So, if you have been reading my blog you have read an update
on ministry in our 5 areas… Clean Water, Homes, Women’s Employment, Men’s
Charcoal Project and a Community Center. What you have not read about yet is
another ministry that has been, well… a bit HAIRy.
In the past I have donated my hair to locks of love before
heading to Africa, however I am glad that I didn’t this time… since my long,
straight, blond hair has become a ministry tool of sorts. Every time I go to
the IDP camps I will attract a swarm of children who want to touch or style my
hair. It creates many opportunities to sit and talk to them and build
relationships. A couple of the girls like to drape my hair over their head and
pretend it is their hair.
 
In Kenya, it is common to use the phrase, “You look smart,�
instead of saying, “You look beautiful�. As about 5 kids were pulling and
braiding and twisting my hair in every 
direction, I asked them, “Are you making
me look smart?� Which was responded to with a chorus of “Yes�. One of the kids
wanted to take a picture of my “smart� new hairstyle.
During another re-styling session, I was talking to some
kids while 2 girls were doing my hair. A third girl, Tabitha, grabs my face
with both hands and brings her own face within inches of mind, before firmly
saying, “Your head is very smart!� It took everything within me to keep from
laughing.
