Habari (Hello)

Habari from Kenya! How are you guys doing? It is so good to hear back from those of you who respond. I love checking my email and finding messages, it really helps me to keep going, please keep them coming!

This week I did all sorts of things, most recently being becoming a live jungle gym! Most of the girls arrived back from their holiday break today, and as soon as the little ones saw me I had tiny bodies jumping all over me! It was definitely the joy of my week to be able to welcome them back to their home. Today I also had the blessing of going with a dozen of the olden girls to the Vincential House of Prayer for a day of prayer and healing. It began at 9am with many praise songs, a few talks, the rosary, adoration and ending with mass before we came home for dinner. There were more than 500 other people there, and it was incredible to be able to pray with all of them. Their music and excitement to praise God is an incredible testimony of their unwavering faith through difficult circumstances. I am so thankful I was able to go with the girls and better understand their culture of faith here. (See photo with girls!)

So many of you are wondering what my day looks like. And it is very different everyday since the girls are not in school. But my day typically begins at 7:30 when I wake up to have some time to myself before the rest of the staff arrives at 8:30. I brought a work out video called INSANITY here, so I make time to do it in the mornings, it’s a great way to start the day, and it’s crazy intense! It is the most consistency I have throughout the whole day, so I like having something to depend on each morning, Shaun T (the instructor) is becoming my closest friend over here!

In the mornings the older girls either go to school for extra tuition or they study and do chores while I help the mums prep lunch and dinner in the kitchen or do office work that needs to be done. I enjoy sitting with the mums and talking to them, they are so curious about America and I am curious about Kenya so we share with each other. I love breaking the Hollywood stereotype of America they have! But Mum Julianne was shocked when I told her we have machines that dry our clothes for us in an hour, rather than hanging them to dry!
In the afternoon we usually play cards or games outsides, or finish preparations for dinner. When we play cards they make up card games but call them names that I know, for example: they told me we were playing poker (and I don’t know much about poker) but this game had nothing to do with the poker I am familiar with! It is quite confusing and they just laugh at me most of the time!

I still have a lot of free time being here, which I am still getting used to. I thought I would be doing much more than I am, but I am slowly finding that the work I am doing is helpful and necessary. Simply being an example of hope for the girls is all they are asking of me here. I have been able to talk with many of the girls about what their lives would be like outside of Hekima Place, many of which would be on the streets without education or a future. These girls are incredibly beautiful because they have great dreams of a future now, and entrust it all to God. They lead much more difficult lives, with many more burdens than I ever will, but they are so faithful through it all. I am inspired by their dedication and love.

Thank you again to everyone has aided in my ability to be here, I am very appreciative to have this opportunity. It is not always easy and fun, I find myself struggling each day, but it is something that is shaping me forever into who I am to become. I have been reading St. Therese of Lisieux’s autobiography The Story of a Soul and she spoke my heart so clearly when she said, “Such is my nature that fear only keeps me back, while under the sway of love I not only advance- I fly.” Know that you are in my prayers each day, please continue to pray for me that I may give all my love each day to the people I meet and not be held back by my own fears.

All my love, Christie

"You have grown so fat!"

After 3 planes I made it to Kenya! I arrived Thursday morning my time (I am 7 hours ahead of Ohio) without any problems, the planes were barely half filled so I was even able to lay and sleep a bit on the ride. I felt very much at home arriving at Hekima Place, even though many of the girls are not here. It is their vacation so they are visiting family members. There are about 15 girls that are staying here, and the rest will begin to trickle back as one school begins this week and another next week. I am staying on the 3rd floor of the Maisha house, which houses the babies through 3rd grade, but on the 3rd floor is Fiona, a Senior in High School who has graciously welcomed me to stay with her.

For those that don’t know: Hekima Place, where I am now is an orphanage for 60 girls, 15 of which are in high school boarding schools. The rest of the girls (from 6 months through high school) go to 2 different school in town. They are taught in English, as is all of Kenya. If a person is educated they speak English, Swahili and their native tongue. Bright people. Hekima Place is the most beautiful home I have seen in Kenya, which is why I keep coming back. It is run like home, the girls do chores, there are mums that live with the girls and do cooking, and uncles help around the yards for the girls to have positive male role models. The girls will fight like sisters, but they also are great friends and always help each other with homework etc. It is a beautiful asmosphere.

There are definitely a few cultural differences that I forgot about since I was here last year, but have quickly caught back up on. One being when I met with Eunice (Mary O, this is for you!) for first time, I told her she had grown so tall, and she responded “and you, you have grown so fat” (smiling). “Fat” is one of their greatest compliments of being beautiful, but it always catches me off guard! I also forgot how hospitable Kenyan people are. They are so excited to welcome me back here for the 3rd time, and they welcome me as a member of their family in every way: including giving me more food at dinner than imaginable! This isn’t a problem when we had Chipati, which is my favorite meal, it’s a flatbread tortilla type bread that they fry and it is heavenly. But when their generosity comes in the form of mile high piles of beans and Ugali (a flour and water mixture that becomes like grits) I have a more difficult time being excited! I am constantly blown away by their hospitality and willingness to serve me, even though I am here to serve them. I was able to catch right back up where I left off with the girls, playing cards, helping in the kitchen and learning new games outside to play. They still don’t let me help hand wash their clothes, I guess I am too slow or something…

The first few days have been slow since there are not many girls, mums or uncles around to help. I have been doing a lot of prep work in the kitchen with the mums: washing and cutting carrots, beans, spinach etc, and separating the good green grams and rice from the bad (talk about a lot of work, I value the machines that do that for us in the states, it takes hours!) Something vital to know about me is that I am a huge do-er. If something needs to be done I tend to do it immediately, and I like to stay busy. Since these past few days have been so slow it has been difficult for me, but I am learning that it isn’t always about what we DO, as much as who we are becoming through the process. In the next couple weeks 15 board members from the States will be coming into town for the dedication of the new land Hekima Place has been building on, so it will become busy fast. I was able to see the new land on Friday, it is beautiful, at the bottom of the Ngong Hills (if you have seen Out of Africa, those are the Ngong Hills where I am located) and right on the edge of the Great Rift Valley. They have tons of land for animals, a garden and 5 houses.

I have had a lot of time to read in these slow days, which has been a huge blessing. I read Fr. Dave Pivonka’s book: Spiritual Freedom and it challenged me in a lot of ways to go outside of my own thoughts when I begin to get discouraged or frustrated that I am not doing enough (which is crazy since its only been a few days). There are reflections at the end of each chapter and one of the strongest messages that I received from them was that God gives each us a time of despair and confusion in order to ask him “What are you trying to teach me during this time?” This is a message I am sure I will return to throughout my semester here, trusting that God has a plan unique for me and I must slow down and see that plan rather than creating own!

I hope you all are well, it’s barely been a week but I feel so distant since I am not in constant communication! When we went to mass Sunday morning I saw my first white people since being in Paris on my layover and I felt a little piece of home! I am thinking of you and praying for you often, please pray for me!
Much love, Christie

Kwaheri (good bye) America!

Today is the big day! This day is important for many of friends, know that I am thinking and praying for you as you begin new journeys!
I have my 80 lbs of luggage packed, said many good bye's and prepared a pretty awesome reading list for the next 4 months! All that is left is spending 16 hours on 3 different planes and 11 hours of layovers and I will be in Kenya. It has been an incredibly journey until now preparing for this time. I am so thankful to bring each of you with me over there, knowing I am not in this alone.

There are definitely nerves that come with such a journey, but I was reminded in the gospel just yesterday that "if you wish to be perfect, go and sell what you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow me" Matthew 19: 21. Each of us are called to give up our comforts and live only for God through his perfect love. That is not the easiest lesson to follow, but I trust that as I leave behind many beautiful people and things that I love and have become comfortable with, God will work through me and in me to bring his love to the people I encounter. I pray that we are all able to slowly give up everything we are attached to and know that all we need is to follow God each moment.
I look forward to hearing from ya'll!
Peace and Love, Christie

I ran a 10K for Kenya!

Thank you to all who have donated to my mission so far, I am incredibly grateful for all the support. I am especially thankful for all those who donated in honor of my 10K run! I ran it this past Sunday and it went great, much to my surprise! I have never run that far before, so it was a challenge, but I really enjoy it and made a decent time for my first run: 57 minutes was the final! It was great to have a cause to run for, that kept me going. A very special thank you to Claire Lynott, Claire Doman and Mr. Kist for running with me and encouraging me, I would not have made it without you guys :)
Thank you for your support, the countdown is on: I leave in 7 days. Please keep me in your prayers, and know you are in mine! Keep in touch.
Amani (peace) Christie