1st post

How does one go about describing Africa, more specifically, Kitale? In my allotted time here I've have found that question to be rather complicated, yet some how, evident. For example, there is a place known as Oasis of Hope (dedicated to the rehabilitation of street kids and placing them back into the fold of society) which every day of the week, opens its doors to any and all kids who find themselves on the streets. Boys and girls come to learn (an informal education), eat, play games with one another and most importantly, they come in search of a shelter that allows them to forget about the harsh complications of life that fester outside the gates. Some of these children have homes and families, but many of these mothers, and or fathers, just can't find the energy or desire to care for them. Others have no one and must fend for themselves; doing jobs no one else will do so as to pay for their rent, in order to survive the harsh reality that can be Kitale. And some have no where else to find comfort than in a container of glue, the cheapest and most common drug that fries the sensory systems of their brains. It helps them escape the cold of the night, the hunger of the day, and all other evils that fester on the streets. And yet, while on the grounds of Oasis, some thing happens, all that is gone. Their concerns dwindle down to who's winning at soccer, who's turn is next to jump rope, or if lil Suzy like you back. Here at Oasis, they are simply children.

Among these children is a boy with dark black skin, eyes like unused coals, and a smile that nests in your memory, his name is Samuel. Even at the young age of eleven he must put on the facade of the tough guy for the sake of his reputation among his friends, but that fades away with time and his real persona emerges. During my first encounter with him, he seemed reserved, staying at a distance in the company of his group but close enough to be able to observe the new white development in his world; as if he where a scientist cautiously intrigued with a dangerous specimen, discussing observations with his colleagues. During the duration of my encounter i discovered where there was trouble, he or his band were surely in the vicinity. But as the photos will show (we let the kids take our cameras and take photos) something more was behind this lil ruffian; as if he had to be this way, as if he wasn't quite completely himself.

The week progressed and i decided to come back to Oasis and help teach second grade (mind you, there is no "age limit" for your grade) and of course our protagonist, Sam, as he likes to be called, was there. He was a familiar face, for we played a few games on our first meeting, and quickly stood out. As i taught... let me rephrase, attempted to teach, he would answer a few questions and distract himself for the others, at the expense of those around him; as they say, the squeaky wheel gets the oil. In turn, God grabbed my attention and focused it on him and really placed in my heart a desire to see this boy succeed, even if it was in something so trifle as basic mathematics. And on one particular day, arithmetic was the subject, i had the students write a few questions on their sheet of paper and bring it up to me when they finished; so as to review the answers with them. When Sam stepped up and we went over his work and i found a few errors. Going over the finer concept of adding large numbers, together we found the solutions. Slowly, like anticipating the dawn, i noticed him understanding and something happened in that moment. He took off his mask, the sun began to shine, and he smiled. It wasn't his typical mischievous grin or a smirk but, a genuine smile and a joy of accomplishment. A smile of pride for achieving something he wanted and finding a new reliance in himself. In this moment I truly understood the purpose of God's intended path for me in Kenya. He made it so evident that it wasn't about me, it wasn't about my purpose at all, it wasn't that I was in Africa, but rather it was about Sam. These complexities disappeared with a smile, from a boy who could believe in himself.