Intro: Becca

Hey Blog Readers!

  I hope you are avoiding work while reading this, as I'm sure that is something I would be doing. Thank you for supporting and encouraging our journey to Kenya! I'm leaving for the airport in less than an hour, and in my true procrastinating form, leaving my first blog note now. To introduce myself, I'm Becca. I grew up near Chicago, but I spent the last 8 years living in a handful of different places. I've been in Colorado for about 2 years, and last month I graduated from the University of Denver with a Masters in Social Work. My VLM flame was first ignited a few years ago when I did a volunteer year with the Vincentian Service Corps West in L.A., and learned about the program from friends who have gone before. I believe I am on this trip for a reason, as events of the last year led me towards a path that was different than I originally planned. I am excited to see what awaits me in Kenya.

 While I joke that travelling to Africa with the VLM is a great way to avoid "real life" for a  month, in all honesty I know this will be a great experience to further my personal and professional growth and awareness.  I am excited for the opportunity to learn and live in a new culture, as well as be a witness to how others live. We talked at orientation about what we will be taking with us, such as feelings of anxiety, nervousness for the unknown, and excitement. While I carry those things with me, I also hope to leave a few things back in the US, like my fear for the future, thoughts of difficult things awaiting me when I get home, and my usual habit of not being fully mindful in the present moment. I want to bring only my full self, my excitement, and positivity.

  I am grateful for the many people that helped me get to today, and my dad for driving me to the airport in a few minutes. The future is bright.

VLM Kitale Introduction 2014

Friends, family, loved ones, or if you simply stumbled upon this blog in the middle of the night, hello! My name is Melisa Martinez and I will be going to Kitale, Kenya as part of the VLM in less than 24 hours. Yes, less than 24 hours. I am currently a graduate student at St. John's University in New York City. When I return to the States, I will be finishing my Masters degree in General Experimental Psychology. It sounds a lot more challenging that what it really is, trust me. Also, I work part time at St. John's as a graduate assistant for the best office in the entire world, Office of University Mission, and as a swim instructor in Downtown Manhattan. 

This will be my first summer with the VLM. Honestly, I am so honored and excited to have this wonderful opportunity. My hope is to learn and grow with the people who I'll be serving with and those who I will be serving. I am also very excited to learn from the Daughters of Charity who give themselves completely to their work and the people of Kitale. Most importantly, I hope to come up with a sustainable and thought-provoking way to support the work in Kitale after I return home. 

I invite you to follow our journey during and after our time in Kitale. I want to thank all of those who have supported me up to this point. Whether it was financially, emotionally, or both, your willingness to give is something I'll never forget. And now, to start packing...

VLM 2013 Video

Dominic Buchmiller made a short video from our 2013 trip to Kitale.

VLM Kitale 2014 Introductions

For those of you who do not know me, my name is Emily Edwards and I am the coordinator for the VLM Kitale group this summer.  I am a DePaul graduate and I have been living in Chicago for the past year working as a nanny.  When I return to the states I will be moving to St. Louis, MO to participate in Vincentian Mission Corps as a full-time volunteer.

I am happy to return to Kitale, Kenya for the 3rd time this summer with the Vincentian Lay Missionaries.  We are excited to have a new group of volunteers this year.  They will be introducing themselves on the blog over the next week while I am in Nairobi.    

My hope is to share my love for the people of Kitale with the new volunteers.  I am excited to be reunited with the Daughters of Charity in Kenya.  These inspiring women have given so much of themselves to the wonderful work that they are doing in Kenya.  I look forward to seeing many of the same smiling faces of the children and friends that I have made in Kenya.