The Good News: Memorial Shares God's Love in Kenya Through Service and Origami

Each year, Diane Hamrick, takes a group of volunteers over to Kenya to serve alongside Kenya Partners at the schools and medical facilities in Nakuru. Memorial member Mary Negron has wanted to attend with Diane for many years and finally the timing was right! She was drawn to work with Kenya Partners because she had never been to Africa, she loves working with kids, and "they asked me to teach origami!", she said happily. She knew it was a good fit!

Mary was part of a recent 8-person group who traveled to Kenya, three of the eight were from Memorial.

"You don't have to be a part of the church family to go to Kenya Partners," Mary said, “My friend Greg attends St. Michaels (Catholic Church) and I talked to him about Kenya Partners while we were volunteering at Barnabas Center. He decided he wanted to go along, too.”

Kenya Partners, begun by Diane Hamrick and two friends in 2007, supports The Betty Roberts Education Centre (the K-12 facility) in the village of Lanet where approximately 550 children attend. The group also funds and supports an accredited hospital that offers 24/7 healthcare, a new maternity wing, and a broad range of proactive medical services.

Kenya Partners, which provides resources and opportunities to break the cycle of poverty and disease, is 100% volunteer driven. The only salaries paid are to those who are employed in its programs in Kenya. All volunteers pay their own expenses when they travel to Kenya to serve in the programs. 

​The organizations funded by Kenya Partners run all year long and see volunteers come and assist during various times of the year. On this trip, Mary and the other volunteers served alongside the faculty and staff in the schools and the medical center.

"A person in our group helped teach PE at the school and another one helped with history and geography," Mary said. "Others worked in the medical clinic. There are jobs and ways for everyone to help."

But Mary got to do one of her favorite things while she was there: teach origami to school kids.

"I taught age 1^st – 12^th graders origami. Around 3 classes a day," she said. "We made a 'flapping bird', so the wings flapped. That is one that everyone loves. And it leads me to talk about love and peace." Mary said that she felt a deep connection with the children and that they were eager to learn and to talk to her about lots of topics. When she would finish helping the classrooms each day, students would come visit her and bring her more paper to make other origami pieces.

"They are required to speak English in class and in Kenya most people speak English. So, it’s an easy place to just slide in, communicate, and serve."

Mary said she left each classroom reminding the students that she loved them and that God loved them. She felt the love back from the students, too.

During the mission trips to Kenya, groups often take a day to also go work in a surrounding community. Mary said she and her fellow volunteers served in a community-wide medical clinic that that assists some of the most underserves people in the area. They helped 93 people in one day. Mary, who had no prior medical experience, was still able to assist by helping to log in the patients coming for help. There were ways for everyone to be a part of serving.

After a few days of serving at the school and medical facility, the group also went on a safari in the Maasai Mara National Reserve

"Almost as enjoyable as working with the children, was seeing all the native animals in the preserve! We saw so many animals!", she said. "The safari piece surprised me! We got to go out to see the animals so often. It's like a dream Africa vacation alongside a dream opportunity to serve. Who wouldn't want to do that?"

She said the safari was amazing, from the accommodations to the wonderful staff and safari drivers. She especially loved the view out her window in the room where she stayed.

"I looked out my back window in the preserve and saw hippos playing in the water! It was amazing!"

When asked about any advice she had to people who are considering going on a trip with Kenya Partners, Mary said not to hesitate. "If you are thinking about it- go! Be prepared to work with kids! You'll get lots of shots before you go and need to do some prep work to go overseas," she said, referring to some medications that are needed to be taken before during and after the trip.

Mary said her first trip to Kenya was filled with so many examples of God’s amazing creation, from the joy-filled people to the amazing wildlife. She appreciated the nice accommodations during the whole trip, which were all taken care of for the group along with the food.

"You don't have to worry about where you are going to sleep or eat the whole time. All the accommodations, as well as the schools and medical facility, have running water, electricity, internet, great meals….it was a wonderful place to visit and work."    She said that she enjoyed the people she went with and really liked that they gathered each evening after serving to have a time of devotions and a time to share stories.

"It was the trip of a lifetime, and I will do it again!", Mary said. "I think I have added another international trip onto my year alongside Porch de Solomon (in Guatemala)."

When asked what will stay with her from her trip with Kenya Partners, beside seeing all the animals, Mary said, "When I left each class I would say, 'I love you and God loves you' and the children would say back, 'we love you too!' They felt love. That’s God."