Passion

I write this for two reason. One, I am delighted to be back in the country that sells my favorite drink, Fanta Passion. Second, and the take home message, the passion Kenyan people feel towards their community is contagious.

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Getting here was as smooth as one could hope, and I got to meet some amazing people vastly different from myself along the way. Qatar Airways had the most friendly, accommodating flight attendants I’ve ever encountered! I never get motion sick, but there’s something about being 37,000 ft in the sky for 14.5 hours that makes it inevitable. Praise the good Lord for the expired since 2016 Dramamine that was in my backpack because it was a lifesaver. It’s going to be interesting to see what all I packed that I don’t use at all and what I packed that is going to be crucial. The flight was much easier to get through than expected. I wrote the alphabet about 7 times with my ankles (hey MSMOC fam) and still have the cankles to prove that I spent more time in the air than on the ground over the past two days. When we landed in Doha (and my connecting flight to Nairobi was in the process of boarding already) there was a staff member waiting at the gate to escort us to our plane that was on the runway. After a short 6 hour flight, touching down in Kenya had me on the edge of my seat excited.

*que Africa by Toto*

YES, it was raining. I am here during “rainy season.” I’m glad none of you were there to witness me trying to handle 4 wet rolling luggages, a backpack, and all of my important immigration documents. Those of you who know how clumsy I am would have gotten a great kick out of it. Customs was clearly able to spot that one of my bags was full of donations and began to direct me to another line where I’d then have to pay to import all of my items I was leaving in the country. This luggage case was one of the most selfless gifts, Alice Holland has a heart of gold. Not only did she supply me with the luggage and airfare cost of it, but she collected donations from neighbors and friends and they ALL fit! 50.8 pounds of pure love. I was able to explain to the customs attendant what the items were for. With a smile on her face she said, “I changed my mind. Go on your way and welcome to Kenya. God bless you.“ His handiwork is a beautiful thing to watch unfold.

The warmest welcome, bottle of water, and Kenyan bracelet was provided to me by my new friend, Johnson!

My seatbelt didn’t work and all he said was, “yeahhh when that happens we just say hakuna mata.” We started to get to know each other and he’s been able to teach me very important information and make me feel safe. We went over potential plans for the next few weeks and all the schools and rehab centers he wants me to be able to see while I’m here. School systems work differently here and students are just now coming off a break to start back next week. I’m also learning a thing or two about Africa time and I think I could get used to this concept. One month already doesn’t feel long enough. So I’m here to soak up every single second of it! Johnson‘s favorite football team is Arsenal. Much of the population here associates with being big football fans - not our kind of football. If he were to visit the US, he said his first stop would be Dallas. We split a pizza at midnight and behold, my first Fanta Passion since I was last in Africa 10 years ago. Cheers, mom!

We talked about the cultural differences to expect, and to be honest I couldn't be more excited to adopt Africa‘s laid back way of life. He spoke of Theresia, the woman who would be feeding me 3 meals a day and giving me a bed to sleep on for the next month. I knew she’d be wonderful, but I had no idea how devoted she was to Total Rehab until Johnson started to explain it to me.

Her entire life revolves around keeping the orphanage running. She doesn’t do it out of obligation though. She does it because it is her passion.

I don’t know when this woman sleeps. She‘s constantly going back and forth between Kenyatta Hospital, Total Rehab, and the volunteer center. At Kenyatta Hospital, which I will get to see on Thursday, Jennifer (who I met today) evaluates children to see if they are medically stable enough to be discharged to someone else’s care. She is originally from Michigan but has lived in Kenya for the past 8 years working as a Chaplin at the hospital and visiting the ones terminal cancer in hopes to brighten their day. Jennifer is now working on a documentary to bring awareness to the conditions here for children in hospitals and the process of getting them to homes when they’re ready for it. If and when they are, Teresia plans to take a child in and care for them herself because she knows the kind of attention they deserve and wants to make sure they receive it. She knows to her core that this is her calling from God. I was astounded and all I could muster up to say was, “The world needs more Teresia’s.“ Johnson happily agreed and told me that this is how people in Kenya are. Their lives are led by following their passion.

I am now under the care of Teresia, and she is even more lovely than I imagined! We shared tea together (twice already). I drank plain milk for the first time in at least 20 years and didn’t hate it. I’m learning that to say no to something in this culture is essentially to say, “I do not like your things that you’re providing me.” That’s definitely not the vibe I want to give off. And for someone like me, who loves food, this is an important part of my daily life that will be drastically changed. I am open minded to trying all the things Kenya has to offer to nourish me to do the work I was called here to do. A book I’m reading explains this cultural difference perfectly. It came recommended to me by one of the people who helped best prepare me for this trip - Jared Willis, Pinelake‘s missions pastor.

I said I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and God is answering my prayers already through experiencing the way they drive here, obtaining a SIM card, exchanging currency, and bucket showers (which deserves its own post later). As if driving on the opposite side of the street isn’t enough change, they drive crazy here! Roundabouts everywhere, pedestrians, matatus (cram packed public busses), motorbikes, and regular cars all going in front of each other and no one seems even slightly alarmed. I was warned but I am amazed at how hectic it actually is. Luckily now that I’m in Kasarani, everything is only a 20 minute walk from my homestay. I was greeted by dozens of sweet children peeking from behind corners as I walked my bags up the stairs. I had to stop multiple times to hug and meet these giggly kiddos! It’s awesome to be able to be somewhere on the opposite side of the world, but still feel at home. My family was thoughtful enough to sneak letters into my luggage, which I have found at the most opportune times. I love you all and am thrilled to continue to share this eye opening experience.