Weaving Faith beyond borders

An interview with Anne Drake, Co-founder of the non-proffit SAWA SAWA. Anne has attended DSMC for a long time and has recently joined the church. She shares her story of faith as she moved from Kenya do the USA.

- Tell us about your first impression of God. How was it growing up in Kenya and moving to the United States?

I was born into a very religious and spiritual family. My grandmother was a deacon and an elder of the Presbyterian church and so was my mother. As early as I can remember, religion and being of service was woven into the fabric of who I was and what it meant to be a christian.

I grew up in a culture that put God first. Christian Religious Education was part of primary and high school education. There were thousands of conversations about Jesus. I learned about Jesus and what that means to me from life experiences. There were many times when my life experiences were nothing short of a miracle, especially moving to a new continent. I can look back at my life and see that my path was directed step and by step. Every experience has propelled me forward to meet the right people at the right time in the right circumstances to help me be the best version of myself and learn the lessons I need to face the future.

When I found myself in a new culture and space that was removed from who I was growing up, I had to pause, learn, re-learn, unlearn and find out who I really was and what values I stood for. There was a change in culture, the constant ‘noise’ of who God is, what he should mean to me, what a good christian should be, what it means to be a woman, what is expected of me and what being of service to others looks like.

A big demerit of a religious culture is the lack of action to back up the words. People use religion to manipulate, control, and commercialize who God is. It’s hard to watch sometimes. I realized that I want to truly help and be of service and to help others be of service to the people close to them. Although my life is a work in progress, my service through my nonprofit SAWA SAWA is my version of Agape love and the example of selfless love that I teach my daughter.

- Tell us about your relationship with God.

I have had difficulty understanding why I’m going through a rough patch sometimes, but in my experience, the biggest blessings come to us during the storm. I have learned to hang in there and do what I can to avoid drowning and help myself as I wait for what’s ahead. Storms are God’s way of clearing the path and strengthening us to deal with the success ahead. The best way to wait is through gratitude and being of service to others.

Like all relationships, my relationship with God is a work in progress. I would consider it a good one when I take the time to treasure it and work at it. As a wife, a mother, a nonprofit founder, a sister, a neighbor... sometimes I neglect the relationship with God or it takes a back seat with so many responsibilities to take care of but I always come around.

- What was the pivotal moment in your life and your faith?

I would say immigrating to the USA from Kenya, but meeting my husband Walter has shaped the person I am today. He is a kind and supportive partner and because of him, I can be a good mother and be the co-founder and CEO of a nonprofit organization that takes most of my time and effort. I have the luxury of being myself and leading a life of purpose because I share my life with someone who gets me. You see, God has really put the right people in my life.

I have always had big dreams. Dreams are one of the few things that shouldn’t be limited by reality. If you lead a life of faith then you can manifest anything through prayer. God wants to bless us abundantly above all we can think or imagine. I want my family to be happy, healthy and live a life of purpose. I want to grow my nonprofit to empower all the women in Kenya that need our partnership and services. I want to grow in my faith, my community, and partners that help us achieve our mission and vision. I hope to lessen my load and use the time to travel and see more of God’s creation.