BLOG #9: To See, Hear, and Love Kenya

Dear Friends and Family,

Three more days before the trip! I haven't started packing... yikes! I wanted to share some interesting updates in the past two days:

1) Our team designed our own t-shirts this year, and they just came in! On the front, we wrote "Team Kenya 2010." On the back, we spent several meetings trying to decide what would be the best to print... a verse, a quote, a picture...? In the end, we chose to keep it simple and purposeful, so we decided on: "To See, Hear, and Love Kenya."

2) One of our members (the other Grace) drove to the Kenyan Consulate in Los Angeles on Thursday to make sure that we would get our Visas on time. That's dedication! Well... as she was picking up the Visa's, she shared about our trip with one of the Kenyan officials named Kevin Thuo. She found out that he is from Murang'a, which is another small village we may plan to visit because Pastor Wang'ombe is from there. Anyhow, this is what he said... It's a pretty amazing conversation!

He asked what we were going for and I answered that we'd be working with kids in Kenya and that while we've been connected to a church in Kahawa Sukari, we were planning on going into a village called Murang'a. He was so surprised and said, "I'm from Murang'a!" Then he said, "Can I tell you something? While you are there, in Kenya, please don't give them money. A lot of Americans, they think they are helping by giving money. But my suggestion is just SEE. Just see what they need. They may need money. Then give money. Sometimes they just need someone to listen to their story. So, just LISTEN to them." (I hope you're seeing what I was getting excited about...but i let him finish) He continued, "then, once you've become an important person...or maybe you marry an important person, go. Go back and use your influence to help the people make a difference." As he finished saying that, I showed my excitement and shared with him that our motto for this year's trip was to "see, hear and love kenya"! He was so blown away by that. He asked, "who are you people? what group are you with? that is amazing...that is absolutely right. Let me write it down." and he wrote it down on a business card. Then, he took out another business card and wrote down a phone number. He told me that it was his mother's phone number and that if for any reason, we needed help, she would be the person to contact. "She can help you." Then I asked him what his thoughts were on the possible outcome/reactions to the referendum. "Is there any reason for concern?" I asked. He answered, "Take it from me...there is none." He mentioned that because Kenyans have realized that violence towards each other only hurts themselves, nothing like a big riot would happen.

I don't think it's a coincidence that our motto: "To See, Hear, and Love Kenya" ended up being exactly what Kevin advised for our team! Incidents like this are just wonderful confirmations for our trip and our purpose. I am so excited because I have a definite peace in my heart. This is going to be awesome!!!