TheDaver.net

Well, It has been almost three weeks since I’ve returned from my trip to Africa, returned from seeing some amazing sights and amazing people. I guess I feel the need to compose some sort of fitting summary for my trip, but the task seems a bit daunting. How can I put into words an experience which I can’t even adequately express to myself? I suppose I’ll try, but please be aware that even as I write, I write knowing that I will fail to find the proper language. Some things, I think, go beyond our ability to express truly. Some things end up being so personally and intimately meaningful that it is pointless to seek words with any hopes of being accurate. Nonetheless, here goes.

I have been asked, more than once, what good it does the children to have us come visit them. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure, but here is what I’ve come to think so far. First of all, these children are appreciative of your prayers. It isn’t like these kids don’t know they are orphans and are leading a somewhat desperate life. The are certainly aware of the long odds life has thrown at them. However, they are also children of faith, and have been taught the value and efficacy of prayer. To hear others are praying for them, interceding for them before God, truly cheers them. When you admit to me that you are praying for the children, and when I relay this information to the children, there is a two-fold effect: 1) The mystical power of prayer kicks in (I won’t even pretend to be qualified to expound on this, so I won’t. I just believe it’s true), and, 2) The children feel “connected.” They are intrigued and encouraged when they hear that people across the ocean, people they don’t even know, are praying for them. Even if prayer didn’t work (theoretically), the very fact of someone holding the kids in their thoughts would be of value.

Another benefit that I see is the effect that the children have on the visitors, and how this effect motivates people, drives people, to want to help. The BCC, relative to many things I’ve seen in Nairobi, is quite nice. Buckner has done a great job of providing a caring staff, nice facilities, and a well-thought out approach to managing the orphanage. But none of this has happened in a vacuum or without funds. I can’t speak for Buckner, since I don’t work for them, but I assume that much of their resources and manpower has come as a result of individuals being moved by what they have experienced on trips such as mine. People on these trips, by all appearances, are so affected by the experience that they are often led to contribute time and money, all of which helps the orphans. In addition, I suspect that many trip participants go home bursting to tell the story of the BCC, which draws more people into involvement, which leads to more funding and resources. It is very evident that when people spend time with these children, their hearts are broken and they are moved to act.

Finally, let me mention one other benefit, this one pointed out to me by Tony Wenani, a remarkable young man who lives at the BCC and serves as minister, manager, coordinator and father-figure. Tony asked me to keep in mind that most of these children have little or no family. Obviously, as orphans, they have no father or mother, but many also have no known relatives. What an empty and disconnected feeling this must be, particularly in a place like Kenya where family is so valued, but which is literally teeming with thousands upon thousands of orphans! How lost these kids must feel at times, how lonely. Our presence (according to Tony), then, provides the children a sort of “family”. Not one to replace a real family, of course, but a group of people who, somehow, are able to stand in as sort of a “proxy” family. These kids, like almost all others I’ve ever known, love to be hugged, love to be told they’re special, love to be paid attention, love to be told they are loved. And as a trip participant, this is what you do. Not because you feel like it’s your duty, or because you think the kids will appreciate it, but because it’s how they make you feel. Speaking only for myself, but confident I’m not alone in this sentiment, I could no more not hug and love these children than I could hold back the tide. The result is that these kids, while without family, do gain a strongly passionate group of advocates, people who consider them to be, in some sense, a part of their family. somewhat like sons and daughters. Although this is no replacement for a loving family, even a foster family, it is often-times more than what they’ve ever had before, and I can’t imagine that it is ever a bad thing to be loved by others.

In my mind, then, these things are some of the contributions to the children of the BCC produced by such trips. I always like to point out that I am often-times wrong about such things, and my take on the matter should be taken with a sideways glance. Perhaps as I learn more and more about Buckner and the BCC, I’ll gain new perspectives and knowledge, both of which I will gladly share.

Hopefully this gives you a fairly clear picture of my take on why these trips are important to the children. Next time I’ll write about why these trips are important to me, and others like me. Till then…

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