Wednesday
Dec102008
Christmas in Kenya 2008 - Post 3
Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 03:02PM
As I write this, I'm sitting in a little cubbie spot at Brackenhurst, the retreat/conference facility where we are hosting the BCC children. It is a beautiful place:
The children love being here. The grounds are lush, with soft, delicious grass in which to roll around. There is also a playground complete with two swings, a teeter-totter, a slide and some other fun things. The food is good; much better I assume than what they are used to (they LOVE the sausage!) We play games, do VBS activities, hang out to talk...pretty sweet time for them. We even watched "The Polar Express" last night (Tuesday), and they loved it. They have so much fun, in fact, it is easy to forget the stories behind the faces. As great as the BCC kids have it when at Brackenhurst, and as good as they have it at the BCC itself (relatively speaking), I try not to forget these children are still some of the more disadvantaged children in the world.
As I, and the group, keep this in mind, I struggle to do what I can to make a positive difference in the short time I have. As opposed to the kids in Kitale at Seed of Hope, the BCC kids have spent time with many groups, and seem a touch less responsive to us. As someone who works with kids for a living, I certainly recognize, and understand, the "been there, done that" feeling some of the BCC kids might have (you can only make caterpillars so many times before the novelty wears off.) However, I do have faith our presence with the kids does them some good. I think, if nothing else, they benefit from knowing people care about them, knowing they are thought special. As I've written before, it's never a bad thing to be loved.
At the end of the day, despite the potential for "group burnout", I truly think the BCC kids really enjoy us coming to see them. Good food, fun, games, gifts...can't be all that bad! In addition, all of us in the group have connected with at least several kids, forming deeper relationships, and hopefully these relationships will produce meaningful differences in the lives of the children.
Tomorrow we say goodbye to the kids...the part of every trip I, along with everyone else, dreads. "Parting is such sweet sorrow" does not apply. There is nothing "sweet" about leaving these kids, not knowing if or when I'll see them again. We will hug, kiss, whisper, do anything we can to squeeze whatever love is in our heart into theirs. But it won't be enough. I always leaving wishing for another day, another afternoon, another hour, another minute, and the heartache I feel for these precious, precious children always stings for some time after returning home. I'm trying to prepare myself, but it's pretty much a lost cause. Bleh...
God is good, of course. Very good, and I choose to believe he has a plan for these kids. I don't know what it is, and I sometimes shake my fist at our heavenly Father in frustration for the things I've seen and heard, but I try to keep believing in God's willingness to work even in the lives of these who have so little. So many of them have suffered so greatly, but they have also benifited much from the love and care they receive at the BCC. As I wrap up this post, here are some prayer requests:
- The trip home. Some of the group are leaving early (skipping the safari) and travel is always a concern.
- The BCC caregivers and social workers. These are the people who are with the kids day in and day out, doing their best to raise the 65 children under their care. These young people have more responsibilities than could even lift, yet they always smile, they always praise God, and they always seem joyful.
- Dickson: He has spent enough time away from his family. He usually doesn't spend so much time with the groups, but his assistant - Tom - just recently got married and has been unavailable. Dickson has gone above and beyond the call to look after our group every step of the way.
- The children. Where to begin... I love them as if they were my own, and I want the very best for them. They have so little in so many ways it just kills me, leaves me lying in bed at night staring at the ceiling. Pray for their health, their happiness, their schooling. Pray each child will soon find themselves in a foster home which will nurture, encourage and love them. Pray for them to find peace and joy.
I will post again as soon as I find time. I think I will have some time while on safari, but if not I'll pick up when I return home. (Oh yeah, we give out gifts tomorrow...I get to dress as Santa Claus - Father Christmas to the Kenyans. Should be a great time.)
Kwaheri! (goodbye)
The children love being here. The grounds are lush, with soft, delicious grass in which to roll around. There is also a playground complete with two swings, a teeter-totter, a slide and some other fun things. The food is good; much better I assume than what they are used to (they LOVE the sausage!) We play games, do VBS activities, hang out to talk...pretty sweet time for them. We even watched "The Polar Express" last night (Tuesday), and they loved it. They have so much fun, in fact, it is easy to forget the stories behind the faces. As great as the BCC kids have it when at Brackenhurst, and as good as they have it at the BCC itself (relatively speaking), I try not to forget these children are still some of the more disadvantaged children in the world.
As I, and the group, keep this in mind, I struggle to do what I can to make a positive difference in the short time I have. As opposed to the kids in Kitale at Seed of Hope, the BCC kids have spent time with many groups, and seem a touch less responsive to us. As someone who works with kids for a living, I certainly recognize, and understand, the "been there, done that" feeling some of the BCC kids might have (you can only make caterpillars so many times before the novelty wears off.) However, I do have faith our presence with the kids does them some good. I think, if nothing else, they benefit from knowing people care about them, knowing they are thought special. As I've written before, it's never a bad thing to be loved.
At the end of the day, despite the potential for "group burnout", I truly think the BCC kids really enjoy us coming to see them. Good food, fun, games, gifts...can't be all that bad! In addition, all of us in the group have connected with at least several kids, forming deeper relationships, and hopefully these relationships will produce meaningful differences in the lives of the children.
Tomorrow we say goodbye to the kids...the part of every trip I, along with everyone else, dreads. "Parting is such sweet sorrow" does not apply. There is nothing "sweet" about leaving these kids, not knowing if or when I'll see them again. We will hug, kiss, whisper, do anything we can to squeeze whatever love is in our heart into theirs. But it won't be enough. I always leaving wishing for another day, another afternoon, another hour, another minute, and the heartache I feel for these precious, precious children always stings for some time after returning home. I'm trying to prepare myself, but it's pretty much a lost cause. Bleh...
God is good, of course. Very good, and I choose to believe he has a plan for these kids. I don't know what it is, and I sometimes shake my fist at our heavenly Father in frustration for the things I've seen and heard, but I try to keep believing in God's willingness to work even in the lives of these who have so little. So many of them have suffered so greatly, but they have also benifited much from the love and care they receive at the BCC. As I wrap up this post, here are some prayer requests:
- The trip home. Some of the group are leaving early (skipping the safari) and travel is always a concern.
- The BCC caregivers and social workers. These are the people who are with the kids day in and day out, doing their best to raise the 65 children under their care. These young people have more responsibilities than could even lift, yet they always smile, they always praise God, and they always seem joyful.
- Dickson: He has spent enough time away from his family. He usually doesn't spend so much time with the groups, but his assistant - Tom - just recently got married and has been unavailable. Dickson has gone above and beyond the call to look after our group every step of the way.
- The children. Where to begin... I love them as if they were my own, and I want the very best for them. They have so little in so many ways it just kills me, leaves me lying in bed at night staring at the ceiling. Pray for their health, their happiness, their schooling. Pray each child will soon find themselves in a foster home which will nurture, encourage and love them. Pray for them to find peace and joy.
I will post again as soon as I find time. I think I will have some time while on safari, but if not I'll pick up when I return home. (Oh yeah, we give out gifts tomorrow...I get to dress as Santa Claus - Father Christmas to the Kenyans. Should be a great time.)
Kwaheri! (goodbye)