An Awakening - My Kenyan Experience
In a quiet space between who I was and who I am becoming,
I finally awakened to the truth within me.
Self Reflection during the Roadtrip from the largest city Nairobi, Kenya through the smallest communities scattered across the African plains to the Great Mara Region.
In February 2026, I embarked on my first unforgettable journey to Africa. I was one of twelve incredible women, who arrived as strangers but, in a matter of days, became sisters. Together, we joined Jennifer Dale, the founder of Honest Heart Journeys on what can only be described as a trip of a lifetime. Over 13 days, we were immersed in the beauty, culture, and spirit of Kenya. Every moment was rich in connection, learning, and awe.
Yet the most profound discovery was not about Kenyan culture - it was about myself. What I thought would be a journey across the world became a journey inward - one that opened my eyes to just how disconnected I had become, and how deeply I longed to feel alive again.
The 4 hour Bus Ride
The Future Generation
Children played outside, creating their own joy, many in hand-me-downs, some in shoes too large, and some with no shoes at all. My first impression was one of Mercy, but it quickly softened into something deeper - something unexpectedly beautiful. There was hope there. Acceptance. Grace. Gratitude.
Together We are One.
As we drove the four hours from Nairobi to the Mara, I found myself quietly observing the rhythm of life unfolding along the road side. People walked everywhere - to the grocery store, to school, to wherever the day called them - movement was not an exercise, but the necessity of livelihood. They walked together.
“It stirred something in me - an honest self-reflection. What do I truly value? How do I define quality of life? In my own community, am I truly present or am I simply moving through?”
- T M A, Photographer, Mom, and former Executive
The Moment that Broke Me. Photo credit: T M A
The Moment That Broke Me.
This experience didn’t just open my eyes - it gently challenged my heart to reconsider what it means to live fully, grateful, and awake. The moment that “broke me” was also the moment that truly awakened me. The image that will forever remain etched in my mind - children drawing water from a muddy, dirty ditch with a simple bucket. I didn’t know if that water would be used to drink, to cook, or to bathe, but the “not” knowing made it even heavier.
In that instant, something inside of me shifted. I sat quietly in the back of the bus as tears came without restraint, tracing their way down my cheeks. There were no words - only a deep, humbling awareness of how differently life can be lived. I did not only feel sadness - I felt a strong and undeniable force - like a wave crashing through everything I thought I understood about my own life. It unsettled me and awakened something I could not ignore. In that moment, I vowed I would not just be an observer on a bus passing by this image in a fleeting moment. There is more that I am called to do. Not someday. Not when it’s convenient. NOW!
The Olesere School in the Mara. Photo credit: T M A
The Moment that Inspired Me.
We visited a traditional African school deep in the Mara, a place reached by a rugged 45 minute drive over roads, carved with deep ruts from the rains and little maintenance. For many of the local children, getting an education requires walking several kilometers each day. Only half of the children within the Olesere community are able to be boarded full time, where they are fed and safe. As we arrived, we were greeted by approximately 50 students. They welcomed us with song and dance, inviting us into their community with open arms and wide smiles. The atmosphere was filled with their spirits, which soared with hope and joy. It was profoundly uplifting.
Despite having so little, they carried a richness that was impossible to ignore. Witnessing the work that was being done at the school filled me with a deep sense of optimism - of what a better future could look like. My awakening, my revelation ~ What might the world become if we set aside our own excess and self- interest, and instead chose lives rooted in compassion, generosity, and appreciation? If we are truly awake, our actions would be centered on something greater - a better world and a better future for everyone.
This inspired the beginning of a new me, a renewed heart, a calling, a promise to see more clearly and live more deeply.
The Olesere School in the Mara. Photo credit: T M A
Inadequate seating in the Dining Hall. Photo credit: Sarah A.
The Spiritual Rejuvenation Continued
As I returned to the United States, the personal vow I had made on the bus that day engrossed my every thought - it was a true spiritual rejuvenation and I was poised and ready to keep the flame and passion alive.
One of my heartfelt desires was to continue supporting the Olesere School that we had visited. In our post trip reflection meeting with Jen, I was ecstatic to learn that 3 other travelers also shared my desire. Together, we started collaborating with our Olesere connections to build long term support centered around 2 primary goals: sponsoring critical projects and sponsoring students through a new scholarship initiative.
The community outreach has been tremendous! In just 2 months since departing, we have raised enough funds to complete our first project - providing an adequate number of dining room tables and chairs for the students. The children can gather, eat, and share in dignity and community.
It’s a small change with a meaningful impact, and yet it is only the beginning!
My new Kenyan brother, Kisemei. Photo credit: T M A
Along with supporting this project, I’ve continued nurturing a special bond formed during the trip with one of the guides, Kisemei.
During the game drives, I discovered that we are both avid wildlife photographers. He was masterful at maneuvering the jeep to provide the right angle and lighting that made for exceptional shots of the many animals we encountered. He and I would shoot images and compare our results ~ it was magical to see life through his lens.
We stay in touch regularly, sharing moments from our days through home town images and our passion for photography. What began as a connection has grown into a lifelong friendship - a sense of family that transcends geography and blood. In our correspondence, we kindly refer to each other as brother and sister.
Many relationships from this journey continue to deepen and blossom. The sisterhood we formed is not something we left behind - it’s treasured relationships that we are actively cultivating.
I’m planning to visit St. Louis, Colorado, and Southern CA to reconnect with some of these incredible women within the next few months. I am looking forward to not only reuniting, but also experiencing a deeper cultural immersion into their lives and communities.
As I continue on this newly awakened path, I am exploring all of my relationships more deeply - to listen, to learn, and to grow alongside one another in a more intentional and connected way.
A glorious end to our trip - but not the end of the journey. Photo credit T M A
This experience didn’t end when the plane landed in the U.S. - it’s evolving, expanding, and continuing to shape the way I live, give, and connect. I am renewed, thriving and living without boundaries ~ My soul is on fire.
Honest Heart Journeys offers an ecosystem of sustaining sisterhood — through restorative travel, a global online community, and shared inspiration from women within the circle.
Jennifer, the founder of Honest Heart Journeys, is a woman wholeheartedly embracing the ongoing journey of self-awareness, growth, and deep, authentic connection. She has found her calling in celebrating women’s unique gifts through shared restorative experiences.
By creating spaces where women can return to themselves, find clarity, and build healing sisterhood, Jennifer began HHJ as both a movement toward a more intuitive, collaborative world and a foundation for trusted, lifelong friendships.
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