In June 2026, Akiliah Perez traveled to Kenya as part of a Students for International Mission Service (SIMS) trip, joining fellow students to deliver health and empowerment programs to girls in the Transmara community and connect with local Maasai congregations. She shares her experience below.
The moment I stepped onto the porch of Transmara Seventh-day Adventist Church, I felt at home. Children's laughter filled the air as they played outside while an elder concluded Sabbath School with the Maasai congregation. As I entered the simple concrete sanctuary, I sensed the presence of God. I had come to Kenya to deliver programs to girls and learn about the Maasai culture, but I quickly realized my journey was about more than service. I had found brothers and sisters in Christ whom I had never met, yet who welcomed me as though I had always belonged. After sharing God's Word and witnessing His healing power among so many people one of the Maasai women embraced me with a warmth that transcended language. In that moment, I didn't feel like a visitor. She removed the necklace from her own neck and placed it around mine—a gift that, to me, represented acceptance into her family, and I told Elder John to translate, "You are my auntie."
The girls reminded me that happiness can be a choice, and their resilience inspired me. Their joy demonstrated that generosity is measured less by what we possess than by what we are willing to share.
Kenya certainly offered the experiences travelers seek—safari, ugali, and traditional Maasai crafts—but what I will remember most is finding the family of God in a place I had never been. It is an invitation to behold the majesty of the Creator through His creation and His people. The encounters I experienced there will remain with me for years because Kenya rewarded me as I accepted the invitation to recognize God's hand at work in both the land and the lives of its people.
Written by Akiliah Perez, Master of Social Work student
