Embracing Humanity 💗
My absence seems an eternity, and for that, I apologize. I granted myself a hiatus, a chance to embrace the world around me. My ventures spanned the globe, a tapestry woven with moments of pure affection and others fraught with heartache. Reality confronted me, showcasing the best and worst facets of humanity in simultaneous display. Amidst it all, I found solace—absorbing, processing, and navigating this intricate tapestry with an approach anchored in my heart, traversing the peaks and troughs.
Upon returning to Kenya in September after the pandemic's grip loosened, I anticipated reconnecting with our programs in Kisii and Kakuma. The journey unexpectedly fractured a part of me—a wall erected unknowingly while plowing through the pandemic with focus, determination and movement. Despite remarkable strides in our work and feeling rooted, a core part of myself had weathered the storm silently, revealed upon my return—a welcomed release, akin to a burst of light from within that beams bright.
Visiting the Kakuma Refugee Camp was an eye-opening experience, a testament to how media and other sources shape our perceptions. Witnessing first hand shattered preconceptions, faced with the reality of 500,000 souls from Congo, Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia, taught me about the potency of opportunity.
Encounters with resilient women striving to sell produce in harsh conditions, juxtaposed with the thriving businesses we've supported, nearly brought me to tears. It vividly illustrated the transformative power of opportunities often taken for granted—a profound revelation. The power to make a positive difference in the lives of others is within our control.
From Kibera, where families bared their struggles post-COVID, the overwhelming lesson reiterated that while we can't do everything, a profound impact arises from what we do with profound love—one step at a time. Visiting Renda School for Girls, in Kisii for the first time showcased the incredible collaborative effort within the community to manifest a vision. The potency of uniting for change and fostering opportunities took center stage as I sat among the village's senior leaders. Charting a course ahead for today's and tomorrow's girls, we engaged in candid and meaningful conversations around the table, deliberating on the ways to progress with compassion, determination, and a mutual dedication to one another.
Traveling, forging connections, person to person, consistently leaves me steeped in reflections that inspire, ground, and embolden me—my cherished "love notes."
Reflecting on what was sacrificed during the pandemic and nurturing it with tenderness, embracing vulnerability, showing up, and genuinely listening from the heart—these lessons resound profoundly in my heart.
In a world of diverse experiences, Kakuma Refugee Camp magnified the differences. Small victories hold immeasurable significance, often overshadowed by the belief that our efforts fall short—yet the joy they evoke is incomparable.
Realizing our limitations, the necessity of mutual reliance, and being accountable to one another, underscores the path forward.
As the season of giving and gratitude unfolds, I implore you to dive deeper, shatter the veneer, and allow yourself to crack open. Embrace the priceless gifts of grace, love, space, and compassion—offer and receive with boundless generosity.