Kenya…
There is something about this place, these people, this culture…
It has my heart.
It has had a big place in my heart ever since I came here three years ago.
I spent six short weeks here that flew by way too quickly… just as the world race is flying by now.
I remember crying on the way to the airport to head home…
It wasn’t time to go home yet.
I wasn’t ready.
All I could think about were the faces of the hundreds of children I had met in those short weeks.
Their smiles.
Their love.
How much God broke my heart for them.
The faces of children who don’t have families… and even if they do have families, the families don’t care for them or don’t have the ability to.
The faces of children needing LOVE.
Honestly, the reason I came on the race at the time I did was because of Africa. By leaving last October, I knew I would get to finish out my last four months in Africa. And while I have loved every country and opportunity leading up to this point, these last four months have been what I have been waiting for.
Children in every country have stolen my heart…
I have always talked about adopting a child form Africa someday, but I now want to adopt children from all over the world.
Kids are what bring my joy.
They are my passion.
The eyes of children longing to know what a family is.
And while I have loved on children all over the world, African children hold a special place.
We have been approached my so many kids over the past seven months, asking for food, money, clothes, milk… And every time I have trouble saying no. Shoot, I even bought 16 bracelets from different children at one time in Cambodia because I could not say no to any of them.
After a few days on being in Kenya, Ryan, Thomas, and I went to stay with Robyn, the lovely lady who hosted me when I was here three years ago.
We went out walking one day to run to the grocery store. Along the way there were many kids asking for money to help with school in some way… either school trips, uniforms… But, you never know if it is legit or not. You don’t really know where the money will go.
We passed two boys named Brain and Charles on that walk. And as we continued walking and talking with them, Brian walked right beside me. He kept asking for food. I was wishing I had some to give him. I couldn’t say no knowing that we were going to get milkshakes, so I said nothing.
(Brian)
There are too many kids needing food in this world. I just walked along looking down at the dirt path as tears formed. Every once in a while I would glace over at those sweet eyes of his.
Finally, I couldn’t do it anymore. With Thomas walking in front of me, and Ryan walking behind me, I turned to Ryan and whispered a… help me… plead.
As I turned, Brian moved up to talk with Thomas. They talked for a while and Thomas told him we would meet him the next day and bring him some sandwiches.
As Brain left us and we continued on, I walked behind the boys trying to get myself back together.
What is it about these kids that they are so different than any other kids I have met along this journey?
Their skin color?
They are just as hungry and beautiful as any of the other kids I have met. But, for some reason, God has placed a special place in my heart for African children.
Who couldn’t love these beautiful smiles…
