Taking flight

The fact that we're in Kenya finally started to sink in. We went to visit The Nest orphanage, where we were greeted with an African song sung by about 40 children. How cute they all were! Every time we took a picture of them, they would come up and put their tiny hands on ours, asking to see the photo. We taught them two VBS songs--Ten Men and Choose Jesus--and I could feel so much energy in the room when we put all of it together! Then Erika told the parable of the shepherd who left his 99 sheep to find one sheep that was lost. She did a really great job, especially since she had to communicate all the main points in terms which could be easily translated to the kids! Afterwards, we helped them make salvation bracelets. The smiles the children carried on their faces was absolutely priceless.

Afterwards, we toured the orphanage. The rooms were more than an opportunity to take pictures (hehe); they represented protection, trust, and hope. One of the rooms that especially caught my attention was that which sheltered children whose mothers had been arrested and sent to prison. Even though these kids must have been hurting inside, they loved us and shouted a chorus of goodbyes and thank-yous as we left.

Finally, we returned to the original room where the kids were just preparing to eat lunch. Before the food came out, they sang us more African sons that they had learned in school. But the one song that made me want to stay for so much longer was the goodbye song that they seemed to have prepared a long time for our arrival. We left the orphanage with touched hearts, and I could see the beginning of the work that we will be doing over the next 10 days that we will be here for.

Praise God!