World Race culture. Where you’re with people 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Where feedback becomes a normal [almost] every day activity. Where weird and awkward things you’d never do at home are the things that you’re most apt to go to first. And when these things become too much for you to bare, you’ll do almost anything to get away.
Picture this. It’s month seven. You’re in Kenya. Ministry is great, but you find yourself overwhelmed with the amount of things you've volunteered to do. On your off day, you’re determined to have time alone… without any of your World Race peers.
That’s the story of how I got my long hair:
I went to the hair salon. I sat in the chair, and Winnie started to braid long, synthetic, black hair into my fine, short, blonde hair. About an hour in, I started to tear up. I had been thinking about how incredibly stressed I was about random projects, and at that moment, I just wanted to be home. Winnie stopped what she was doing and asked me if my head was hurting. I shook my head “no”. So she came to the front of the chair, bent down, and asked me what was wrong.
Now, putting a weave into my hair should have only taken about three hours. However, when you spend two hours crying and vomiting your emotions onto beauticians that you just met, it takes a little longer. I talked to Winnie and the other ladies in the salon about what I was doing. I explained to them how much I missed my family, and that sometimes, on my Race, didn't have a lot of time to be emotional.
They listened. They cried with me as I told them about the things I have seen. They laughed at the funny stories from my journey. And when I was finished talking, they all embraced me in strange, yet incredibly beautiful hugs. Hugs that I had only ever gotten from my mother. And in that moment, I was home.
Kenya has stolen my heart. From the moment I stepped foot out of the airport I have been welcomed. Driving down to road kids will yell “how are you?” Grown men will wave and smile as you pass by. Hands are extended in a friendly greeting. Chai (tea) is made, hugs are given, and laughs are had. There’s no place like Kenya… There’s no place like home.
