Adventures in Bennionland

“Westerners arriving in Africa for the first time are always struck by its beauty and size – even the sky seems higher. And they often find themselves suddenly cracked open. They lose inhibitions, feel more alive, more themselves, and they begin to understand why, until then, they have only half lived.” (Richard Dowden, Africa)
   
I have cracked open.
   
There is no better way to say it. No better way to succinctly describe my trip.
   
In Kenya, I was the best pieces of myself. Everything I wish I could be all the time. Everything I wish everyone could know about me surfaced and shined.
   
I was me.
   
I cannot wait to tell you all about it.
   
But I find myself short on time.
  
I returned home to find sixteen days of life waiting for me to catch up. And jet lag. And two boys (well, three really) who couldn’t wait to fill me in on their own adventures. My best guy left two days after I returned for his own adventure (and it paid off!). And school starts on Thursday. I got off the plane and started running again after sixteen days of walking through life.
  
No time to sort my pictures – no time to blog.
  
If you’re dying to know, call me.
  
I will post though. I promise I will tell you everything – or at least try to capture it. Because I want to share it with you – quite frankly I want to bundle up everyone I know and love and take you there.
  
In the meantime I am savoring my days with the boys before their days are no longer mine.
  
“In Africa the essentials of existence – light, earth, water, food, birth, family, love, sickness, death – are more immediate, more intense. Visitors suddenly realize what life is for. To risk a huge generalization: amind our wasteful wealth and time-pressed lives we have lost human values that still abound in Africa.” (again, Richard Dowden, Africa)

You have to read the title with your best Oprah impression “Shelly’s headed to KEN-YAAAAA!”

Time is growing near to my departure date for Kenya. Many of you know I’m headed there in late June – but for those who don’t here’s the scoop:

My Mom’s friend Ben grew up in Yimbo, a small village in Kenya. One of (I believe) six children his parents prioritized education – his father oversaw the building of the village’s primary school. All of his siblings are highly educated, successful people who live all over the world. From a young age Ben understood the power that education brings. One of his goals was to provide the same kind of tools that his parents sought for him to the others in his home village. He, along with his brother started a non-profit called Friends of Yimbo. You can read all about them on their site here.

Last year, after two years of hard work, dedication and fundraising a library was built in the village school. Ben and his brother Charles, along with a group of volunteers (including my parents) went to Yimbo to dedicate the library and fill it with books. I worked as a volunteer for those two years off and on, helping to get the non-profit set up, drafting documents, and cheerleading. The students, and the rest of the village, could not contain their excitement and pride for the new library. Ben and team met with the village elders to assess plans for future help and support.

This year I’ve been invited to go on the humanitarian trip. I’m excited and just a tad nervous. Mostly nervous because I’m a picky eater and don’t want to offend – and because I am fundraising for it and that’s not always comfy for me.

Many of you are hitting my site after receiving an email from me about the trip. Some of you won’t get an email since I don’t have an address. I’ve set a goal of $1500 – all of it going to the all-volunteer Friends of Yimbo. I have no doubt I can hit it!

So, if you are inclined to donate I’d greatly appreciate it. You can find more information about donating HERE.

Of course I’ll be blogging about my trip – and all the adventures I have gearing up for it!