We’ve been in Kenya for over a week and if there’s been a theme for the trip, other than being flexible, it’s a reminder to stay humble.
It’s easy, tempting even, to feel like we’re Americans sweeping in to save the day. We arrive in a new white van with fancy clothes and phones. We bring bags loaded down with gifts including that fancy white van we arrived in.
Don’t get me wrong, the gifts are awesome. The van allows the kids an extra hour of sleep each night and more time in the evening for homework and play time. It keeps them safe. It’s crazy to think about a 2 mile walk to school potentially being life threatening, but for the kids it is. We brought them clothes, shoes, gifts from sponsor families and games. And they were SO grateful. It made our hearts happy to be able to bless them with those things.
But that’s not what it’s about.
It’s about building relationships with the children and house parents. It’s about loving on kids who, for a variety or reasons, can’t live at home. Some of these kids have families that are unable to provide for them. Some of the kids were orphaned when their parents died from AIDS. Some of the kids were dumped in a field like an unwanted pet and found safety & love at the children’s home. All of these children were saved from being sold into the sex trade because homes like this one exist. All of these kids get to hear about Jesus because of homes like this.
That’s what it’s about.
I went on a walk with Kyle Mann and one of the house parents to check out the baboons and explore a little of the Kenyan jungle. While on our walk, which was simply amazing, we were talking about how much we loved seeing so many smiling faces in Kenya. We said that they have the best, most joyful smiles. The house parent was confused and asked if we don’t smile in our country. Kyle then said that often, our normal face is a frown face. It was a funny conversation, but it struck me and left me thinking for awhile.
We brought them gifts. Awesome, much appreciated gifts. But maybe they gave us the greatest gift of all: joy.
So we were reminded to stay humble, because while we might have more things, they have more of what’s important.