Constantly yelling out “How are
you?”
Humble
Innocence
Lending a hand
Desperately desiring affection
Ready to imitate
Excited to see us
I have learned throughout the course of this trip how
important the innocence of a child is. It is a great tragedy when this is
stolen from them. Throughout this year, we have seen a lot of children who have
been robbed of this, due to a variety of circumstances- poverty, human
trafficking, death. They are forced to act beyond their years and robbed of the
innocence, laughter, and joy that childhood should carry.
you?”
Humble
Innocence
Lending a hand
Desperately desiring affection
Ready to imitate
Excited to see us
Needing love
These are the characteristics of all the children that we
see and encounter each day here in Kenya. We will just be walking down the road
and you’ll hear little voice yelling “How are you??” and there will be no one
in sight..and then you’ll see some little children running out of some houses
all the way across the street- almost out of sight.
see and encounter each day here in Kenya. We will just be walking down the road
and you’ll hear little voice yelling “How are you??” and there will be no one
in sight..and then you’ll see some little children running out of some houses
all the way across the street- almost out of sight.
It is humbling to see how much joy they carry- even when
their clothes are torn and falling off, even when their little bellies are
bloated, even when their hair and eyes are discolored due to malnutrition.
their clothes are torn and falling off, even when their little bellies are
bloated, even when their hair and eyes are discolored due to malnutrition.
I have learned throughout the course of this trip howimportant the innocence of a child is. It is a great tragedy when this is
stolen from them. Throughout this year, we have seen a lot of children who have
been robbed of this, due to a variety of circumstances- poverty, human
trafficking, death. They are forced to act beyond their years and robbed of the
innocence, laughter, and joy that childhood should carry.
The children here are constantly willing to help- willing
to do whatever they can to make your life easier. Last Saturday my team went
and cleaned the church for Sunday morning services. First, we had to go get all
the water and carry it back to the church. A girl from the community randomly
tagged along carrying one of our buckets, helped us fill all of them, and then
carried one back on her head! (I attempted at doing this, but only made it half
way..ha!) Then, as we cleaned and mopped the church, there were kids that
looked like they couldn’t have been more than 3 years old helping us move chairs
around. It was precious.
to do whatever they can to make your life easier. Last Saturday my team went
and cleaned the church for Sunday morning services. First, we had to go get all
the water and carry it back to the church. A girl from the community randomly
tagged along carrying one of our buckets, helped us fill all of them, and then
carried one back on her head! (I attempted at doing this, but only made it half
way..ha!) Then, as we cleaned and mopped the church, there were kids that
looked like they couldn’t have been more than 3 years old helping us move chairs
around. It was precious.
It is amazing what a little handshake or high 5 can do. The
other day I was running and there was a small group of children congregated in
the distance. They all stare at you all the time, because well, we are pretty
much the only white people in this town. (We are known as mzungos, which
translates to “white person.) So, as I ran by I stuck my hand out to give high
5’s. They all swarmed me! They just wanted to touch my hand. And then several
of them started running alongside me for a while, just looking up at me
smiling.
other day I was running and there was a small group of children congregated in
the distance. They all stare at you all the time, because well, we are pretty
much the only white people in this town. (We are known as mzungos, which
translates to “white person.) So, as I ran by I stuck my hand out to give high
5’s. They all swarmed me! They just wanted to touch my hand. And then several
of them started running alongside me for a while, just looking up at me
smiling.
During construction at the church last week, school was
going on inside the main church building and all the kids would come out and
play with us during their breaks. When we would walk up, they all gather around
you, and then imitate exactly what you do. If you say, “Hi, I’m Monica”. They
all reply with “Hi, I’m Monica.” If you say, “Umm touch your nose” and touch
your nose..they reply with “Umm touch your nose” while mimicking th
e same
action. It’s so cute.
going on inside the main church building and all the kids would come out and
play with us during their breaks. When we would walk up, they all gather around
you, and then imitate exactly what you do. If you say, “Hi, I’m Monica”. They
all reply with “Hi, I’m Monica.” If you say, “Umm touch your nose” and touch
your nose..they reply with “Umm touch your nose” while mimicking th
e sameaction. It’s so cute.
These children just want to feel loved more than anything.
They want to feel valued. They want to feel like they matter. They want to know
that you see them and that you want to hold their hand or give them a high 5.
They are in desperate need of love. We come carrying a love- the love of Jesus.
A love that sees their pain, that cries with them, that laughs with them, that
values them, that gives them HOPE.
They want to feel valued. They want to feel like they matter. They want to know
that you see them and that you want to hold their hand or give them a high 5.
They are in desperate need of love. We come carrying a love- the love of Jesus.
A love that sees their pain, that cries with them, that laughs with them, that
values them, that gives them HOPE.
At that time the disciples came
to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a
little child
and had him stand among them. And he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you
change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom
of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.
to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a
little child
and had him stand among them. And he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you
change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom
of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.
-Matthew 18:1-5
