Upendo Ministries

Today was a mixture of emotions. Going to Maasai Mara with my friends was so much fun but having to say goodbye in the same day was equally hard. This morning we left around 6:30 and had a three-hour drive. We took two vehicles the school van and Timothy Boiye’s van. I went in the school bus with Denis, Mjomba Elphas, Mjomba Peter, Shangazi Roida, Patric Nuhu, Peter Otiende, Kelvin Ndenga, Mercyline, Stacy, and Edith.

It was super peaceful, and I got to see the sunrise. God gave me a special burden to pray for each person specifically in the van, and I’m so thankful he did that because I thought of different hardships they might be going through and so now I can pray for them easier.

God’s been giving me such a peace on this trip. I’ve had so many special moments with Him. He’s been giving me many definite conformations about my future in Kenya. Today we were driving past some zebras and God sent a peace that filled my soul.

I got to see Maasai people on the way. We arrived at the Mara and saw the big five! When we saw the first elephants close up, we had to turn off the van because they are scared of loud noise. Denis was in the front middle seat and said he almost fainted when the elephant walked by.😂

We stopped about an hour in and ate beans, bread, and boiled eggs, along with soda. We took a group photo and some other pictures that I will treasure forever. When we were getting ready to leave, everyone was so dead tired. We left and the roads were bumpy once again! Once we had driven about an hour the van slowed to a stop and we pulled off the road.

Momba Elphas got out and started shaking the van and that’s when I realized we were out of fuel. He got back in, and the van started. Right as we pulled into the fuel station, the van stopped. Patric, Kelvin, and Denis got out and pushed it up to the pump. When we got into Migori, we stopped at Banzi supermarket so Shangazi Roida could get some food for supper.

We arrived at Huruma and got all the students who had helped us (at PCB) together, and we made a reflections video. After we made the video, I went over to the swings where Babu and his lil’ friends were, and one of the boys wrote my name on the ground with water. He is so cute!

We went down to Mjomba Peter’s house and supper was so good! We had pilau, kuku, sukuma wiki, kabichi, soup, green beans, pineapple, and mangoes. It tasted so amazing! I chowed down since it was my last meal in Migori.

Mjomba Peter gave fabrics to mom, Kendra, and Aunt Julie, but not to me. His words meant more than any gift could. He said they didn’t get me fabric because I am not a guest; I am one of their girls. This trip I found out the orphans and the others feel like I’m family. It truly makes me feel good to know that, because that’s exactly how I feel. As we were leaving Mjomba Peter’s house, Denis told me that he would miss me so much. Dad said that Denis is my brother. I couldn’t agree more!

We got back to the compound and I started saying my goodbyes… or my “see you laters”. Linel started getting emotional which made me start tearing up. And Princess, of all people started crying. I got to see Jamini before we left, and I was so grateful for that. I asked dad if we could have devotions with the children so we did.

While they were singing, I started balling. We got up to say goodbye and I didn’t even get two words out of my mouth before the endless tears came. Same were laughing, some were aww-ing, and others were crying with me. Dad gave me a hug and Mjomba Peter had a say and repeat with the children.

“Nakupenda sana! Tutakuombea.” “We love you so much! We will pray for you.” I could only get two sentences out of my mouth. “You are not just my friends; you are my Family. Nawapenda sana.”

Benson was crying, Kathrine was crying, Elphas was crying, Philomena was crying, and Kelvin was crying. They all came up to me after devotions and said “Nakupenda sana” I said “Nawapenda sana pia” back and it couldn’t be more truthful. They are my brothers and sisters. They are some of my best friends. They encourage and lift me up when I am weak. I love them so much.

We passed out glow sticks, so I helped them assemble it before we went into the house for the night. All good things must come to an end, and Lord willing I will come back.

God, please bless your beautiful people. Help them to learn of you and follow you with their whole lives. Help me to be an example for them to be able to follow. Give me the words to say and help me to act as you would. Thank you so much for answering my prayer of coming back soon. I love working for you.

-Vanessa Brooke