HYC Nairobi: Loving Like Christ Did

Going to Nairobi, Kenya was always a dream of mine since I was a little girl. I wanted to go and just help in any way possible. This summer I got the opportunity to do so. It was something that I have never experienced before. I went to Africa knowing what I wanted to work on, but instead came out with a whole different mindset on so many things. It showed me what it actually means to be content under any circumstance. Humility was shown as we went to

Makindu to build houses. Little did they have yet they were joyful and grateful. A bed, little clothes, and some dishes was enough to the people in the village. The little kids even slept with goats. It opened my eyes to see gratitude on a whole different level. We made some bricks out of mud (dirt and water mixed together). We stepped on the mud and mixed it with our bare hands. The effort it took to make the bricks was so intense that sweat was running down our faces. This was not an easy clean duty; the mud went everywhere, so I was very dirty by the end of the day. I found mud inside my ears, nails, and toenails. We had made over 1,000 bricks that day. Even though it was exhausting, it was so much fun. Seeing older men and women do the same thing while not complaining was very inspiring and admirable to see. Their hearts were full of joy and happiness; they were just grateful!

I also got the opportunity to serve at the Kenyatta National Hospital in the kids cancer ward. The first day was emotional for many of us. I talked to a man named Emmanuel who had his little boy, Moses, laying in a bed. Moses looked very fatigued and weak. I asked Emmanuel how he was doing with Moses being sick. He turned around and looked out the window, but I was able to see the pain he was going through in his eyes. I had to hold back from not crying, but then later outside I teared up. As we made our way back into the crowded hospital we got to spend more time with the kids. Before I left one of the moms asked if I could play with her little girl. I sang some songs and played with her. She smiled and laughed. The mom said that she hadn’t seen her little girl smile like that for a long time. She mentioned that volunteers who’ve gone before usually leave her little girl out and don’t play with her. It was at that moment when everything clicked to me. I thought to myself, “This is what it is about… to love people like Jesus did.” It showed me the real meaning of what it means to love people, not in my view, but in God’s view. To have the same eyes, mind, and heart as God instead of mine.

Through this HYC, I was able to learn an immense amount of things, but the biggest thing was that it showed me was how to love unconditionally. I wasn’t there to fix things or people, but to love. The rest of the volunteers and myself didn’t have money to give and weren’t able to meet physical needs, but all we had was the Holy Spirit inside us full of love. I was able to understand that when you love someone, it can make a great impact. To love as Jesus did and not of the way I viewed love. This HYC gave me an experience that I won’t forget, it gave me friends, but overall it gave me a new mindset and heart. It was a life changing experience and for that I am truly grateful.