When One Trip Changed Everything
In 2015, I could never have predicted how a single trip would rewrite my family's story. What began as a planned mission trip became something far more profound - a transformative experience that would challenge everything I thought I knew about success, joy, and community.
The Unexpected Invitation
When my husband became our church's Interim Missions Pastor, our family embarked on a journey to Kenya that would change us forever. We arrived expecting to play with children and explore a new culture. Instead, we discovered a world of incredible resilience, unbreakable spirit, and radical hope.
Lessons from Naomi's Village
Meeting Bob and Julie Mendonsa - founders of a children’s home called Naomi's Village in Maai Mahiu, Kenya - opened my eyes to what true compassion looks like. They didn't just see a problem; they became the solution. Selling everything they owned, they moved to Kenya to create a home for orphaned children, proving that love knows no boundaries.
What I Learned (That Changed Everything)
Joy is a Choice: I watched people with seemingly nothing radiate more happiness than most people I know with abundance.
Community Matters More Than Comfort: Families sharing small spaces, supporting each other unconditionally.
Gratitude is Transformative: These incredible people found beauty in simplicity.
Dance: This culture celebrates life. They DANCE!
A Personal Reflection
Living in the United States, with its constant noise of "more, more, more," I often struggle. When is enough, enough? . . . My Kenyan friends taught me that true richness isn't measured by possessions, but by connection, purpose, and faith.
An Invitation
This 2025, I am challenging myself to look beyond my immediate circumstances and to consider wants versus needs, to find joy in the journey and to do a better job of investing in the lives of those around me. There's a whole world of perspective waiting to transform my understanding of what truly matters, but I have to look for it, think about it, pursue it. I have to DANCE!
Will you join me in this challenge?
In the meantime, check out @naomisvillage or naomisvillage.org and see how you can make a lasting difference. Who knows, maybe we could travel to Kenya together!:)
