Friends in Kenya

 One of the best things about having gone to Kenya lots of times is that I have friends there.  I love seeing people that I have known for years.....as well as making new friends.  

At Mgalani Boarding school, sweet Luvuno is the accountant.  Rinda met her when she was about 6 years old, a little girl leading her class in a rousing song.  Her skills, even at that age, marked her as a leader and no one was surprised when she did qualify for a Kenya Keys sponsorship. She completed college and got a certificate in accounting. Her bright smile lights up the room.  You'd never know that she is a single mom of a child with special needs and also the sole support of her mother and sister.  Luvuno is a woman of steel and I love and admire her!

Jospeh Mbotte has been our driver on each of my 7 Kenya trips.  He has one of those Kenyan megawatt smiles.  Last year I met his sweet wife Mary.  This year it was so fun to meet his daughter, Joy.  I've heard about her since she was a 5 years old and now she is a Form 4 or what we would call a 12th grader.  Joy says that she has heard about me all of her life and was excited to meet me!

Joy is the perfect name for this young woman! She's mature and personable and just a total 'joy' to be around.

I have been praying that she did well on her all-important exam and can study either nursing or IT in college.

I've been friends with Abdallah Ruwa for many years.  Last year I met his entire family.  On this trip I was visiting a 3rd grade listening to a rousing rendition of "Old McDonald Had a Farm" as a part of a lesson on domestic animals.  The teacher who just radiated happiness was Abdallah's wife.  Lucky students to have such a joyful teacher.

When I was in Kenya in 2019, our whole team noticed a young girl at Egu Primary School.  She was a talented dancer and gave several animated dramatic performances.

She's the dancer closest to Kenya Keys staff member Clemence.  

When she danced and performed at the Girl's Conference, in front of several hundred people, she had a problem with her skirt.  The button had fallen off and she had to hold it up with her hand, not an easy task while dancing.  Two of our team members managed to find her a safety pin and saved the day.

Her expressions were priceless as she recited a story to us.

Unfortunately I couldn't remember her name but I did have a photo of her from that 2019 trip so I asked Clemence, who grew up in the same community, about her.  Turns out she is attending secondary school at Mackinnon Road, which is a school we planned to visit.

Clemence got her out of class so that I could chat with her.

She is not a Kenya Keys sponsored student.  Her illiterate father is managing to pay her school fees.  He's a man who values his bright, talented daughter.  That's not always true in Kenya!  The school principal told me that she is excelling in her studies and is the star of the drama department.  No surprises there!

Did you know there is an International Friendship Day? 

I didn't until I googled and found these perfect quotes.

 If you want to celebrate next year, it's July 30th!

Friendship is the passport to a borderless world.

In the tapestry of life, friends are the most colorful threads.

Global hearts, united by friendship's art.

Friendship knows no distance, only connection.

A true friend is a gift that transcends oceans and skies.