Truth & Light

I stumbled upon a Facebook page entitled "Mukuru Slum News."  I was excited to have another first-person source of information from a place half a world away.  Then I read the byline "Telling the truth about Mukuru is hard but not telling the truth is even harder."  That really got to me.  I have always felt that as a human being knowing about the suffering other humans are going through is my responsibility, possibly even my calling.  When I see this picture, I think not only about the livelihood of those two children.  I think about that source of water, what organisms are in it, what diseases they are at risk for.  I think about what kind of school they are going to, how many years they will have the opportunity to learn, and what their ambitions are.  I think about how many people in Nairobi know that there are thousands of people who lives in the slums, with the potential for an entire generation to be completely abandoned and deprived of the basic amenities.  But I also see hope- I see a glimmer of light.  I am encouraged that they are wearing school uniforms, and hopefully that even a meager about of education will inspire them to dream of a better life.  I see resilience and courage, cultivated out of necessity, but important traits that will carry them through the rest of their lives.

With three weeks left of nursing school, I cannot believe that I have almost reached the light at the end of the tunnel.  For anyone who has known me over the past several years, you can verify that I verbalized wanting to drop out and concluding that I couldn't do it countless times.  It has been a really challenge, but I've made it and I have to say only by God's abundant grace.  He must REALLY want me to be a nurse, because if I had anything to do with it, I would not have come this far.  A lot of people have asked me what I am doing next.  Although my entire being desperately wants to return to Kenya as soon as possible, I realize that my work and contribution would be far more sustainable if I can save and raise more money and start a non-profit before returning.  Even writing that out brings tears to my eyes because my heart longs to just be in community with my beloved Kenyans.  I never thought that God would call me to sacrifice by staying in America....ironic huh?  So I will be looking for a real job in California and beginning to work on starting a non-profit.  I can definitely say these are God's plans and not my own because I would have never imagined taking this road.  In most ways, I have absolutely NO idea what I am doing, but that is what keeps me depending on God.

So as my formal education comes to an end, the door to lifelong learning swings wide open.  Even though essentially nothing about college has gone the way I had hoped or planned, I am grateful for all the experiences that have led me to where I am today.  One of my greatest inspirations Mother Teresa said these words that I will end with:

"There is a light in this world, a healing spirit more powerful than any darkness we may encounter.  We sometimes lose sight of this force when there is suffering, too much pain.  Then suddenly, the spirit will emerge through the lives of ordinary people who hear a call and answer in extraordinary ways."