How Fortunate

Adele Booysen is back in the United States for a visit. For those that don't know her, she is a full-time missionary to Kenya.

As most people reading this blog know, I have taken two journeys to the nation of Kenya to work with orphans in a homeless children’s organization. After seeing the desperate conditions of this third-world country, I have strived to never take for granted those things with which I have been blessed to have. For example, the first time I returned home, I couldn’t believe how large my home seemed, despite the fact that its size is considered to be small in the American housing market. While in Kenya, I visited Kibera – one of the world’s largest slums. Over one million people live on just one square mile of land. Not sure if I've mentioned this before (I probably have), but it is nearly equivalent to ten times the population of Cedar Rapids living on the city’s largest golf course. The average home in Kibera is a scrap lumber and sheet metal structure three feet by four feet in size. Such a building, on average, houses one parent with three to four children. Six of these makeshift residences would occupy the same square footage as my master bedroom.

Adele is serving full time with an organization in Western Kenya. While back in Iowa for a short stay, she was able to share about a recent trip to serve in the nation of Sudan (the picture with this post is from her trip... she is such a great photographer). She said the conditions in Sudan, when compared to Kenya, are like comparing the dire conditions of Kenya to the abundance in America. When the children with whom she works heard about her upcoming trip to Sudan, they wanted to help. Many children brought articles of clothing that they owned to my friend, telling her to give them to other children with a bigger need. These Kenyan orphans are children who can fit all of their earthly possessions into one small suitcase. Yet, they were willing to give up a large portion of what they had because they heard of others who were in less fortunate circumstances. Given the abundance of wealth with which we’ve been blessed in the United States, I’ve been once again reminded of how willing I should be to give a portion from of my own “suitcase” to help those in need.