During my time in Kenya I worked and stayed with an organization called Glory Shiners. This is a Christian couple from the US that moved here to make a difference for the kingdom. They had connections however with other like minded ministries that we were able to help out with.
Most of my time was spent at a home for young girls who had been sexually abused or assaulted, gotten pregnant and chosen to keep the baby. Now in this culture that is not something that is widely accepted. Because of this chose to keep their babies many were shunned from their families or communities and sent to the home for refuge. An incredible couple from the UK started this safe haven that they now call the Bee Hive. It has expanded to fill two entire homes and have full time staff to help teach and support the girls as well as a counselor and advocate. Alan and Jane are still incredibly active in spending time with the girls and the babies, going to doctors appointments, cooking, eating, playing games, and having weekly movie nights along with them.
My role in the home was simple. It was to be present in the home, love the girls, and to just support them in any way that I could. Now this looked many different ways over the month I spent there. One of the first things I was able to do was share my testimony with them. I was able to connect with many of them through that and come in on an even playing field.
My first day was spent at the clinic with a few of the moms and their babies. One of the moms was at school however so I had the important job of holding her little baby boy during out time there. It was the sweetest!
We painted nails many times during the month. Sometimes with a different color on each finger!
They taught me how to make chapati from scratch (which is much like a tortilla, but much tastier). This led to a few burned fingers, and a few more burned chapati, some messes from flour being thrown, and bursts of laughter that made our abs hurt. During much of our chapati making time each week was filled with worship songs. It was truly such an incredible time to sit next to these young women, some of which who had been through more than I could ever imagine and just lift their arms and voices to the same God that I serve. Every time it just continued to amaze and humble me.
We shared many meals with the girls and their babies. Helping prepare the meals and trying all the local foods was so much fun. At times I amazed them with my skills but it more so turned into them laughing at how I would do things!
There were many afternoons of playing games. We often got very competitive in janga, learned some new card games from the girls, taught them spoons and uno (which came with a whole new kind of belly laughing) and even left some bare patches in the front yard from our intense playing of some game Jane and Alan had taught them from the UK involving a big paddle and ball!
Some afternoons I was invited to take walks with the toddler age kids around the block while the moms helped make lunch. This included lots of little hand holding and singing.
While the babies took a nap after lunch the oldest little boy J would practice his letter and numbers to prepare for going to school the next year. This provided a lesson in patience for me and also included may simple joys.
I spent one afternoon teaching the girls yoga, and yet again sharing MANY laughs!
Watched a few of them get ready for their first days back to school!!! Praise God for this place and giving them the ability to finish their schooling!
As a special treat before we left we were able to take the sweet girl to a near by pool and swim and play with them.
Oh and there was a TON of baby holding!!! ALL MONTH LONG!
