Guest Blog By: Lisa Brault (PF Board Member)
This past August I was asked by my friend Jen if I’d consider joining the Board at Paradigm Foundation. I’ve watched from a distance over the past several years the work Paradigm Foundation has been doing around the world building homes for the ultra poor. I don’t know anything about construction but I am always moved when I see the work that they do around the world. So the first step out of my comfort zone was to say yes to joining the board.
Fast forward 8 months later and stepping even further out of my comfort zone finds my family heading to Kenya to spend our Spring Break with Paradigm Foundation for a Build Trip. After landing in Nairobi we started the trek out to Eburru which is where we spent the first part of the trip. Eburru is a village in Kenya, located on the side of a mountain overlooking the Great Rift Valley. Most of the families living in Eburru live on less than $2 a day. It’s hard to understand that level of poverty until you see it first hand.
Over the course of the next four days we attended church services with the local community, served in the ongoing Kenyan builds, attended numerous home visits with previous home recipients and potential new recipients, got to experience a home dedication, and hosted a morning of games and activities at the school with the children. We were welcomed with joy everywhere we went.
One particular home visit that stood out to me was to Peter & Margaret’s house. It was one of the home builds we were able to participate in while we were there. Seven years ago Margaret prayed for a new house and it was a great reminder to me that God’s timing isn’t always our timing but He does answer prayers in his timing. While I was working there I was able to talk to one of their children, Mary, who will be taking her National exam at the end of the year. Was so inspiring talking to her and hearing her share about her hopes and dreams to one day be a surgeon.
At the end of our time in Eburru I came to understand that Paradigm Foundation does more than just build homes for the ultra poor. They are giving them hope, faces that were shadowed in fear are now filled with joy! They are making a generational impact for the families being blessed with these homes. God continues to show how He is at work working in these families as they impact the communities where Paradigm Foundation is serving.
After our time serving in Eburru, we did get to spend a few days on safari. Overall it was such an incredible experience for our entire family! If you’re ready to step out of your comfort zone, see how God can work in your life and spend some time serving with Paradigm Foundation on a Build Trip, I highly recommend joining Tim and Jen on a future build trip to Kenya!
