Dani Blogs-Kenya: What’s in a Name?

Kenya: What’s in a name???

There’s no way to fully describe to anyone what this trip has done for everyone involved. Personal growth and development is rampant at our camp. The team has come together and accomplished simply amazing things. The children at the school and orphanage are now our friends. I remember sitting at dinner at what was SUPPOSED to be our last night in Dago as one of our team members Agata summed up how she felt about her experience very well. She said, “I went from being a Muzungu to being Agata.” Muzungu is what we are affectionately called by locals here….it simply means white person. Some may be offended by this but it is quite endearing. However, after two weeks we were no longer Muzungus…I am Dani, Andrew is Andrew and Agata is Agata….however….Jeff is now “RASTAAAAAA”….LOL. We began to forge along to our second project 6 hours away in Bukura to work with a youth group from Kibera we had bonded with our first day in Nairobi. I was excited because I was going back to stay with the family that I had lived with last year….they had been preparing for an entire year for our arrival. We arrived in the village very late…we were exhausted. As we pulled up to the oh-so familiar gate we heard drums…then singing…then we saw KCYP bust out their famous infectious energy as we were greeted by a multitude of people. We sang and danced our way into their compound. Energy was HIGH. I hugged and kissed all the family I had been missing for so long. There was more singing….then more dancing…then a prayer as we all dispersed throughout the two homes to settle into our rooms. KCYP and ASB blended and became one as team lines blurred….my dreams were coming true….soooo MANY people’s dreams were coming true….the plan had worked!!! We couldn’t believe it was actually happening. But…some one somewhere had other plans. I awoke the next morning to be greeted by my Kenyan mom Sarah. We reminisced over a cup of chai as she told me all that she had accomplished since my last visit. Then someone from our team told me I needed to go talk to Jeff….apparently something had gone missing. As I entered their room I could feel the energy, my body became heavy as I saw the faces of my fellow team mates. “All our money and camera’s are gone.” This one act of…desperation?…greed? selfishness?….hate???….sent ASB on a course that was not anywhere in the plans. Danger lurks everywhere and thank goodness no one was hurt. After hours of police investigation, tears, remorse and helplessness the majority of the team felt they could not stay and so we made the difficult decision to leave Bukura and return to Dago, the place we had called home for the past two weeks. Everyone involved was devastated and we are certain that NO ONE involved with the project was part of the theft. We suspect that someone worked with the night guard and pulled off an incredible heist…..at least they didn’t get their passports. We sat with KCYP and all the family and said a prayer before we left. Much time had passed before we eventually departed and by that time many had reconciled the occurrence. I, as many others have chosen to believe that the universe is protecting our team from a much worse scenario that may have occurred had we stayed for the duration of the trip. Many have been affected by this single act of unkindness however it will not stop us from continuing on. We arrived back in Dago later that night, tired, sad and hungry. Morning time was filled with mixed emotions as many team members branched off in different directions to contemplate what had just occurred. I was sitting with Emma, future ASB leader and good friend of mine. We were discussing some differencing of opinions surrounding the situation and had come to a happy medium. All of a sudden Felix, (a boy from the school that stole my heart the first time we met) showed up with his cronies and sat down beside us. He said, “Dani, I drew something, can I show you?” I replied of course and prompted him to unfold the recycled paper he clenched in his hand. I opened it up and my heart did some flips…this child has that effect on me….lol. There was a picture of the orphanage, an airplane, a helicopter, flowers and much more. Above the drawings was the name “Felix” paired with various ASB member names. I looked at Emma and we both knew we were exactly where we were supposed to be. We sat with the boys, our friends…we know all of their names….and their know ours!!! Although my empathy for KCYP and my family in Bukura still lingers with strength I am trusting that there is a higher purpose for our variance in plans. Sometimes we must trust the universe and the signals it sends us, because when we listen, when we pay attention to what the world around us wants….we tend to end up right where we are supposed to be. This TEAM has come TOGHETER through it all and we are moving forward to do more good work in Dago. I remember the night we got back. I had no appetite and my energy was low. I went alone into the kitchen where my ladies where at. Heleda said, “You are alive, that is all that matters…your life…you….you are Akini.” She remembered the Luo name she had given me, I felt at home, I felt loved, and I felt very alive. So what is in a name?….more than any of us could have ever imagined….here in Kenya…names have the ability to heal, teach and show perspective.

I’ll keep you posted

Until next time

Dani