It's So Much Better To Own Something Than Be Owned. The Launch Of A New Project.

In the last three months, as I have read and researched more and more about trafficking in persons, I have found proof of what I have suspected to be true: one of the largest factors of trafficking in persons--especially in the developing world--is poverty. A lack of means to provide for their families leads people to accept "too good to pass up" employment offers, often at the expense of freedom and dignity.

If only 2% of trafficking victims are ever rescued (and 80% of those rescued will go on to be trafficked again), if a true count of victims is unknown (and seemingly unknowable) because the crime is so well-hidden, then the most promising solution must be prevention.

And so, as I've shared before, I'm working on a conference to help educate the local community; to give them the tools to identify and avoid trafficking situations.

But I'm not stopping there! 

With a stable source of income, families and their children will never need to search for employment in places that may take advantage of them. And so, I am launching a program to provide business opportunities to local families. I believe it's better to own something than be owned by someone.

We have chosen four families of various size, location, and skill--several families of students from Precious Kids Center School--all families we know and trust--to be our test-pilots.

We've also identified SO MANY MORE families who will benefit from this program. (And know that there are so many more we have yet to meet!) Just think: for $30 (a one-time gift of $30!) we can alter the trajectory of a family's life!

Each of these families are given the choice of three business options: chicken, seeds, or a shop. They have been given the starting block for their business under one condition: they are to return a small portion of their earnings to the program to go toward helping jump-start another family's business.

Let's meet these families, shall we?!

Mama and Baba Boniface (Steve and Jenny) // seeds

Steve and Jenny were the first stop on our tour. And, my, was it beneficial! They have three boys, the oldest, Boniface, attends Precious Kids Center School for an education suited to his needs. These two look-after a small piece of land for a local family, and with their knowledge of farming, will thrive with a small plot of their own. They gave us a tour of the grounds they keep and estimates on cost of seed, the length of time from planting to harvest, and an educated guess on how much profit various crops could yield daily, weekly, and monthly. To say it was the right first-stop would be an understatement.

We will set him up with the seeds for a few of the most popular-selling vegetables. Not only will he be able to grow these vegetables to both sell and feed his family, but he will also have the opportunity to teach a tangible skill to his sons. (He's also agreed to help train those who are interested, but not yet proficient in farming!)

Mama Rose // chicken

Mama Rose and her husband (not pictured) have four children, three boys and one girl. The oldest (Rose, seen here) and youngest (Collins) attend Precious Kids Center School to receive a specialized education suited to their developmental needs. The middle two boys attend local secondary schools. Her husband is a teacher, but due to a nation-wide teacher's strike, there has not been a paycheck in that house for about two months. With four sets of mouths to feed, school fees to pay, uniforms and supplies to purchase, not to mention all of the costs of keeping a home running, this family is in need of income that will help meet their financial needs without taking away from the physical and emotional needs of her children.

She's chosen to raise chickens. We will provide her with four hens and one rooster, a coop, and a small bag of feed. She can collect and sell eggs, (also using some to feed her family!) while also breeding additional chickens to sell. The first four will be returned to the program to help another family, but the rest are hers to keep or sell as she sees fit.

Mama Rispah // shop

Mama Rispah is a single mother of five daughters (several that I have known since I worked with Oasis of Hope.) Over the years, her children have returned home only to drop-off a grandchild before heading off again. Two of her grandsons, Chris and Steve, attend Precious Kids Center school.

Mama Rispah recently used a small amount of money to begin a shop outside of her home. She has a great location in her neighborhood--just around the corner from the local water source--so there is a lot of foot-traffic along her road. She was selling charcoal when we visited, so when we offered to purchase some other commonly-used items for this community, she made a short list: soap, laundry detergent, matches, salt, and tea.



When I visited a week after dropping off these items, she excitedly told me how well things were selling. She also mentioned that, with some of the profits she made last week, she was going to purchase a few other items to sell. We have agreed upon a small amount of money to be returned each week for the first month of this shop, once again, to go back to the project and begin a business for another family.

Allan, Paul, and Jackson // seeds

These three boys have been living alone for the last few years, scraping by to finish their education. This November, they will sit for the National Exam that marks the end of secondary school and, officially, enter adulthood. To give them a sustainable source of income as they make the leap from student to grown-up, we (with some much needed coaching from Baba Boniface) are going to set up a small (1-2 crop) farm.

They will be able to plant and tend to the crops while they finish school and, by the time school closes for the year, the crops should be fully grown and ready to eat and sell in local markets to pay for the items they will need to run their home while they await exam results and, potentially, begin University. Like the other families, we've agreed upon a small amount to be returned to the program each week for the first month of sales, in order to help launch a new business for another family.

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Please be praying for these families. For wise business choices, for generous spirits as they give back to help additional families, for protection over the plants and animals. Pray that they would be surprised by the abundant blessings that come in the first few months of these businesses. Please also be praying that I would have wisdom as to the next guiding steps for these existing families (savings, business growth, etc.) and discernment going forward as we choose the next set of families to partner with.

If you are interested in being part of this new project--interested in giving $30 to change the life of a family--there are donation options on your right or you can email me: allihibb{at}gmail.com for more ways to give.

Two Pieces Of Exciting News

//// FIRST ////

Yesterday, I met with a woman named Susan who has agreed to partner with me for our very first women's conference! We met for coffee and mapped out a timeline, to-do list, and rough budget for the event. I sent the first of many emails today and am so excited to choose a date in early November and really move at this dream!! Thanks for your support and encouragement leading up to this point and for your continued support over the coming months.

//// SECOND ////

Thanks to the generosity of an organization called Reaching Beyond Ourselves, I am happy to tell you that, as of today, all financial support is now completely tax deductible(!!!)

If you would like to give to my time and ministry here in Kenya (a one-time or monthly contribution) you can do so by mailing a check made out to Reaching Beyond Ourselves to:

Allison Hibbard
c/o Reaching Beyond Ourselves
39 Donatello
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

Truthfully, any amount is helpful and appreciated.

{This organization does not keep any of the funds. 100% of the contributions will be used in the field.}


//// //// //// //// //// 

I am so grateful to those of you that have been part of this adventure...prayerfully and financially. I have already learned so much and know that there are even more exciting things to come!

Please continue to follow along here, on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. (I'm also on Snapchat as allihibb) AND consider coming for a visit sometime. We'd love to have you!

The Two-Month Mark

Hi friends.

Well, today is September 1st, which means I've been here for two whole months now! It's crazy how quickly time has passed!

The last eight weeks have included so much laughter and joy...so many pictures and dance parties and snuggles. They've included rainstorms, cartwheels, bike races, jumping rope, re-learning to drive a car, my first jigger and first women's Bible study (which was also my first night staying alone in the house and the day I locked myself out of the house), a new kid at the center, several trips to hospitals, medical clinics, and slums, visits to homes of kids we love (and a few we've only just met!), countless replays of Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift, and quite a few teams from all over America. (Oh, and definitely fewer showers than you'd think!)

We have really had a lot of fun.

The last two months have also included a lot of tears. A lot of lying awake at night with questions about my future, worries about finances, and insecurities about what's to come. And a lot of space to process things that I had emotionally bypassed in the months leading up to moving here. 

More than anything, these two months have brought up the old wrestling match in my head and my heart over the definitions of value and success and identity. (Ugh, if I have to learn this lesson one more time...!) Each day that I don't do what I said I was moving here to do, I feel like a failure in the eyes of those who helped me get here.

Thankfully, God has been shifting my thoughts. I have had to remember to consistently surrender what I'm doing here, how long I am here for, and how quickly I want to make and move at plans while He has consistently reminded me that He has it all under control and following His plans will make my time here so much better than anything I could attempt to arrange. 

Five years went by in-between placing on my heart the dream to end human trafficking and my first visit to explore the possibility of acting on it. It's been two months of living here and I'm learning Swahili at a reasonable rate, making connections to women both in the slum and in local leadership, and finding space to listen to God's voice.

I'm moving toward the goal...even if it's at a MUCH slower pace than I'd like.

I have been wanting to write with a little more vulnerability here, but wasn't sure how to share these thoughts in the midst of feeling them. I didn't want to give the impression that things have been terrible, appear ungrateful for my time here or seem uncertain that this is, still, exactly where God wants me to be.

I firmly believe that God is at work, in me and in this community. That He is good and near and faithful. I want to believe this more deeply...

They have been a stretching two months, to say the least. And I'm slightlynervousbutalso looking forward to being stretched, pruned, and reshaped more in the months to come. Thank you for following this adventure and for your words of encouragement (to me and to the people I'm working with!) You can't possibly know how much strength, comfort, and confirmation they have brought to my heart.

I'm thankful to be able to call you my people.
Love, Allison

A Photographic Tour Of Kipsongo Slum

As I mentioned, there are a few things that only happen while a team is in town and, fortunately for us, we are invited to participate. One of these is a medical clinic. Technically, the staff and nursing students at Sister Freda's run clinics like these several times a year, but we don't typically join them. 

This particular clinic was special to me because it was being held in Kipsongo, the slum that I have been working to build relationships in. As Freda and her team set-up and organized the lines, our team took a tour of the slum.

It began with this woman sleeping (more likely passed out) in between the homes...so we knew from the start that this would be an eventful morning.

Steve has been visiting this slum for years--I first came with one of his teams in 2004--so he has many, many friends in the neighborhood. One of these friends is Lucy. Awhile back, when this slum was really crazy (it's still not super safe--especially in the evening when the local alcohol flows like wine...) Lucy's throat was cut in the middle of the night. The blade missed her jugular vein by a few inches and she was able to seek medical care in time to save her life, but she carries a large scar along with her memory of that night. This morning, as we talked with her and saw her home, Steve mentioned how thin and unhealthy Lucy looked. He gave our friend Patricia, who was leading our tour, money and instructions to take Lucy to the hospital to be tested for HIV and seen by a doctor. On Wednesday, we heard that she tested negative for HIV(!!!) The doctor said she needs a balanced diet and should give up alcohol, but is otherwise healthy.

We wandered through the homes until Steve caught our attention once more. He stopped us in front of a house and told us about the Ukrainian Pastor, Gennadiy, who had built this home with his own two hands. He spent an entire day building, slept through this night on a mat in front, and woke up early to finish. It still stands and is a safe, hygienic home for this family.

The first time I visited Kipsongo, the entire slum was filled with 'homes' like this one on the left. Sticks shaped in to dome-like structures and covered with bags and trash for insulation and weather protection. Obviously, these homes are unsafe and unsanitary. Over the last five (or so) years, an organization has come in and raised funds to build new homes, complete with concrete flooring (which keeps away jiggers) for the residents of this area. It is amazing to hear the women talk, with pride, about their homes now. Patricia (in the green dress) was full of statistics and details as she led our tour through homes past and present.

Another organization has built two wells in the community to help prevent water-borne illnesses. We walked up as this woman was collecting her daily water and Kamari jumped in to help her pump.

After this, we walked in to the clinic. Surrounded by men and women of all ages--putting faces and names...diseases, wounds, and scars...to the homes we just walked by--was the final straw for the women on Steve's team. They promptly burst in to tears. Steve rallied the two cars of people and took us to lunch in town for a small break and a bit of time to process all that we had just experienced.

With full stomachs, Leila and I ran downstairs to another restaurant to pick-up food and water bottles for Freda's team, our friends we'd left behind, and one woman (whom I love) who told me that she and her family hadn't eaten for several days.

When we arrived back at Kipsongo, I jumped out of the van, to find Hellen and notify the others that lunch was in the van and nearly stepped on these two boys lounging in the grass. They were so cute!

Many of the women in Kipsongo are part of a group that make beaded jewelry to sell in town. The hope would be that this would generate enough income to keep the women from their current #1 employment option: prostitution.

They had set out blankets and seed sacks covered in earrings, bracelets, and necklaces to show Freda's staff and our team. I wandered around to greet each woman and, in broken Swahili, cracked jokes, sang and danced, and explained that I didn't have any money for jewelry that day. As I laughed and danced (and fought off friendly harassment from upcoming saleswomen) this mama wandered up. She was speaking in quick Swahili and grabbing at her chest making a sucking noise. Another woman translated for me: "Her daughter's name is also Alice and, since she nursed her years ago, she could also nurse you now." I politely declined and we shared a laugh. She came back with a necklace for me, as a gift, and told me to please remember her when I visit again.

Andrew and Djambi are a brother and sister who grew up in a ditch (an actual ditch on the side of the road) with their mother. Steve met them at a street kid day (when we used to open the doors of a local church to bathe, feed, and entertain nearly 200 street children) and has watched them grow up for the last 12 years. Andrew is currently in Form 1 (freshman year of high school) and Djambi is a proud mom of two kids and a member of the beading group in Kipsongo. While they were here with Steve I was excited to recreate a photo he took with them on the first day they'd met.

We brought the team back to the house to reflect and recharge while Kamari and I snuck over to Precious Kids Center to play for an hour.

On Monday, Junior had fainted and was out for about an hour. They took him to the hospital and diagnosed him with malaria. He spent the night in the hospital and was warmly welcomed home while we were there on Tuesday afternoon. Because he was born with hydrocephalus, the doctor's recommended that he have a CT scan to check that his shunt was still working properly. Phoebe and I made a plan to take him first thing Wednesday morning.

And then I stumbled across Male and Bram cuddled together, being adorable.

The swingset caused more injuries than it was worth, so Sammy wrapped the swings as high as they would wind. It, clearly, does not stop the kids from trying death-defying tricks.

Kamari and I rejoined the team at Steve's just in time to hear that they were planning to eat Chinese food for dinner. I love the food at this restaurant, but it's also a mosquito-fest, so I made a quick trip to my house to put on an outfit that would keep me covered. As a bonus, it also made me look really cool.

I left Steve's with excitement for Wednesday's events--after Junior's CT scan, I would meet up the team for visits to two of my favorite places in Kitale: the Women's Prison and Shimo la Tewa slum. Can't wait to share those photos and stories with you tomorrow!

Give It Away, Give It Away, Give It Away Now...

One of my favorite parts of having Steve's team in Kitale is that his schedule always include things that we would never do on our own: he travels to towns we would not typically visit, he has access to places in town where they would not typically let us in, and he's able to be generous beyond what we could afford.

On the Saturday that he was in town, all that we had on our schedule was "Women's Day." Neither Sammy nor I had any idea what this meant...where we would go or what we would do once we got there. But we showed up at Steve's ready to go anyway. And, somehow, we didn't realize we were matching until Kamari pointed it out (and asked to document it) at Steve's.

I was in a dress, classic, which I thought worked well for a women's day. Joke was on me...Steve loaded us up in the back of a lorry, sitting on bags of beans and maize, for the nearly 45-minute drive to the village of Katchebora. (I, of course, sang "Katch-e-bora star and put it in your pocket..." to help me remember the name of our destination.)

We stopped at the gas station and they tossed bags of chapati, samosas and sodas at us and then closed the gate once more.

Steve greeted us when we arrived.

He had pieced together a rough outline of the program on the ride up. Christine, who is running for a government position in the next local election, who is also the one who brought us to this village, began the morning by introducing herself and greeting everyone. Then Sammy said hello and told her story of moving from America and opening the home for kids with special needs.

And then it was my turn. Christine explained that everyone has a heart for different people of the community and that mine has connected to single moms who are prostituting themselves to care for their families. The room cheered. Then she introduced me.

I greeted everyone and read a passage from 2 Chronicles about praising the LORD. I told the women that I love to sing and asked if they would sing with me now. If, as the passage said, our hearts would shout of the LORD's goodness and faithfulness. They cheered again. So I started singing the one song I know in Swahili. (It's my go-to trick when I'm put on the spot.) I could see the women start to look at one another and smile...this white girl is singing in Swahili! The room erupted in song. We sang a few verses and choruses of the song before I stopped and asked the women to please grab an American team member's hand and dance with them. Again, everyone cheered and laughed. We danced a few more choruses and then applauded the end of the song. I turned to Steve and said, "I could do this everyday."

The rest of the team members came up to introduce themselves and Steve shared quickly about his excitement to have been with these women today. He explained that Christine had told us about this church and insisted that we come visit. He told them we didn't want to show up empty-handed...that we had brought gifts for each of them.

Christine pulled a small group of women up on to the stage and had them pose with the gifts: maize, beans, mixed lentils, and two packs of maxi pads.

They set-up an assembly line, the women pulled out bags or scarves and made their way up-front to receive their gifts.

As the line died-down, I felt less of a need to help with security or documentation and I watched the crowd of children grow larger and larger just outside the door. So, I punched two holes in a box, put it on Steve's head, and led him outside to chase the kids around. I was calling him PadMan. They loved it. In the end, Steve caught a kid and gave him the mask to keep the game going.

The sky turned gray and Sammy said, "Steve! We gotta go to beat the rain!" Fortunately, a seat had opened up in the car, so I didn't have to get back in the lorry. Sammy and the other girls bundled up in Oakley jackets, put the hoods on and braved the rain on the drive home. We stopped for lunch (pretty much dinner at that time) and then came home for naps. It had been a long day after a long week...and it wasn't over yet! Everyone was ready for a nap.

Hours later, we bundled up once more and went to Steve's for the blanket drop. Steve and his team purchased 90 blankets, we cut a hole in to each one (to create a poncho effect) and packed up the two vans to head to town and search for sleeping street kids. It's really cold in town at midnight, so we tried to bundle up as best we could. (Neither of us actually wore these outfits to town.)

Sammy knows many of the street kids from years of daily visits in town. She had recently been asking where they sleep, so she knew exactly where to take us. We pulled up and found a line of boys (ranging in ages from about 11-16) sleeping in front of the hardware store. We all climbed out of the vans and each grabbed a blanket. Sammy went first, to show us how it goes. She tapped one boy on the shoulder and said, in Swahili, "Hi. Take a blanket!" The boy opened his sleepy eyes, obviously confused and then said, "Sammy?!" took the blanket with excitement and said, "Thank you!" We went down the line, waking up one boy at a time, handing them a blanket and watching their excitement. One boy said, "Do you have candy?" and I said, "Not now." He replied, "That's okay. Blankets are very good...it's is really cold tonight." So sweet.

We had been instructed to take as few photos as possible. But since these boys knew Sammy and were so sweet, I asked if I could take a picture. They all excitedly agreed. I took one and the other boys said, "And me! And me!" I wandered down the line and took a few pictures before we hopped back in the vans to find another line of kids.

We returned home around 1:30 and I was wide awake. My brain was spinning with thoughts about what we'd just seen and how to help the first-timers in the group process what they'd just seen. I have been on several blanket drops over the years...and it's never an easier to accept what we see. It's never any simpler to understand a bunch of young kids sleeping on the streets, huddled for warmth...and it's especially hard when I can hear the rain pouring during the night. I have some friends who are developing a plan to put an end to this. It goes without saying that I am hopeful for their success. 

On Building: The Best Day, A Good Stir Fry, A New Women's Ministry, and A Children's Home

Here are my favorite photos from the last two days...there are a few dozen more on my facebook page, if you'd like to check them out.

This is Noah. Noah is in Class 1 at Precious Kids Center School. He's super sweet and also hardly ever stops talking. Yesterday, during break, he came up and, in Swahili, walked me through a day--how I ought to go about my day, really. "You wake up and then you go to the kitchen and then you make toast and then you put butter and then you put jam and then you drink tea and then you wash the cup..." All the way through an entire day. Oh, there was a stop at the grocery store in the mid-afternoon of the explanation, which included about a dozen items I should remember to purchase. It's either his voice or his delivery that made the whole ten minute spiel adorable and not at all annoying.

After lunch, I sat on the couch as a stream of kids came through to change clothes (and diapers) before going back to class. I caught a few on the way out the door for pictures. Moses, who typically looks confused in every photo, looked right at the camera and smiled...it's the small victories, folks. (Also, note the strands of drool all over us.)

Oh man, Henry. When I met Henry last year, I got down to his level, looked him in the eye and asked his name. My mistake. He lunged (faster than I could react) and caught a chunk of my hair and held very, very tightly. I was rescued, but have kept a safe distance ever since. On Monday, I came out to find him spinning in circles around Sammy--with this look of immense joy on his face. It's clearly the best moment of his day, caught on film.

Monday afternoon--after about ten days of eating toast, beans, rice, and chicken nuggets (of course)--Sarah (who'd arrived on Sunday evening and whom you'll see in upcoming pictures) had the brilliant idea of buying a bunch of vegetables to cook as a semi-stir fry for dinner. So we headed over to the outdoor market to pick out half a dozen items (all for about $6!) This is the woman that sold them to us...we'll definitely be visiting her again soon! (Since then, we've made TWO pans of veggie stir-fry--one of which was turned in to a fried rice situation--with egg and soy sauce, but minus the rice. AND, I've made pans and pans of roasted garlic cloves--which is what dreams are made of.)

Tuesday morning, I snuck this picture of the baby class practicing their letters. I was hoping to go unseen (and refrain from distracting the entire class) but obviously the kid in the ski jacket spotted me.

Yesterday, while in town running errands, Sammy got a call from Patricia, one of the women I am hoping to work with. (I'm still trying to figure out how to talk about what we're doing while maintaining a level of dignity and anonymity for the women we're working with...please bear with me as I test some things and learn as I go.) She's sort of the ringleader of that community of women--the one who'd told me when I was here in March that, if I started something, she would "bring so many women"--and had been asking Sammy when she and I could meet now that I'm back in town. So, we stopped by to say hello and arrange another time to meet up to begin setting plans in motion for the ministry. (Since then I've reached out to the anti-trafficking organization in Nairobi to begin our partnership AND been in contact with the founders of a church in that area, in effort to set-up a meeting with them...here we go!)

This is her sister Hellen. She's excited for what's to come, too. She also makes beautiful bracelets and necklaces out of paper beads, so we took Sarah (who is hiding in the shadows on the right of this picture) to shop for some souvenirs.


While we were in that slum, Sammy wanted to go by and check on a girl she'd met while I was here in February. This baby, Natasha, who struggles to breathe and can't hold up her own head, has been on Sammy's heart ever since they met. While we were there yesterday, we found out that Natasha's sixteen-year old mom had run off a few months ago...unable or unwilling to attempt to care for a child with special needs. The grandmother and this care-giver are doing their best to provide for Natasha and Sammy is prayerfully processing the best way to support them. We'll take her to see a doctor tomorrow to run a few more tests to try to gain a better understanding of her health and how we can be part of her growth and healing.

One of the parents came to pick up his kids from school yesterday in a van blasting music. Of course the noise drew all of the center kids out front and it rapidly became a dance party! There are so many good moves in this group of kids--lots of hip and booty shaking too, which always makes me laugh!

Based on how dirty he was, it appeared as though Moses had a really eventful afternoon. He was absolutely covered, from head to toe, in dust.

I did a little mending (well, one shirt was completely torn from armpit to waistline) on a couple items of clothing in the last few days. (Junior was so excited to see--and announce to the room--that those were his shorts I was working on.) But, last night, Suzie wanted some attention, too...this was our way of compromising.

Finally, a team from Kansas, who'd come to visit the center earlier this week, joined us for a tour of the new, under-construction, Precious Kids Center. It's always such a treat to see the new location and hear people's awe as they realize how much more space there will be for everyone (and everything) that goes on at the center.

I hadn't been there since the roof was finished (they were aaaaalmost there when I left in March) so it was so fun to see one more huge step completed!

The team walked through the building and then back around to the front to pray over the property, for the construction, for the staff and kids that will live there, and for Sammy.

The next step is windows, toilets/sinks, and then putting the cement on the interior walls. I am really excited to be here and watch as this home is completed. And I really can't wait to watch as the kids move and settle in to their new home!

So many good things to come...

I'm Moving To Kenya(!!!)

I am moving to Kenya.

It feels so great to say that! (I've been waiting until the proper people had been told in-person (parents, landlords, small group girls), before I could shout it from the technological rooftops...but here it is!) 

I'm moving to Kenya...

To pursue the calling God gave me a few years ago: to help END human trafficking on the continent of Africa. This may sound like a huge task...and it is...but God has recently given me a few very specific next steps, the first of which is moving to Kenya.

WHY KENYA? 
To be with single moms (like the beauties above) in the slums around the town of Kitale, Kenya. Many of these women struggle to support their families and turn to prostitution to make ends meet. They are highly susceptible to the empty promises made by human traffickers due to a combination of poor education and desperation for a better life for themselves and their children.

My heart is to help restore their dignity, and remind them (and the surrounding communities that have sidelined, marginalized, forgotten about them) of their true identity and amazing potential to contribute to and participate in society.

HOW?
By building personal relationships with these women, connecting them with local churches and strong, passionate female leaders in their communities who will coach them to better care for their children, for the hygiene of their homes, and to avoid the attractive, yet dangerous, offers of potential traffickers.

I'm also planning to go back to school (yes, in Kitale!) to pursue a master's degree in Counseling Psychology, in hopes of developing more tools to help bring healing and restoration to those who have faced trauma.

WHEN?
I'm planning to leave June 18th. I know--that's so soon! At this point, I'm planning to come back for Christmas, to see my family, reflect on the first six months and reassess. If all goes well, I will return to Kenya for the whole of 2016 and then reassess every December. (But in the one-step-at-a-time way God has been revealing things, I'm holding this plan very loosely.)

I would love for you to be part of this trip in one (or more) of three ways:
Pray: Pray that I would follow God's timing--that I wouldn't rush what He's doing, nor drag my feet in fear. I want, so badly, for Him to map-out a 5-year plan...and yet He is consistently showing me 'the next right step.' Please pray that I trust each step and believe that, one-by-one they will lead to the eradication of modern day slavery in Africa. And join me in praying for freedom for those enslaved. And for the softening of the hearts of those who currently believe it acceptable for humans to be bought and sold.


Give: There are many expenses that come with an international move...and with the start of a new ministry. This money will go toward flights, housing, food and water, and ministry projects. (My dad has, graciously, agreed to pay for my schooling.) I am hoping to have the majority of my funds raised by June 1st. Would you consider giving (one time or monthly) to this new, exciting, adventure? You can give easily by visiting this page: www.gofundme.com/allihibb 

Visit: Come on over! There's a bunk-bed with your name on it. I'd love to take you around the town and introduce you to all of my friends...seriously!

Thank you, so much, for reading this...for being a part of my support system...for helping me to follow this amazing (and, at times, overwhelming) dream God has placed on my heart. (Feel free to share the link to this blog--or my gofundme page--with friends, family members and coworkers whom you think may be interested in joining this fight!) and please continue to follow along with this expedition here.

Love. Love. Love.

O For Grace To Trust Him More

And so it ends much like it began: sitting in Heathrow airport, with an iced americano and my laptop, writing a blog post that will attempt to unpack my recent experiences, which will, no doubt, be difficult to accomplish in the short amount of time before my next flight.

In the weeks leading up to this trip, I had been listening to the old hymn "Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus" on repeat. I couldn't help but believe, both that I had seen this to be true, and that I would continue to see the truth of the words ring out in my life.

Over the seven weeks of travel, I listened to it a few more times, each time struck by the verse:

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

When I landed in Nairobi on Saturday night, I began to cry. (If you have been following along during this trip, I'm sure you're shaking your head and saying "Classic Allison!") I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to Kitale--to the people I have loved for years, to the Precious Kids that I had fallen in love with over the last six weeks, to the women I have slowly built new relationships with that, I'm certain, will only deepen in the years to come.

Then, yesterday, as I sat drinking a final cup of coffee, I heard a familiar song playing over the restaurant speakers...you guessed it: Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus...

And I fought back tears as I sat there and felt--and knew--that this was one small way that God was saying to me, "Just as I have been faithful through this entire process--the years you tried to get back to Kitale, the months you wrestled to find out what I was doing as the life you'd built and grown used to began to slowly fall away, the weeks you spent searching for the next right step in the trafficking fight, in the seemingly instantaneous moment when so many pieces came together, in the moment you said goodbye to Kitale and began to process the reentry to Orange County life--just as I have been close, and at work faithfully orchestrating these plans I made for you before you were born--I will continue to be faithful in all of the moments to come."

And so my heart continues to sing...
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!

How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er; 
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

A Polish Man, A Kenyan, And An American Walk In To An Office...

(sounds like the beginning of a joke my great-grandpa would have loved!)

In the last month, as I realized my time here was coming to an end and I still was no closer to finding any end (or beginning, really) to human trafficking here in Kenya, I began to wonder if there was something I was missing--or had misheard--in my search...or in what I thought God has told me. 

One night, I spent a few hours (and, nearly all of my internet 'bundle') searching for organizations in the area that are working to identify and rescue victims of trafficking, when I came across HAART. I wrote an email asking if I could come for a visit while in Nairobi. They politely agreed and so, this afternoon, I spent a little over an hour with two of their staff members.

They told me first-hand stories of prevention, rescue, and rehabilitation, answered my questions with amazing humility, ('here's what we've learned...and we're tweaking the workshops every-so-often, based on our on-going research.') and gave me great hope for what the future of my ministry may be.

During the meeting today, they told me: First, that it is difficult for people to believe that Kenya has a trafficking issue because most people don't see what's happening as injustice, (unless they are not being paid--which they are quick to identify as unjust, as has been true of the stories I've heard so far) Second, that they teach workshops to people in slums and rural areas to help them identify human trafficking, how to avoid it, and tell stories of victims of trafficking to help people see the similarities between these stories and their own (and even gave me copies of the documents), and Third, that they've been wanting to extend into Western Kenya (you know, near Kitale...) 

I was trying so hard to play it cool, while also seeing so many pieces fall in to place: the parenting seminar I've dreamed about for years, a way to care for the prostitutes who are trying to provide for their children in the slums, educating the community on ways to identify and avoid being trafficked, connecting them with a thriving and Christ-centered church in their community...it's all there. 

The when and how and who are still a little blurry, but there's plenty of time for all of that to come together. 

For now, I am celebrating God's provision in this one hour meeting. And expressing my gratitude to Him. 

And to you, for praying alongside me in this slow and steady journey that I am so often trying to make in to a race.

Tomorrow, Tomorrow...You're Only A Day Away

Tomorrow afternoon I will be meeting with an anti-trafficking organization (from what I can tell based on a thorough google search, the only anti-trafficking organization in Kenya) in Nairobi.

Would you pray for that meeting?

Pray that I would know the right questions to ask.
Pray that I would hear the opportunities to be involved with what they are doing--and ways to possibly replicate it outside of Nairobi.
Pray for my heart to be reminded that the timeline of all of this is in God's hands...I am not--this trip is not--a failure, nor a success, depending solely on this meeting.

I can't wait to tell you about it.

In fact, I can't wait to tell you about so many other things that my heart has been opened to on this trip.

Many posts: some long, some short, some with photos, and some without, coming soon!

Thanks for reading--and for praying along with me on this crazy adventure!

About Today And The Next Twelve Days

Today was a full day, but we were not in a rush, which is always nice. We even had some time to have a cup of chai and hold the smaller kids at Precious Kids Center. 

After a really good lunch in town, (something other than chicken nuggets, for the first time in a week!) we picked up a few of the team members and took a trip over to the area called Kipsongo to see an old friend of ours named Peter. Peter's daughter, Trinah, lives at Precious Kids Center, so we took her with us to spend some time with her parents and brother.

When Sammy visits Kipsongo, she always calls her friend Patricia to walk around with her. Patricia lives in Kipsongo and seems to know everyone (pretty much...) so her presence offers a few things: it's a sign of trust, as if Patricia, on behalf of the community, is trusting Sammy's heart for children and medical knowledge (or honesty when she is at a loss.) This allows mothers to speak to Sammy more openly about their children who are sick, injured or disabled. Patricia's presence also offers a level of safety for Sammy, since this neighborhood has been known to get a little rowdy (often violent) at a moment's notice, it's nice to have someone who knows the people, speaks the language, and can help dissolve conflicts before they arise.

Today, during the visit, Patricia made mention to Sammy of some 'nighttime happenings' in town that have led Sammy and I to believe this could be the starting place for the discussions on human trafficking (or whatever the local term may be) here in Kitale.

Which is why I'm writing tonight.

For months I have been hoping that I would come to Kenya and God would reveal this grand plan: "Ninety steps to ending human trafficking!" and, over this last month, all I have been hearing God say is, "No need for a five-year plan. Take it one step at a time. Just do the next right thing you know you ought to do."And that, for me, was to extend my stay by a few weeks.

I extended my stay, not just because I love Kitale, (which I do) but also because I felt like I hadn't really accomplished what I'd hoped to as far as information on trafficking issues here in town (or even in the country.) I knew that I would go home wondering, 'if I'd just met with _______ or if I'd asked more questions of ________ would I have found something more?' Things just felt unfinished. (And, I knew it would be cheaper to extend this trip than to try to plan another...)

All this to say. Would you please be praying? With me--for me--about what these next twelve(ish) days will hold?

Please be praying that God would bring the right people across my path--that I would feel it even as they approach--that I might hear stories of instances of trafficking here in Kenya. (Not that I want trafficking to be an issue, but if it is, I want to know how we can begin to take action to bring freedom and safety to those who are enslaved.)

Please pray that I would be faithful to seek out--and take--the next right step and not get ahead of myself as I am prone to do

Please pray that I would feel peace, in my heart and in my mind, about what is accomplished on this trip. That I would be faithful with the time I have and with the relationships placed in my path...and that I need not worry about anything else.

Thank you for your comments (here, on Facebook, on Instagram). For your emails and text messages...I have felt so supported. So loved and cared for--cared about. Thank you, in advance, for prayerfully joining me in the next twelve days of this adventure!

Extreme Makover: Precious Kids Center Edition

What a gift this Friday was! I have been hanging out with Sammy for the last (nearly) month watching the day-to-day activities, chores, and interactions at the kids center, and completely falling in love with the staff and children there. 

The team that's in town has been supporting Sammy and the Center for a while now--having donated everything from school supplies to dairy cows to money for the new building site--and, while they are in town, devoted a morning to repainting the current home and visiting the purchased land that will soon hold the beautiful, new, specially-designed Precious Kids Center.

We went to the house early to move out the furniture and clean-up a bit.

There were about a dozen pair of shoes (including a pair of Sammy's) scattered around the living room--under couches, behind tables. I put them outside by the back door--and next to the large bunch of bananas.

The three that typically lay in the living room for most of the day were moved outside for the morning, so they wouldn't be trampled by the paint team.

True to form, Willie found a can and a large rock and was making tons of noise in the backyard. When I asked what he was doing he replied just like he does every other day, "hitting this!"

The photos had to be taken down from the wall for the painting day...I tried my hardest to convince Sammy to have them paint around the photo of David. It's just too good to lose.

Jabal, a visiting kid, had a few tumors removed from his elbow and foot this week. We're waiting on test results to see what the next steps toward treatment and healing may be. For the day, he lounged around the yard.

The team came to pick us up and Sammy directed the vans to the plot of land she owns. I was so excited to watch her lead the team on a tour of the in-progress building!

Check it out! The future site of Precious Kids Center! The roof is coming along nicely!

She walked everyone through the sitting room, kitchens, rooms, bathrooms...as everyone commented on how beautiful--and spacious--it is!

As we prepared to load-up and head back to the current home, the team stopped to pray for Sammy, for the kids and for the new land and what it will mean to the Center.

When we arrived at the house, everyone was in class. Only Christine was wandering around...she walked right over and put her arms up to be carried around. Gladly.

Bramwel, hearing the commotion of visitors, left class to see what was going on. He was promptly handed a stack of school supplies donated by the team to take back to the office.

There are two women on-site who do laundry all day, everyday. Okay--about seven hours a day, six days a week. It's such hard work!

Phoebe and I were accidental twins

Japheth had a huge smile on his face all afternoon--smiling and singing and clapping...

On her last trip, Becky fell in love with Rael. So they sat and talked and played together.

Willie and Christine sat on that mat and played, pretty nicely, together for a long time.

Even the staff joined the painting team. Here's Mike painting the kitchen.

The team was amazing! The plan had been to paint the living room, kitchen, and hallway...but they were quick and efficient so the paint went all the way to the back bedroom as well. They were also done with enough time to play with the school and house kids before lunch.

James came over to say hello to the team and hung around with the kids through break.

Suzie, who is excitable and difficult to keep still, was the one child that the staff was concerned with keeping an eye on while the team was painting. (She also licked off the first few fingers worth of nail polish we put on before we figured out a system to keep her distracted while it dried, so I wouldn't put it past her to lick the wet paint off the walls!)

I immediately volunteered to be on Suzie Duty for the day--keep her entertained and out of the house. She was so great! We sat for a little while and played with this deflated balloon.

Then went for a walk around the neighborhood. (As long as she's holding someone's hand, she'll stick with you.)

 We came back to a freshly-painted house!

The team came out to the front yard and the kids left their classrooms...the whole place became a wonderfully loud circus.

Willie chased this balloon (well, this one and then two others after this one popped) for nearly an hour.

Phoebe, Mike and Japheth cozied-up on the couch.

I've been mending some clothes for the house...specifically patching up the knees of the pants worn by the kids who crawl around all day.

When things got a little more chaotic, Sammy and I took turns giving Suzie piggyback rides. She was beside herself with joy.

And, obviously, so was I

Our last resort to keep Suzie distracted, and over-the-moon happy, is to put her in the car. We weren't going anywhere, but she sat in that seat and excitedly jumped up and down for a really long time.

As I stood by the car, Denis came over to talk with Suzie and this little girl came right over to make friends, too.

We stood at a distance and watched this magic happen

After lunch, the team did a little shopping in town. At the check-out counter, Deb was handed this baby.

We had left Sammy's car at the kids house, so we took a piki ride back over to pick it up. The furniture was back inside the living room and the whole place looked so fresh and bright!

We ended the night with dinner at our new favorite place, Ruby Deli. I'll leave you with a photo of Sammy and her tasty samosa.