OH MY GOODNESS. There is so much to say about these little faces. I have decided to to a couple of blog posts just briefly explaining our time and some of the projects that we worked on while we were in kenya Africa. Gosh, it’s so great to have a blog, where I can use it like a journal at times.
First of all I wanted to take a minute and deeply thank EVERYONE that helped us get to Africa. I mean EVERYONE. There were a TON of you that supported us financially and in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you soo much. We could not have gone without your support.
So obviously you can imagine that Africa was AMAZING. Anyone that has ever come back from a trip like that has said it has changed their lives… and it has. It is so hard for me to look at these precious messy little faces and think that the are ORPHANS because of one reason or another. They all have CRAZY different stories, from being hung in a tree and almost starved to death, to living on the streets because their parents were dead or drunkards, aids, or just adandoment all together. These kids have gone through more than you and I could ever imagine.
Its interesting because you and I live in America and we come over feeling bad for these kids. After spending a little time with them i realized that they know alot more about the REAL things in life than I have heard any American talking about.
These young children are wise and have had to grow up fast in life because of how they were treated and now how they live. They all take care of eachother. They are truly like brothers and sisters, sharing clothes, shoes, food, toothbrushes, deodorant, haha whatever they can to get by. There are a little over 150 children in the home ranging in age from babies to 21 year olds. They usually sleep 2-3 to a twin sized bed. AAHHH!!! It was really neat watching the care the children had for eachother.
One thing that we COULD offer to the kids was touch, love, a listening ear, and attention. There are only a few adults and teachers around campus so getting hugs and love from older people is hard to come by. AND THEY NEED IT. I got the opportunity to take a few of the teenage girls out and do a mini little photoshoot with them. I spent time posing, giving direction, telling them how looked beautiful they looked, and then showing them the photos. They were all smiles and giggles!! So happy that someone was giving them positive attention and love.
The rest of these photos are just an overview of your trip; some of my favorite shots. I have more stories, and projects to tell soon. And a really special story about the girl we sponsor and finally met on this trip. It blows my mind that such little things can change lives. I hope you enjoy these photos. OH… and brian and I were on the RED team, and WE WON!!! haa.
DID YOU SEE THE HEARTS ON THE TREE TRUNK? The children call those “loves” not hearts. haha. too cute. Like always I love to hear your reflections, thoughts, comments, and favorites in the comment section. Thanks for reading even though I am a TERRIBLE writer and speller.
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Promise that sounds so amazing!! What a blessing it was for you to have the opportunity to do that. All those kids are sooo cute! I love that about the tree trunk that is so cool, I hope i can do a trip like that someday
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
How cool!! Beautiful pics Promise;) What an amazing experience that must have been.
September 2nd, 2009 at 6:50 pm
These photos are amazing. I kind of lurk your blog and am so inspired by your art/photography. I also am a photographer, well at least amatuer. Regardless, my co-worker, a nurse, is moving indefinetly to Africa to help with orphans in Uganda. I am trying so hard to save money to go visit her and to help out as much as I can. Your photos make me want to go that much more.
September 2nd, 2009 at 7:04 pm
OH Becky!!! keep saving. You most definately should go. thank you for saying such sweet things. You will just fit right in and love it there. trust me.
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:20 am
um so this made me that much more excited to GO..to do His call on our lives and to use the amazing gifts He has already blessed me with..
promise i am so impressed by your desire to really serve the Creator with the creative blessings He is obviously pouring into you..keep it up sister. your work is definitely making a difference
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:06 am
Congratulations on your trip! i’m sure the lives of those kids were so blessed by you being there, and i’m sure your lives were SO blessed as well!:)
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Wow, I love the shots Promise.. you really captured the heart of Huruma!
So many familiar faces and places… beautiful!
I’ve actually been talking with Mama about helping additional volunteers visit Huruma. My long-term goal is to set up a website that connects people here (N.America) with great places like Huruma to love and serve others. It’s still a ways off.. but we’ve been taking steps and making moves. Would you be open to having some of your pictures appear in the ‘gallery’ section of Huruma’s profile? You did a really great job profiling the simple beauty of that place…
Keep up the awesome work.. may God’s creative flow keep inspiring you always!
Peace, love and grace..
Jason
September 3rd, 2009 at 5:04 pm
September 4th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
promise–is that your husband with you in the photos? I SOOO want a photo of my hubby holding a little african child’s hand…that pic makes me melt!! GREAT WORK HERE!
September 4th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Haley!! YES that is my hubster. haha. isnt it cute? such a great time we had there. thanks for the tweet as well.
love it.
September 4th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
I love this post… I miss the international mission field… but I have one question…. HOW did you still have awesome hair in AFRICA?!!! When I was in Thailand… I did NOT look THAT good!
September 4th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
haha. you are sweet Kate. but i have for sure seen better days. no electricity. hahaa. p.s cant wait for your new blog. Drew told me he was hookin you up with a killer design.
September 5th, 2009 at 1:15 am
I think it’s a most beautiful thing that one of the first things you newly marrieds do is a mission trip. You never cease to amaze me and I don’t even know you all that well.
May the Lord bless you and your marriage abundantly as you serve HIM, HIS children, and love one another!
September 5th, 2009 at 1:59 am
Well I think that you and Bri ought to adopt the four children in the picture with you…and I could be their Grandma. hahaha
Lovely pIctures Promise. My favorites are (of course the ones with you and Bri in them) but I love the heart and soul that you captured in the photos. I love the smiles, the beautiful eyes, and the lovely colors of the materials there..bright and fun designs.
September 5th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Love the b+w one of the girl with chain! As a family we reach out to a neighborhood here in Ottawa that is largely African immigrants. I feel all the time as if I truly am a missionary in another country and am just waiting for the opportunity to bring them all home with me! Love the photos!
September 19th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Wow. I don’t have words for how great this is.
January 19th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Hey Promise…I was just reading some of your posts from this past year and came across this post. Your pictures are gorgeous and really capture the beauty in those precious children. I’m going to be traveling to Kenya in March with Compassion so this post got me even more excited!
January 23rd, 2012 at 4:27 pm
Hello! My name is Iris Hager, I am a member of the Kenya Mission Trip for July with Cornerstone, and I have some questions for you about possibly using your images as fundraisers for my trip. I want to make sure it is 100% OK with you of course! If you are available to talk my # is 480-324-6955. I am sure that you would be a amazing resource to help me to my goal of going to Huruma this summer. Your work is amazing!