By Mia Smith and Lemmy Dalano, SF Kenya // Photos by Hunter Buchanan
All Zena had ever known was fear. Even in the very place serenity was supposed to rule, fear was overriding. Instead of bringing a sense of peace, home for Zena was accompanied by a sense of dread that weighed on her soul.
She came into the world, thrust into the care of her ten-year-old mother. As a small child, Zena witnessed the divorce of her parents and stood by as her new father died six months later. Things only worsened. Struggling to take care of her child, Zena’s mother married yet another man – a strong drug addict who pushed his young wife into prostitution.
In an attempt to escape the darkness that had begun to govern her home, Zena left to live with her grandmother. There she was placed into a primary school, only to be pulled out a short while later due to a lack of finances and support from family. Despite her change in surroundings, Zena still couldn’t escape the despair that hung over her troubled days.
One thing that refused to be quenched was Zena’s love for sports. Her drive towards athletics and search for change led her to coach Badili, a sports minister who had begun a soccer team in her community. Through this team she was invited to be a part of a camp that was being held in their area.
Eagerly accepting, Zena and her team arrived at the camp a few days later, excited to participate in the activities that had been organized.
On the second day of camp a reflection time was held for the campers. Meeting with one of the camp counselors, Zena opened up and shared her story and the fears she had for the future. The counselors encouraged her to look to Christ for the answers she had been striving for.
Upon her return home, Zena pondered all that had happened at camp and trusted in Christ as her personal savior. Coach Badili, still being an active part of Zena’s life, shared her testimony with the local pastor who provided the means for Zena to complete high school.
Now fifteen and growing in her relationship with God, Zena’s prayer is for her mother who is still involved in an abusive relationship with her stepfather. With her new-found hope, the burden of fear that had clung to Zena for so long has fallen away in the light of Jesus and his love for her.