I am writing today from my heart. I have no political or social motives, nor do
I have any claim to the solution to the brokenness of this world.
One cannot help but be moved by the Sandy Hook
tragedy. As I have watched media
coverage along with the rest of the country, tears have come as I, too, am
devastated by this loss, especially of so many small children. I was touched by an interview I heard with
one of the teachers describing how she heard the gunshots and ushered her
kindergarten class into the corner for “story time” and preceded to read them a
book. Heroes are uncovered when tragedy
strikes, and for every horrific act, it seems a multitude of individuals
respond by doing something good. Though it
cannot bring back lives that were lost or take away the pain and grief so many
are facing, it does offer a glimmer of hope.
When reflecting on loss of life, I cannot help but think
about Kenya and the hundreds of people around the world who die each day from
malnutrition, disease, and war. The
difference between these lives lost is that no one will see their story on
television, their pictures rarely make the papers, and their families will not
receive an outpouring of support and condolences from a heartbroken country. On one hand, I am grateful these daily
tragedies are not consistently covered by the media because I am not sure any
of us could emotionally bear some of injustices that people around the world
face. But by keeping these realities out
of sight, we have reduced human life to statistics. We vaguely know the impact of HIV/AIDS,
malaria, decades long civil wars, sex trafficking, female genital mutilation,
famine & starvation….but we are hesitant to allow ourselves to get emotionally
involved. I include myself in this “we”….even
though I do deeply care about those suffering around the world, there are times
I just cannot bear to read or watch anything about another place or another
issue, because I already feel so burdened by the slums of Kenya. I think this is where we have to trust that
as we seek the Lord, He will guide our hearts to the places and issues and the
people we are called to care about. No
idea where this line originates from but I like its concise, powerful message…..you don’t have to do everything, but do
something.
Imani Care International is my response to what I
experienced in Kenya. As many of you
know, starting a nonprofit organization was not what I had originally planned
or hoped to do. Yet that was the
direction God was pulling me, and once I surrendered my own ideas, I caught a
vision for Imani and things really just began to fall into place. Though a huge part of how ICI will help to
support health in the Nairobi slums is through financial resources….I am
equally, if not more, passionate about giving a voice and an awareness to
individuals…amazing people I met who have given me so much as I pay witness to their
lives of determination, sacrifice, perseverance, and faith in the midst of some
pretty horrific circumstances. Probably
the thing I most look forward to about returning this March is to be able to
hear more stories and affirm the humanity that we all share. Not everyone can, will, or even should go to
Kenya, but it is my responsibility to share those stories and to give
remembrance to lives that are lost.
I was jokingly asked how much it would cost for someone
to get the clinic to name something after them.
The truth is…it’s not about the money, it’s about the relationship. They are not some people in Africa I send
money to from time to time. They are a
second family, people I talk to on a regular basis and share the joys and sorrows
of life with. Peter, Francesca, Hadijah,
David…they are my friends. I cannot wait
to be reunited with them and look forward to sharing their stories with those
who have generously supporting Imani.
