As our team of fifteen CrossCity members prepare to start their journey to Kenya, Africa for a two week Mission Trip, we look ahead with expectation of what God will do. We also prepare our hearts and minds for the reality of what the Country of Kenya looks like.
Life in a Kenyan Family
Most Kenyans start their day around 6:00 AM, having a small breakfast consisting of either fruit or Mandazi with a cup of coffee. Most homes or “bungalows” in Kenya are made up of sticks and stones, with dirt floors. These homes range between one to two rooms, with multiple people piled in them. The children make their beds and, if fortunate enough to attend school, start their trek that can be as long as three miles walking distance. Each family household ranges between two different styles. One could be a mother with an average of 3.5 children; in 2023, studies showed that 60% of women experienced single motherhood by the age of 45. Due to this staggering data, most households have a more communal style, consisting of aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins. This is most common to help with raising the children, and bringing in extra funds for the family’s needs. If the children don’t attend school, most of them help with chores at home. If they’re of “working age”, they’re sent off to use their skills with hopes of bringing in an extra income. Once the children are back from school, they find time to play soccer with cousins and neighbors, while they wait for their dinner. Soccer is the favorite sport of most kenyan children; whether its an actual soccer ball, wadded up clothing, or even a rock, the kids find a way to play! Then comes dinner, which is often a stew with potatoes, or chicken and rice. Then bedtime to prepare for another day.
Kenyan Cuisine
Kenya is filled with many rich meals. You’ll find plates filled with Fish, Bread, Potatoes, Rice, Eggs, and Vegetables. The most popular dish you’ll find is Ugali. This dish is a thick porridge made from white maize meal (similar to corn meal) cooked in water or milk until it becomes a thick dough. Another popular dish for many working families, living inland, would be Chapati. Chapati is a soft, flaky, flatbread often eaten alongside stew for dinner, or eggs for breakfast. The crowd favorite though, is Mandazi. As listed above, Mandazi is a sweet breakfast treat that pairs beautifully with a hot cup of coffee.
Fun Facts About Kenya
Kenya has over 65 languages spoken, Swahili being the most common.
Many of the world’s best runners come from Kenya! Despite having less than 0.1% of the world’s population, the Kalenjin people have taken home nearly 50 Olympic gold medals in running events!
Lastly, and my most favorite, is that Kenya’s biggest export is COFFEE! Kenya produces around 50,000 tons of coffee yearly, bringing in over $40 million dollars to help support the country’s economy.
As we prepare to embark on this God-inspired journey, continue to keep our team, and the people of Kenya in your prayers. The apostle Paul encourages us to intercede in prayer for church members and ministers, “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains” (Ephesians 6:18-20).