{"id":24742,"date":"2024-02-06T11:37:45","date_gmt":"2024-02-06T16:37:45","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2024-02-06T12:40:33","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T17:40:33","slug":"at-a-rally-against-female-circumcision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kensingtonchurch.org\/at-a-rally-against-female-circumcision\/","title":{"rendered":"At A Rally Against Female \u2018Circumcision\u2019","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"24742\" class=\"elementor elementor-24742\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c50528a animated-slow elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"c50528a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-529057c\" data-id=\"529057c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e12e42f ee-heading--gradient elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading-extended\" data-id=\"e12e42f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading-extended.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"ee-heading elementor-size-default\" data-title=\"FGM does not exist just because of male dominance and cultural practices, including child marriage. It continues because of women. Women are the cutters. It doesn\u2019t make sense in my brain.\n\"><span class=\"ee-heading__text\">\n\t\t\tFGM does not exist just because of male dominance and cultural practices, including child marriage. It continues because of women. Women are the cutters. It doesn\u2019t make sense in my brain.\n\t\t<\/span><\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-652ea5b elementor-absolute elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"652ea5b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-quote-left\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d54108 elementor-absolute elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"0d54108\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-quote-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a22e6c9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a22e6c9\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8721b47\" data-id=\"8721b47\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-de9d5df elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"de9d5df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 28-02-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><strong><span>It\u2019s hard to fully grasp, but the horrors of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) exist in the Pokot region of Kenya for two reasons: men and women. FGM does not exist just because of male dominance and cultural practices, including child marriage. It continues because of women. Women are the cutters.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><p><span>It doesn\u2019t make sense in my brain. I do not comprehend how, under any circumstances, another woman could cut a young girl to be \u201ccircumcised.\u201d I understand that this is a profession for those cutters, it\u2019s their way to make money, but why on earth did they make that choice?<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4dfc0eb elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-items-stretch elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4dfc0eb\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-dce-background-image-url=\"https:\/\/kensingtonchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/MicrosoftTeams-image-81-scaled.jpg\" class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1976f72\" data-id=\"1976f72\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-323e8c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"323e8c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 28-02-2024 *\/\n.elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}.e-con{--container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(--container-widget-width,var(--spacer-size));--align-self:var(--container-widget-align-self,initial);--flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container{height:100%;width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--container-widget-height,var(--spacer-size))}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty{position:relative;min-height:22px;min-width:22px}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon{position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;left:0;right:0;margin:auto;padding:0;width:22px;height:22px}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div data-dce-background-color=\"#FFFFFF\" class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a8bfb4f\" data-id=\"a8bfb4f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba3b42f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ba3b42f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span>I know that there are reasons that are cultural \u2013 expectation and status within their tribe \u2013 and experiences that likely led these women into this profession. But it still doesn\u2019t make sense to me. Hearing stories of women getting drunk \u2013 just to bear the horror of cutting a girl \u2013 reveals the pain and heartache that underlines this act.<\/span><\/p><p>IMAGE: <em>Sharpened metal used in cutting; these &#8220;knives&#8221; were thrown down as a promise to discontinue FGM.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e36735a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e36735a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a72ed57\" data-id=\"a72ed57\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a37acf elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"1a37acf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b4b37fa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b4b37fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span><\/span><span><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong>This day was hopeful though. Here I was observing and supporting a community-wide anti-FGM march and ceremony in the village of Kolowa, East Pokot, Kenya.<br \/><br \/><\/strong><\/span><span>The sun was beating down as the marching began. Large banners carried by youth led the way on the dirt road. A crowd followed behind singing and chanting. Onlookers gazed as we passed by, intrigued by the amount of people, the singing, and probably the three Americans that stood out. We made our way to a designated area within the village that had been set up with a speaker and microphone. Chairs lined a few tables under a couple of large trees creating pockets of shade. There I sat on a wobbly plastic chair with others from our team and different officials and dignitaries of the village.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cad20e9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cad20e9\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a2ff1cb\" data-id=\"a2ff1cb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e36dc3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0e36dc3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span>A host welcomed everyone, and then the program began with a group of elementary school boys. They marched in a single-file line towards us singing, \u201cWe are marching, marching. We are marching, marching. We are marching in the light of God.\u201d Another group of elementary aged boys followed singing songs declaring \u201cno to FGM!\u201d<br \/><br \/><\/span><strong><span>It was lively and joyful but conveyed so much more than that. It was the future generation of Pokot men declaring change. Young boys were taking a stand against the horrific tribal practice against girls.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-666bf22 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"666bf22\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-90288c0 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-items-stretch elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"90288c0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-dce-background-image-url=\"https:\/\/kensingtonchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/MicrosoftTeams-image-82-scaled.jpg\" class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7329461\" data-id=\"7329461\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e89c3ef elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"e89c3ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fd74980 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fd74980\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4d36e33\" data-id=\"4d36e33\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e316c4e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e316c4e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span><\/span><span><em><\/em>As I sat soaking in the atmosphere and the traditions of the Pokot, I was suddenly pulled into the center of the barren ground that was the makeshift stage. As the sounds of celebration rang, our American team began to receive traditional Pokot attire. It was crowded and chaotic, but humbling as they placed skirt, cape, beaded necklace, and headpiece on each of us. I looked around, trying to let the moment sink in, overcome with emotion. Tears welled in my eyes at the honor of being welcomed, included, accepted, and loved by strangers who in that instant became my global family.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f30d898 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"f30d898\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0acc029 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-items-stretch elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0acc029\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-dce-background-image-url=\"https:\/\/kensingtonchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/MicrosoftTeams-image-83-scaled.jpg\" class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-754b514\" data-id=\"754b514\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37e06f7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"37e06f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-992db8d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"992db8d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a764675\" data-id=\"a764675\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9ef7152 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"9ef7152\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a214dd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2a214dd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span><\/span><span><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong><strong><\/strong>A local pastor proceeded with an impassioned message. He proudly introduced his wife, and shared how in their family not one single woman is circumcised. Cheers erupted: seeds of redemption, peace, forgiveness, hope, and the extravagant, never-ending love of Christ were dropped into the hearts of all who were listening.<br \/><br \/>Then the beautiful Pokot woman who was leading the rally stepped forward to share her heart. She asked the local women to bring change, to change the future of the Pokot, and to make a declaration to stop FGM.\u00a0<br \/><br \/><strong>There in that tiny village, surrounded by people, six brave women stepped forward. They had their cutting tools in hand. Most were elderly, wearing the hardships of life in their lined faces, and they heroically stepped into change. They held their tools to the sky, firmly declared to no longer cut, and laid down their knives.<\/strong><br \/><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2a95f71 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-items-stretch elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2a95f71\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-dce-background-image-url=\"https:\/\/kensingtonchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/MicrosoftTeams-image-79.jpg\" class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b953ded\" data-id=\"b953ded\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb30322 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"fb30322\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a7af25f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a7af25f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7f2e400\" data-id=\"7f2e400\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e245120 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"e245120\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f912a2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5f912a2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span><\/span><strong><\/strong><strong><span>I would hardly call their cutting tools &#8220;knives.&#8221; These scraps of tin, in no way sanitary, were the tools of harm. Tools of pain and suffering \u2013 both physical and emotional. Tools of death as not all girls survive being cut. Time seemed to stand still for a moment as a new future for the Pokot hung in the air.<br \/><br \/>Future generations of Pokot will not be the same. The hope of change became reality under the hot sun that day.\u00a0A future that gives young girls the right to say no to FGM. A future that raises boys to be men who honor and respect women by saying no to FGM. A future where elder generations stand up and lead the way through forgiveness and redemption. A future where the love and grace of Jesus is the foundation of the Pokot.\u00a0<br \/><\/span><br \/><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-08a7293 animated-slow elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"08a7293\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-19a842d\" data-id=\"19a842d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b33df46 ee-heading--gradient elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading-extended\" data-id=\"b33df46\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading-extended.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"ee-heading elementor-size-default\" data-title=\"I left a piece of my heart in the Pokot tribe that day, but I was also filled with a new and deep love from them. And as change slowly sweeps across Kenya, I too am forever changed. And for that, I am grateful.\n\"><span class=\"ee-heading__text\">\n\t\t\tI left a piece of my heart in the Pokot tribe that day, but I was also filled with a new and deep love from them. And as change slowly sweeps across Kenya, I too am forever changed. And for that, I am grateful.\n\t\t<\/span><\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ef5ec8f elementor-absolute elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"ef5ec8f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-quote-left\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e561783 elementor-absolute elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"e561783\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-quote-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4510e8c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4510e8c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ae0c233\" data-id=\"ae0c233\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fddf598 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"fddf598\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 28-02-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-divider{--divider-border-style:none;--divider-border-width:1px;--divider-color:#0c0d0e;--divider-icon-size:20px;--divider-element-spacing:10px;--divider-pattern-height:24px;--divider-pattern-size:20px;--divider-pattern-url:none;--divider-pattern-repeat:repeat-x}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider{display:flex}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__text{font-size:15px;line-height:1;max-width:95%}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__element{margin:0 var(--divider-element-spacing);flex-shrink:0}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-icon{font-size:var(--divider-icon-size)}.elementor-widget-divider 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.elementor-divider__element{margin-left:0}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:last-of-type{flex-grow:0;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider-separator:after{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider__element{margin-right:0}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-start .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:first-of-type{flex-grow:0;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-start .elementor-divider-separator:before{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-start .elementor-divider__element{margin-inline-start:0}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-end .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:last-of-type{flex-grow:0;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-end .elementor-divider-separator:after{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-end .elementor-divider__element{margin-inline-end:0}.elementor-widget-divider:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text):not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon) .elementor-divider-separator{border-block-start:var(--divider-border-width) var(--divider-border-style) var(--divider-color)}.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern{--divider-border-style:none}.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern.elementor-widget-divider--view-line .elementor-divider-separator,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line) .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line) .elementor-divider-separator:before,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not([class*=elementor-widget-divider--view]) .elementor-divider-separator{width:100%;min-height:var(--divider-pattern-height);-webkit-mask-size:var(--divider-pattern-size) 100%;mask-size:var(--divider-pattern-size) 100%;-webkit-mask-repeat:var(--divider-pattern-repeat);mask-repeat:var(--divider-pattern-repeat);background-color:var(--divider-color);-webkit-mask-image:var(--divider-pattern-url);mask-image:var(--divider-pattern-url)}.elementor-widget-divider--no-spacing{--divider-pattern-size:auto}.elementor-widget-divider--bg-round{--divider-pattern-repeat:round}.rtl .elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__text{direction:rtl}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-divider,.e-con>.elementor-widget-divider{width:var(--container-widget-width,100%);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-87a434d elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"87a434d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-740952d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"740952d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span><\/span><strong><\/strong><strong><span>Learn more about the UN&#8217;s Zero Tolerance Day for FGM:<br \/><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"autolinked\" data-behavior=\"truncate\" href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/observances\/female-genital-mutilation-day\">https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/observances\/female-genital-mutilation-day<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p><p>Learn more about our Global Partner in Kenya:<br \/><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"autolinked\" data-behavior=\"truncate\" href=\"https:\/\/kensingtonchurch.org\/kenya\/\">https:\/\/kensingtonchurch.org\/kenya\/<\/a><\/p><p>Learn more about our Short-Term Trips to Kenya (and more!):<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/kensingtonchurch.org\/go\">https:\/\/kensingtonchurch.org\/go<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<div style=\"display: block !important; margin:0 !important; padding: 0 !important\" id=\"wpp_popup_post_end_element\"><\/div>","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FGM does not exist just because of male dominance and cultural practices, including child marriage. It continues because of women. Women are the cutters. It doesn\u2019t make sense in my <\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":70,"featured_media":24744,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4163],"tags":[5517,226,928,929,1329,2443],"yst_prominent_words":[4268,89,106,113,1530,127,1531,450,2823,577],"acf":[],"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"link","format":"url"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kensingtonchurch.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24742"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kensingtonchurch.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kensingtonchurch.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kensingtonchurch.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/70"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kensingtonchurch.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24742"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/kensingtonchurch.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24742\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24754,"href":"https:\/\/kensingtonchurch.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24742\/revisions\/24754"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kensingtonchurch.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24744"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kensingtonchurch.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24742"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kensingtonchurch.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24742"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kensingtonchurch.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24742"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kensingtonchurch.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=24742"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}