Stories from Kenya

As a junior in college, I began to think about what I would do after graduation. I worked hard to complete my degree in four years and the thought of graduate school overwhelmed me at the time. That spring, I went on a short term mission trip with a college ministry team to Belize. During that week, I felt that God showed me that I had something to offer and I began to pray about serving in missions short term. I contacted a missions agency and began the process of interviewing. My first thought was that I should go to a Spanish speaking country, because I studied Spanish in school. Over the course of several weeks, God literally shut the door on the Spanish speaking countries I was considering, so I was back to square one. That summer, in 2000, I visited my aunt and uncle in Botswana. There, my world was completely rocked after meeting many AIDS orphans and hearing their stories. The missions agency told me that they had just started working with orphans in Kenya and I quickly decided that was where I wanted to go. Spanish wouldn't get me far in Kenya, but I was excited for the opportunity to return to Africa and work with orphans.

The plan was that I was going to serve with another American woman and we would spend several months working in an orphanage in rural Kenya. She had just graduated from high school, and I had just graduated from college. We purchased plane tickets, began raising support, and went through training. A few weeks before our planned departure, we got word that plans were changing. We could not go to the rural area right away and would need to spend some time in Nairobi. The missions agency called a Kenyan pastor in Nairobi and asked if he could help find work for us and a place for us to stay. He told them that we could live with his family and he would find work for us. The pastor was Imbumi Makuku. We arrived in Kenya in August 2001. Pastor Imbumi and his wife Martha welcomed us into their home. They taught us about their country and culture. They listened to us, when we were homesick or needed to process hard things we had seen. They took care of us and encouraged us. They became family.

I had traveled internationally and had seen poverty and difficult things, but nothing had prepared me for serving in the slums of Nairobi. We worked with women who were dying of AIDS. We worked with children who had been severly abused and mistreated. We worked with people who were forgotten and just needed people to hear their stories and love them.

While we were living with the Makukus, Imbumi shared with us that he felt that God was putting it on his heart to plant a church in Kibera. Kibera is the largest slum in Africa and the second largest in the world. It is approximately one square mile and there are nearly 1 million people living there. No paved roads, no running water, no electricity. In the spring of 2002, Imbumi started Kibera Reformed Presbyterian Church. I had the opportunity to spend the summer of 2002 in Kenya and spent much of this time in Kibera with the Makukus. It was amazing to experience this new church, that Imbumi had been thinking and praying about starting while I was living with his family. Over the years, I've been blessed to return to Kenya several times to serve with the Makukus.

Through my time and experiences in Kenya, God has taught me so much about myself, my faith, what it means to serve Him, and God's heart for mercy and justice.

I wanted to share about Kenya for a couple reasons. One, is that the Makuku family is coming to visit this week! I haven't seen them in a couple years and am so excited to have time with them.

Second, I am going to Kenya this summer, with a group from my church to serve with the Makukus in Kibera. I am thrilled to be returning to Kenya, and introducing my church to my Kenya church family, who is so special to me. As I prepare to return to Kenya, and reflect on previous time there, I hope to share more stories about Kenya- about the people and experiences that have inspired me and taught me more about myself and my faith.

"God help us if we are only willing to do what is easy to do. Rather, let us do what God wants done."

-Bob Pierce, World Vision founder

What I'll be watching on March 4

Next Thursday night, March 4, I will be going to see this one-time showing of "Half the Sky Live." If you are in the area and want to join me, let me know. You can find a list of participating theaters here.

Here is a little more about the event from their website:

Half the Sky is inspired by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Nicholas Kristof’s and Sheryl WuDunn’s New York Times bestseller, “Half The Sky,” which follows the stories of extraordinary women around the world as they struggle to overcome oppression. Kristof and WuDunn focus on three major problems facing women – sex trafficking, maternal mortality and violence against women. They argue that empowering women is the key to alleviating poverty and uplifting communities in developing countries.

Also showing at this event will be “Woineshet” a new film about a poor Ethiopian girl who ultimately triumphs over sexual violence and discrimination. As a teenager from a small village in Ethiopia, Woineshet and her family bravely fought against brutal local traditions of rape and forced marriage. The co-directorial debut of Marisa Tomei and Lisa Leone, “Woineshet” is an adaptation of this brave and inspirational true story.

As a wife, as a daughter, as a mother, as a Christian, I think it is so important to be educated about the struggles of others around the world and to ask myself what role I may play in helping bring hope and justice. I hope you can attend this event. If not, I highly recommend Kristof and Wudonn's book "Half the Sky" that this film event is based upon.

My baby

Hudson Musse is doing well. He started doing a couple things recently that melt my heart. One is that he now says "ma-ma." The other is that he gives kisses. He puckers his lips up, leans towards you, and breaths heavily through his nose. He loves to play with his brother and explore. He is still a great eater and one of my friends commented that every time she sees him, his cheeks are more round. He is a sweet, sweet baby and we love him so much.

another photo from Kiera

Ethiopian orphans...on my heart

My heart is full, with having Hudson home and part of our family, after an adoption process that was tough at times (our agency was wonderful and supportive, but we experienced some delays and disappointments that were out of their countrol). But every time I go to Africa and visit orphanages, my heart is broken again.

Adoptions from Ethiopia are increasing. In 2002, 105 children from Ethiopia were adopted to the U.S. In 2009, 2,227 children from Ethiopia were adopted to the U.S. Out of the 143 million orphans in the world, 50% of those are in 8 countries alone (Ethiopia being one of them). I've had people ask me if there is still a need to adopt from Ethiopia, with the increase of the number of families adopting from Ethiopia (which also means that wait times for adoptions has increased). My answer is YES! Even if the number of adoptions from Ethiopia stays steady or increases, there is still a huge need.

In an ideal world, children would be able to stay with the families they were born into, assuming that the family is able to provide a safe and nurturing environment. But unfortunately, because of poverty, high maternal mortality rates, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other social issues, there are many orphans in Ethiopia. So many orphans, that extended families and communities can no longer care for them, making international adoption the next best option for these children.

Please watch this video, made by Children's HopeChest. Look at these faces and allow your heart to be broken for these children too. But I hope you don't stop there. Ask God how He would have you respond. I am a big advocate of adoption, but there are many other ways that you can be involved in caring for orphans.

Ethiopian Orphans from Simon Scionka on Vimeo.

Someone I'll be rooting for in the Olympics

Believe it or not, Ethiopia is participating in the Winter Olympics. Robel Teklemarian is a cross country skiier, who loves skiing and loves his country. From the interviews I have seen with him, he hopes to be an inspiration to others in Ethiopia, that anything is possible, and he hopes that this is just the beginning of Africans competing in the Winter Olympic games.

My favorite 4 year old in the world

Yep, I look at this smile and I melt. Belachew has grown in so many ways this past year. He has transitioned well to the role of big brother. He has his moments-transitions are hard- but he loves being a big brother. He can't wait to see Hudson first thing in the morning when he wakes up. He loves to give Hudson hugs and kisses (in fact, we need to remind him to refrain his physical affection at times). Today, Belachew ran in the door from preschool and couldn't wait to show his brother his Valentine's cards from school. Belachew promises me on a regular basis that he'll still want to snuggle me when he is a big man and he tells me several times a week that I am a sweet lady. He doesn't always obey (surprise!) and we have our struggles, but he is an amazing boy and I am so proud to be his mom.

photo from Kiera