Visiting Neema: A trip of joy, laughter, and dancing
The first thing we heard when we stepped out of the van upon arriving at Neema was loud, joyful worship music. After three long flights, a delay, and missing luggage, it was a breath of fresh air. It was rejuvenating. It was a reminder and realization of why those long travel days were worth it.
The Holy Spirit is so present at Neema. I truly felt it during worship each morning and through our activities and games each day. There is so much hope and joy in every person touched by Neema—the students, staff, alumni, and their families.
Neema gives students and their families the confidence to hope for better futures. Neema doesn’t just teach work skills, it also teaches the young women how to cook easy and healthy meals for themselves and their families—meals and recipes that they shared with us to bring home to our own families. They learn to love their children, their families, and their neighbors with a love that they also shared with us during the trips.
Students take a photo with their children and Kylie.
Neema staff and students during worship.
There is something incredibly special about the young women at Neema. Despite the hardships they have faced, they have so much joy and love to share. They sing, dance, play, and laugh loudly, proudly, and with purpose and joy. They’ve found healing at Neema that has taught them to laugh, play games, and enjoy life alongside the chores and hard work required to make a living and home. It’s a healing that extends to their children and families.
When we first met the children of the students, the childcare staff had them sing us songs. They loved to sing and dance. They knew the songs word for word, and each song was beautiful. The words encouraged and taught confidence, self-worth, and love for each other and for God. While they may not understand all, or most, of the songs, I have no doubt the confidence and love the staff and students teach the toddlers and babies will go a long way in their future.
Kylie spends time with the Neema children.
Kylie plays a card game with students.
The most striking part of the trip for me was the amount of dancing I (very much not a dancer) did. We danced during our home visit, we danced while visiting an alumni’s shop, we danced at Neema, sometimes with kids in our arms, and we danced at church. I’ve never attended such an energetic church service. We danced, sang, and laughed. They invited us to dance with them in the front, even though we couldn’t even understand half of the songs, we gladly jumped in and followed their lead. I’m not a dancer, I never will be, but I enjoyed every second of dancing with the people I met throughout the trip.
I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect going into this experience. The sheer amount of laughs we shared with the missions team and the Neema students and staff wasn't it, though. I think going into the trip I was prepared to face many harsh realities. I was prepared to feel sad or uncomfortable. While it is, of course, upsetting to realize just how different their life is to mine in the States, I found myself surrounded by too much joy to be very upset. It was truly inspiring to see how, despite their circumstances, the Neema students have so much joy, love and hope for themselves and for the people who cross their paths.
The summer team visits an alumna at her shop.
Kylie walks with students to church.
Students cook chapati!
Kylie spends time with the Neema children.
The trip taught me a lot more than I was expecting. It taught me to dance and sing without caring what other people think. It taught me how far confidence and hope can take you in life. It taught me to love and laugh so loudly that other people have no choice but to take part in it.
I’m grateful for the love and laughs I experienced on my trip. Kenya is a beautiful place filled with beautiful people, and I would love to go back and visit again one day.
I would encourage someone to go on this trip in a heartbeat, but I also encourage everyone to please support Neema to make the healing and growth of each student possible.
The summer team visits a cave at Mount Elgon before departing from Kenya.
Kylie meets the grandmother of student on home visit.
Written by Kylie Smith, Neema Intern