Over 300 kids. 300 beautiful faces. 300 sweet and gentle spirits. 300 contagious smiles. 300 broken hearts.
Our
preparation began only three months before we boarded that first plane. I was
nervous and excited, but also not genuinely aware of the heartbreak and joy
that awaited us as we traveled nearly 10,000 miles, to one of the most
indigenous communities of the world.
Our first
few days were spent bonding as a team, coming from strangers and growing into
family. We laughed, told our stories, and got to know one another on a deeper
level. Our first challenge: overcoming
the high anxiety-provoking safari vans.
Sunday
morning, we traveled even further to the outskirts of Kenya, to Rodi Kopany. We
arrived at our hotel and went down to the school to tour, visit, and be with
the older ones who boarded at Achungo. We quickly overcame the language barrier
and from that first day, built strong relationships with the students of
Achungo.
The rest
of the week was completely life-altering. We got to directly experience life
through the eyes of these orphans—life as they know it. I witnessed the
unconditional love and pure joy that characterized their hearts—watching dozens
run up to us foreign strangers and hug us, thirsty for love. Everything we were
exposed to—the poverty, living conditions, the messy childhood that these
vulnerable children have come from—led to something hard, yet incredible and
beautiful. I was thrown out of my comfort zone and comfortable lifestyle that I
was familiar with. I discovered my physical discomforts and limits: my low
tolerance for heat and bugs, and the fact that I am not a morning (or night J) person. Our
appearances were washed down, and we were left with the rawest form of
ourselves. This week was spent being present in the here and now.
Exposing
our true selves led to something unfamiliar, something new: the capacity to get
to know one another on a deeper, more sincere level than what is typical. As we
broke down the walls, we were able to put aside our egocentric, self-centered
view of life and truly look at one another, and the world we live in.
This last
week in Kenya was one of the hardest and most challenging weeks I have ever
experienced. There were several moments when giving up seemed like the easy
choice, and moments where moving forward seemed to be almost impossible.
But, there
were so many moments where God’s presence and joy were so evident and apparent.
It was in those moments that it was all worth it—the struggles and challenges
were far outweighed by all the victories and moments of complete joy.
I watched
as over 300 kids, who have experienced more hurt and more pain than most of us
will ever have to go through, rest in the safety and comfort they found at
Achungo. I watched as 13 of the most loving people put their lives on hold for
a week and gave everything they had to selflessly serve these kids, to ensure
that each child felt loved and valued. I watched my teammates display the love
of Christ in ways I have never seen before. I watched us continue to press on,
even when we were exhausted and wanted to give up.
My heart
is breaking. My heart breaks for the pain that these beautiful children are
holding. My heart breaks for the inconsistency and the lack of love many of
these children receive. My heart breaks for the feeling of helplessness I have
for these children.
But, I am
rejoicing in the joy that these children have. I rejoice in the fact that these
children were loved this week. I pray that as we left, they look back and see
the love of Christ and truly know that they are so deeply loved and treasured
by Him.
This week
I learned the concept of simply “being”. Being here in the present moment –holding
their hands, running around with them, sitting in class learning with them.
This week I was able to put my worries and anxieties aside. The first couple
days were hard with no regular structure or routine, but it soon became the new
normal, and I learned to enjoy it.
This week
is so incredibly difficult to put into words, but the impact of it is
long-lasting. We may be physically, mentally, and emotionally drained, but I
can promise you that we are so spiritually full. My heart has been softened and
grown in ways I never could have imagined, and I pray that the things I learned
are able to come back with me as I integrate them into life at home.
---- from one of the January Team
