7 days ago we boarded a plane leaving our homes Iowa. The snow was blowing and the temperatue was low. 2 days later we stepped out of our jeeps and into our new home in Kenya.
This trip was an amazing and beautiful trip that will stay within my heart the rest of life. The lessons I have learned about the beauty of the human spirit and the beauty of taking time to know your neigher, care for your neighbor, and to take the time to visit was a lesson many people could use every day of their life. So many times we allow ourselves to get caught up in the daily press of living life to the tick of the hands on the clock. We allow the beautiful moments to slip away and be sacraficed to moments of productivity.
This village truly took us in as members of their family. Men and women we worked next to for just a few days invited us to their homes to meet their families. Children, elders, and complete strangers go out of their way to greet us and to greet each other no matter where they may be going.
The days Lauren and I spent in the local public school working with the children was heart-warming and was balanced out by the day we spent doing home visits. Home visits were really eye-opening and grounding. It brought us down to earth and really opened my eyes to what it truly means to live in poverty. These people spend their day looking for food and water and it leaves them no time to other things that may improve their life. Their spirits are amazingly positive and they loved that we came to visit with them. They especially enjoyed hearing tales of snow-covered Iowa.
I will truly miss the people of Chabywa (che-bi-o-wa). I will make a great effort to return soon.
~Markus Cannon
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