Coming Home

15 posted on March 15, 2010

POSTED IN: Blog Posts, Compassion, Kenya Trip

Wow. Was it really less than two weeks ago that I was boarding an airplane for a 23-hour flight to Africa? There are times in my jet-lag-induced stupor where all of it seems surreal. I’ve read the posts I wrote while I was there and it almost seems like someone else wrote them. Maybe someone else did.

Perhaps the person who left two weeks ago didn’t return.

How can I be the same after seeing what I saw in the villages and slums of Kenya? Then again, I suppose that was the point. I honestly thought I had a heart for the poor and broken of this world when I left. If you would have asked me I may have told you, I’m no Mother Theresa but I’ve read the books and I understand the effects of poverty around the world.

And then this trip turned my world upside down.

And all of you got to go on this journey with me.

You cried along with me when I walked through the slums of Mathare and heard Eliud’s story of struggling to survive after losing his sister and both parents as a teenager…

You saw how Caroline learned skills to help her provide for her family and break the cycle of poverty…

You smiled and hummed along when these beautiful children sang with such joy….

You heard Samuel’s story and learned just how important letters are to these sponsored families…

Your hearts melted along with mine when I spent an amazing afternoon with my sponsored child and left a piece of my heart behind…

You joined me on this journey. It would have been easier to not read, to not let your heart be broken by the images and stories. You rejected apathy and embraced transformation. You prayed, you left comments, you sent encouraging emails, and – most importantly – you sponsored hundreds of children.

You could have looked away, but you didn’t.

For that I thank you.

And guess what? This journey isn’t over. It has only just begun. There are so many stories I can’t wait to share with you.

I’ve had a few days to process what I saw and heard on this trip. Perhaps you would like to share as well.

What did you see over the past couple of weeks that changed you? What one snapshot will you carry with you?

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This entry was posted on Monday, March 15th, 2010 at 8:41 am and is filed under Blog Posts, Compassion, Kenya Trip. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

9 Comments

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March 15, 2010

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1 Becky said:

Whenever I read the stories from your trip my tears wont stop flowing. All the bloggers did a great job sharing what you were experiencing. Thank you again for sharing your experience!
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March 15, 2010

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2 JD said:

Witnessing this trip, even from all the way over here in Canada, fueled my passion for Compassion, and encouraged me to press on, press forward, and make changes.

There are so many stories and images I will never forget, but Eliud’s story, his faith displayed on his home’s wall… his words being shared all over the world… I will never forget. Garbage making up the streets of Mathare, I will never forget. The need for change, I will never forget.

It’s not enough to see, it needs to be followed by action. May we all go forward in action for these children.
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March 15, 2010

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3 brandiandboys said:

loved following your journey brad… and truly believe the “journey” for you isn’t over! it’s exciting stuff!
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March 15, 2010

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4 In the Shoes of a camp counselor after Camp Kenya. « Jonesbones5 said:

[...] Hanson – trouble maker camper (just kiddin)Brad – cool camperKristen – the roomate and sweet camperJennifer and Israel -camp [...]
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March 15, 2010

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5 bondChristian said:

I’m not sure which picture in particular. I know following along here has definitely changed my focus and made me aware of some assumptions I’ve had.

I’m still working through all this, really. It’s been a thought-provoking journey for me. I’m still working on a post about it.

-Marshall Jones Jr.
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March 15, 2010

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6 Mike said:

What will stay with me are the images of the children smiling, when, at first glance, there appeared to be little to smile about. Eliud’s story, and his message to his sponsor, broke my heart….but in a good way.

I’m still processing all of this. I know that must sound strange since I wasn’t ‘there’ in Kenya, but it’s true. I’m feeling the same feelings that I felt just after returning to home from Bolivia (Compassion Advocates tour 2008). Everything else seems much less important. My sponsored children have taken on an even greater importance in my life.

THANK YOU! God is SO good!
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March 16, 2010

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7 Mo said:

Africa changes you forever….thats for sure!!!
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March 16, 2010

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8 Shannon Smith said:

This is me…

I honestly thought I had a heart for the poor and broken of this world when I left. If you would have asked me I may have told you, I’m no Mother Theresa but I’ve read the books and I understand the effects of poverty around the world.

I am working to bring clean drinking water to people that don’t have, but I’ve never been there. I’ve never seen it firsthand. I think that I understand, but reading your blog reiterates the fact that I don’t and I probably can’t until I witness it with my own eyes.

Thanks for posting during your trip.
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March 16, 2010

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9 Laura Carney said:

Your trip has changed us. God has used the images and your words to reaffirm to us that the way we live our lives needs to look different than the mainstream American norm. Less excess. More words and actions in sync. We are thankful for the very powerful reminder of what is truly, truly important.