{"id":673,"date":"2014-03-25T18:38:33","date_gmt":"2014-03-25T18:38:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maishaproject.org\/christmas\/?p=673"},"modified":"2018-03-05T18:39:11","modified_gmt":"2018-03-05T18:39:11","slug":"do-hard-things","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maishaproject.org\/christmas\/do-hard-things\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Hard Things"},"content":{"rendered":"
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I have a strong desire to live outside my comfort zone and challenge my children to do the same. I believe that\u2019s how spiritual growth happens. I had spent the past 6 mo. reciting passages from the book \u201cDo Hard Things\u201d to my kids (and anyone who would listen) when I heard about the trip to Maisha that some soccer-mom friends were planning. I was instantly drawn to it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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What an opportunity for Aubrey & I to experience a different culture and so many \u201cfirsts\u201d – international travel, a mission trip, working with children in a culture where poverty is the norm, and a running experience that would be amazing.<\/p>\n

\"Robin<\/p>\n

Running is often my metaphor for life. I don\u2019t run with music, and rarely friends. It really isn\u2019t a social thing for me. It\u2019s just what I do, and where I\u2019ve found a lot of peace. Many prayers have been answered in mileage afoot \u2013 probably because I\u2019m still enough, mentally, to truly listen.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I kind of like pain, so I was excited about an opportunity to run in the Rift Valley Mountains in Kenya\u2013 mostly because I wasn\u2019t sure I could do it, and there was no way I could truly prepare for it here in Oklahoma. It would definitely be a test of will. However, the marathon would be the relaxing part \u2013 the only thing besides my daughter that I was accustomed to!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I honestly didn\u2019t know if I could handle the travel, being away from Sam and Jerry, the anxiety of keeping Aubrey safe \u2013 and I wasn\u2019t exactly sure how to prepare for this. Definitely an uncomfortable situation for a person who has spent her life creating, coaching, or following a training plan! After much running and praying, I knew God had a plan for us in this. I just had to trust Him to get us to the start line.<\/p>\n

\"Carrying<\/p>\n

It was important to me that this mission trip not be something I was doing to make me feel better about myself or to check off my bucket list. I wanted to be a \u201clearner.\u201d \u00a0The more I prayed, the more God assured me. The scripture was clear as I read every day. \u201cWithout faith, it is impossible to please God,\u201d \u201cHave I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous\u201d\u2013 that\u2019s pretty clear! I knew this trip was an act of obedience, but God continued to assure me along the way, as a Father would. I felt God would use this trip as a crash course, and, on this side of it, that\u2019s an understatement!!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We were obviously dealing with people in some very impoverished areas, both socioeconomically and from a health standpoint. That, in itself, can unleash a strong flow of emotion, but I don\u2019t want to relive this trip through emotion. These are hard issues, but some very real work is being done through Maisha, with great vision to improve the situations there.<\/p>\n

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We worked daily with kids who probably got their 1 meal\/day at the school, and with women who worked incredibly hard to see that they did. They fed hundreds of kids each day, making a small income, but working at it with all they had. Lesson on Col.3:23!<\/p>\n

The slums were filled with people who were carrying HIV\/AIDS \u2013 most were sick with something else due to their weakened immune system. \u00a0We learned that public HIV\/AIDS education has increased across the board, even to the classrooms of elementary school children. The government provides medicine but it is difficult for the sick to get it. Maisha helps deliver meds and food to the HIV slums. The medicine can be deadly if adequate food is not available.<\/p>\n

\"Lucia<\/p>\n

Prayer, visitation and help with various family needs are also part of Maisha\u2019s ministry. We saw firsthand what it meant to the sick to have someone checking on them and their families. These families can participate in Maisha\u2019s \u201cmicro-financing\u201d \u2013 borrowing money during periods of illness that is repaid when they are again able to work. Money is never given to individuals. Bea expressed that doing so would be detrimental long-term. They need a reason to work and be productive instead of giving in to their illness or expecting a handout.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The vision of Maisha is structured, and implemented to have long-term effect versus throwing dollars at immediate fixes. Maisha gives hope through education, training, and life skills. Without this approach, history will just repeat itself.<\/p>\n

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I think it takes someone like Beatrice who knows what their life is like now, and also what the possibilities for the future are \u2013 because she\u2019s seen and lived both. She is truly an advocate for the village. I admire her patience in seeking the best way to have an impact, to involve others to help in reaching these goals, to create an environment of accountability and self-respect, and to avoid creating one of dependency.<\/p>\n

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It was amazing to meet teenaged kids who were attending high school, and had hopes of attending college and career goals. Many of these kids had been at the orphanage with Mama Grace since they were young children. Their relationship with God was how they saw the world. Eric and Solomon had coached the running team, getting them ready for the race, showing great leadership. It was never about receiving a prize, but representing the Lord they worshipped every day.<\/p>\n

\"Maisha's
\nTaking the older kids to run the marathon and on safari was an incredible experience. These kids stayed in a hotel, ate in a restaurant, and used a flushing toilet for the first time! They expressed incredible gratitude and ran their race with their best effort. I loved that they were able to see what else is out there, and hope it will impact them as they develop their passions and goals, and come to find their true purpose.<\/p>\n

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But these kids were an inspiration to me, too. Their perseverance was real and their character was deep. This \u201crace\u201d was an easy one compared to the challenges they\u2019ve faced as children. A lesson on James 1!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The people of the Maisha village have such a reverence for the Lord. It\u2019s not even questioned. They reminded me that sometimes having material things and not wanting for basic necessities can displace our trust in the Lord. The women of Maisha live to unselfishly provide for their children and each other. They share until everything is gone, and trust God for the next day. They\u2019ve never lived with surplus, so they don\u2019t seem envious or bitter about what they don\u2019t have. They are not used to being pampered or having \u201cdown time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Washing<\/p>\n

When we literally washed their feet, they understood the action, because of what Jesus did. But, they definitely were not used to being on the \u201creceiving end\u201d. They truly exemplify the Proverbs 31 woman!<\/p>\n

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The Maisha community lives as a big family \u2013 where support is action, not intention, and God\u2019s provision and blessings are expected. The value of \u201cfamily\u201d is what I most strongly took away from Maisha. And it is also what I took away as lacking in the country of Kenya as a whole.<\/p>\n

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The living conditions that we saw in Kenya were very poor by our standard. The government is known to be corrupt, withholding much from its people for selfish gain \u2013 almost a disregard for humankind, which can permeate a culture. For most, a fair day\u2019s work is not recognized with fair pay, providing little motivation to aim high. There is a cost for public education for pre-K to high school that is higher than most families can afford, and still buy food. The family unit has been compromised with polygamy and a disregard for marriage \u2013 hence the spread of HIV\/ AIDS and the rise of orphaned children.<\/p>\n

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I saw that Maisha opened its arms to those without families, adopted them as their own. A very different life took place there. Orphans were welcomed into Mama Grace\u2019s home, were given responsibilities, and went to school. Each person and child was valued and had been taught their worth in Christ, as a child of God.<\/p>\n

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The people of Maisha were busy giving \u2013 not waiting to be served. They were happy to receive and quick to express their gratitude. Children had been taught admirable manners and were joyful as they went through their day. They \u201cget it,\u201d where sometimes maybe we\u2019ve come to take our families for granted. They didn\u2019t have an abundance of material possessions, but they had a \u201cfamily\u201d that looked after them.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s easy for us to forget the impact that strong families have on the world. Most of us get our spiritual roots and value system from our family as we grow up. We find the courage to take on new things, confront difficulties, and to work hard towards our goals and dreams from family support. Families go through difficult circumstances \u2013 there are few exceptions to the rule- but God will bless us for making our families a priority during these times.<\/p>\n

\"Robin<\/p>\n

I left Maisha eager to get home to my family, to be a better wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend. Our families matter. I feel like Maisha has just expanded my family, starting with my new \u201csisters\u201d. I have such great respect for every woman that traveled with us, and loved having our girls every step of the way.<\/p>\n

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That\u2019s a huge thing to say about 4 teenage girls!! They got along so well, no drama – just lots of friendship building and hard work toward the goal that they had been challenged with for this trip. So proud of each of them!<\/p>\n

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I can honestly say that each woman had something to teach me \u2013 something that I truly respect in them and desire more of in myself. I look forward to our continued adventures together with our Kenya family. Maisha has become \u201cwe,\u201d not \u201cthem\u201d. This is just the beginning!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I have a strong desire to live outside my comfort zone and challenge my children to do the same. I believe that\u2019s how spiritual growth happens. I had spent the past 6 mo. reciting passages from the book \u201cDo Hard Things\u201d to my kids (and anyone who would listen) when I heard about the trip […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-673","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/maishaproject.org\/christmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/673","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/maishaproject.org\/christmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/maishaproject.org\/christmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maishaproject.org\/christmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maishaproject.org\/christmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=673"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/maishaproject.org\/christmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/673\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/maishaproject.org\/christmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maishaproject.org\/christmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maishaproject.org\/christmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}