Kenya Team
Reflections & Experiences
Jennifer Boucher
Pre Trip: As the days count down closer to our departure, the trip to Kenya has shifted from an idea of something that God had called me into and become something that is actually and imminently happening. That shift comes with some anxieties and worry over the unknown, but also an excitement and an appreciation for how God is already moving in the midst of our group. Teenagers are taking on tasks and stepping into leadership roles. Relationships and connections have been forming in our team as we have met together to prepare. I participated in Day Camp last week and saw the kids learning about life in Kenya and the programs UPPC has been involved with for decades. I was filled with an appreciation of the cross-cultural connection that was happening and I'm excited to now travel to Kenya, to learn from them and to share with children there about the kids (and adults!) here who are thinking of and praying for them. We filmed our kids singing the theme song and will teach it to Kenyan kids on our trip. These children that live continents apart will have a small connection and shared experience. I pray that they will feel God's love through our actions as UPPC ambassadors and bridge builders.
Ava Kuntz
Pre Trip: I am excited to go to Kenya, because I will be able to see kids from different schools, and how they live. I will also help kids with their daily activities and chores. We will see how feeding programs supported by the church benefit the kids. We are traveling by bus to two different cities. I’m so excited to learn about their Kenyan culture, and eat at local people’s homes. At the end of this EPIC adventure, we get to go on a safari!
This is why I’m excited for Kenya!
This is why I’m excited for Kenya!
Julianne Bishop
Pre Trip: As we prepare to leave for Kenya in a few days, I'm feeling an abundance of excitement and a little nervousness as we prepare for this trip. More than anything, I'm looking forward to spending time with our Kenyan friends and developing relationships with them. While I have a few nerves about navigating my food allergies and staying healthy, I feel well prepared and trust that God will provide what I need. Above all, I am praying that God would prepare my heart for this journey and help me approach each day with openness, trusting Him to teach me what He wants me to learn.
As I think about what I'm hoping for, I'm trying not to hold onto specific expectations. Instead, I'm praying that God would give me an openness to see where He is already at work and a willingness to be changed by what He wants to teach me. I hope to leave with a greater appreciation for the ways God is already at work in Kenya and a heart that has been shaped by what He has invited me to experience.
As I think about what I'm hoping for, I'm trying not to hold onto specific expectations. Instead, I'm praying that God would give me an openness to see where He is already at work and a willingness to be changed by what He wants to teach me. I hope to leave with a greater appreciation for the ways God is already at work in Kenya and a heart that has been shaped by what He has invited me to experience.
Gideon Bosh
“Mwiti’s your middle name?”
Every time a friend learns of my middle name they laugh- “What kind of name is that?” my friends tell me. But to me, Mwiti is a very honorable name. You see, when I was still in my mom’s stomach my mom went to a country in East Africa for a ministry trip. This nation is Kenya, and she was visiting the Meru District. The Meru people called my mom Mama Mwiti, which in their local language means Mama of a Traveler, referencing the little baby that she was pregnant with. So naturally, a few months later when I was born back in the States, they made my middle name Mwiti, exactly what the Meru people had named me, giving me a piece of Kenya. When I was 7 years old, I was first able to visit the place where my name comes from and see many of the people that named me. At 7, I failed in large part, though, to grasp why and how my mom came to serve the people of Meru. I played soccer right along with kids my age from the area, but couldn’t conceptualize the deep inequalities in the world, or my privilege compared to the rest of the world.
August 3
If I had to describe this trip in one phrase, it would be “Money can’t buy happiness.” Why? Because I have seen many people full of joy on this trip who have next to nothing. For example, the Maasai people in Laikipia county, who are nomadic herders and live in tiny clay huts, living in meager conditions at best, yet greeted us with exuberant joy and excitement, and were very eager to meet us. They showed me that although they had very little, it didn’t matter because they were extremely happy. A simple porridge mixture for the kids’ school lunch program got the village giddier than a kid on Christmas!
Another example of this is talking to the students at Nyweri Primary School. The kids’ soccer balls were very worn, so we donated a few to the school. It didn’t cost much for us to supply these kids with these balls, but their joy was priceless. It was as if we had given them a million dollars, showing how you can’t pay someone to be happy, but instead shows us that we should be grateful for all the small blessings in your life, a lesson I have learned from the people of Kenya.
August 4
As I travel through Kenya and introduce myself as Mwiti the connections with the locals have become very real. One of our drivers for example, shares the Kimeru name of Mwiti with me, something he found extraordinary and I was able to share the beautiful story of my middle name. Additionally, a teacher at one of the schools wouldn’t leave my side and wanted to know all about me after hearing my name is Mwiti, for apparently that his brother’s name too. Many people have also been confused when I introduce myself as Mwiti. A young man I talked to at a dinner named Douglas was entirely confused to learn of a mzungu (the Swhalli name for “westerner”) who identified with a name of the Meru people. It sparked a conversation and helped break stereotypes of what a mzungu is like, for he assumed that a white person like me would be stuck up and not wanting to have conversation, while instead I answered his thousands of questions he had about America, got his number and made sure he knew I’d love to host him in the USA if he gets the chance. In essence, my name has created a deep connection between me and the people here in Kenya, something very lifegiving as people are able to relate and are able to connect past the giant mzungu label that can be very unsettling.
Every time a friend learns of my middle name they laugh- “What kind of name is that?” my friends tell me. But to me, Mwiti is a very honorable name. You see, when I was still in my mom’s stomach my mom went to a country in East Africa for a ministry trip. This nation is Kenya, and she was visiting the Meru District. The Meru people called my mom Mama Mwiti, which in their local language means Mama of a Traveler, referencing the little baby that she was pregnant with. So naturally, a few months later when I was born back in the States, they made my middle name Mwiti, exactly what the Meru people had named me, giving me a piece of Kenya. When I was 7 years old, I was first able to visit the place where my name comes from and see many of the people that named me. At 7, I failed in large part, though, to grasp why and how my mom came to serve the people of Meru. I played soccer right along with kids my age from the area, but couldn’t conceptualize the deep inequalities in the world, or my privilege compared to the rest of the world.
August 3
If I had to describe this trip in one phrase, it would be “Money can’t buy happiness.” Why? Because I have seen many people full of joy on this trip who have next to nothing. For example, the Maasai people in Laikipia county, who are nomadic herders and live in tiny clay huts, living in meager conditions at best, yet greeted us with exuberant joy and excitement, and were very eager to meet us. They showed me that although they had very little, it didn’t matter because they were extremely happy. A simple porridge mixture for the kids’ school lunch program got the village giddier than a kid on Christmas!
Another example of this is talking to the students at Nyweri Primary School. The kids’ soccer balls were very worn, so we donated a few to the school. It didn’t cost much for us to supply these kids with these balls, but their joy was priceless. It was as if we had given them a million dollars, showing how you can’t pay someone to be happy, but instead shows us that we should be grateful for all the small blessings in your life, a lesson I have learned from the people of Kenya.
August 4
As I travel through Kenya and introduce myself as Mwiti the connections with the locals have become very real. One of our drivers for example, shares the Kimeru name of Mwiti with me, something he found extraordinary and I was able to share the beautiful story of my middle name. Additionally, a teacher at one of the schools wouldn’t leave my side and wanted to know all about me after hearing my name is Mwiti, for apparently that his brother’s name too. Many people have also been confused when I introduce myself as Mwiti. A young man I talked to at a dinner named Douglas was entirely confused to learn of a mzungu (the Swhalli name for “westerner”) who identified with a name of the Meru people. It sparked a conversation and helped break stereotypes of what a mzungu is like, for he assumed that a white person like me would be stuck up and not wanting to have conversation, while instead I answered his thousands of questions he had about America, got his number and made sure he knew I’d love to host him in the USA if he gets the chance. In essence, my name has created a deep connection between me and the people here in Kenya, something very lifegiving as people are able to relate and are able to connect past the giant mzungu label that can be very unsettling.
Teya Kelly
I want to be back in Kenya right now! I don’t want to leave and have my memories fade and to have this love for a place that is nothing like, but everything like home escape me. I want to be the new person I became around those who knew so much joy, joy I witnessed and tried to show. I tried new things, I danced with tribes and children and waiters. I led worship every day praising the Lord with my friends, children, students, and church members. I learned the stories of the starved and the impoverished and how they have overcome their hard times. Their challenges I can’t even begin to understand! The beatings, the starving, the deaths. The fact that this is normal is hard to comprehend, but the fact that people with such hard lives find joy in the hardest of times is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed. I’ve stripped every piece of knowledge of humanity I had and it’s been replaced with this newfound hope in people. I left my country with no faith in humanity, fear of people, an acceptance we were ruining this world with our greed. But if the people I met can love their lives with dirt and stick homes no taller than me and have such gratefulness for the one meal they get a day… Then maybe just maybe, there’s a chance for humanity. Maybe there’s a possibility of our greed turning into giving, our dreams turning into actions, and our fears turning into hope.
Marty Kelly
I have been asked to share my reflections on my trip to Kenya. This is a long reflection as it dates back almost 30 years, so bear with me. Stories of Kenya have been shared with me since 1999 when my dear friend and college housemate Emily Bosh returned from her life changing study abroad semester in Kenya. She shared stories, food, music, a Luhya tribal dance, and a passion for the diverse people she met and the culture she immersed herself in. Seeing the impact this made on her life ignited something within me that has flickered on ever since.
A few years later when we became young adult members at UPPC, Emily of course dove right in to the Cherish ministry and became an active participant. And once again she was able to travel to Kenya. After visiting that time Emily came back with more stories to share, painting a picture of this lovely woman named Esther who loved children in ways that I do, bringing me back a batik that now hangs in my house, and connecting our church home to the Kenyan home that holds a very important place in her heart.
Early on, I decided to join my small group in sponsoring a young boy named Patrick, and later when my own girls were young my family sponsored a young girl named Catherine (who has since graduated from high school). A few years ago, I had the honor of meeting some wonderful men and women who were visiting from Kenya giving me my first incarnate experience with Cherish Ministry beyond sending letters back and forth with sponsored students. And while I would have loved to go on a trip with UPPC on one of the 4 times Emily went, my own life circumstances (mainly caregiving for my medically fragile daughter) just did not free me up to be gone for over two weeks.
Last year Emily was planning a 2025 trip to Kenya and I was thinking it was time for me to go, but for many reasons the trip did not pan out and the extra year gave me time and courage to plan and prepare to be overseas for over two weeks… to sweeten the deal my 18 year old daughter who has read letters from Catherine as she grew up wanted to not only join me in the travels, but also sponsor an older child whose family circumstances were making it difficult for her to remain in school. It was important to Teya (my own daughter) that we sponsor an older child who is less likely to be sponsored. God had big plans for Teya and I when we decided to sponsor Vivian that very special 16 year old girl from Meru, Kenya.
The picture I had of the Cherish Ministry at UPPC prior to boarding our flight to Nairobi in July painted for me about 10% of what this ministry actually provides. I even stood on the stage at UPPC’s day camp just weeks ago asking for support and prayers for our travel team and the Watoto Ministry with very little idea of what was in store for us. Here is now how I see our Cherish ministry…
We have individuals here at UPPC with hearts wanting to make a difference in the lives of children in Kenya so they either sponsor a child providing them with funds to attend and complete school or donate money to the Watoto feeding program that currently feeds children at a school in Meru, Kenya or several schools in Laikipia, Kenya- an extremely impoverished area where conditions are extremely difficult (families of 6-7) living in a hut of straw and cow dung and a dirt floor, no bigger than some of the play houses in our American backyards.
Then we have the Kenyan ministry leaders (good friends and family of UPPC members Josephine and Peter Mburugu) with some of their own time and resources and a heart to see their communities flourish and thrive. They have a strong desire to lift family and community burdens by offering school funding and meals, perhaps the only meal a child will eat that day. On the ground in Kenya, these men and women of the utmost integrity, connect our UPPC funds along with some of their own, and accomplish some incredibly transformational work in the Meru and Laikipia communities.
While Cherish has a focus on children the impact is on the entire community… this is what I learned most in my time in Kenya. We met two adults who were sponsored as children, who are now educators in the local schools. Both adults had very difficult childhoods between not knowing if or where their next meal would come from to not always knowing if they would have a safe place to lay their head at night… abuse was also a part of their childhood. These two individuals are now able to financially support themselves and their families, are spurring on the next generation and empowering the current sponsored children to not let their sponsors down and to complete their education no matter how difficult their life experience is, and to enrich the community they are a part of. They shared how the local ministry leaders (the Hope Guardians, board members in Kenya) came alongside them in their youth, often giving of their time and resources, at times offering them a safe place to stay, and even providing a shoulder to cry on.
We learned that the Watoto ministry that feeds all the children at several needy schools (many in Laikipia and one in Meru) has a far-reaching impact. These once very impoverished schools have greatly improved their reputations… higher test scores, high levels of attendance, and teachers --actually teach, because children have full bellies and can now learn. Health clinics nearby the schools have reported lower levels of illness in these communities. Adults who used to be home at lunch time to serve their children in the middle of the day now can work or go to market because they know their children are getting lunch and care at school all day long… Families who can only provide 1 meal a day now have children eating two meals a day! Seeing this great impact has also impacted the hearts of the adults in the community…some are giving time and serving school lunches and teachers who see the partnership between UPPC and the Kenyan ministry leaders are inspired to give back to the children as well, where and when they can. In Meru, parents still contribute 20% towards the feeding program but teachers at times will help parents make up the difference. In Laikipia, with food being provided at lunch, staff have put their extra efforts into setting aside land next to some of the schools to educate the children in the community on how to use the resource of land to plant, care for, and feed their family….skills these nomadic villages currently are lacking and need to be self-sustaining. The money donated to the Watoto program is not a hand out…it is a gift impowering the community to use their own time, talents, and resources to further improve the lives of their village. They are healthier, more productive, and finding ways to flourish even in devastatingly difficult circumstances. The work of this ministry is transformational to the lives of people living in Kenya …God put on full display for our team how community can come together and lift one another up and help each other flourish.
Traveling with my daughter Teya was a tremendous gift to me as well. It was Teya that helped our family choose to sponsor 16 year old Vivian. And while I never met Patrick or Catherine, Teya and I were blessed with 3 days in a row of visiting with Vivian, her mother, and her sweet 17 year old cousin, Martha (who is also sponsored). Vivian and Martha spent time both at seminar and at Church on Sunday sharing stories and connecting with Teya…teenagers have a beautiful way of connecting across cultures and we learned these ladies attend school all day until 5:30 and spend their evenings studying, and after church were headed home to study even though they are on their 3 week vacation from school…they work hard in order to achieve their dreams of one day being a lawyer and a surgeon! If you got to know these young ladies you would quickly understand that they will stop at nothing to make their dreams reality. We met Vivian’s mother at church on Sunday and at her home on Monday and received hugs and a welcome that easily crossed the language barrier between us. To meet Vivian was to witness God at work…Me, a mother in America balancing a very complex life offering what resources I can offer (as my time and talents these past 30 years were maxed out at home and work)…and the hand of God taking these resources across the world to Hope Guardians in Meru to impact the life of this young girl…who can continue her dream to be a surgeon….to impact the community she lives in, and to bring her mother security --to know her little girl is going to be able to care for herself when she is gone-- and then to watch my own daughter witness the great beauty of God’s work in Meru, …for Teya to witness hope in the lives of people who have such incredibly hard lives and arrive home and say, “I had almost lost my hope in humanity, but the Kenyan people have given me such great hope!” is a remarkable thing to witness as a mother. Our trip to Kenya has transformed my faith, my daughter’s faith, taught me so much about God’s gift of community, and last but not least given me a special group of multi-generational travel companions to come home with that mean the world to me…I am beyond blessed and can’t wait to continue sharing stories with my church community.
A few years later when we became young adult members at UPPC, Emily of course dove right in to the Cherish ministry and became an active participant. And once again she was able to travel to Kenya. After visiting that time Emily came back with more stories to share, painting a picture of this lovely woman named Esther who loved children in ways that I do, bringing me back a batik that now hangs in my house, and connecting our church home to the Kenyan home that holds a very important place in her heart.
Early on, I decided to join my small group in sponsoring a young boy named Patrick, and later when my own girls were young my family sponsored a young girl named Catherine (who has since graduated from high school). A few years ago, I had the honor of meeting some wonderful men and women who were visiting from Kenya giving me my first incarnate experience with Cherish Ministry beyond sending letters back and forth with sponsored students. And while I would have loved to go on a trip with UPPC on one of the 4 times Emily went, my own life circumstances (mainly caregiving for my medically fragile daughter) just did not free me up to be gone for over two weeks.
Last year Emily was planning a 2025 trip to Kenya and I was thinking it was time for me to go, but for many reasons the trip did not pan out and the extra year gave me time and courage to plan and prepare to be overseas for over two weeks… to sweeten the deal my 18 year old daughter who has read letters from Catherine as she grew up wanted to not only join me in the travels, but also sponsor an older child whose family circumstances were making it difficult for her to remain in school. It was important to Teya (my own daughter) that we sponsor an older child who is less likely to be sponsored. God had big plans for Teya and I when we decided to sponsor Vivian that very special 16 year old girl from Meru, Kenya.
The picture I had of the Cherish Ministry at UPPC prior to boarding our flight to Nairobi in July painted for me about 10% of what this ministry actually provides. I even stood on the stage at UPPC’s day camp just weeks ago asking for support and prayers for our travel team and the Watoto Ministry with very little idea of what was in store for us. Here is now how I see our Cherish ministry…
We have individuals here at UPPC with hearts wanting to make a difference in the lives of children in Kenya so they either sponsor a child providing them with funds to attend and complete school or donate money to the Watoto feeding program that currently feeds children at a school in Meru, Kenya or several schools in Laikipia, Kenya- an extremely impoverished area where conditions are extremely difficult (families of 6-7) living in a hut of straw and cow dung and a dirt floor, no bigger than some of the play houses in our American backyards.
Then we have the Kenyan ministry leaders (good friends and family of UPPC members Josephine and Peter Mburugu) with some of their own time and resources and a heart to see their communities flourish and thrive. They have a strong desire to lift family and community burdens by offering school funding and meals, perhaps the only meal a child will eat that day. On the ground in Kenya, these men and women of the utmost integrity, connect our UPPC funds along with some of their own, and accomplish some incredibly transformational work in the Meru and Laikipia communities.
While Cherish has a focus on children the impact is on the entire community… this is what I learned most in my time in Kenya. We met two adults who were sponsored as children, who are now educators in the local schools. Both adults had very difficult childhoods between not knowing if or where their next meal would come from to not always knowing if they would have a safe place to lay their head at night… abuse was also a part of their childhood. These two individuals are now able to financially support themselves and their families, are spurring on the next generation and empowering the current sponsored children to not let their sponsors down and to complete their education no matter how difficult their life experience is, and to enrich the community they are a part of. They shared how the local ministry leaders (the Hope Guardians, board members in Kenya) came alongside them in their youth, often giving of their time and resources, at times offering them a safe place to stay, and even providing a shoulder to cry on.
We learned that the Watoto ministry that feeds all the children at several needy schools (many in Laikipia and one in Meru) has a far-reaching impact. These once very impoverished schools have greatly improved their reputations… higher test scores, high levels of attendance, and teachers --actually teach, because children have full bellies and can now learn. Health clinics nearby the schools have reported lower levels of illness in these communities. Adults who used to be home at lunch time to serve their children in the middle of the day now can work or go to market because they know their children are getting lunch and care at school all day long… Families who can only provide 1 meal a day now have children eating two meals a day! Seeing this great impact has also impacted the hearts of the adults in the community…some are giving time and serving school lunches and teachers who see the partnership between UPPC and the Kenyan ministry leaders are inspired to give back to the children as well, where and when they can. In Meru, parents still contribute 20% towards the feeding program but teachers at times will help parents make up the difference. In Laikipia, with food being provided at lunch, staff have put their extra efforts into setting aside land next to some of the schools to educate the children in the community on how to use the resource of land to plant, care for, and feed their family….skills these nomadic villages currently are lacking and need to be self-sustaining. The money donated to the Watoto program is not a hand out…it is a gift impowering the community to use their own time, talents, and resources to further improve the lives of their village. They are healthier, more productive, and finding ways to flourish even in devastatingly difficult circumstances. The work of this ministry is transformational to the lives of people living in Kenya …God put on full display for our team how community can come together and lift one another up and help each other flourish.
Traveling with my daughter Teya was a tremendous gift to me as well. It was Teya that helped our family choose to sponsor 16 year old Vivian. And while I never met Patrick or Catherine, Teya and I were blessed with 3 days in a row of visiting with Vivian, her mother, and her sweet 17 year old cousin, Martha (who is also sponsored). Vivian and Martha spent time both at seminar and at Church on Sunday sharing stories and connecting with Teya…teenagers have a beautiful way of connecting across cultures and we learned these ladies attend school all day until 5:30 and spend their evenings studying, and after church were headed home to study even though they are on their 3 week vacation from school…they work hard in order to achieve their dreams of one day being a lawyer and a surgeon! If you got to know these young ladies you would quickly understand that they will stop at nothing to make their dreams reality. We met Vivian’s mother at church on Sunday and at her home on Monday and received hugs and a welcome that easily crossed the language barrier between us. To meet Vivian was to witness God at work…Me, a mother in America balancing a very complex life offering what resources I can offer (as my time and talents these past 30 years were maxed out at home and work)…and the hand of God taking these resources across the world to Hope Guardians in Meru to impact the life of this young girl…who can continue her dream to be a surgeon….to impact the community she lives in, and to bring her mother security --to know her little girl is going to be able to care for herself when she is gone-- and then to watch my own daughter witness the great beauty of God’s work in Meru, …for Teya to witness hope in the lives of people who have such incredibly hard lives and arrive home and say, “I had almost lost my hope in humanity, but the Kenyan people have given me such great hope!” is a remarkable thing to witness as a mother. Our trip to Kenya has transformed my faith, my daughter’s faith, taught me so much about God’s gift of community, and last but not least given me a special group of multi-generational travel companions to come home with that mean the world to me…I am beyond blessed and can’t wait to continue sharing stories with my church community.
DAY 1 | Nairobi
Today was our day to get adjusted and wait for the arrival of the last two members of our team. We were up early for devotion, worship, and orientation. Then we were off to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. This sanctuary supports orphaned elephants until they can be reintroduced to the wild. We had an incredible up close view of a zebra and a rhino and a small herd of baby elephants. The zebra and rhino were rescued around the same time and have become good buddies despite being different species. Just as God calls us to love our neighbor despite our differences, these two showed us how being open to those different from us can create beautiful friendships. Elephants are very smart and social animals. They stick together. When one is in danger, the entire herd circles around to protect the vulnerable amidst them. Even these young ones rescued from different areas showed us how important community and supporting one other is in God's Kingdom. We then headed to the Giraffe Centre where we learned about and got to feed the endangered Rothschild Giraffes. There were also wild wart hogs who enter the property. The two have a cooperative relationship in the wild. The warthogs help clean up the area and giraffes warn the warthogs of incoming predators. They both attract the same bird that removes parasite ticks from each other. Just as God intended, working together as one body of Christ. We finished the day with dinner at Isaiah and Rose's house with their family, including a brand new grandchild. While the adults caught up, Ava had a blast with the older grandchildren who taught her to ride a bike. Milestone moment learned in Kenya! And our entire team officially arrived by bedtime.
DAY 2 | Laikipia and Mr Koome
We left bright and early to head to Laikipia to learn more and meet recipients of our Wototo Ministry and the fortified porridge. Our students at VBS raised money along with us for this program. We meet up with Mr Koome at the Tree House restaurant where we got to visit with some monkeys, including 2 moms with babies. Then we headed out on some extremely bumpy roads. Our drivers told us it's the free Kenyan massage. On our way to the school, a group of children stopped us on the road. They wanted to show us their homes before heading to the school. We were greeted with singing and dancing and the biggest smiles. They grabbed our hands and had us join the dance. We had a quick peek at their homes. The homes were very small huts made of mud, cow dung, and sticks. There were surprisingly cool in the Kenyan afternoon sun. The girls were so proud of their humble abodes and so grateful for UPPC sponsoring the fortified porridge. We bumped along the road to the school where all the kids were eagerly waiting our arrival on their last day of school before a one month break. They had entertainment planned for us. Two different grades performed a song and dance for us. They had Jenny, Teya, and Allison join the first group. The second group pulled in Jenny again ( they must have been able to tell that she's a dancer and drama teacher), Ava, Gideon, Pastor Tina, Julianne, and Mr Koome. The kids all said thank you to us, we presented them with soccer balls, and pastor Tina prayed a blessing over all the children. We toured a classroom with some kids. They we so excited to show us the words on the wall they were learning. We reluctantly were pulled away from playing with the kids, but were rewarded outside the school kitchen by an explanation of the porridge feeding program and sustainable gardens. The heads of many local schools expressed their appreciation for UPPC's commitment to the program and stories from their individual schools. Each learner (as they call their students), gets a cup of a high protein, high fat, high calorie, vitamin and mineral enhanced porridge every day they attend school. For many of the learners, this it's the only meal they get. Total student enrollment for the schools have all increased. They've also seen the attendance of those enrolled improve as learners don't want to miss a day of school and their porridge. Siblings even bring younger than preschool aged siblings with them to school to recieve a meal. Full communities are transformed. With better nutrition, the kids learn better and have more energy. One school had a public nurse visit. After the program started, the number of sick visits to the medical clinic decreased dramatically. Mr Koome wanted to make the program more sustainable. They started gardens. They teach the children about planting corn, beans, and potatoes. Since the families have historically been nomadic, many hadn't ever seen crops fully grow. Not only are the children learning the skill, many are taking back their new knowledge and sharing it with older siblings and parents. The crops increase the food supply for the learners. One school has already built a burrhole and have pumps run by solar power to irrigate their crops as well as the nearby school. Others are looking for funding for similar water sources. We attempted to visit a second school, but because we'd spent too long at the first school, we ran out of time. We ended with dinner at Mr Koome's house along with some of the heads of all the schools in the area and some local government officials. We all had some interesting conversations about the schools there, cultural differences and school structure in the US. Many bonds were created with our team and those helping learners get nutrition.
DAY 3 | Meru Town
Today we moved from Laikipia to Meru town. The drive around Mt Kenya was beautiful. We even saw a different kind of monkey from the ones we saw yesterday, and a whole troop of Baboons. We crossed the equator (again, we did that yesterday in Laikipia)
We went to a primary school in Meru where UPPC sponsors a feeding program. Instead of fortified porridge, this school makes a meal: usually rice, a stew and some fruit. UPPC donates 80% and the parents pay 20%. Similar to the Laikipia program, the learners are healthier with better attendance, enrollment has increase, and the kids have more energy and learn better. But the ripple effect has changed the entire community. Since their children are fed, parents can work longer hours to provide for their family. The education level of the community is increased thru generational improved learning and education. Even the teachers have been inspired to be more generous to students in need because of the example of giving by UPPC and the effect that kindness has had on the community. Teachers will chip in to cover the parent's portion of meals or help with supplies for the families who can't afford it. The head mistress said witnessing the generosity of UPPC and the impact on their students have changed the lives and perspective of her and her teachers. Cooperation and working together were words used over and over as each person spoke. The stories of how the entire community has succeeded after starting the program of a simple free lunch were incredible. The little things can have a big impact. We had lunch with the teachers with the same meal the kids had. Josephine's father and brother joined us. After, we presented each child with a bracelet. They were over the moon with excitement, wanting to show off their bracelet. The teachers then brought out the soccer balls we donated. It was pandemonium of sheer joy and excitement! It was hard for us to leave the kids. We did one quick home visit to check on Dorothy. She has cerebal palsy and is essentially home bound. When we arrived, she greeted us at the door with the biggest, most beautiful smile. She loves to knit. Josephine gave her caregiver money to buy yarn in town. Josephine will return to collect what she made and sell it to help Dorothy earn an income. We headed back to meet with the Hope Team to plan our seminars tomorrow. Little known fact: our very own Josephine Mburugu went to school at that exact school we visited.
We went to a primary school in Meru where UPPC sponsors a feeding program. Instead of fortified porridge, this school makes a meal: usually rice, a stew and some fruit. UPPC donates 80% and the parents pay 20%. Similar to the Laikipia program, the learners are healthier with better attendance, enrollment has increase, and the kids have more energy and learn better. But the ripple effect has changed the entire community. Since their children are fed, parents can work longer hours to provide for their family. The education level of the community is increased thru generational improved learning and education. Even the teachers have been inspired to be more generous to students in need because of the example of giving by UPPC and the effect that kindness has had on the community. Teachers will chip in to cover the parent's portion of meals or help with supplies for the families who can't afford it. The head mistress said witnessing the generosity of UPPC and the impact on their students have changed the lives and perspective of her and her teachers. Cooperation and working together were words used over and over as each person spoke. The stories of how the entire community has succeeded after starting the program of a simple free lunch were incredible. The little things can have a big impact. We had lunch with the teachers with the same meal the kids had. Josephine's father and brother joined us. After, we presented each child with a bracelet. They were over the moon with excitement, wanting to show off their bracelet. The teachers then brought out the soccer balls we donated. It was pandemonium of sheer joy and excitement! It was hard for us to leave the kids. We did one quick home visit to check on Dorothy. She has cerebal palsy and is essentially home bound. When we arrived, she greeted us at the door with the biggest, most beautiful smile. She loves to knit. Josephine gave her caregiver money to buy yarn in town. Josephine will return to collect what she made and sell it to help Dorothy earn an income. We headed back to meet with the Hope Team to plan our seminars tomorrow. Little known fact: our very own Josephine Mburugu went to school at that exact school we visited.
DAY 4 | Hope Students
We woke to some very Washington weather... cool and misty. Today we meet with the Hope team and all the UPPC sponsored students. I was surprised at the number we sponsor. They were about 145 students from various schools in the area. We had a great day meeting with all the Hope kids. There were introductions, a message from Pastor Elijah, and 2 alumni of the program spoke. They each told their powerful stories of how sponsorship and God changed their lives and how both are now successful teachers giving back to learners like themselves. We then broke the kids up into younger and older learners. The young ones went with our teens and some of the adults to play games about communication, cooperation, and problem solving, to do crafts, and learn a song and dance ("Alleleluia" the same song UPCC VBS learned). Anji, Candice, Pastor Tina, and Jenny took the teens to talk about pregnancy, hiv/aids, stds, self respect, sexual boundaries, consent, body autonomy, and healthy relationships. There were more teens than we expected (about 75). After talking about consent, relationship boundaries, and respecting our own bodies, they submitted questions for us to answer. They asked some really deep, personal, intimate, difficult questions. It was an honor to be trusted as unknown American visitors with such sensitive questions. They were all really engaged. After our groups, those of us on the team who sponsor a child got to meet them in person. It was an incredibly special experience. We all had lunch together and visited. Then the kids wrote letters to their sponsor and we passed out letters we brought from the sponsors in Washington. Each student got a bracelet. There were also cards made by the Vacation Bible School kids who also raised money for the Wototo project (feeding programs). There was tea, more visiting, playing and farewells. It was a fun and busy day, but we were all exhausted.
DAY 5 | Church
Today we had the blessing of attending Peter's church in Karugwa. It's the church Peter and Josephine were married in: Karugwa Methodist Church. We arrived as Sunday school for the kids was finishing. Our teens were invited to visit the Sunday school. They all had tea after. For service, we were honored to sit in the front rows. The service was a beautiful blend of Kenyans and UPPC members, leading in English and Swahili. Gideon read scripture : Luke 11. Teya, Adahlia and Allison led a song. The youth, the men's choir and women's choir each sang. The youth choir invited our teens to join. They did amazing singing along in Swahili. Peter participated in the men's choir. It was fun to see him light up in his element. When it was time for the children's choir, our kids taught and lead them in Alleluia (the same they taught the Hope kids). It was a big hit! Emily prayed along with their pastor for the world, the community, families, those in need, the sick and the hurting. Pastor Tina preached and Josephine translated. The offering was amazing. Some brought money. Other brought goods, like bananas, eggs, corn, avocados, arrowroot, and even 3 live chickens. After the offerings were blessed, they auctioned off the goods. The money raised went into the offering fund. You could bid for yourself, or bid and gift your winning to someone else. A lot of our team was gifted winnings. The best was Adahlia getting a live chicken. Since she won't have room in her carry on, she in turn gifted it to the local pastor. We gave him a ride home in our vans. He hopped in with his briefcase and 2 live chickens. After service, the church served us tea and lunch. The kids hung out outside with the local kids while the grown ups talked with the pastor and other church leaders. It was an incredible, spirit filled experience. The entire service lasted about 4 hours, but was interactive and engaging. Despite being from different continents, speaking different languages, we were one body of Christ. We honored the same a Lord our God, hand in hand, heart in heart.
DAY 6 | Hope Ministries
This morning, our leaders (Josephine, Peter, Pastor Tina, Julianne and Emily) all meet with the leaders of Hope ministries for a business meeting to discuss budget, needs, legal requirements, future plans, etc. The rest of us were glad to have a morning to sleep in. Later in the morning those of us not in the meeting went on a sight seeing tour of Meru by one of our drivers who is from Merutown. We all meet for lunch after the meeting was over. Then a group of us went to do a couple home visits. We visited Candice's sponsored student Whitney and her mom. They were so exited to show us their home. They live in a little compound with grandma, grandpa, two aunties and their families. They all came out to meet us. The family had graciously set out fruit for us. She has saved every card, letter, postcard and picture I've ever sent her. I was able to gift her some things too big to mail that were all Pacific Northwest themed along with some school supplies. It was such a powerful, meaningful meeting neither of us will forget. Pastor Tina prayed for her family and then Whitney gave us all the most beautiful blessing. Then we stopped by Samuel who the Boucher family sponsors. He is such a kind, brilliant, humble young man. Jennifer and Allison were glowing with love and excitement talking with him and giving him a gift. His mom and little sisters were there as well. Everyone was so appreciative. Some neighbor kids were also so excited to see us, they started changing "mzungu" with such joy and excitement. Ask a trip member what that means or look it up. After, we all headed up to Josephine's dad's place for dinner. They showed us around the farm where Josephine grew up, complete with cows, avocado trees, macadamia nut trees and coffee plants. They graciously served us a wonderful dinner as we visited with her family. Everyone here is so gracious, welcoming, and hospitable.
DAY 7 | Home Visits & Tea
Our last full day in Meru. We stopped first at the Imeti Tea Factory: the premiere processor in Meru. They weren't processing that day so we got a behind the scenes tour of how tea leaves are dried, activated and cut and packaged. No pictures were allowed to protect their process. After, we headed to Esther's mom's house for lunch. Along the way, we stopped to visit 2 sponsored students and their parents at the farm they work. As always, nearby relatives and friends popped in to see the excitement. Both siblings and their parents were filled with gratitude. They even sent us with a bag of vegetables from their garden. When we arrived for lunch, her mom Mary, who is 101 years old, and one of her brothers, Timothy, met us. He showed is through his farm including a baby cow, mom and sibling cow, goats, sheep, and rabbits. Ava had intense conversations with them all mooing and baaing. We had a wonderful lunch after tea and I iappetizers of fresh avocados off the tree and fruit. After lunch we went out to their tea fields and they taught us to pick tea. Her brother said we we all to slow. Julianne got a video of got l how incredibly Timothy picked. After we did some processing together and had more tea. Then it was time to split up the vans for more home visits on different areas. Each area terrain was a little different, but their gratitude, hospitality, faith, and joy were consistent in every home. My van also got to stop at Elijah's house for tea and fruit. Him and his wife Pricilla have be married for 50 years! We did another home visit to a couple of sponsored siblings who are orphaned and being raised my their grandmother. There were a lot of neighbor hood kids there. We gave out the last of the toys and gifts we brought. I had a little bottle of tic tacs I gave to a girl in a little group who hadn't gotten anything before we ran out. I told her to share and was amazed at the group of young children who excitedly but patiently gathered around and shared the tic tacs evenly. One little tic tac made the day of each of these kids. Such a reminder for us about gratitude for the little things. We all met back up together at Amalia's house for dinner. We got to meet some of her family and some of Josephine's friends came. They were laughing together like teenagers which was so fun to watch. Amalia had a big surprise for Candice and invited her student Whitney who lives near by for dinner. The two talked all night and barely stopped to eat. It was such a special gift to have that extra 2 hours of bonding. My heart is full.
DAY 8 | Goodbye Meru
This am we had to say goodbye to our Meru friends. But first, Angi got to go to the pediatric hospital with Peter, his sister, and Josephine. Usually the hospital is overflowing, but because the nurses were on strike, there were not nearly as many as usual. The rest of the team did devotions and worship. There were quite a few upset tummies that morning so lots of prayers for healing that were answered. We we're grateful most of our work was done and issues were mild and quickly resolved. We packed up for Simba lodge near the Samburu National Reserve. The environment drastically changed to dry, desert climate with mostly nomadic live stock tenders. We drove through Isiolo, which is a primarily Islamic city, though many Christians also live there without any religious tension. Isiolo used to be the center of Kenya and the town the colonizing British in Kenya and Italians in Sudan fought over. Along the way there were wildlife crossing signs with elephants and giraffes the way we have deer crossing signs. As we entered the reserve, even before we got to the hotel or inside the park, we were greeted with a variety of African animals. We saw zebras, oryx, impalas, gazelle, ostrich, and a wide variety of birds, and even a giraffe in the distance. Monkeys greeted us right at our rooms. there we a ton of pretty birds around. We got checked into the hotel, had lunch, and settled before heading out on our first game drive. We'll include that in tomorrow's update with the two other game drives we did.
DAY 9 | Safari
We arrived to Simba lodge in time for lunch. There was a crocodile at the waterhole below the pool and monkeys everywhere. After lunch we headed into the national park for our game drive. We spent about two hours driving around the reserve looking for animals. Right away we came upon a pack of elephants, including a baby. Our driver said he'd never been so close to this many elephants. It was incredible to see and the most loved sighting of many of us. We saw two types of giraffes, 2 types of zebras, a variety of antelope, impalas, oryx, ostrich, dikdik, waterbucks, monkeys, and tons of different pretty birds. We returned to the hotel for dinner. The next am we left for another game drive at 7. Some of us were lucky enough to see two kudu right next to the path. Our driver told us they are rare to see and a sign of good luck. And they were. The first spotting was a juvenile leopard in a tree. Leopards are hard to find and rare to see. We saw all the same animals from the day before except for elephants. We also passed a natural spring created from bombing between colonial British and Italians fighting for the area. It is the only safe swimming area. The kids were so sad they didn't bring swimsuits and convinced our drivers to promise to return on our afternoon drive. We learned lots of Kenyan history and about the animals and terrain from our guides (who happened to be the three drivers for whole trip and the same vehicles, but we learned the roofs pop up to stand and see the animals). We were back to the hotel for some rest and relaxation at the pool or for naps. There was very little rest any other part of the trip. We had our final game drive that evening and our drivers were true to their word. We all (except Josephine and Peter who went looking for more animals) went swimming in the spring. It was so fun and refreshing. We hopped back in on the hunt for lions and more elephants. We never found them, but found a second leopard. This one was fully grown. She graced us with a show of climbing down the tree. We also saw a crocodile who was sunbathing and then climbed into a watering hole. There were lots of the same animals we'd already seen. Zebras and giraffes were the biggest hits. The lions eluded us, but we saw a ton. Ask a team member which animal was their favorite and some facts we learned about it.
DAY 10 | Travel to Nairobi
We left Simba lodge for the long drive back to Nairobi. The monkeys and birds were active at breakfast and as we packed. On the drive out to the highway, a large tower of giraffes wished us farewell. We left at 730 and didn't get to the hotel in Nairobi until about 4. We only stopped twice. Once was at the equator to watch how truly water spins on opposite directions north and south of it. We also stopped to use the restrooms and shop at the curio shop. That was a stressful situation for many of us Americans. Nothing has a price. You bargain. Generally the bargain process is pretty straight forward, but these guys were intense. They were not backing down on prices much. It was the hardest bargaining we experienced. We arrived at the hotel. The kids swam a bit while the adults reorganized bags for departure in the am. We had dinner and devotions. Candice leaves bright and early. The rest are going to reattempt market shopping and have dinner at Carnivore before they catch redeye flights. The blog torch is being passed to Gideon and Marty for the last day adventures. This has been an incredible, life changing trip. It's been a gift to meet all these joyous children, grateful for the smallest things (like porridge). We met a lot of incredible adults doing the work here. As Amalia said, we work together. UPPC are the hands and they are the feet of Jesus making a difference in the lives of children and the whole community in Meru and Laikipia Kenya. God is Good. All the time. Praise God. Kwaheri Kenya.
Kenyan Names
Emily had studied in Kenya in college. The Kenyans gave her and her husband Kenyan names. Kanana and Mwenda .... one who is deeply cherished and one who loves.... because he loved her so much. When they had kids, they gave their first two kids those middle names. She came back to Kenya when she was pregnant with her 3rd. The Kenyans called her Mamá Mwiti because she had a traveler in her belly. Hence his middle name became Mwiti. Mwiti and Kanana are on this trip with us and go by their Kenyan names here. All the Kenyans love it when they hear this. They especially love calling on Mwiti as we've worked with adult Mwitis. One of the other teens asked if she could get a Kenyan name. Josephine said she had to think about it. She tasked the Hope sponsored students with naming all the kids. The Kenyans students submitted names and we had a naming ceremony at the end of Hope day. They were bestowed the names Mwendwa (female version of Mwende) meaning one who loves, Makena meaning full of joy, and Kendi meaning beloved. Julianne was in the van with all the kids when they excitedly told their driver their names. He asked Julianne hers. She said only the kids got one. He named her Muthoni meaning humble one. So if you see Gideon Mwiti, Adahlia Kanana, Teya Makena, Allison Mwendwa, Ava Kendi or Julianne Mathoni, tell them "jambo" ( hello in Swahili).
