This monkey is a thief. As Allison was sitting outside writing her blog post yesterday, she saw this monkey casing the scene and waiting to make a move. Once a woman got up from her lounge chair for a quick dip in the pool, the monkey hopped down from a tree and stole the sugar packets she had next to her tea. The monkey then ran back up the tree and ate the sugar packets. Allison came and got me to shoot this photo. We’re not in Ohio anymore.
Today was different than our last two days. It was a day filled with activity just like the others, but I was able to hop off of the emotional rollercoaster I’ve been on since we arrived. Honestly…I needed it.
We traveled to a Maasai village that was not in our plans. Our original Maasai destination was mostly under water due to high rains and so we visited another church where Compassion International has partnered for 5 years.
This particular church has a huge number of children who are sponsored and being very well taken care of. Out of 300 kids, there were only a few that were without sponsorship. It gave us an opportunity to see what Compassion does on their “big day” of the week, which is Saturday. I realized that I am great with groups of kids when they are small, and I start having small panic attacks when the group is huge.
Kids were swarming on us for multiple reasons. They love visitors. They love attention. They love white people. They love asking questions about politics and Michael Jackson. They love having photos taken.
The people of Kenya love tattoos. I do not believe I am exaggerating when I say that I got far more attention than anyone else in our group. Normally, I love attention to a fault. I learned that I’ve got a limit though and it’s somewhere in between three kids pulling on my arm while two others try to lift my shirt up (to see if there are more tattoos) and a Maasai woman pulling the earrings out of my ears.
Inside the church, there was a welcoming ceremony for our group where people spoke, sang, and even performed spoken word skits for us. This country is truly the most hospitable, and polite place ever.
I wanted to place this baby up on a mantle in my house just so I could come in and look at her every couple of minutes. She was so small, but much more alert than a baby usually is. She looked to be 6 months old, but I am guessing she was over a year.
After the welcoming, it was time for us to visit some classrooms. Compassion has the kids all day on Saturday. Feeds them, teaches them, plays with them, and loves on them.
Today was an opportunity to see the good that comes from children being sponsored. It wasn’t the heart wrenching experience we’ve had in the previous days of seeing poverty’s grip, but rather the hands and feet that are pulling kids away from that grip.
We headed out to do a home visit…in the middle of nowhere. There were no other houses anywhere in site. The family was able to keep a piece of property because the child’s sponsors had given gifts of livestock to them. This helped them to become sustainable.
They had a photo of their Compassion sponsor.
And lots of letters.
This particular sponsor even had the audacity to come to Kenya with her family to meet their child in person. The nerve.
We finished our day by playing with these beautiful children, singing songs, and praying.
In a world where so many things don’t work the way that they should, I can say with confidence that child sponsorship does.
Today was a good day. The only thing that could make it better would be wild Zebras running near our van as we traveled back home.
Icing on the cake would be you committing to lift a child out of poverty. You know you want to.
63 Comments
That black and white of the boys praying made me gasp out loud. Breathtakingly powerful.
We’re praying for your group and the work they are doing. God bless.
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I just want to hug them. All of them.
Thank you for taking the time out of such an emotional trip to share it with us.
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Your photos tell a wonderful story, and the picture of the boy with his eyes closed in prayer is amazing!
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Thanks Ryan.
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I am blown away by your pictures! Wonderful, wonderful, WONDERFUL! I can’t stop looking at the one of the boy with the beautiful smile with something like a scar(?) next to one of his big brown eyes. Beautiful! All of them!
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I have been following you and MckMamma through this amazing journey. I absolutely love that you all are doing this. It is bringing awareness to so many! My husband and I already sponsor a child in Kenya, but because of your words, pictures and posts I now feel that sponsoring one child is good, but it is not enough. Within the next month or so my husband and I are hoping to sponsor another child.
Thank you so much for all you are doing to raise awareness for these kids.
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Awesome pictures, Ryan!! You are so talented! Glad you get to use your gift for such cool stuff…
Hugs, bro!
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Beautiful pictures, beautiful people.
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Gorgeous photos. Very powerful. Thank you for sharing
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How could anyone NOT sponsor? I am ashamed it took me this long. My children (I have 6) chose a young 7 year old named Dennis. He is one of 7 kids ( I am expecting #7) and he has been waiting longer than 6 months. God bless Dennis!!!
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I will be sponsoring a child just as soon as my husband returns to work. Hopefully next month. Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos.
Heidi
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your photos. your story. your mission.
they are all beautiful Gifts.
i can’t even explain.
they make my heart swell for these children.
May God continue to bless you all.
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After looking at the photos I am blown away. Thank you for sharing. Found your link on PW’s blog. We sponsor a child and will continue to do so. God is good and faithful and you see joy in the eyes of the kids there. Something so small and easy for us to sacrifice for them makes a huge difference in so many ways.
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Came to you through Ree, and was deeply touched by your photos. My husband and I sponsor three children through Compassion International–one in Ecuador, one in Kenya, and one in Haiti (who, thank God, is OK). They actually correspond with our three grandkids, and they give us regular updates. God be with you on your travels!
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I plan to sponsor a child once I’m back to work after my maternity leave. Hopefully one day I’ll sponsor 3…one for each of my children. I think it would be an awesome learning experience for each of them to have a child to sponsor. We’ll start with 1 for my 6 year old.
Thank you for sharing your trip, the pictures are amazing and your stories are moving.
I’ve been reading your blog off and on for a year or so but I think this is the first comment. Keep it up!
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I plan on the Elementary Kids Church sponsoring a child. I think it will be an awesome experience for them to know that the few dollars they are able to give make life better for a kid in Africa. Now all I have to do is talk to the churches family pastor about the idea
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love following your trip, ryan!
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Oh, the faces, the faces!! Such intense expressions, and such joy! Love and safe travel from Ree’s mom
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Ree sent me over. I am going to kick her butt for it. I have sat here and bawled for 30 minutes. Bless you for doing what you do and for sharing it with all of us.
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Wow! I am so glad Ree posted about your journey on her site today, otherwise I may have missed it, and what a sad thing that would be. I too would love to put that little baby girl on my mantle–so sweet! Thank you for putting a face (many faces) on Kenya. Simply beautiful.
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Oh my goodness! i’m so glad i rediscovered your blog. My husband and i sponsor a boy in kenya.. and i’ve been staring at the pictures hoping i see him. His name is Mugambi and if you meet him tell him we love him
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Your a fabulous photographer Ryan, such beautiful images. I sponsor a little girl in Uganda, through Compassion. One of THE BEST things I’ve ever done and I encourage anyone, who is able, to go ahead and change a childs life!!..safe travels to you all
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I saw P.W.’s post and dashed over here; we sponsor a boy from Kenya who was born 2 days before my son. He could have been in the midst of your adoring mob; it’s possible. I’m so glad to hear that it really IS as it appears to be with sponsorship. But even if I didn’t have that assurance, I think we would still do it; every child deserves a chance at a good life. Your photos are breathtakingly, achingly beautiful; the people are, too. God bless all of them, and all of you who get to hold them with your real hands while helping them to feel the hands of God.
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thank you for sharing these photos and the stories. reminds me of the blessing i’ve been given to be a sponsor. and kick in the behind to write more letters.
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Wow. Thank you for sharing all of this- pictures, stories. It is amazing to see all the life changes. Thank you for sharing how much giving actually does help. I often feel so disconnected from the girl we sponsor. My husband and I were excited tonight to donate a family gift and a gift to our child because we see what an impact it makes. Thank you!
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What an incredible pictorial that brought the reality to life. And I’m with you on the doll baby for the mantle. I’d love to have this picture framed just so I could look at it.
I’ve always wished I could adopt from Africa. I’m too old now but I have sponsored through World Vision for years and years and know the very good work they and groups like CI are doing. THANK YOU, though, for the VERY tangible reminder and the view of ALL those beautiful faces. My prayers will be with you….with them.
P.S. Came over from P-Dub’s site.
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Thank you for sharing your journey, the pictures, stories and feelings of the day. I picked a cute little girl (Bretta) to sponsor. This is my first time to sponsor a child and could not figure out how I could pick one out of so many. I looked at thier pictures, read the bio’s, read about the area’s they live. Finally, I used the Compassion advanced search and we share the same birthday. As our birthday’s will roll around in a couple weeks this will hopefully be a birthday present for her and an ongoing opportunity.
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OK have been to Africa before and yesterday started praying about going again. And I find myself with tears streaming down my face at your blog. The kids. The needs. The fact that Jesus lets us be a part of bringing transformation to the world. He is good. Keep loving them. And keep telling their stories with your photographs.
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These pictures are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. And yet I still know that the pictures do the sights, nor the experience, any justice. I keep looking through your posts, hoping to see my sponsored daughter, Pion, in a picture. God bless you for your hearts for Him-I will pray for you often.
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Saw your blog on Pioneer Woman’s website and was so glad I did! We sponsor 2 kids through Compassion that live in Tanzania and it is one of the most wonderful experiences of our lives. We are blessed to have these kids in our life and are so grateful to God for them. Thank you for sharing your trip with everyone and for allowing people to see the amazing work that Compassion does. Your photos are so wonderful and it is so great to see the faces of these beautiful children and bring light to the fact that there are many more children that need to be released from poverty in Jesus’ name! Have a wonderful trip and thank you for sharing with us!
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A good friend of mine works as a nurse and missionary in Eldoret, Kenya. The stories she has are incredible, both sad and also so inspiring. God is working and doing amazing things in Kenya. I absolutely loved your 40 pictures in 40 words post. Absolutely phenomenal! Thank you for sharing and for being His hands and feet. I am praying for Compassion International and the impact they are making all over the world. Blessings to you!
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this morning i opened your blog, glanced at the pictures without stopping to read and immediately registered to sponsor a child. a picture (or more (-: ) really is worth a thousand words! thank you
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well done - amazingly beautiful photos. I hope to be able to do a trip like that some day.
PS, what kind of camera do you use? really NICE!
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Inspired Ryan.
Beautiful work.
Love filled!
God Bless.
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Wonderful journey…does it end when it ends? Your heart and mind will never be the same!
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Those “poor” children look 100 times happier than any pictures of MJ’s kids I have ever seen. Such a blessing those children are to us. safe journey’s
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Oh my..what an amazing trip..thank you so very much for showing us what you are seeing there! Beautiful, delightful, precious, heartbreaking..just amazing! Found your site on Ree’s. So deeply glad that I came by!! Namaste, Sarah
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I’m a fan of PW and she focused on your blog today. These pictures are so moving. After seeing them, my family and I got online to Compassion and signed up to sponsor a little girl in Mexico. Thanks for showing us this journey and encouraging us to help out.
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YOur photos are equally beautiful and heart warming. We have been sponsoring a child in the Dominican Republic for 10 years now. I love Compassion. Thank you for showing me close up their power. I am going to go write my little girl right now. God bless.
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This sentence made me tear up: “In a world where so many things don’t work the way that they should, I can say with confidence that child sponsorship does.”
The injustice of poverty (and the sadness of our fallen world) is sometimes paralyzingly heartbreaking. Thank you for giving us the confidence that their is a ministry out there that is impacting lives, and is doing it well.
Praying for you and Allison, and for those whose lives cross paths with yours…
Rachel
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Pasor Ryan, How wonderful your pictures are and the messages they bring us. You and the group are doing some wonderful work with Gods hands, I would love to hug each and everyone of the children………. Thank you so much for sharing….. God bless Sherry
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Thank you just thank you. So heart warming and beautiful. The best decision my husband and I made this year was to sponsor a child.
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Such amazing, beautiful pictures! Very heartwarming - thanks for sharing. I want that little girl on my mantel too!
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I’ve been oh-so-eagerly following along during your trip but just had to chime in today to say how much your words and pictures and those BEAUtiful children touched me. Thank you for this.
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These are the most beautiful faces I have ever seen…
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My daughter and I sat down and picked out a child to sponsor this morning. It was hard to pick just one! Thank you for bringing awareness!
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I just sponsored two boys - Bonface Mukundi Waithaka and Newton Ouma. Thanks for spreading the word about this amazing project.
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Wow Ryan, what amazing opportunity have been having. Thank you for sharing Compassion’s work with all of us. Gives us hope that we can make a difference.
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This post is BREATHTAKING, friend! Wow. The words…and the PHOTOS. You have outdone yourself. Clearly you DO shoot “with soul” (even if you DO use a Nikon!).
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Come to your pictures thru Pioneer Woman. While I really love all the photos, my personal favorite and “suitable for framing” is “dresses”.
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Your photos are just amazing…thank you for sharing them with us!
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Precious in my sight too!!!
Thanking God I can be a sponsor and not needing a sponsor…
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Gorgeous photos! Incredible dialogue. I’m so glad I stopped over from PW’s blog. I will prayerfully consider sponsorship. Thanks for reminding me how wonderful it is.
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The two pics of the girl in front of the black board with the words “God created us to worship Him” are two of the best images I have ever seen - something about them just grabs me!
Thanks for sharing your journey! And thanks for your Mexican Lasagna recipe - got it at PW - my whole family LOVES it!
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Ryan ~
Awareness is the blessing that binds us. I just sponsored thanks to your blog. <3
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the people of africa are beautiful, aren’t they? of course, i only know of uganda, the former home of 3 of our sons. the people were beautiful there, and as i look at your photos of kenya the landscape, faces, villages are similar. i do not know you, but am glad you have had the blessing/opportunity to travel to africa–kenya. you shan’t forget it.
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Ryan, thank you for the commentary and touching pictures of your time in Kenya.
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I think what has struck me the most is how physically beautiful these children are. Their eyes, the shape of their heads and noses and lips and the absolutely gorgeous, heart-melting smiles. God made them truly beautiful! And it’s amazing how their inner beauty spills out of your pictures. Your blog has touched me in an unexpected way. Your photography and your words–I do believe you are Spirit-led! God bless you and your work there!
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Praise God that you all were able to see His goodness this day! What an amazing work He’s doing there.
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Are you going to sell any of these prints? There are three that I NEED!
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Wow. I’m not left with much words other than…wow. Oh, and of course…Thank you!
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I love seeing pictures of Africa…the colors, the textures, the animals. But I also dislike seeing pictures of Africa…the faces…I want to touch them, hold them, play with them, and love on them. Will God ever call me there?
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bless you for using your amazing gifts to share God’s grace with the world and share God’s children with the world - beautiful pictures - God is working mightily through you for His good
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[...] many things don’t work the way that they should, I can say with confidence that child sponsorship does.” then, came the tears of utter joy. it’s not that i didn’t believe child [...]