Stories, thanksgiving, and walking alongside..................

There are a few common themes that I have found winding themselves through this entire trip....the importance/sacredness of people's stories, the thankfulness of the Kenyan people, that everything really boils down to peace work, and the profound difference it makes when we are 'walking alongside' of others. Other themes have also arisen........cultural traditions and how they can alienate various ethnic groups from individuals in their own group as well as from those from other ethnic groups, how the lack of basic needs/poverty makes people of all ages extremely vulnerable, how complex and difficult it is for a society/culture to change.

Walking alongside!
Canadian Learning Tour and Lari Peace staff

Hope and dispair held in tension.........Here in Kenya our presence as a team of Canadians and the support of MCC somehow helps to keep the balance weighing more heavily on the hope side............

Hope.......necessary for emotional health and to have a vision for the future!

Hope, the basis of encouragement and the reason we do what we do.........to gain hope, to hold hope, to 'mutually' share hope, and at times to openly reach out and give hope to the hopeless............

1 Peter 3:15 "...But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect....."

Hope for Kenya - the next generation!

This verse is lived out by our staff and partners here! It is both an encouragement and a challenge for me. I am so encouraged by the hope and depth of spirit that the front line staff here in Kenya have, but it is also a challenge for me.........the challenge being-living this as easily as they appear to...........am I always ready to give a reason for the hope that is in me?

I have been having a difficult time blogging about our HIV/AIDS work. It is an excellent program and we have really wonderful staff.........the issue is not our program or our program staff......it is me. Some of the issues of women felt pretty close to home for me - different but similar none the less! Today I feel renewed........I was reminded by a friend last night of my own words....."Seeds of discouragement cannont grow in a grateful heart." I had forgotten how much I have to be grateful for.............

Thankfully, today is a new day and I am feeling renewed..........renewed by thanksgiving, renewed by someone walking alongside me, renewed by my Heavenly Father, renewed by the stories of hope I have heard in the last 2 weeks.

Well, I will now try to finish my blog about the HIV/AIDS work of MCC..........this has helped me put things into perspective!

Thanks for taking this journey with me. I appreciate your support and that you are 'walking alongside' me!