HAVE YOU EVER TRAVELED TO AN UNKNOWN DESTINATION Half Way Around the world?

My generous and considerate son paid for the education of a young Kenyan boy from grade school through college.

The story about how my son became connected to this young man is a remarkable one.

A nurse, a friend of my son, Andrew mentioned she was planning a trip to Maili Tatu Kenya to assist in the building of a medical clinic there, a town with no medical facilities.

Prior to departure, my son handed his friend an envelope, along with the instructions to find somebody worthy of this gift.

Upon arrival in Maili Tatu, the nurses met the only family with a water pump which allowed them to wash their clothes. As a result, they got to know the family members. Found out the widowed mother had a son, John Pere Mwuara, in secondary school in Loitokitok, half an hour away.

John’s mother expressed sorrow about the fact her youngest son would probably not continue there because her income was running so long she most likely would not be able to fund another year.

The nurses immediately thought of this opportunity to meet this John man, John Pere Mwuara. They were impressed. The young man seemed kind and bright and welcomed the nurses visit with open arms.

Upon returning to Maili Tatu, they handed over the generous gift from Andrew. Esther, John’s Mom, a religious woman, got down on her hands and knees to thank the Lord.

John was the brightest of all her children. He deserved a good education. Now he got one.

Andrew continued to pay for John’s education through secondary school. Because this bright young man showed so much appreciation, Andrew continued to sponsor him all the way through the completion of his education at Kenyatta University in Nairobi.

During John’s senior year, I flew to Nairobi to meet him. The goal was to take him to the American Embassy to apply for a visa to visit the United States to meet his benefactor, my son. This would be a surprise gift for Andrew’s birthday.

Most unfortunately the visa allowing John to visit the United States was not granted, but my trip was not lost by a long shot.

While in Nairobi, John invited me to visit his hometown of Maili, Tatu, a three-hour drive to this tiny hamlet near the border of Tanzania. I jumped at the chance. No thought whatsoever was given to the fact I knew nothing about John’s family, nothing about the destination, and the fact I would be sleeping in a hut with bathroom facilities an outhouse!

By the time we arrived, it was dark outside. John brought me into this small structure to meet his family. I was seated in a chair surrounded by John’s large family of brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and his mother. Moments later this precious little niece of John’s, Priscilla, came over to sit on my lap. She won my heart forever.

Then it was time to sleep in a hut for the very first time in my life. You may be surprised, but I slept quite well!

When the lightness of day arrived the next morning, I ventured out of the hut to look around. A feeling of happiness came over me.
John’s family would be considered very poor by American standards, but oh! how rich they are in terms of generosity and kindness and love of family.

So far away from home in America, yet I was experiencing one of the greatest adventures of my life halfway anywhere in the world.
Without a doubt, this was one of the most memorable trips of my lifetime. Believe it or not, 4 years later when an East African safari had me flying into Nairobi again, I made the long trek to Maili Tatu.

By this time John was married and the father of a precious little girl named Harriet. They met me in Nairobi. The three of us drove to Maili Tatu together. Once again I was welcomed with open arms by John’s family. And, once again, I returned to “my hut” to sleep!

Perhaps the main message here is how special it is when sometimes taking a chance in life produces the most magical experiences.