Theodora (right) with Adina (mother)
During our visit in February/March in Kenya, I got to know so many special souls and heard so many touching stories of families struggling, holding on and of children working hard. And oftentimes I just thought „let’s help them, support them“ and only in the end I realized how much they had helped me.
I am not a very extroverted person and in general more quiet. In Kenya I was automatically in the centre of attention being white. The children jut ran towards me and grabbed my hands and touched my hair. I learned such a joy and an openness and simplicity. But as I looked deeper into the stories of each child and listened to their parents telling sorrow laden stories, I realized it is all not that simple.If the familiy doesn´t already struggle with health issues, they are often left abandoned and have to care for their children on their own. Of the 30 families we could speak to, there were only 17 children with both parents.
And this is not all. Many single parents have to work for their children but cannot provide for all of them and so they eat only a meal a day and struggle hard with school fees. It is no wonder some children and parents have traumas and mental health issues. And still, many of the sad faces radiate joy. Even the parents that have so much to endure and go through are very open and friendly. Not necessarily happy but hopeful. They don’t give up on hope and that is what hit me hard.How often do I give up on hope here, in a totally developed country with so many opportunities? How often do I complain and feel unseen? To me, every child in that kindergarten room is special. They are each so shining and longing for just a little attention. A small smile, just giving them your hand or hugging them, running with them and helping them already makes a difference to them. They are seen. The same way as Jesus asked in Luke 7 when the adulteress came into the house: „Do you see this woman?“ Because Jesus saw her heart. The others were scared back by her background, her story and her appearance. But what really mattered was the heart.
To see people and get to know them, let them have a peek into your own heart and they may show you theirs. When you open up yourself, you may be astonished of who the other person really is. I realized how little I am ready to show through, to be vulnerable. These children from nursery school humbled me. They so simply and honestly let all show through. One day I entered the kindergarden room and a little girl called Violet sat at a table totally alone. I joined her while the other children were watching us. Her eyes were so sad as she stared at my white face. A short time later she laughed into my camera with the other children squeezing behind us. And more than I made her smile, she taught me a lesson.How often do I hide my thoughts in my heart? Why don’t I tell people? Even though we couldn’t communicate due to the language barrier, she spoke to my heart.
And there are so many more stories. Another small girl aged 3 ran to me on my last day in Kenya. Out of nowhere Jayline just slung her little arms around me. Before, she had just carefully watched us. And now she let me really see her. I hugged her and felt my eyes watering. A little unknown happy girl wanting to give me, a rich „mzungu“ a big hug. With the little she had, she lit up my entire day. And even now, I often think about her. Not all of these children get hugs. Not all of them are lifted up with encouraging words. And out of their lack, they give so generously. It just made my day and made me feel useful when sad eyes lit up on a child’s face. When they laughed and giggled and squeezed into every picture. They may be covered in dust, suffering at home and needy and I am so touched by their smiles. It is difficult to smile when their parents ran away or died and when they don’t have enough food for them. And still, I realized that these children smiled more than I do at home. This tells a story of how ungrateful I am at home and how little I appreciate what I have. I got humbled by their simplicity. When entering their kindergarden room, a little sun in my heart arose. This is what I want to do every day. Get people to smile and go through hardship together. And it is true, a smile says a lot more than a thousand words.Damit wir dir eine Spendenbescheinigung zustellen können, benötigen wir deine Postadresse oder Email. Falls du die Bescheinigung möchtest, dann diese bitte beim Ausfüllen des Überweisungsformulars mit angeben.
Little Seeds – Imani za Watoto e.V. ist ein gemeinnütziger Verein und leitet deine Spende direkt weiter nach Kenia.
Bereits gelesen:
We had never been to the African continent before andwe were nervously excited as the time for our trip to Kenya approached, as if we had an inkling of the wonderful things that awaited us. After many hours of flying, we found ourselves in a country that was completely different from what we had seen before. We met people who radiated a joy and a happiness that we had never experienced before. The three weeks we spent there flew by: I, Iosif, helped finish a building and I, Violeta, was always surrounded by children in the Nursery and Primary School in Awasi.
We are so grateful to God for many precious encounters we had there. For example, the one with the 5-year-old girl who shared all her food for the day - a small boiled potato - with other children who probably hadn't eaten anything that day.
They waited with open hands to get a crumb of food from their generous friend.
Weiterlesen:
Experiences like these make us realize how richly blessed we are, how many things we possess, but also how little we think of those who live in need. Even before we returned from Africa, God put on the hearts of some of us to help the children and families in Awasi, Kenya: financially but also spiritually, so that the joy on their faces would be even greater.
When we returned home, the Lord united and motivated those of us who felt the same way, and so the doors opened in front of us and we founded "Little Seeds - imani za watoto" (translated: "Little Seeds - the faith of the children").
The concerns of the people there have become our concerns: We want to give them hope and help for education and development. Little by little, but surely, we want to sow the seeds of hope and faith in Kenya, together with all of you who want to join us. For God Himself is at work, making us not only ready, but also able to do what pleases Him. (Philippians 2:13) This work has now begun: It is only possible through Him and it will be a full victory.
Let us never forget this: We are blessed so that we can be a blessing to others.
Bereits gelesen:
"Every child has the right to education". This quote sounds beautiful, colourful and inspiring, but how realistically is it implemented in today´s world? In Kenya, for example, this quote is nothing but a dream for many children growing up in the countryside. Theoretically, schooling is free, but schools charge fees in order to cater for their expenditure. Children from humble family backgrounds are often unable to pay school fees, thus being forced by the circumstances to stay home. Consequently, one of the most fundamental rights of children continues to be violated.
Out of experience, I know what it feels like to go to school barefooted and on an empty stomach.
Weiterlesen:
I also know what it means to be sent home for school fees while your peers continue to learn. On the other hand, I also know that it is possible, through hard work, to break the chains of poverty. That´s why my heart beats for the children of my homeland, Kenya. I want them to grow out of the circumstances they were born into, so that they may be able to transform their communities. For this reason, I would like to appeal to all advocates of children and lovers of education to support this noble course of empowering primary schools in rural Kenya, Nyanza Region.
Bereist gelesen:
For around 10 years, this particular region in Kenya has become home to me. As a German-Kenyan family, we have many emotional ties to this country. Kenya is stunningly beautiful, young and dynamic, lively and innovative. A truly diverse nation. There are so many aspects we value and love about Kenya. Nevertheless, some realities don´t cease to move us and stir our emotions.
The poverty, which is prevalent in many regions in Kenya, is directly linked to colonialism, exploitation and corruption. In fact, poverty is a denial of basic human rights.
Weiterlesen:
Our small organization won´t fix the big injustices of the world. However, I am of the opinion that being willing to share our own privileges can be a first step towards creating a more fair and just future. It is a way of giving back what we have been given without deserving it. I have witnessed how people who are empowered to break out of the cycle of poverty can transform their whole communities. Therefore it is my wish for our organization to give people the opportunity to do so.
Bereist gelesen:
"Little seeds" are tiny proofs of love that contain life. Life because, when properly planted, they bring forth new life and, through their fruit, they enable the life of others. As long as the seeds are only stored safely, they cannot bear fruit. Packed seeds in bags or boxes cannot bring forth life. They are more like stone grains, hard and cold. But if they are placed in the earth, they become quite soft: so that new life sprouts out and they bear much fruit.
Jesus gives us this image in the Bible, which for me is the heart of serving Him. God's love becomes alive and real in our world when we pass it on...
Weiterlesen:
If we keep it for ourselves, it remains lonely. It grows cold and cannot produce fruit if we package it nicely and display it in our hearts' showcases.
God's love is to be passed on. It means devotion. It is generous and does not think of itself. We are called to love. We are called to share proofs of love that fall as seeds into the earth and bear fruit. This is what "Little seeds" stands for. In Swahili "Imani za watoto" means “the faith of children". Because we, God's children, believe in it. I invite you to be a part of it and experience how God makes a big miracle grow out of the small seed you plant.
