Jennifer Hayburn has led an interesting life. When compared to other women her age, she seems to have led one utterly fascinating life as a child of missionaries. Growing up in Nairobi in villages and small communes, Hayburn, a pretty Caucasian woman, returns to her childhood home to reach back to her roots and try to check the progress in the land.
And it’s not good. The government is doing nothing to help the poor. She’s even shocked to learn that they don’t even have financial support of any kind for the poor. No welfare or medical care in Africa. Jones even interviews a minister who relies on church donations to eat.
But, what the intent of “Missionary Kid” is to show that many religious organizations that have now become unpopular thanks to certain stigmas, and are doing the work that the government of the country should. Jones and Hayburn are simply chronicling what these missionaries and their different charities are doing.
They’re teaching kids, they’re giving them love and affection, and all without the help of the government and or organizations. “Missionary Kid” examines the bitter hardships of the African nation, and how some people are stepping up to give children a chance at experiencing love.
If anything, “Missionary Kid” restores some sense of the notion that religion doesn’t immediately equate to misery or war. The organizations here are more about humanity and saving children than imposing their religion on a third world country. They’ve saved abandoned children, and helped sick newborns live well into their teens, and Jones explores this kind group of people who have devoted their lives towards this goal, and religion or not, it’s a virtuous purpose beautifully depicted through Jones’ beautiful direction.
