These past two days, we have been blessed with the chance to travel to Turkana County to meet with a few MOHI schools. Turkana County is a more rural and traditional area than Nairobi. There are less businesses and more areas without electricity or running water. It has a hot, dry temperature that allows very little vegetation to grow, like a desert. Some of the people in Turkana are more likely to speak their tribal language than Swahili or English, which caused some language barriers at times but we often had someone nearby who could interpret.
On Friday 2/23, we began the voyage early around 4am to prepare to catch our flight with Skyward Express. The flight was about an hour and a half and we landed in Lodwar. Once we arrived in Turkana, we were able to take the MOHI bus to MOHI’s Turkana High School. While at the Turkana High School, we were greeted with students who sang to us and they provided us with a welcome breakfast. After breakfast, we were able to tour Turkana’s MTTI (MOHI Technical Training Institute/ Skills Center) location, where they presented gifts, and we ate cake together with the MTTI students. It was such a joyous and unexpected welcome, which warmed my soul.
After visiting Turkana High School, we voyaged to MOHI’s Napuu Center which houses younger students who would typically be in grades kindergarten until 8th grade. Napuu greeted us with a full concert which involved a variety of dances and songs. It was beyond what I could have anticipated. There was even a teachers’ chorus group that performed as well. The concert was followed by a tour of the school and lunch with sponsored students. There were a plethora of events that occurred on that day but the event that warmed my heart the most was being able to meet with my friend’s sponsored student named Jescah. This is the first time I have ever had the opportunity to meet with a sponsor student and I am so grateful to my friend for allowing me to have been a part of that experience.
I think going into the experience, I had some nervous feelings; but as soon as I started interacting with Jescah those melted away. I sat with Jescah and we went through the gift bag that my friend had sent for her. There was exchanged laughter while I explained to her how to use her new yoyo and her new lip gloss. I wish you could have seen how Jescah’s eyes lit up when she saw her new jump rope. She was filled with joy and wanted to get out and practice with it right then and there. We proceeded to walk outside and she was able to try out her jump rope. I was able to take some pictures to share with my friend so she could be a part of the excitement even though she was not present. There were some communication barriers at times, and towards the middle of our time together; a social worker, named Samuel, was able to join us and act as a translator. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Jescah and being able to make that close connection even though it was our first interaction. It led me to seriously consider seeing which students at MOHI are in need that I could sponsor in the near future. Many team members were able to spend time with children we sponsor and it was beautiful and heartwarming!
After the visit with Napuu, our mission trip group facilitated a Women’s Conference for the mothers and grandmothers of our Turkana sponsored students. It was a beautiful ceremony put together by members of our team that included: signing worship songs, creating some crafts together, a powerful speech, some amazing snacks, hand massages, moments of prayer, and a gift bag. Words cannot describe the beautiful energy in the room or the gratitude those women shared. I feel so blessed to have witnessed those moments. But the most beautiful moment of all was being able to meet Jescah’s mother and grandmother. I think the strongest part about the interaction was how welcoming and kind they were to me. I had just met their daughter/granddaughter an hour prior, and they were eager to welcome me. Her mother gave me the biggest hug and asked for me to come over so we could take a picture together. The fact that this woman could be so loving on an initial interaction just propels me more to want to be a part of the experience of sponsoring a student. I was thinking about sponsoring a child earlier that day but having that interaction solidified my decision. After meeting with Jescah’s family, I was able to meet with her social worker; who was just as lovely and welcoming as her mother and grandmother. It was amazing to be brought in and feel so right at home with people I just met. The hospitality is unmatched by anything I have ever experienced and our whole team has felt that way and been very impacted by that. I am truly grateful for that experience; and I look forward to being able to sponsor a MOHI student in the near future. The team really enjoyed this time and it was very clear that we often do not need to speak the same language to communicate love and care to others.
On Saturday we had the opportunity to host a conference for 9th grade girls from Turkana High School at the hotel where we were staying.The theme for the day was "Living a Life of Courage." We had 74 energetic girls who participated in games, a craft, worship, a certificate ceremony, swimming and multiple influential speeches about academics and career planning and the stories God writes in our lives. It was geared towards helping the students explore goals for their future and how to make their goals more attainable. A meaningful activity was allowing time for the students to write a letter to their future selves about their goals, exploring what is important to them, and why it is important to them. It was so moving to see how excited and engaged the students were in completing this activity and it showed how motivated and hopeful they are for their future, which makes me excited to see how they will accomplish their goals.
We flew back to Nairobi Sunday morning and then enjoyed time Sunday afternoon shopping for ingredients that some of the team needed for cooking and baking at the skills center this week (fun to experience the grocery store) and then we had a beautiful time of worship, prayer, and sharing at Coram Deo, where we are staying.
We are very thankful for the opportunity to be in Kenya, to partner with MOHI, and to see the many ways in which God is at work.
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