In a recent newsletter I wrote about Paris, the newly pregnant Kenyan mama who was nearly convinced that she was crazy for wanting a home birth.  This month for her prenatal checkup, she asked me if she could bring her friend with her.  Of course I told her that would be wonderful!

When it came time for her prenatal visit at my home, she came with her husband, her friend, and her friend’s husband!  I was so delighted.  I had assumed that her friend was also expectant.  I was very happily surprised to discover that she wasn’t, but that Paris felt the information I had shared with her at our initial visit was so important, powerful, and enlightening, that her friends, pregnant or not should know the truth.  She told me her friend would be having babies one day, and she might as well start out with all the right information!  I was so thrilled by this, and further impressed by the fact that the friend’s husband had come along.  It’s hard enough to get a father to come to a prenatal visit, not to mention the husband of a woman who isn’t even expecting yet!

We had the most wonderful time.  We spent about 4 hours talking!  My husband was even able to join us towards the end and it was so awesome to have a man’s – a KENYAN man’s – perspective and input on the different topics.  We had tea and supper together and basically ended up having a full on childbirth class, teaching aids and all, prompted by their many questions.  Paris was so amazing and wanted to do her prenatal checkup with everyone present, which is VERY unKenyan.  Her attitude is so unique and encouraging and so far from the typical Kenyan perspective of pregnancy and childbirth based in fear and shame.

At the end of it all her husband was wide eyed and utterly astounded.  He seemed a little overwhelmed with all the brand new information, much of which contradicted everything he’d ever been taught and believed.  But mostly, he was so incredibly thankful.  I told him what a blessed man he is to have a wife who is willing to re-evaluate “cultural norms” and weigh them against what the Bible teaches us.  May we all, as women all around the world, be so courageous.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2

 Martin, Amariah, Ezriel, Jannekah and Adali Lynn Guya