Baucom, who visited Kenya because her son was working there as a missionary, met a native Kenyan named Monica Akinyi.
“I spent a lot of time with a lady named (Akinyi), who lived in the slums, she just amazed me with her heart and generosity,” Baucom said.
Orphan children from Kibera, the town where Akinyi lived, would pile into her small home made of sheet metal and mud, Baucom said. Akinyi would cook for them and feed them.
“It really struck me, how generous she was,” Baucom said.
Fifty percent of Kenya’s population lives below poverty, according to a 2000 estimate from the CIA World Factbook. The population is about 43 million, according to a 2012 estimate.
“I went over to spend time with my son and fell in love with the Kenyan people,” Baucom said. “We became sisters.”
When Baucom left Kenya, she really wanted to help Akinyi.
“(The poverty) is below anything that anyone in the US could really relate to,” Baucom said. “They just have nothing.”
Akinyi told Baucom that she wanted to start a feeding center in the slums of Kibera. Baucom returned to Union County and since 2007 has been raising support and money to help Akinyi feed the children.
In 2009, she formed Bringing Miracles as a nonprofit organization, hoping that other people would lend their support.
“It springs from a relationship with (Akinyi) and knowing that God’s called us to help people who are hungry and have needs,” Baucom said.
Baucom is new to running a nonprofit, so this has been a learning experience for her, as well as Akinyi.
“I think there’s 15,000 meals a year now that we provide for these children,” Baucom said. “It’s a slow process and kind of a learning curve for me and (Akinyi).”
Baucom went back to Kenya in 2009. She speaks with Akinyi on the phone often. She is currently working on bringing Akinyi to Union County to tell her story.
Raising funds and awareness has been a slow process, due to the economy, Baucom said.
“It’s been difficult because there are so many needs, local needs,” Baucom said. “It’s been hard, but God has always been faithful to provide. I’m trying to do some things, take some steps to get the word out more, let people know what’s going on.”
Baucom, a member at Lakeview Baptist Church, also helps the community through her church and volunteer work. She is a microbiologist at Carolinas Medical Center’s Main Campus.
She tries to make as much time as possible to help people.
“I’m always open to whatever the Lord shows me to do,” Baucom said.
In addition to providing meals to the children, Baucom is trying to provide scholarships for more schooling for them.
“We’re trying to do our part to minister to the least of these and if anybody has a desire to be involved in helping, they would make a huge impact,” Baucom said. “A lot of it is just sending money to provide food and schooling for the children. It does have a huge impact on those lives.”
Baucom has an event on July 16 at Sardis Baptist Church, part of the proceeds will benefit Bringing Miracles. The nonprofit can be found online at www.bringingmiracles.com.
“I want people to know that they can make a difference, whether it is locally or abroad,” Baucom said. “We can each have a huge impact by helping others that are struggling.”
Read more: The Enquirer Journal - Bringing Miracles: Kenyan poverty touches heart of county woman
