This July I had the opportunity to travel to KENYA to visit one of the clinics built with 30/30 Project funding and meet a few of our current and potential building partners. This was my first time to Kenya and my first time to the continent of Africa. Although I was there for a little over a week and had many experiences, I want to tell you a little about my first day.THE FIRST DAY started out in a van driving on freeways and then, gradually, side road after side road which led us to a windy dirt road in the beautiful agricultural community of Kangundo, a two and a half hour journey east of Nairobi. We had come to see the 30/30 Project funded, brand new clinic that Construction for Change had just finished for our partner, Kizimani. I had spent the first half of the year getting weekly updates and photos of this clinic being built but I have to say, no photo compares with actually seeing the real deal in context with the setting around it.We first stopped in at the new clinic, which was scheduled to see it’s first patients a few weeks after we departed, so we just missed seeing it with actual clients and patients. The building and the grounds are beautiful, but what caught my attention as we drove up, were the soccer field next to the clinic and the school on the other side of the field, neither of which had I seen in the photos. It was easy to see that this clinic was situated in a great location, especially for parents and their kids.Seeing the building was incredible but what I experienced next is hard to actually describe. Miriam Won, one of the director of Kizimani, has said to me many times, “This clinic at Kizimani… it’s much more than a building.” The rest of my experience that day brought to light what Miriam meant.When we left the clinic we were instructed to go up the hill where we would have a surprise from the community… so… up the hill we went. At first we were greeted by several community members who were singing, dancing and following our van to welcome us. I jumped out of the van as soon as I could and immediately was drawn to the women in the group who had obviously prepared for some time for our visit. Being the huggy type, I preceded to give most of these women hugs and thank them. Next, we were treated to a delicious meal and more singing… but… the most amazing part of the day came later when we circled around and started sharing our lives.I was told that many of the the women and men were HIV+ and that they did not know my story, so I took some time to share my HIV story and why I wanted to build healthcare facilities where they were needed most around the world. My honesty opened a Pandora’s Box of sorts with one person after another telling their own stories and sharing what this clinic will mean to them. It is difficult for me to put into words how impacting this experience was for me. All I can say is, these women and men are forever in my memory and I am beginning to understand what Miriam meant when she said that these clinics are more than just buildings. I heard stories of gratefulness from people who were employed during the construction of the clinic, of new employment opportunities created by the completed clinic, of kids who are now in school because their parents are working in the new clinic, of people who can now access HIV meds, of the excitement to have somewhere to have prenatal care, and a relief that their children can now have access to medical care. To say the least these stories were all filled with hope and gratefulness.We had to leave far too soon to beat the Nairobi rush hour, as we drove away some women in the community were making soap to sell at the local market. They said they had figured out a formula to make the best soap in town, I am sure this is true. I left admiring the resourcefulness, generosity, creativity and great faith of the wonderful people of Kangandu and Kizimani.To sum up my trip and my thoughts, being in Kenya confirmed the original vision of the 30/30 Project of actively searching for building partners and projects that are community lead, owned and driven. I believe access to quality healthcare not only creates healthier individuals but also, collectively, creates healthier communities. We have the privilege to participate in global healthcare by supporting people and organizations who are already working to create healthier communities, our mission of providing quality infrastructure for these providers allows them to increase their outreach, quality of care and disease prevention programs for their local towns and communities.We now have six comprehensive healthcare clinics funded! I am hoping we can fund four more health facilities by the 30/30 Project’s 2nd Anniversary in April 2016… that would be a third of the way to our goal of building 30 facilities! Please consider joining us to give healthcare where it is needed most by visiting www.3030project.org