We've been back for over a week now and a couple of things have struck me that I thought that I would share with you all!
People's response to our trip has been overwhelming. So many people have commented on or liked our photos and we been astounded at the readership of the blog posts. I've had people asking all sorts of questions, 'how it was?' or 'did I enjoy it?' and 'was it life changing?' I've actually found it quite hard to put into words how the trip has been and how what I've seen has affected me.
My initial response to the life changing question was that it hasn't really. We were only there for 4 and a half days and we were so busy that I didn't really feel that what I was seeing had really sunk in, let alone affected me. But as this last week has past, it's become apparent to me that the trip has changed me and my attitudes towards different things.
I am very blessed. I have a fantastic family whom I love very much. I am supported by my wife, kids, parents, brothers and sisters in law! I have great friends, with whom I enjoy spending time and hanging out. I love my job, I love the people that I work with and I love the opportunities that my work gives me. I am very lucky.
As a videographer and technicain I am very lucky that I work with some very high end gear that costs an awful lot of money. I work in a venue that also cost an awful lot of money with some industry leading bits of equipment that most technicians would love to have access to.
I have a lot to be thankful for.
Firstly, let me just say, I am not 'called' to Africa! I am not one of those people who comes back from Africa and knows that they are meant to give up everything that they have and move out there. I massively respect anyone who does this, but I love my creature comforts too much!
That said... one of the things that I've heard people say once returning from a place like Eldoret is that they struggle with the return to lifestyle. That they don't know how to re-adjust to the wealth that is available to us who live in the west. This was on my mind as I returned home and to work.
But what I saw in Kenya wasn't a people who are jealous of what we have, or a people that would moan or whine about the unfair sharing of wealth across this world. What I saw was a people who were grateful for the things that they had. I met a boy who lived in an orphanage and shared a room with 5 other boys, but was excited to show me HIS blanket. He was excited to show me HIS bed. He did not care whether I had more than him, he was grateful for where he was and what he had.
I met some guys who couldn't go to school a year ago, before the Solomon Project was in their school, as they had to eat and they therefore had to find a way to get money or food for their family, no matter how much they wanted to go to school. They were happy and thankful, a year later as the food was in the school.
I am struck and humbled by how much I have in comparison to some of these guys. It has made me realise that I take an awful lot for granted. I want things because it's the latest model, or has the newest features, but I don't need it.
I do, however need some expensive equipment to do my job. Some equipment actually makes me better at my job! For example, I couldn't show you the footage that we took during our time in Kenya without my camera, which cost a fair bit of money. I think that what I'm getting at is that I shouldn't feel bad about the equipment that I own or work with. I shouldn't feel bad about the house that I live in or the car that I drive. In the same way, I shouldn't feel bad about my family or friends. But, I should be grateful for these things. I've actually come away from this trip feeling that if I'm not grateful for the things in my life then I'd be doing an injustice to all the young people that I've met.
I have nothing to moan about. My slow internet speed or over cooked steak is nothing compared to some of the situations that the young people I met in Eldoret are going through... with a smile on their faces.
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