Watoto Wote Wazuri

Scenery on the way to the Rift valley

I had another catchy title with an alliteration planned for this post, something to pique the interest of the readers and take them into our planned itinerary in more detail, but I decided that it’s not where I am right now. It’s the holiday season which is certainly joyful in many ways and for me is a time that I stop to appreciate the people I care about and to really let the people I appreciate know that. It’s a time I reflect on my riches and want to share them in different ways whether it be with holiday gifts or the annual donation to the food kitchen or the homeless shelter or just putting something in the red kettle as I walk by. But this year I am also more acutely aware of the sad things in the world– the events in Connecticut, the loss of a family friend, other people’s losses, the death of another grandmother at Nyumbani Village, they seem to be all around. And so I’m a little too heavy-hearted for the catchy title.

I know however that going to Kenya is the perfect antidote, that doing something good for someone else also feeds my soul.  Now that the busyness of the holidays is winding down I can hopefully do some more detailed planning for the specifics of some of the projects that I love to do so much when I am there. I know that the indomitable spirit of the dancing and singing Kenyan women and the broad smiles of the Kenyan children will be magical once again. I have been overwhelmed with how many people have opened their hearts and their wallets with such generosity because I received many donations to help with the work in Kenya. I know that some are still on their way. I think that everyone may be feeling the need to do something good and I hope that through the blog I will be able to convey what a difference your donations will make for the people we work with in Kenya and the depth of their gratitude. I wish everyone could join me there for just a few moments and share in the amazing  connection with the people who speak from their hearts with such authenticity and know the true  feeling of the phrase “tuko pamoja”, we are together. I recall leaving after the second day at Kibera Paper last year and having one of the women say, “though we will be far apart, our hearts will still be together.” That is the Kenyan way.

So I will do my best to let you all know how we are putting those donations to good use and to let you know with my words, photos and occasional videos, the magic of the experience that keeps me going back year after  year, that connects me with people across the globe, and has left those people indelibly in my heart forever. A heartfelt thank you to everyone for your generosity in helping me to spread good will and in some cases, literally help people to survive. John F. Kennedy once said, “One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” Thanks for trying along with me and please know that you have made a true difference in the lives of people whose hardship is difficult to imagine,  but whose gratitude is unforgettable.

Gathering with the children at Nyumbani Village