A full day of travel yesterday called for rest, and after an evening of conversation, card games, and warm showers, we turned in for a much-needed night of sleep. We awoke to the cool, wet air that follows rainfall, and many of us wore light jackets. Breakfast was at 7:00, and we were served an assortment of tea, coffee, eggs, toast, and fruit. Soon we were off, reunited with our Rosa buses and headed deep into the city for our first full day in Nairobi.
For about an hour we rode through the bustling streets of Nairobi. The city was alive – people scurried on motorbikes, were opening their shops, and making their way to work. I couldn’t help but compare the energy of Nairobi city life to that of New York City – different, but parallel.
Eventually, we turned left into the compound of Amani ya Juu, where Maggi, a long-time friend of Baylor Missions, greeted us with her infectious smile and exuberant hugs. We filed into the front yard, where all the workers of Amani ya Juu were eagerly waiting. Amani ya Juu, which means “Peace from Above,” is a social economic enterprise that provides fair-trade sewing and training programs for marginalized women in Kenya and other countries in Africa. Since 1996, the enterprise grew from a $500 loan and single room to a network of interdependent centers. In the lush, green garden the women of the Nairobi factory and storefront sang to us, and we returned their offering with songs of our own. We met the women of Amani ya Juu in a mutual space of respect and admiration, and the presence of the Holy Spirit was clear.
We then separated into 2 groups and began touring the facility. I was in the group led by an inspiring woman named Delphine. We began on the top floor, where rows of sewing machines symmetrically lined a large room. There, Delphine shared that much of the sewing was done in that room, and that each worker had gone through 3 years of training at Amani before becoming a full-time worker. Their training was evident in their detailed and refined work. We then traveled to another room, where quilts were being sewn. Their diligent work was obvious, and it was interesting to see the quilts at various stages of development.
Next, we moved to the packing and shipping room, which was lined with their products, boxes, and shipping supplies. A familiar smell of paper hung in the room, and it was fascinating to see where the products were headed on the packing labels throughout the room. We then moved to their chapel, where we learned the different traditions of Amani ya Juu and its foundational values. Finally, we walked outside to the dyeing station, where Delphine showed us how the women dyed the fabrics and added their intricate patterns. With tie-dye, hot wax, screen printing, and batik, the clothes came to life with bright colors and beautiful designs. The expertise in their work was evident.
After the tour we were released for the opportunity we were looking forward to the most: exploring the shop. Vibrant wall-art, quilts, children’s toys, nativity scenes, clothes, purses, jewelry, and wallets shined brightly on the walls, shelves, and tables. My purchase of short-sleeved, collared shirts brought much needed color and design to my closet back at home, and I’m excited to wear them when I return to school. While some finished shopping, many enjoyed well-missed espresso beverages and tasty snacks from the café and relaxed on the lawn. As our time at Amani ya Juu ended, we made our way back to the buses, arms full of cherished goods.
Little did we know that the rest of the day would hold many more precious hours. From Amani ya Juu we headed to Zippy and Daniel Sindiyo’s house in the Ngong neighborhood of Nairobi, where a feast awaited us. Zippy and Daniel have been cherished friends of the Baylor Music and Missions teams since 2005. Over the years, the Sindiyos, originally our tour guides, have become our main point of contact in organizing our trips to Kenya and implementing the work of the Komolion Human Development Fund, which sponsors students from Komolion, the village we worked with earlier in our trip. After many trips to Kenya and even a visit from the Sindiyos to Waco, the Sindiyos have become family. After introductions, we dove into a wonderful feast of chicken, beef, rice, vegetables, chapati, and samosas. To me, this was the best food of the trip. Following our meal, we sang for the Sindiyo family, shared hugs, and headed for the bus.
After picking up a couple of folks who had been resting at Subiaco, we headed through Nairobi to the home of one of very own, Revina Karani, who grew up in Kenya before coming to Baylor for her undergraduate degree and graduate work. I had the pleasure of getting to know Revina through serving with her on the planning team for our trip, and she is now a cherished friend. As we approached her house, I found out that this was Revina’s first visit home in 3 years! Revina’s family welcomed us into their magnificent home with open arms and smiling faces, and after greeting one another we had a “snack” of several differently filled samosas and fresh fruit juices.
What followed snack-time deserves its own paragraph. As I am writing this, I am sitting at a table in the Karani yard, watching a dance party that seems fit for heaven. Another long-time friend of Baylor Music and Missions, Mike Wachira, brought several drummers and dancers from Juja, an after-school youth center that he directs. The drummers and dancers started by dancing for us and eventually pulled our team to join in their movement. Now that the dancing has finished and dinner has commenced, I can say that the experience was a celebration of culture and acceptance, and a break from our typical social norms. How often do we dance together before dinner? What might happen if we let our guards down and danced together in harmony? I think our relationships would deepen, trust would grow, and we would all feel a little more accepted. I believe that Christ would smile at our peace with one another, and that our hearts would be filled with more love. As we added the words of our songs to the sound of the drums, the Holy Spirit moved among us as we praised God through the dance.
To conclude our time at the Karani house we had yet another feast of tasty Kenyan cuisine. The feeling of being in a higher place carried over from our dancing as we ate our fill, and I can’t help but think that today we experienced a taste of heaven. Now, as we are heading back to Subiaco, I realize that I wish today would last forever. Our beds will soon be calling our names, and I’m sure we’ll fall right into sleep. Thanks be to God.
Blessings from Kenya,
Isaac Bradley
