Sharing Aloha…
One Lei At A Time!

Aloha Everyone, I’m going to Kenya. Yes…Kenya!

This June, I’ll be traveling with Prisma Dance and partnering with Camp Kairos Kenya to serve and connect with local communities and to support outreach efforts through creative dance, crafts, and other activities.

I’m nervous about traveling so far from home, but grateful and humbled for the opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone, learn from others, and experience how God moves across different communities and cultures. I know this journey will stretch and grow me…and give me perspective that I couldn’t gain any other way.

One thing I’m super excited about!?! I get to be a teacher again!!!

During the trip, I’ll be leading a lei-making activity with children at different schools and programs. I’ll be teaching about aloha, not just as a greeting but as kindness, connection, love, and caring for one another.

Each child will create a lei using yarn, straws, and foam flowers (who remembers doing this is in school, hana baddah days?). They’ll exchange lei with another classmate as a gesture of friendship and aloha. My hope is that this activity creates memorable moments of joy and connection, while sharing a small piece of Hawaii in a way that can be felt personally and experienced together…not just seen in a picture.

Each child will create a lei using yarn, straws, and foam flowers, then exchange it with another classmate as a gesture of friendship, encouragement, and aloha.

My hope is that this activity creates moments of joy, creativity, and connection, while sharing a small piece of Hawaii in a way that can be felt and experienced together…and not just seen in a picture.

Here are some ways your support will help:

  • Lei-making supplies for children

  • Outreach activity materials

  • International travel expenses

  • Local transportation and lodging

  • Community engagement opportunities

Come With Me!

For real, come with me! I may be the one flying across the globe, but I’d love for you to be a part of this journey. Whether it’s through your prayers, encouragement, or words of wisdom, I would appreciate your support, as we prepare to serve and share aloha in Kenya.

If it’s on your heart to support this mission trip financially, I am currently raising $4,813 to help cover the costs of this trip. Donations will directly support things like lei-making supplies for children, outreach and creative activity materials, travel expenses, and community engagement opportunities. Every contribution greatly helps make this journey possible, both for me and the communities we’ll be spending time with.

Pray with me for:

  • Safe and comfy travels (cheehuuu for 42-hour travel time!)

  • Good health for our team and the areas we’re visiting

  • Wisdom and discernment

  • Meaningful connections with the children, families, and communities we’ll hang out with

Financial donations will help support:

  • International travel expenses

  • Local transportation and lodging

  • Lei-making supplies for the children

  • Materials used for community outreach activities

Mahalo for your love and care, and for considering joining me on this journey in prayer, encouragement, and, if possible, financial support.

Here are some ways your support will help:

  • Lei-making supplies for children

  • Outreach activity materials

  • International travel expenses

  • Local transportation and lodging

  • Community engagement opportunities

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes. Donations made through Cultivate Overflow, a registered 501(c)(3) organization, may be tax-deductible as allowed by law.

  • Donations will help cover travel, transportation, lodging expenses, lei-making and outreach activity supplies, and other mission-related costs connected to the Kenya Initiative.

  • If we raise more than what is needed for this Kenya Initiative, additional funds will continue to support outreach, community connection, and future initiatives through Cultivate Overflow.

  • Absolutely. Prayers, encouragement, words of wisdom, messages, and sharing this page with others mean so much to me.

  • Yes! I plan on sharing updating, stories, photos, and reflections throughout the journey. Check back often.

  • Yes! I would LOVE to mail you a postcard! No guarantees on Kenyan postmark, but I’ll send you an authentic postcard or greeting card made in Kenya.

    Please submit your address below. Your information will be used only to mail you a card.

  • Cassia and I are Co-Founders of Cultivate Overflow, a nonprofit organization focused on supporting nonprofits, ministries, and their supporters, in hopes to encourage healthy, sustainable, and meaningful service.

    We’d love for you to learn more about our mission and heart by visiting our website

Your prayers, messages, donations, and support mean so much, and helps make this experience possible for me…and for the children and families of the local communities we’ll be visiting.

I’m so grateful for you, for joining me in this experience. Mahalo for being here, for caring, and for helping me bring a little piece of aloha across the ocean.

Me Ke Aloha,
Melanie

Here are some ways your support will help:

  • Lei-making supplies for children

  • Outreach activity materials

  • International travel expenses

  • Local transportation and lodging

  • Community engagement opportunities

Mahalo Prisma Dance, and Camp Kairos for the invitation to serve to Lord during this mission trip in Kenya.
Mahalo Ke Akua for this opportunity to share Your light and love.