Two weeks ago I returned from a trip to Kenya with 32 participants from the Toronto Catholic District School Board in partnership with Leaders Today. Once there we were in the Masai Mara village working in Emorijoi Primary School to teach and build a new nursery school for the coming year. Below is a poem I wrote inspired by the trip and the leader of the group. Enjoy :)

Heart and Soul of Kenya
By Ashley Chen
Kenya Leadership Experience 2006

Anticipation and uncertainty roams Pearson Airport
As 32 believers prepare to cross the world,
Far and wide, through water, mountains, rich green and desert land
Different in age, colour, dreams…
Come together in the beauty of Africa.

The everlasting sky, marked with puffy clouds and the bright sun
Walking through the vast land of hills, grass and rocks,
The mamas carrying water stop for a picture
Somewhere in the distance, children are beating through rough grounds
With the echoes of JAMBO in every direction
The friendliness of every wave
Breathing in the Mara air.

A long walk to Emorijoi Primary School
to be greeted by energized children...
Maneuvering past cactus fences to hold our hands
Bright blue uniform sweaters, stretching by a loose string of yarn
Bare feet marked with callous and scars
Brilliant yellow eyes touched with dazzling smiles
A Kenyan child.

Walking through the doors of education
Eye to eye among sharp children with hints of eagerness to learn
Excited to hold a sharpened pencil and to own a brand new pen
Eating up every word that you say
Putting every ounce of pride into their school work
Working to the minute and right through recess
Aspired by a higher education.

Digging into the grounds of Mother Earth
Wheeling dirt, crushing gravel, carrying rocks…
For every sweat will be savored by a nursery school child
Mixing cement for the school a child will happily walk into
Brick by brick, a new group of children goes to school
Our future, our children.

An open field of possibilities
Mixed with culture and animated songs of faith
The mischief one, the shy one, the class clown, the outgoing one…
All embodied in the love of God.

32 believers come together in the beauty of Africa,
In the love of a Kenyan child
To touch, to see, to meet
Our brothers and sisters.