ANYWAY, back to the point of this post: Approximately 9 months (a little less, actually) from now I am going to KENYA. KENYA BELIEVE IT??? (Also please be reassured that there will be no shortage of clever ways in which I can use the word "Kenya" throughout the next year or so).
There has been something about all of Africa that has captured my mind and heart since I was very young.
When I was 15, I had a vivid dream that I was on a flight headed somewhere in Africa (likely Uganda at that time). I was in a small plane, writing in my journal about the experience, and as the plane touched down I remember the most distinct feeling of I'm home. That dream hasn't left my head since.
Fast forward four years to last spring, when I saw a poster in my dorm building that said "Always wanted to go to Africa?" (Heck. Yes. was the answer in my head) The postscript said "Semester in Kenya. Designed for Education Majors."
I attended the Semester in Kenya informational meeting about a year ago and wrote my name down on the interest sheet, but mostly came to the conclusion that it wouldn't work out since it was such a new program, was intended for education majors, and I've been pretty set on graduating in 4 years, which didn't seem possible if I were to take a semester to go abroad. Basically, it just didn't seem to fit into the "plan"...aka my plan.
A wonderful thing about the social work program that I'm in is that it allows graduates of the program to graduate with advanced standing. This means that we do more field education than most undergrads, so we can go on to get a master's degree in just one year after graduating. It also means that our final semester of school is spent solely in field education, which is a 400 hour internship, usually completed in a social service agency near our school. Because I need to do only this internship my final semester of school and won't have any classes left to take, a semester at a university in Kenya seemed rather impractical.
Fast forward some more to this past fall, just a few days after I arrived back to campus. My dear friend Rochelle (also a social work major) and I were enjoying an evening walk and sat down on some steps behind an office building. Our conversation turned from catching up on our summers to how much we really wanted to go to Kenya. Just at that moment, Jeff, the director of the Semester in Kenya Program, walked out of the office building (especially odd timing since school hadn't even begun yet and it was late evening). Rochelle yelled "Hey, aren't you the Kenya guy?" We explained to Jeff that we're both social work majors who would need to complete our internships during the semester that would be spent in Kenya. To our surprise and delight, he said he would look into it.
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| Roch and I, not in Kenya yet (as is apparent by our winter apparel!) |
This was followed by months and months of lots of questions, lots of prayers, and not hearing really any answers at all. (We seriously brought it up probably every week to our professors). Rochelle and I both filled out a preliminary application and were approved to "study off-campus" (I think this basically means we are unlikely to fail classes off campus or damage the college's reputation), but that's been really all the information we've gotten. We've since seen some of our friends off to Kenya for their semester taking classes there, and have enjoyed seeing and hearing updates via Facebook and Skype--they're having some incredible experiences!
The lack of answers as far as whether or not Rochelle and I could go was so significant, though, that just about a month ago, we were told to plan for housing and an internship next year in this area because it was assumed that Kenya would just not work. The program was too new, it wasn't designed for social work majors, we had no way to get from the university campus in Nairobi where students in the program live to our internship sites each day, etc. etc. Basically, a few weeks ago my heart that has been set on Kenya for the last few months was feeling pretty low.
Until...the Thursday before Easter Jeff (the program director) was back in the country to make plans for next year's program. I had to get home early that day and unfortunately missed meeting with him, but I did receive pretty much the best phone call of my life from the one and only Rochelle who, upon my answer, yelled "WE'RE GOING TO KENYA!!!!!!"
Not only have our internships been approved to take place in Kenya, but Rochelle and I are two of three Trinity students so far who have specifically been invited to this program for next spring. Because getting from the university campus to our site could be a bit of a challenge (as far as long travel times), Rochelle and I will be at the same site, where we'll live Monday-Thursday, and then live at the university with the other students in our program Friday-Sunday. Proposed sites that we're most interested in include a refugee camp and an orphanage (which would be ideal, since I want to work in adoption in the future!)
I realize now that so many parts of my life over the past few years have been leading up to spending this time in Kenya. When I had that dream nearly 6 years ago, I never actually thought it would come true...I had absolutely no idea at that point how spending time in Africa could possibly fit into my life. Spending last summer away from home and serving gave me a sense of independence and adventure like I'd never experience before, and filled my heart with so much joy that I was reassured that I will find joy no matter where I am, as long as I'm serving. I think that is what my life seems to be meant to be about.
I absolutely cannot wait to begin this adventure in Kenya (and to share it on this blog!) God's already worked everything out this far--who knows what else He's up to for my future!
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