Upendo Ministries

Six years ago, a ten-year-old girl in fifth grade traveled to Kenya with her family. It was her first time outside of North America, and she was beyond excited to visit Huruma Dolor Orphanage.

Yes, that girl is me. 🙂 It’s incredible to think that six years have passed. In some ways, it feels like I’ve known these people forever; in other ways, it feels like it was just yesterday. I can still picture the first time I drove through the blue gate, children running to surround the vehicle as we made our way to the guest house. Now, the gate is green, and I haven’t driven through it in over a year and a half. Even though it’s been so long since my last visit, my love for these beautiful people has only grown stronger.

At ten years old, I never could have imagined the lasting impact that trip would have on me, or how it would shape the path of my life. That trip set the foundation for my dreams of working with children, not just in Kenya, but around the world. I am so thankful for all the opportunities God has orchestrated since then. I remember in 2022, missing those little ones so much. It was 3 a.m., and I was praying, asking God to make a way for me to return. My parents had said it probably wouldn’t work out. But then, the next afternoon, they called me to Dad’s office and handed me an envelope with the itinerary for a trip to Kenya—and it had MY name on it! I got to spend my 14th birthday with my favorite people. It was a prayer answered in the most beautiful way.

People often talk about hearing God so clearly that it feels audible. It’s happened to me twice in my life, both times in Kenya—once at 4 a.m. under my mosquito net at the orphanage, and again at 6 a.m. as we drove to Maasai Mara. God’s calling on my life has been so clear in those moments, and I am beyond grateful for it. There is no place where I’ve felt more at peace, more sure that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.

I am so thankful for the connections, friendships, and family ties that have grown from the five trips I’ve been blessed to make to Huruma Children’s Home. We are family, and we always will be.

Over these six years, I’ve had to hear about some of my little friends being moved from the school or orphanage without a chance to say a final goodbye. There were friends who graduated without me being there for one last volleyball game. Some I thought I’d never hear from again—but somehow, we’ve reconnected, and now we share photos of our lives. I’ve gained two uncles—Mjomba Peter and Mjomba Elphas—and there’s now a five-month-old named Vanessa growing up in Migori, Kenya.

I pray that soon, God will make a way for me to return to my people. I’ll always be the Luhya girl, because tunapenda kula kuku na ugali. 😉

To those of you in Kenya, I want to say: Asanteni kwa kunikubali kama dada yenu. Ulinifundisha kula kwa mikono yangu, ulinifundisha imani ya kweli inaonekanaje. Watoto walinifundisha jinsi ya kusema matope. Umenifundisha jinsi ya kucheza mpira wa miguu. Ninawapenda nyote kuliko mnavyojua. Nitakuwa dada yako daima.

And to Alphan, the little boy who first had the children calling me “Auntie Nessa” (photos below): Alphan, every trip I’ve taken since you left Huruma has made me miss you more and more. Some nights I wonder where you are and if you’re okay. You taught me what strength and resilience look like, even when you’re just a child. You’ve gone through so much more than any child ever should. Jamini misses you. Every time I go, Carolyne, Babu, Jamini, and I visit the guava tree to talk about you. Tunakumiss, kaka yetu. Nakupenda na nakuombea… Mungu akubariki.

The photos below are photos from my past trips to Kenya… I couldn’t just pick a few. 🙂 ❤