Robin's Thoughts at End of Trip:
Well... here we are sitting in Heathrow Airport in London about to depart for the USA! Our trip is almost complete and what a trip it has been!
As I reflect back on what we've all experienced, it's amazing to think that this venture started almost three weeks ago. We have been to many places, met many friendly people of different cultures and have laughed & cried along the way. The one consistent thing we've all experienced is smiling faces. Virtually everywhere we've visited we've been met with smiles... friendly and hospitable folks who have welcomed us with open arms and with anticipation. Each leg of our trip has had many special moments...
The first leg started in London where we toured the wonderfully historic city visiting Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, had drinks on a river boat floating on the Thames River, and a fantastic dinner and 3 hours of engaging and motivating conversation at a very cool place called PJ's Restaurant & Pub. It was spectacular and a great way to start our experience. It was a high for all of us!
On our second leg of the trip, we ventured to Nairobi where we were honored to be guest at the Women's Political Caucus Group. Bart & Glenna taught 30 high achieving adults the C-3 Communications Program. The transformation from day 1 to day 3 was remarkable. They welcomed us with warm hearts and smiling faces. Everyone was very focused and committed to his or her personal goal of making life better for all Kenyans. It was cool to hear of their grand plans of action. We had great dinners and conversation each night challenging each other to be better people, teachers, friends, spouses, and parents. Each night had special moments we'll cherish forever.
At the end of the week we began our third leg of the journey traveling toward our final destination of the very rural village of Wikondiek. Along the way we experienced tremendous poverty, heartache, sadness, and TERRIBLE roads. It was scary to travel because of the narrow, pot-holed roads (many just dirt roads as major highways!), and PEOPLE. People were everywhere! They were walking along the roads, in the roads, crossing the road and just standing at the edge of the road. FOR MILES! I would forget sometimes that they drive on the left side of the road and it would freak us out seeing a bus traveling right toward us serving to avoid a pot-hole and then instead of going to the left like they would in the US, they move to the right! YIKES! I thought they were going to run right into us, but our driver was swift to swerve to the left and avoid a crash (by inches!). We had to travel at night on one of our trips, which is illegal for non-locals, and it was very trying. Needless to say, we all were closing our eyes gripping deep into our seat as we bounced all around in our van. It was wild!
But the good part about this portion of the journey was the two Safaris’ we experienced and the wonderful accommodations at the Sarova Lions Resort and the Kaboko Bay Resort. Both were very cool and rustic, but elegant. We had a chance to slow down and regroup before we entered the village of Wikondiek. We went on a Safari throughout the national reserve and it was wonderful. In all, we counted upwards of 20 different species of wild exotic animals… from Lions to Zebras – Rhinos to Water Buffalo – Giraffes to Baboons, and many others! It was incredible. We then came back to the resort, recorded an interview with Bart, and relaxed after a great lunch prior to our departure for the village. A nice way to unwind.
Now, the fourth and most important part of our trip was our venture into the back rural area of West Kenya to the village of Wikondiek. This little village has no running water; no electricity; no bathrooms; no restaurants; no bookstores; no gas stations; no grocery stores; NOTHING, but sweet folks trying to survive day to day. The central activity of the village is the primary & secondary school, which has about 160 students. The school is a government school and each child is given a uniform to wear and it’s their only set of clothes. They were the uniform everyday. They live in a very small mud hut with either a grass roof or if they are “wealthy,” on with a tin roof. The tin roof is best because they can catch rainwater running off the roof into a bucket for cooking, drinking, bathing, etc. Otherwise, they only have the muddy river as their source. So you can see how important the tin roof is to a family. Unfortunately, most only have grass roofs. There may be 5, 6, 7, or more living in a two-room hut that may be 10 x 12 at best. The “kitchen” (fire pit) is housed in a separate hut so not to burn down the house. It’s incredible. Yet once again… we see mostly smiling faces. Wow! We are so spoiled! Our pets in America live better than most everyone in West Kenya. Amazing!
Our week here was very special. Bart & Glenna taught two different sessions of the communications program. One to 40 students over 2 ½ days and another to over 60 adult leaders and teachers from surrounding villages for 2 days. Again the transformation was incredible. Both the adults and students were captivated by the teaching and applied Bart’s principles to their message and did a remarkable job.
I spent some time with Griffin playing my guitar and singing to the other 120 students throughout the school. We shared many songs (a lot of Beatles! And some favorite Christian songs as well.) and they really loved it. I don’t think they had ever seen or heard a guitar before. Wow! It was a very special time.
The sweet faces, smiles, and personalities are what I will remember the most. Even in the poverty that surrounds everyone, the attitude was hopeful. I just pray that I won’t forget the feelings these wonderful folks gave to me while visiting their village. I know that there will be changes in my life that will come from this experience. I promise to be more responsible with how I spend money, be aware of the needs of others around me and to be pro-active in helping others no matter what the circumstances.
This trip affected me in a great way! I’ll never forget what we saw, felt, and lived.
Thank-you Bart, Glenna, Griffin, Mathew & Mission Africa!
I promise to Let My Life Speak! Will you?
Well... here we are sitting in Heathrow Airport in London about to depart for the USA! Our trip is almost complete and what a trip it has been!
As I reflect back on what we've all experienced, it's amazing to think that this venture started almost three weeks ago. We have been to many places, met many friendly people of different cultures and have laughed & cried along the way. The one consistent thing we've all experienced is smiling faces. Virtually everywhere we've visited we've been met with smiles... friendly and hospitable folks who have welcomed us with open arms and with anticipation. Each leg of our trip has had many special moments...
The first leg started in London where we toured the wonderfully historic city visiting Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, had drinks on a river boat floating on the Thames River, and a fantastic dinner and 3 hours of engaging and motivating conversation at a very cool place called PJ's Restaurant & Pub. It was spectacular and a great way to start our experience. It was a high for all of us!
On our second leg of the trip, we ventured to Nairobi where we were honored to be guest at the Women's Political Caucus Group. Bart & Glenna taught 30 high achieving adults the C-3 Communications Program. The transformation from day 1 to day 3 was remarkable. They welcomed us with warm hearts and smiling faces. Everyone was very focused and committed to his or her personal goal of making life better for all Kenyans. It was cool to hear of their grand plans of action. We had great dinners and conversation each night challenging each other to be better people, teachers, friends, spouses, and parents. Each night had special moments we'll cherish forever.
At the end of the week we began our third leg of the journey traveling toward our final destination of the very rural village of Wikondiek. Along the way we experienced tremendous poverty, heartache, sadness, and TERRIBLE roads. It was scary to travel because of the narrow, pot-holed roads (many just dirt roads as major highways!), and PEOPLE. People were everywhere! They were walking along the roads, in the roads, crossing the road and just standing at the edge of the road. FOR MILES! I would forget sometimes that they drive on the left side of the road and it would freak us out seeing a bus traveling right toward us serving to avoid a pot-hole and then instead of going to the left like they would in the US, they move to the right! YIKES! I thought they were going to run right into us, but our driver was swift to swerve to the left and avoid a crash (by inches!). We had to travel at night on one of our trips, which is illegal for non-locals, and it was very trying. Needless to say, we all were closing our eyes gripping deep into our seat as we bounced all around in our van. It was wild!
But the good part about this portion of the journey was the two Safaris’ we experienced and the wonderful accommodations at the Sarova Lions Resort and the Kaboko Bay Resort. Both were very cool and rustic, but elegant. We had a chance to slow down and regroup before we entered the village of Wikondiek. We went on a Safari throughout the national reserve and it was wonderful. In all, we counted upwards of 20 different species of wild exotic animals… from Lions to Zebras – Rhinos to Water Buffalo – Giraffes to Baboons, and many others! It was incredible. We then came back to the resort, recorded an interview with Bart, and relaxed after a great lunch prior to our departure for the village. A nice way to unwind.
Now, the fourth and most important part of our trip was our venture into the back rural area of West Kenya to the village of Wikondiek. This little village has no running water; no electricity; no bathrooms; no restaurants; no bookstores; no gas stations; no grocery stores; NOTHING, but sweet folks trying to survive day to day. The central activity of the village is the primary & secondary school, which has about 160 students. The school is a government school and each child is given a uniform to wear and it’s their only set of clothes. They were the uniform everyday. They live in a very small mud hut with either a grass roof or if they are “wealthy,” on with a tin roof. The tin roof is best because they can catch rainwater running off the roof into a bucket for cooking, drinking, bathing, etc. Otherwise, they only have the muddy river as their source. So you can see how important the tin roof is to a family. Unfortunately, most only have grass roofs. There may be 5, 6, 7, or more living in a two-room hut that may be 10 x 12 at best. The “kitchen” (fire pit) is housed in a separate hut so not to burn down the house. It’s incredible. Yet once again… we see mostly smiling faces. Wow! We are so spoiled! Our pets in America live better than most everyone in West Kenya. Amazing!
Our week here was very special. Bart & Glenna taught two different sessions of the communications program. One to 40 students over 2 ½ days and another to over 60 adult leaders and teachers from surrounding villages for 2 days. Again the transformation was incredible. Both the adults and students were captivated by the teaching and applied Bart’s principles to their message and did a remarkable job.
I spent some time with Griffin playing my guitar and singing to the other 120 students throughout the school. We shared many songs (a lot of Beatles! And some favorite Christian songs as well.) and they really loved it. I don’t think they had ever seen or heard a guitar before. Wow! It was a very special time.
The sweet faces, smiles, and personalities are what I will remember the most. Even in the poverty that surrounds everyone, the attitude was hopeful. I just pray that I won’t forget the feelings these wonderful folks gave to me while visiting their village. I know that there will be changes in my life that will come from this experience. I promise to be more responsible with how I spend money, be aware of the needs of others around me and to be pro-active in helping others no matter what the circumstances.
This trip affected me in a great way! I’ll never forget what we saw, felt, and lived.
Thank-you Bart, Glenna, Griffin, Mathew & Mission Africa!
I promise to Let My Life Speak! Will you?
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