We’re 8,891 miles away from loved ones in who live in Kenya. 4 years have passed without touching their hands in a firm shake or embracing their warm necks. Regardless of the time or distance, the work we built together as sisters and brothers in Christ continues because it was forged through relationship.
We first met Carolyne in 2006 during a frustrating trip of ministering development efforts in an over-evangelized, yet weakly-discipled community. The efforts needed to spur spiritual growth called for a challenging commitment. God prepared us with two more month-long trips before we moved to Kisumu, Kenya to live among our friends for over 5 years.
Upon making our home on the outskirts of slum areas, we began to keep journals and blog about our experiences. Living among those in poverty was not new to us. We’d served in the inner city of Providence, Rhode Island and held our wedding in a church devoted to street ministry; but our ignorance to Kenya’s deep cultural nuances caused polite friction. We slowly learned to adapt, and Carolyne helped us navigate a meaningful, albeit difficult life as missionaries. An excerpt from our blog recalls the vision God birthed in our hearts and Carolyne’s help in nurturing it to fruition:
‘It’s said among elders that “if you give a good Kenyan woman a seed, she will grow a tree that produces shade for her family, fruit for food and seeds to sell.” We've seen these same good women have a keen sense of finding fragile threads of opportunity, and from them, weave hope.
Our desire is to help them bring their hopes into reality. We work with them to identify their dreams, articulate their stories, and receive training. Then, each are given a seed.
By providing a basic foundation that reveals who Jesus Christ is to them, who they are in Christ, how to share their giftings and principles of good management, we've experienced the joy of watching these women move from victims to contributing members of their communities, happily raising their children instead of having to leave them in orphanages. They're not shy about giving God all the glory for the great things He has done!’
When we left Kenya in 2016 to bring our family, including a new member, back to the states for health and education reasons, (which turned into more than we anticipated, but that’s another story!) we wondered how the work would continue… God reassured us that it wasn’t “our work,” and He had plenty of capable ministers to pull the efforts forward in His time and in His way. Carolyne remained faithful to serve women in discipleship and income-generating labors. She continued to visit those who needed advice, prayer, mentorship, and skills training.
During our visit to Kenya in 2018, there were hopes to start a sewing project for the community in the Resource Center that Among the Least helped build. They did small scale trainings for mamas in the church, but wanted to expand to vulnerable women in the surrounding slums. After covid shutdowns and constant updates with governing officials, they finally reached a successful conclusion. Carolyne, along with Pastor Mary from Covenant of Peace Church and a gifted seamstress, Patricia began a new sewing program.
Our next series of blogposts will walk you into the beautiful process of watching these women move from fear and defeat to knowing their Lord Jesus and His destiny for each of them. The stories will capture the goodness of God who keeps transforming us all, regardless of which side of the world we live on.
