It is an interesting thing to feel pride and humility simultaneously, but there is no better way to describe what I experienced during my first week back in Kenya. I arrived in Sirembe (where our orphanage in located) on a Saturday afternoon. The path leading to our destination follows along a main dirt road, which at some point leads to a much smaller one, which in turn leads through a maize field. As we moved through the village familiar faces began to appear and I once again felt like I was home. There is a moment each time I make this journey when the JCO Children’s Centre comes into view and the joy I feel is so overwhelming that it defies description.
I arrived to find that everyone is happy and healthy. What more could anyone ask for? All week I have been laughing, playing, and snuggling with our kiddos, catching up with each of them on how they did in school and their new interests. It is a wonderful little family. I have felt many emotions since I have arrived, but as I reflect on this past week—pride & humility—these two seemingly conflicting emotions stand out.
Of course I am proud of what we, as the Restore Humanity Family have accomplished; people helping people for the good of the individuals and humanity as a whole. I am proud of our Kenyan Team that makes this all possible and proud of our donors for reaching out how they can. However, the main source of my pride is our children. I have been blessed to witness the enormous progress they have made as individuals—emotionally and academically. They are incredible! There was also an overwhelming amount of praise coming from the staff, people in the village, and community leaders, all of whom were so excited to tell me how well behaved our children are, that they are excelling in school, that they treat each other and others with kindness. As I listened to the Youth Pastor from their church and the Principal of their school go on and on about their progress and the amazing children that they are, I couldn’t help but feel proud to be a part of their lives.
I am proud to be a part of what is happening here but I am also humbled and grateful that I have been given the opportunity to experience it all first hand. We are all only individuals, but together we can make things better. I feel so blessed to witness every step of this process.
On Thursday, the Youth Pastor came to do a short sermon for the children at our home. We said prayers for all of them and everyone connected to them. I could see on the faces of the children how special they felt that he took the time out of his day to come to our home. He is a soft-spoken man, gentle and humble, full of kindness and compassion. The love in the room that afternoon was palpable. I was moved to tears more than once throughout the process. With our youngest Clinton fast asleep on my lap, I just sat back and tried to take it all in. Love is such a powerful thing...
I am honored to be here and to know these beautiful souls. I am thankful that they are all healthy and surrounded by so much love. I look forward to the days to come...
“Individually we are one drop, together we are an ocean.”
Ryunosuke Satoro