night in Jua Kali with Sally again. She wanted to learn to piece quilts. Again, there is nothing like sitting in front of her shop and sewing. The children gathered around my sewing machine to be with me and talk and the older people walked by and stared. I don’t know why I get such a kick out of it. Maybe it is because I get to be a white person in a Kenyan’s world. I love being there, chatting with Sally, eating her wonderful Kenyan food and getting to experience village life.

The next day Daniel arrived with one of interns, Hannah and Jared, a staff member and off we went to meet Ruth’s family. Such a delight to be there! Her mother, brother, sister and great grandmother are delightful and going a second time allowed me to process a bit more. It seems I can no longer imagine that Ruth ever lived in Africa and when I realize she did I am beyond grateful she is home with me. It is such a hard life here especially if you live in the village. No water, electricity, stores, transportation. You must walk to get anything you may need and the living conditions are marginal; a mud hut and a fire to cook on. It is so hard to live here. Always hungry and no guarantee there will be food tomorrow or a way to make money. In my eyes it looks hopeless! In their eyes, it is daily life.

Because it is BAD

BAD (Boy Appreciation Day) and Date Night with the girls!!

A few weeks ago the girls decided they wanted to have a day to honor the men on the compound! They decided to put it on the weekly schedule just as BAD and let the boys try to figure out what it was all about. They told them that on Sunday they did not have to do anything but get up between 9:30 and 10:00 and be ready to eat a great breakfast. The day would be planned around anything the guys wanted to do and they did not have to cook or do dishes that day. In the morning the girls had made a sign and put it in the dining room explaining what the day’s schedule was. They made them an amazing breakfast and Scott even said, “this is better then the Nugget buffet”. They were taken out to lunch, sodas were bought for them during the soccer match and dinner was steak, potatoes, vegetables, and a sundae bar for desert. All of the girls wrote each of the men on the compound notes of affirmation and presented to them at breakfast.

The girls decided they wanted to honor the guys because the guys have made them feel special. They have protected the girls, gone the extra mile to always make sure they are safe, have gotten them where they need to go, have insisted the girls always eat first and have made each of the girls feel special. Many of the girls have never experienced men who are willing to act like men and it has changed their perspective on what a man should act like. Some of the girls lives have been forever changed.

Well, in Malindi the guys decided they wanted to honor the girls and do something special for them. They told them in the morning to be dressed up and be ready to go out at 7:00pm and they did not need to bring any money. That day the boys made sure the restaurant would be appropriate they bought them roses and they too got dressed up for the girls. At 7:00 the boys went over to the girls’ house and presented each of the girls with a white rose. They had “tuk tuk’s” waiting at the resort gate and off they went to a wonderful evening of being honored and cared for by the men. Some of these girls have never been on a “Date” such as this and all of the girls felt special.

It has been such an honor for me to be with these young people and watch them care for one another. They have cared for one another without the expectation of anything in return. They are no romances blooming. They simply care for one another and appreciate what the other has done for them. They enjoy spending time together as a large group and have grown very close. They will miss each other desperately when they part but they will never forget the relationships formed while in Kenya.

Because it is good to vacation.

We are in Malindi for a week. All the interns and staff minus Meredith and Sean.  We are staying is a beautiful resort thanks to Julia’s parents and I would say each of us feel like we are experiencing a piece of heaven here. It appears the town is mostly visited by Italians and the resort we are staying is owned by an Italian. We have rented two condos each having two bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen with a fold out couch in the living room. It has an amazing pool that we visit several times a day and a nice little town with a beach within walking distance. We have snorkeled twice since being here. I just can’t believe I have gotten to snorkel in the Indian Ocean!! Amazing!

It has been so nice to see Daniel relaxing, getting a break and enjoying himself. I am not sure he will make it to the United States this year so it is a blessing to get to vacation with him. The interns and staff are also having so much fun and relaxing as well as looking at ministry opportunities. I am excited to see what the future will bring.

On our first snorkel trip I got to experience many of the interns first experience snorkeling. It was delightful. Jared played in the ocean for the first time while here and several of the interns have never had the opportunity to vacation like this. So much delight is in getting to experience people’s “firsts” with them. It is nice to get a chance to rest but all are excited to get back to Kitale and complete their last month in Kenya.

We leave on Monday to return for two days in Nairobi, picking up Michael Bishop, and than onto Kitale. It will be nice to be “home” and back to work.

Pictures will follow when there is a better connection.

It is the rest of the story.

The above pictures are of Lillian and the day we went to pick her and her grandmother up to go visit the orphanage. We went to her home to find her in only a long dirty t-shirt. Her grandmother said Lillian had been waiting every day since we left for us to come back. I had gotten two of the dresses that Diane (thanks Diane) had made and brought them along with a few other clothes purchased in the market. We changed her into a new dress, took her in the village to get her head shaved, and headed with the grandmother to hail a matatu and go for our visit. Lillian held my hand and acted shy most of the trip. When we arrived we went into the sitting room and she and her grandmother were introduced to the house mom and dad. After sitting for a while Lillian began to inch her way to the door. Soon she disappeared out the door and as I checked on her I found her sitting on the wall watching the children in school. When the children were let out for lunch I introduced her to some the the children. When I went to check on her again I could not find her until I went to the back of the compound and found her at the well washing her hands with several other girls. She had ALREADY made friends and was off on her own. I did not see her again until it was time to leave. At this point she was asked if she wanted to go home or stay. Her decision without hesitation was to stay. The grandmother was so happy and so grateful to us for caring for her granddaughter. Lillian is doing so well. She has made many friends and seems to be at home.
I don't understand! I was so worried about her before we took her! I was so worried about the grandmother insisting that she come with us! How is it that a child can be taken from her home and be so happy? Can she truly understand what is going on? All I know is that she is thriving where she now is.

Because it is a tough week.

This week had a few tough days. When coming to Africa everyone has certain expectations of what they will see and experience. This is my 5th trip to Kenya and I am still taken by surprise by this country. Things happen here that would never happen in a developed country. They are horrifying and disturbing. This week I went with Daniel and a few others to look for property to build an Aids home on as well as to expand the Neema (street girl) project. I went because earlier in the week Ann, the TI social worker, mentioned a grandma in a village where we have projects who is dying of aids and has a six year old granddaughter, who also has aids, that has no where to go after the grandmother dies. She has asked us to take her granddaughter, Lillian, into our orphanage. The plan was to go and meet the grandmother and her grandchild. I wanted to go. It had been raining hard that day and we arrived to a very muddy village. We first checked on a widows project that TI manages that has been very successful. I was impressed at the sewing these women were doing. After checking on this project we walked through the small town area to the grandmothers home. As we walked I had this sense of "this is exactly what I thought Africa would be like". If Disneyland had Africaland I am sure it would be exactly like this town area. The small shops, people sitting outside, the muddy road and the children following us and holding my hand. We arrive at the grandmothers home which amounted to a block of "apartments" consisting of one room, a small window and a door. As we entered it felt as if we were entering a dungeon. It was so dark and dingy and the grandmother was very sick. There was no doubt she was dieing. Lillian had followed us to her home and came into the room with us. She wore a coat 10 sizes to large and keep her head down as we talked to the grandmother. Through the social worker the grandmother stated she was afraid what will happen to her granddaughter when she dies. The girl contracted aids from caring for her grandmother. Six years old!! The grandmother was so grateful there was a plan for her granddaughter. I whispered to Daniel, how does the girl feel about it? He had Ann ask her and the girl bowed her head even more and whispered something to Ann. Ann said she said it was fine. FINE!! How can this be fine? She is six! Her grandmother who has raised her since she was 9 months old is dieing!!! She will leave everything she knows and go to a different village and live with 30 children she doesn't know! How can any of this be OK?? I am struggling with this and wondering if there is a "better" way. Eventually Lillian will come into TI's care. It will be the "best" decision when her grandmother dies. But isn't there a better way? A better plan? Why does a 6 year old get aids from caring for her grandmother? So many questions!!

The next day one of our interns, Jennifer, went to the hospital with our social worker. When we did the previous medical clinics some people were referred to the hospital for more care. Jennifer has been interested in the medical aspect of the work done and wanted to experience the hospital. I have been to the hospital, once. I hope to NEVER return. It is horrific!! Two to four to a bed, dead bodies left for hours, stench and hopelessness. I can never come close to accurately describing it. I was concerned for Jennifer but this was something she wanted to experience. When she arrived with Ann and Daniel they checked on several girls who had been admitted the day before. When they arrived at the bed of a 12 year old girl she was dead. They do not know why she died. Her mother was in the room with her and Jennifer went to her mother and hugged her (not a very Kenyan thing to do, but a most compassionate act). I don't know how Jennifer made it through the day but she stayed at the hospital, shadowing Ann in getting medications for others who had come in that day for treatment and waiting for the child's body to be picked up and taken to her village (one calls a person with a pick up truck to come and transport the body). In Kenya, you must buy your own medications, food, IV's, bedding, and medical supplies in order to be treated. If the pharmacy is closed, you wait until the morning. Some die waiting for the pharmacy to open. You share a bed with at least one other person sometimes four people. You have to have someone stay in the hospital with you because you will not eat if someone doesn't provide food for you. I don't understand? How can ANY of this be OK? How can it continue? What is the answer?

Slum Project

We have started a project with six girls from the slums near by. Out of the six girls five of them have babies and the oldest girl is 18 with a 6 year old child. The youngest girl is 13. Last year Lauren started this project and we are continuing it. The girls make the cards and on Fridays we are able to pay them for what they have made. We will bring the cards back to the US and sale them. We are meeting with them three days a week for two hours. Not only will it give them a small about of money, it gives them hope in learning a skill and friendship with the interns here. I am sure I will have many stories to tell about our meeting with these young women.

Because it is the Neema Girls.

Last week when we visited the Neema project we decided to start a project with them. These girls have been rescued off the street or from the potintial of going onto the streets. Upon meeting them they are so sweet and innocent looking. It is hard to believe anything was any different than what they are now.

The project the intern girls decided to start with them was to make cards and jewlery that can be sold both in Africa and in the United States. We wanted to use our first day testing what skills they had in order to know what projects to start. We colored, cut and beaded all of which the girls did very well. The picutures are of the girls beading. Thanks Christopher for the beautiful beads!!

Because it is always nice to have some time alone.

I am sitting in my room, the compound is empty (a rarity), it is raining outside and I can hear the thunder. The birds are still chirping and I know that the water tank is filling.
There is nothing like having a few hours to oneself. There is TRULY nothing like having a few hours to ones self in Africa. It gives me time to rest and to reflect on the past month. It also gives me time to reevaluate my purpose while here. I imagined what it was going to be like when I came to Kenya this year. It is different than any time before. We are staying for three months where we have stayed only one month before. We are here with six interns and three new staff members. We have only been here with Meridith and Daniel before. Meridith is married this year. We had a team of VERY energetic women here for two weeks. Ruth is in America this year. Two of my sons are here long term. We could stay longer if we wanted as my husband is now retired. It is so different.

It is a great day to reflect and reevaluate.

Because it is . . . worth making a child feel beautiful.

I met a woman named Diane at one of our home parties several years ago. Diane loves to sew and began making little girls dresses for Kenyan children for the past couple of years. When I would come to Kenya or when Daniel would return from a visit home Diane would have a stack of colorful and beautiful dresses for us to hand out. Last year when I came I was able to give Veronica a beautiful dress. Veronica had just arrived at the orphanage and had been shy and withdrawn. When I put the dress on her she became alive and happy. I know she felt so beautiful!!!!! It was a true gift for her and probably something she had never had. Veronica died two months ago from Aids after getting the chicken pox. Veronica died knowing she was worth a new beautiful dress.

This past week we were able to distribute some of Diane’s dresses at our children’s home. The girls came alive. When we returned on Saturday for our weekly visit they were dressed in their new clothes and were beaming. They looked so beautiful!!

All the way from Reno, NV Diane is making a difference in children’s lives in Africa! Thank you so much for your contribution!!

Because it is . . . . time to meet the in-laws.

One of the blessings of this past year is that my son Luke married Ruth and I am now the mother of a daughter. I love Ruth as if she were my own and I have so enjoyed the last six months of calling her my daughter. Ruth makes my world brighter and happier.
The odd thing about having a son marry an African woman is that nothing is "normal" in the process. One of those things is having to come to Africa to meet Ruth's family. After driving in a matatu for 1 1/2 hours we arrive at her home village and walk another 45 minutes to her home deep in the village. Her home is located in a beautiful area of Turbo. When we arrived not only was her family there but friends and neighbors. Her friend Sally had arrived the day before to help the family cook.
I am still processing the feelings I had when I came face to face with Ruth's mother. What is she thinking? How does she feel? Is she sad? Happy? Overwhelmed? What does she think about her daughter being half way across the world in a place she can only imagine? As I hugged her I felt an instant bond, we are now sharing a daughter. I promised her I would take care of Ruth and that I would love her forever. This is a promise that will not be hard to keep.
Ruth had sent pictures for the family of her new life. As I looked at them with her mother her mother smiled and seemed delighted. But . . . was she? How can that possible feel for her? Does she wonder if she will ever see her daughter again? Is it enough to know that her daughter is living the African dream? Probably!!!
I am still processing the day. It may take days or months. It may even take years! I am grateful to have another piece of understanding more about my new daughter.

Ruth's mom and great grandmother

Sister and baby

The home

Ruth's mom and I

IN STEP

We went to visit In Step this week. This is a home for abandoned babies and there are currently 68 babies there. Jeff and Carla run this ministry and are doing an amazing job. It is well run, clean, efficient and the children are healthy and happy. They have “aunts” who help care for the children, do laundry, clean and cook. It is amazing.

For those of you who know me well you know my weakness for babies. I have been wanting to visit this home for a year and I was thrilled when the day came to go. We drove up and in the front yard were all of the children and babies playing. Imagine the sight, 68 babies and toddlers playing happily in the front yard. I immediately found the youngest baby (8 weeks old) and held him most of the day. I was in heaven. Carla showed us the house and the property and told the most amazing stories on how God has blessed them and provided for all of their needs.

I wonder, what motivates a middle aged couple to take on the huge responsibility of providing care to 68 children? When most couples this age are looking forward to retiring and “doing nothing” this couple is looking forward to the next baby that will come into their home. I am humbled!!

Babies In Kenya

A couple of days ago the girls and I walked four doors down from the TI compound to visit a project that has 19 babies at it. This is what I have been looking forward to and couldn't wait. We were greeted so warmly by the staff and by Naomi who is from England and runs the program. We sat and held babies and talk to Naomi for a few hours. I got to hold baby Lillian the entire time. (I know, I don't share well).
As I looked at these 19 beautiful and happy children, I wondered what had become of their mothers. These children had been abandoned to strangers or worse to die. Did their mothers think of them? Wonder where they were? Long for them? Where are they now? I am saddened and confused by it all. As a mother I don't understand. Did their mom's abandon them in hopes for a better future for these babies? Or did they not want the responsibilty of having to feed and care for their child?