Ahhhh, Jennifer!

Here are some videos I took with Jennifer yesterday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usRQUGeMyjY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPKaKeQr4fo

Jennifer is nearly 3 years old. She was abandoned in an apartment in a supermarket complex when she was a small baby. Thankfully, someone found her and took care of her for some time and then turned her over to the police so that she could get help. She came to HOREC last year. I wish her mother knew what she was missing. This little girl is so clever and cute and has one of the best dispositions. When she falls down, her immediate reaction is to laugh instead of cry. She is a such a treasure!

Lala Salama

I have to say lala salama, or goodnight, for now. I have a ton of packing to do and still need to write my notes to the kids. Tomorrow is my last day in Kenya. The kids will get out of school early to have a celebration at HOREC before I leave. Christine has already warned me not to cry! She knows me too well!

Thanks for all of you who have joined me on this adventure. Your encouragement and prayers have meant a lot! I will continue to do a few posts when I get back to the U.S.

Oh, Happiness!

I cannot explain the joy and happiness that fill my heart at the mere sight of Adhiambo. And, if I am lucky enough to get a hug or share a conversation with her, it overflows. Today, I found out that Beverlyne was committed to HOREC on my birthday in 2007. A coincidence? I think not, God is involved here! : )

Meet Tabitha Wanjuku

Name: Tabitha Wanjuku Karuki
Age: 14
Birthplace: Nyeri
Class: STD 8, Koma Ranch
Siblings at HOREC: None
Favorite color: Pink
Favorite subject: Social Studies, Science
Favorite activity: Running, Jumping rope
Favorite animal: Lion, Cat, Rabbit
Occupation: Teacher or Tour Guide
Favorite Bible Verse: Psalm 9

Tabitha was orphaned and then abandoned by a relative (her aunt). She was brought to HOREC in 2007. She has 2 brothers and 1 sister who live with her grandmother.
Tabitha helps out at HOREC by doing laundry. She also likes to sing. Tabitha will be studying for her exams in November of this year. Her score will determine the quality of high school she will be able to attend. Please keep her in your prayers as she prepares for her exams.

Meet Sylvia Aluso

Name: Sylvia Aluso Florence
Age: 10
Birthplace: Luanda
Class: STD 4
Siblings: None
Favorite color: Pink and Orange
Favorite subject: English, Science
Favorite activity: Swimming, Soccer
Favorite animal: Elephant
Occupation: Doctor
Fav Bible Verse: Ephesians 1:2

When Sylvia’s mother was sick, some relatives took her in and then abandoned her. Her mother died shortly after she joined HOREC in 2006. She has a younger sister and brother that live with her grandmother. Sylvia helps at HOREC by washing utensils. Sylvia has beautiful eyes and likes to smile and laugh. She also enjoys singing.

Today, I received an email from Will Johnston with this inspirational quote from Mother Teresa.

“May today there be peace within. May you trust your highest power that you are exactly where you are meant to be... May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you... May you be content knowing you are a child of God... Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise, and love. It is there for each and every one of you.”

Praise God for this experience! In spite of all the ups and downs and my aching heart, I feel so at peace and content when I am here.

Chuck and Tammy McDonald

I met Chuck and Tammy McDonald during my trip. They are building an orphanage just down the road from HOREC, near Koma Hill school. What an amazing couple! Find out more about their mission at www.savedbygodsgrace.org .

Little Brother

I am so thankful for my new little brother, Edward. I have really bonded with him on this trip and am grateful for a new friendship. A couple weeks ago, Edward took me to Kayole to buy more paint and exchange some USD. We waited over 1 hour in line at the bank to exchange the money (see footnote). It was getting late by the time we were finally on the way to HOREC and I asked him if he'd like to stop for lunch, so we stopped for a pizza. As we waited for the pizza to bake, he asked me about my status - was I married, did I have any children. I had told him my story, how I had wanted to marry Brian but it didn't work out despite how much I had loved him because he did not want children and, while he believed in God, he did not desire to have a relationship with Him. I had told him those two things were too important to me to compromise. He asked me what I meant by "a relationship with God." He told me that he prays to God. I explained what I thought it meant and how it meant much more than merely praying. I wondered why God put me in this spot, as I feel that I am still on the beginning of my path to a relationship with Him. I wondered why God hadn't selected someone more qualified for this conversation. Anyway, I continued to speak from my heart.

A few days later, Edward came to pick me up after my day of shopping in Nairobi. It was as if he could hardly wait to tell me. He said, "Today I did something I have never done before. I bought a Bible." Praise God! A few days later, I found him watching a religious program about heaven, and he wanted to discuss it. The next day, we stopped to meet Chuck McDonald, another muzungu (white person) who is building an orphanage near the kids' school (Koma Hill) and Chuck shared his testimony with us. I had felt bad about stopping because it was lunch time and we ended up visiting with Chuck for nearly an hour. When we got in the car, Edward said to me, "I am so glad we stopped here today" and repeated many of the things Chuck had said. I think my conversation with him a few days earlier primed him so that he listened to what Chuck had to say and he could identify through Chuck's testimony what I meant by a relationship with God. He talked about it several additional times during the day as well. Then, last night he asked if he could download some of my contemporary Christian music. I had told him that the ringtone he has on his phone, "Awake and Alive" by Skillet, was a contemporary Christian song. He seemed shocked to learn that, so I googled Skillet and the lyrics for him and explained what the song meant (at least my interpretation). Edward's mom, Christine, is a faithful woman and often speaks about God and listens to Christian music in the car, etc., so it is not as though the topic is foreign to Edward, but for some reason we seemed to connect in this area and it has really been a joy to see his interest in learning more about God grow.

Edward's story so often makes we think of my own. God gave me the most wonderful example of faith that a person could have asked for - my mom. When I was growing up, I often found her listening to Christian radio programs and reading her Bible. Her life has certainly been an example, often giving of herself and her resources to those in need even when she had little. I can't thank God enough for her. When I was a little girl, I would lay with her and talk to her about God. But, then one day that changed and I seemed to stray. As a teen, I often thought "Not this program again, oh do we have to listen to this preacher again, is she really reading the Bible again?" It wasn't until I was in my 30's that I really understood the true meaning of grace and why my mom desired to have such a strong relationship with God. Today, I find myself listening to Christian radio programs and sermons in the car. I love doing Bible studies and finding such wonderful things in the Word. I even find myself reading the Bible out loud, just like my mom does. I am not sure why, but it seems to sink in better when I do it that way! I often get mad at myself that it took me so long to "get it." God gave me this wonderful example and I feel as though I wasted it. Thankfully, He is a forgiving Father and doesn't give up on us. And, I praise God today that he has given me a thirst to know Him better.

I will surely miss my little brother when I return home and hope that a few thousand miles won't keep us from such good conversations.

Footnote: I have to be honest, no one is in a hurry to do anything here. It was the source of a lot of frustration for me early on. Time seems to mean nothing. The clock always feels broken. Coming from a business environment, where time is everything, I struggled with Kenyan time. One day I was venting to Kerry Wuthrich about it, and she gave me some sage advice. She told me to look at it as an opportunity to have a conversation or learn something new about someone instead of a frustration. When you look at it that way, you can see the positive side of things. Kenyans stop to talk to their neighbors even if they are their way to an appointment. They stop to give someone a ride even if they are in a hurry. While Kerry's advice gave me a much needed attitude adjustment, I am not sure I will ever truly get used to Kenyan time.

Meet Susan Avucheri

Name: Susan Avucheri William
Age: 12
Birthplace: Kakamega
Class: STD 6
Siblings at HOREC: Colleta (twin)
Favorite color: Orange
Favorite subject: English
Favorite activity: Running, Jumping rope
Favorite animal: Lion
Occupation: Lawyer
Favorite Bible Verse: Psalm 34:1

Susan has a twin sister at HOREC. In 2005 the girls’ mother died and they went to live with their uncles. They were rescued by the Children’s Department and brought to HOREC. Susan likes to paint, draw and sing. She helps at HOREC by cleaning the dorms and bathroom. Susan wants to become a lawyer so she can help children when she is older. I tease Susan that she is like a moose, because she is very elusive, always escaping the camera!

Meet Ruth Wanjiku

Name: Ruth Wanjiku Stephen
Age: 11
Birthplace: Nakuru
Class: STD 5
Siblings: Paul and Willy
Favorite color: Pink and Blue
Favorite subject: Math and Science
Favorite activity: Swimming
Favorite animal: Rabbit
Occupation: Accountant
Fav Bible Verse: Psalm 121

Ruth and her two brothers came to HOREC in 2009. Her brothers came first and she was left to take care of their grandfather. She later joined her brothers at HOREC. Ruth likes to sing and dance. She helps with cleaning the house and cooking at HOREC. Ruth does very well in school and is always wearing a smile and offering a helping hand.

I reached out to Trena about the adoption process and found out that she has only become Julia's legal guardian in Kenya. It took her living in Kenya for 3 years to even get that far. She, too, is discouraged by the process for adoption from Kenya and advised me that it is fairly impossible at this point. Apparently, there is only one agency in the US who is even willing to try and they only accept married couples who have been married for at least 3 years. As I sat on my bed crying after reading Trena's email, I opened the book I am reading, "90 Minutes in Heaven" to find the following scripture "And we can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give us what we ask for." 1 John 5:14-15. Oh, how I hope he was in fact listening to me last night and that this is his will and not just my aching heart.

Meet Mariam Wacera

Name: Mariam Wacera Boniface
Age: 13
Birthplace: Muranga
Class: STD 7
Siblings: None
Favorite color: Orange
Favorite subject: Science
Favorite activity: Jumping rope
Favorite animal: Elephant
Occupation: Policewoman
Fav Bible Verse: Mark 10:27

Mariam has 4 sisters and 1 brother. She is the youngest and the only one in her family at HOREC. Her siblings are in her hometown living with her grandmother. She was orphaned and brought to HOREC in 2006. Mariam helps with washing the dorms at HOREC. She likes music. She is a fairly quiet girl, but is always wearing a smile.

Evening Worship

Every evening the children and staff come together for evening worship. It is a combination of singing, bible readings and prayers. It is an amazing thing to experience, something most teams have not experienced because we are already en route back to the hotel. It is one of the true highlights of the experience of an overnight stay at HOREC. Since the transformer was stolen a couple of weeks ago, evening worship has been conducted by lamps. Here is a video of Carol reading a scripture during evening worship.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSsNpiWUH-o

Little Dan Singing My Favorite Kenyan Song

This little boy could not be any cuter! Enjoy this video of him singing my favorite Kenyan song . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BdQNltrnA0

A Slice of Heaven

Tonight was "BOGO" (buy one, get one free) pizza night at the local cafe in the Quickmart, so we decided to get pizza for dinner. I am happy to report that Kenyan style pizza is not bad and readily available in the little town of Ruai. When I lived in Hong Kong, the pizza was quite different than what you'd find in the US, but Kenyan pizza is very similar to that of most pizza chains in the US. The total for 4 medium pizzas was only about $13, but by the reaction from Jacky (Christine's daughter), Mary (the live in helper) and Edward (Christine's son), you would have thought they were eating a slice of heaven. Christine even called it Christmas! I have to admit, I appreciated a taste of home myself as my main staples for the past 3 weeks have been beans, maize, kale, ugali (made from maize flour) and rice.

Shule, shule

Today I visited the kids' school, Koma Hill. It is a private school. Thanks to funding from donors, the children are now able to go to Koma Hill. Peter (the social worker) and Christine feel that the children are receiving a better education at Koma Hill than at their prior school. Through the last school year, most of the children attended a local public school, Koma Ranch. The kids were often teased by the other students and even by the teachers, because they were from an orphanage and the kids assumed they were all HIV+. Being HIV+ is still quite a stigma here. One day during a lesson on HIV, Mary Marugi was brought up to the front of the class and the teacher told the class that this is what it looks like to have HIV. Mary's skin is speckled with spots because of the virus. She can't hide her condition from others, but I can only imagine how embarrassed she must have been to be made such an example of by her teacher, a woman whom she likely trusted and respected. I think that was the last straw for Christine and she decided to move most of the children to Koma Hill. Cecilia and Tabitha still attend Koma Ranch as they are in STD8 and will be moving onto boarding school for high school next year.

The kids seem happy at Koma Hill. All of the teachers indicated that the students were overall performing well and have improved since the beginning of the year. They said the children are participative, eager to learn and good with discipline. While there are continued needs (e.g., text books, encyclopedias, etc.) to ensure that they can perform at their best level, they seem content and in capable hands.

It was a real treat for me to meet there teachers and see where they spend the better half of their day. I have posted more pictures from shule (school) in the slideshow to the right.

By the way, a typical day for most of the children is to walk about 2km to school to be there in time for 7 am preps. Then, they attend school from about 8 am until 3:30 pm. School is followed by more preps and a 2km walk back to HOREC. The older children (those in grade 4 and above) leave HOREC between 6 and 6:30 each morning and do not arrive home until 5:30 or 6 each night.

How Much Are You Worth?

Last weekend, Christine took me to the dowry ceremony for a woman named Hanna. Hanna works at Barclay's Bank and serves on the board of HOREC. She has been instrumental in obtaining some project funding for HOREC. Barclay's was the donor that provided the funding to build the original building, the girls' dorm.

Kenyan tradition requires a man to pay a bride price to his future bride's parents. There are all sorts of rules on it and Kenyans are very superstitious about dowries. If they are not paid, Kenyans believe that it will bring their children bad luck. They believe that people have bad health or even die, if they do not pay their agreed dowries. It is also apparently rude to pay the entire dowry at one time. Grooms are to pay only 50 - 75% up front to ensure that they have a reason to visit their inlaws after marriage. Kenyans see the tradition as a means to ensure strong moral standards because the woman feels worthwhile to her husband and will stay faithful to the marriage

The ceremony was interesting. The groom's family came to Hanna's parents home singing a song, everyone got up and started singing and dancing, then a bunch of covered women were brought out and the groom had to identify which of the women was Hanna. After that we ate (A LOT, in typical Kenyan fashion), the pastor gave a sermon, the elder/traditionalist did some weird things with meat (I think a cow's shoulder), the husband and wife fed each other meat (like we would share cake in the US) and then everyone ate meat. I didn't understand a word of it as it was all conducted in Kikuyu, the tribal language, but the whole thing fascinated me.

Personally, I can't grasp the whole idea of a dowry. How would a woman feel to find out she was only worth 20 goats or even 300,000 KSH (about $3,000 USD)? How can Kenyans of such strong Christian faith believe in such superstitions? Christine said the groom's parents were very religious and were not fond of the idea of a dowry. She said the pastor's sermon spoke about how dowries are biblical. I think I need to do some research on this one.

Adhiambo Means Evening

Today when Thomas (the owner of Nappet Tours, the company that provides us with drivers) and I were talking about Adhiambo, he told me his name was Odhiambo, the masculine version of the name. He told me that Adhiambo/Odhiambo means "evening," so Beverlyne was likely born in the evening. Thomas and Beverlyne are both from Kisumu and belong to the same tribe. I just love finding out little tidbits about this girl. She is so special.

Mama Adhiambo

There is something that I have not blogged about yet, but has been a big highlight of my trip. Many of you know that I have been trying to adopt a child from China. I filed my dossier back in April 2007. Unfortunately, it looks as though it could take another 3 years for a placement to be made. I turned 40 this year and the thought of raising a toddler at my age is starting to seem unrealistic. When I first came to Kenya, one of my friends had suggested that maybe I would find a child to adopt in Kenya instead. Shortly before our trip, though, I received an unsolicited notification from the US State Department that indicated the US had suspended issuing visas for adoption from Kenya because the Kenyan government was not following the Hague Convention for Adoption, so the idea of adopting from Kenya was not even in my sights. But, I have been monitoring the situation since that trip. Before coming this time, I noticed that the ban had been lifted. Everything I have read indicates it is still very difficult, but not impossible. I had decided I wanted to broach the topic with Christine during my visit, but I was not really sure how she would feel about it. These children are her children, and she loves them as if they were her own. During the first week of our visit, Ike and I went to Christine's home for dinner. During dinner, she mentioned to us that she has all of the papers on each of the children and that they could be adopted. She said that someone had encouraged her to set up an adoption program, but she did not want to do that. She did not want to "sell her children." I didn't say anything, but I asked Edgar about it further on the way back to the hotel to confirm my understanding. Then, I returned to the hotel and cried and cried. It was as if I could not stop myself. Could it be possible?

The next day, Christine and Peter, the social worker, approached me and told me that they knew I had an interest in adopting Beverlyne Adhiambo, that Edgar had called Christine the previous night and told her about my interest. They were both very positive about it and Christine said she would be so happy if I would adopt her as my daughter, that I could become Mama Adhiambo. Again, I just cried and cried. Mama Adhiambo, I like the sound of that. But, I don't want to get my hopes up, if it is not possible. I also am not sure what is best for this 13 year old child. All I know is that for some unexplicable reason, after having spent very little time with her these past 2 years, that I love her and my heart feels broken when she is not near. But, my desire may not be what is best for her, so I have been praying about it diligently.

Then today, on the way to shopping, Thomas said to me out of the blue, "You remind me of Trena." I asked him who Trena was and he told me she is a woman from the US that has started an orphange in Nakuru. He told me that she was currently in the US on vacation with her litte girl (Julie, age 4) that she had recently adopted from Kenya. I started to cry again. Really, could it be possible? Thomas said he would put me in touch with Trena to help answer questions, etc. about the process. Adoption from Kenya would likely mean that I would have to spend at least 6 months here.

There is a lot to think and pray about. I ask for your prayers for discernment on whether this would be a good thing for Adhiambo and me.

Guaca what?

I went into the city to buy some provisions for HOREC today. I have to admit, it felt good to be in civilization again. While the town that I am staying in, Ruai, has quite a lot of options, there is only so much you can get from Qwikmart and Midland Hardware. I got most of what I needed from Nakumatt and enjoyed a lunch at Java House with Thomas (the owner of Nappet Tours, the company that provides drivers for us), including carrot cake with real cream cheese frosting. Amazing! I found tortilla chips at Nakumatt, so I was inspired to make guacamole for Christine and her family tonight. The avacados are in season here right now. They cost only 20 shillings each (the current exchange rate is 1 USD = 99 KSH, so I felt as though I was stealing them), and they are about twice the size of what you can find in the US and are absolutely great. So, we had guacamole tonight. Edward said, "This is AMAZING!" I just love Edward. I grew up with two older sisters. I think I finally have found a brother! Amanda and Lauri, you would love him, too! He'd fit into our family so well!

Tickled Pink

Yesterday, Edward (Christine's son) and I painted the corridor to the girls' dorm pink. Pink seems to be most of the girls' favorite color. When Cecilia and Tabitha arrived home, there was a bunch of hooting and hollering. Tabitha, who is generally very quiet, came up to me with a huge smile and hugged me and said, "It is my favorite color!" I was so happy they liked it. It is a bit bright, but really looks great. We are now working on painting the window grills and the wood trim white. I have posted before and after photos so you can see the difference.

Bad Connectivity

I have so many things to update but my connectivity has been very poor and sporatic. I will try to get things posted in the next few days. Thanks for hanging in there . . .

Meet Mary Marugi

Name: Mary Murugi Peter
Age: 11
Birthplace: Nakuru
Class: STD 4
Siblings at HOREC: None
Favorite color: Blue
Favorite subject: Math
Favorite activity: Singing
Favorite animal: Lion
Occupation: Accountant
Favorite Bible Verse: Romans 3:13

After the death of Mary’s parents her uncle tried caring for her. Because she is HIV+ and the uncle had too many other children, he could no longer care for her. She joined HOREC in 2009.

Mary is a sweet girl. Her English is really good and she likes when visitors come. She is like a little mother hen always watching after the baby and toddlers. She likes to play cards and sing.

Meet Josephine Mwende

Name: Josephine Mwende Karanja
Age: 13
Birthplace: Mombasa
Class: STD 6
Siblings at HOREC: Boniface, Joseph, Thomas
Favorite color: Pink
Favorite subject: Science
Favorite activity: Soccer, Singing
Favorite animal: Giraffe
Occupation: Doctor
Fav Bible Verse: Ephesians 3:13

Josephine was the only girl in a family of four. She was the head of the household, taking care of three younger brothers who were sick, two of which are HIV+. Her mother died of HIV/AIDS in 2006 and she and her brothers joined HOREC in 2008 after their father died. Josephine lived with her aunt in Muranga before coming to HOREC. Her brothers came to HOREC first and then Josephine joined them later in 2008.

Josephine is very shy and loves to smile. She likes Barbie dolls and singing. She helps out at HOREC by cleaning the dorms and bathrooms.

Meet Jackson Mwangi

Name: Jackson Mwangi Maina
Age: 7
Birthplace: Nyeri
Class: STD 1, Koma Hill
Siblings at HOREC: Alice, Agnes, Antony
Favorite color: Red
Favorite subject: Math
Favorite activity: Soccer
Favorite animal: Lion
Occupation: Policeman
Favorite Bible Verse: Philippians 4:3

Both of Jack’s parents died of HIV/AIDS and left a family of six. Jack was admitted to HOREC in 2007 with Antony, his older brother. His oldest sister was taking care of them, but was no longer able so she brought them to HOREC. His two sisters were already at HOREC since 2006. His eldest sister is married with one girl and his other brother is at home.

Jack loves to play. He is a very mild mannered, happy child. He is shy at first, but warms up to others quickly. He always has a smile to share with visitors. He likes to play soccer and make mud cars. He helps at HOREC by picking up trash on the grounds.

The Land of Milk and Honey

I think I am supposed to blog about this tonight. Yesterday I helped take the kids to the clinic with Salome (Christine's eldest daughter). Salome has graduated from university and is looking for a job. With the high unemployment rate in Kenya and the unethical job search activities that women are often subjected to here, she has yet to find anything in her field. With her free time, she helps at HOREC, maintaining the accounts and various other duties. On the way home last night, she was telling me that she thought HOREC was the "land of milk and honey." She said if she were ever afraid, she would not run home but would run to HOREC. She said that HOREC was her refuge. When I was reading my Beth Moore bible study tonight (David, Seeking a Heart Like His) (see previous post), one of the bible verses that I was required to read was Exodus 33:3, "Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. . ." I was relaying this "coincidence" to Christine tonight at dinner and we talked about how HOREC has helped so many people, not just the children who live there, but also others like Salome. Had Salome not been at HOREC one fateful day when Marty Shepherd happened to be there, she may not have been able to finish her schooling.

In the beginning when Christine was starting HOREC, she had a hard time finding funds to care for the children of HOREC. Oftentimes, she would share what she had available for her own family with the kids. I don't think that was a very easy time for Christine's family, so it is wonderful that her children (Salome, Edward and Jacky) spend so much time there today and view it in such a positive way. Thank you (Asante sana) to all of you who support Global Hope and HOREC. It is easy to see the good that is being done here!

Lala salama! Good night!

Bahati

Bahati means "lucky" in Swahili. It is the name that has been given to me by the older girls at HOREC. I feel so lucky to be able to be here and spend this time with these children. While I often get mad at God for my singleness, I have to praise him for it as well. If I wasn't single, I may never have had the chance to come to HOREC and certainly would not be spending a month here now. God has blessed me in so many ways, but one of the biggest blessings I have been given is spending time with these children. They are so amazing. It is hard to capture through any words or pictures. You really need to experience them to get a true understanding of how special they are. I am continually amazed by what they know, what they do and how easily they love. Some of them have come from very difficult situations, severe poverty, sexual abuse. Many have even been the primary caretakers of their families at an early age. Yesterday, I learned that Linet (the newest baby, she is 1 1/2 years old) had been hit over the head by her mother in an attempt to kill her because she did not want her. It breaks your heart to know their stories, but when you see the joy and love they have in their hearts, you know that God is at work here at HOREC. Bwana Yasifiwe!

Carol's Mud Car

The wheels even went around on Carol's car! Genius!

Meet Carol Kakuve

Name: Carol Kakuve Mutua
Age: 11
Birthplace: Unknown
Class: STD 4
Siblings at HOREC: Little Mary (Matave)
Favorite color: Purple, Pink, Red
Favorite subject: Math
Favorite activity: Dancing
Favorite animal: Cow
Occupation: Doctor
Fav Bible Verse: Philippians 4:4

Carol and her younger sister joined HOREC in 2009. She is HIV+ and also has TB. She has spent a bit of time in and out of the hospital. When I first met Carol in 2009, there was nothing to her, she was so sick. She was always bundled up in sweaters to keep her body warm because she had no body fat. You couldn't really tell how small she was. One day, I went to pick her up to bring her to her bed because she was so weak. When I lifted her up, she weighed so little. All those sweaters were a facad and had been covering what lied beneath. I had all I could do to not cry. Today, after many hospital visits and treatments, Carol is thriving. She has an appetite and a big smile. She is so full of love and is so smart. And, she can build a better mud car than any of young boys at HOREC! While she would like to become a doctor, I think she also has the skills to be engineer one day!

I am posting 2009 picture below, too, so you can see what an improvement Carol has made. I am so thankful that Christine fought for this child and got her the care she needed when others wanted to dispose of her as if she were mere garbage. You can't help but smile when you see her! She is so full of joy, it rubs off when you are in her presence! Praise God (Bwana Yasifiwe)!

Ike's Last Day at HOREC

Here are some videos of Ike's last day at HOREC. During the entire visit, Christine was so grateful for the support that they receive from Global Hope. The increased support that Global Hope has been able to provide through donations from you is visible in so many ways, especially in the children's diet. When I was here in 2009, their diet consisted largely of ugali (a mash made from white corn) and kale. Everyday, this is what I saw the children eat. Today, they eat a variety of foods and get so much more protein through beans and even occasionally meat. It is wonderful to see these kids thriving! Please know that your support is really making a difference for these children!

Ike's farewell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDgh8alBuLg

Christine's thank you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihRgPfcm9Os

Agnes' thank you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0jqyH6-ur0

Meet Boniface Githuka

Name: Boniface Githuka Karanja
Age: 11
Birthplace: Mombasa
Class: STD 5
Siblings at HOREC: Josephine, Joseph, Thomas
Favorite color: Green
Favorite subject: Math
Favorite activity: Soccer, Basketball
Favorite animal: Lion
Occupation: Accountant
Fav Bible Verse: Jeremiah 33:3

Boniface is the second born. His mother died of HIV/AIDS in 2006 and he and his brothers and sister joined HOREC in 2008 after their father died.

To help out at HOREC Boniface helps take care of the goats and chickens and waters and picks vegetables from the garden. Boniface dreams of driving a car. Boniface recently competed in a young parliament’s competition and did very well. He also dances and sings at church and plays soccer with the younger boys.

Enjoy these videos

The kids sang for Ike before he left on Saturday. I hope you enjoy watching these videos. We need to get them into a studio to record a CD so we can share these beautiful voices with more people.

My favorite song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybO6b5hU3XI

Si Si Watoto, an original composition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPaIfvAJu1Y

He is God, an original composition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cazJAfIYT1o

Enjoy!

Meet Beverlyne Adhiambo

Name: Beverlyne Adhiambo Boma
Age: 12
Birthplace: Kisumu
Class: STD 7
Siblings at HOREC: Leah
Favorite color: Orange
Favorite subject: English, Sciences, Social Studies, CRE
Favorite activity: Dancing, Basketball, Singing
Favorite animal: Buffalo
Occupation: Air Hostess, Newscaster, Teacher
Fav Bible Verse: Psalm 29

Beverlyne’s parents died of HIV/AIDS. She has 2 sisters and one brother. She said she did not know her parents well because they died when she was very young. She was living with her brother and eldest sister while her other sister, Leah, was living with her aunt. Beverlyne joined HOREC with her sister, Leah, in January 2007. They were brought to HOREC by her eldest sister so they could continue their education. Beverlyne wants to be able to help her family in the future. She loves when visitors come to HOREC. She hopes to score high on her KCPE exam next year so she can attend a good high school. She would also like to study and live in the U.S. She feels that HOREC has helped her so much. She said some children with parents do not have anything to eat and cannot go to school, but she has both food and an education.

Beverlyne is a very sensitive girl who has a beautiful smile. At HOREC, she helps with the laundry, washing dishes and preparing meals. She also helps to take care of the younger children, especially Kaleche (Faith). She loves to read, write and sing. She is ranked 5th in her class at school. She is best friends with Josephine Mwende.

In her composition “About Me,” she wrote that she is wonderfully made by God. How, how true! I just adore her!

Meet Antony Ngumbo

Name: Antony Ngumbo Maina
Age: 10
Birthplace: Nyeri
Class: STD 4, Koma Hill
Siblings at HOREC: Agnes, Alice, Jack
Favorite color: Blue
Favorite subject: Christian Religious Education
Favorite activity: Soccer
Favorite animal: Dog
Occupation: Engineer
Fav Bible Verse: Psalm 4:5

Both of Antony’s parents died of HIV/AIDS and left a family of six. Antony was brought to HOREC with his two sisters and brother by his uncle who had a friend who knew about HOREC. Antony's oldest sister is married and her other brother is at home. To help at HOREC, Tony helps take care of the goats and chickens and picks vegetables from the garden.

In the picture with Antony is Edgar. Edgar started volunteering at HOREC in 2010. Now he is a part of the staff and manages various activities for HOREC. He is a great addition and the boys really seem to take to him.

Sunday Service at St Tobias

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrcbCJ38EHs

Meet Ann Wairimu

Name: Ann Wairimu Beatrice
Age: 9
Birthplace: Ruai (very close to HOREC)
Class: STD 3
Siblings at HOREC: None
Favorite color: Blue, Pink, White
Favorite subject: English, Christian Religious Education (CRE)
Favorite activity: Swimming
Favorite animal: Goat
Occupation: Doctor
Fav Bible Verse: Psalm 100

Ann was orphaned because of HIV/AIDS. The Children’s Office referred Ann after her mother, grandmother, great-grandmother all died. The great, great grandmother was trying to care for her but was unable to. Ann came to HOREC in 2009. Ann also has two sisters and one brother that stay with her older sister. Ann is a quiet girl and helps with washing dishes at HOREC. Ann also likes to play cards and dance.

Meet Agnes

Name: Agnes Wangui Maina
Age: 13
Birthplace: Nyeri
Class: STD 7
Siblings: Alice, Antony, Jackson
Favorite color: Pink, Blue, Violet
Favorite subject: Math
Favorite activity: Drums and Singing
Favorite animal: Goat, Buffalo
Occupation: Accountant
Fav Bible Verse: Psalm 23; 1 John 4:7

Both of Agnes’ parents died of HIV/AIDS and left a family of six. Agnes was brought to HOREC in 2006 with her sister and two brothers by her uncle. He had a friend who knew about HOREC. Her oldest sister is married and her other brother is at home.

Agnes helps with gardening and cooking at HOREC. She especially likes to make chapatti, a pancake-like treat made on special occasions. Agnes also plays the drums. Agnes helps to take care of Linet, a 1-year old girl who came to HOREC in 2011.

A Dozen Roses

At dinner each night, we recap the day by doing thorns and roses, starting with the thorns and ending on a high note with the roses. Today was such a great day, I feel like I came home with a dozen roses!

1) Beverlyne - I just love her. Her smile just warms my heart.
2) Kaleche - When we arrived, Kaleche said to Ike "Uncle Muzungu."
3) Alice - I enjoyed spending time visiting with Alice and talking to her about school. She is now in high school. Most children attend a boarding school for secondary/high school in Kenya. There are different levels of high school depending on how well the children do on their exams. Alice scored quite well on her exams and is attending a provincial school. She gets up at 4 am every morning and is active with school activities from 5 am until about 9:30 pm. Yikes! (BTW, Marc, Alice said hello and sent you another video greeting on this trip!)
4) Obama - He is only about three. Ike was interviewing Alice on video and Obama had come up to where we were interviewing. I took him into another room and put my finger to my mouth and said "shhh." He did not say a word the entire time. He walked around the room and danced, but did not make a single noice. After the interview was done, I started talking again and he looked at me, put his finger up to his mouth and said to me "shhhh!" I wish you could see him, he is so completely adorable!
5) Colleta - Colleta is generally pretty shy and quiet. When I get back from my trips to HOREC and look through all of my pictures, I rarely find pictures with her smiling. Today, I think I must have taken about ten pictures of her smiling! WOW, she has such a beautiful smile!
6) Agnes and Alice - Rarely do we get time with just one or two children when we are here. Usually, there is a posse of children following us around, playing with our hair, sitting on our laps, etc. Please understand I am not complaining about having a posse of children following me around, at least not these children. But, it was really nice to have some time with just Alice and Agnes, to hear their story and just get to know them better.
7) Antony - I was sitting with the kids and showing them pictures from my trip last year and my safari in 2009. The entire time, Antony sat next to me and just stroked my arm. Every once in a while he would sort of pinch it or just stare at it. The kids seem to be so in awe of muzungu hair and skin.
8) Beverlyne - I was reading Beverlyne's composition called "About Me." At the end of it she wrote, "am wonderfully made by God." Ain't that the truth!
9) Lunch - We ate with the kids again today. Today's lunch was rice and beans. It was so delicious. Better than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich any day!
10) Beverlyne - At the end of the day today, she came to me with my tennis shoes and a brand new pair of white socks. It had rained yesterday, so it was very muddy at HOREC. I had taken my shoes off and changed into flip flops so as to not track mud into the dining hall. I looked at the socks and thought, mine were not that white when I came here and certainly not that white after the mud! Beverlyne had taken my socks and shoes and washed them clean. My socks were still wet when it was time to leave, so she had brought me a new pair of her socks so I would have some to wear home. A child who has so little washed my socks and wanted to give me a brand new pair of hers to wear home. I am just so amazed by the generosity and thoughtfulness of this young woman. Did I mention how much I love her? I just want to pack her up and take her home with me. This is the young woman I often dream (and, unfortunatelly, cry) about. My heart feels broken when we are apart. Life sometimes seems so unfair. I want to have a child so badly and here there are so many who need a loving home. Even as I cry when I write this, it is still a rose! : )
11) The ride home - Ike, yes Ike, drove us home from HOREC today! We dropped Christine off along the way and drove back to the hotel on our own. Pretty impressive for those of you who have experienced Kenya roads and traffic, don't ya think?!?!
12) Ike - What a neat man of God. I am truly enjoying getting to know him better.
13) (a baker's dozen) Pictures - As I look through my pictures tonight, I am seeing the pictures the kids took with my camera when I was cleaning up after our craft. I love it when they are behind the camera. The surprise of seeing what they captured is so wonderful!

Lala salama! Am hoping to share some pictures from today with you after I post this blog.

Oh, Happiness!

Sorry I did not blog last night, but I was so tired last night. The jet lag finally caught up with me. Or, maybe it was such a satisfying day that I was finally content enough for sleep.

My heart is so happy to be back in Kenya and see old friends and be with the children. Philip and Thomas picked us up from the airport on Saturday and Philip drove us to HOREC on Sunday. It was so nice to see them and visit while we were driving. We are so lucky to have them to help us while we are here. Philip's wife is in Nashville for training until later in the year. Maybe that will have to be a visit I make when I get back to the US!

We met Christine and the children for church on Sunday. It is a small Catholic church about 5 or so kilometers from HOREC called St. Tobias. We met Christine at HOREC and took the younger children over in the van and her hatchback. The older children had walked over earlier in the morning. The babies are growing so quickly. Kaleche (Faith) climbed into Ike's lap and said "Uncle Mzungu." So cute!

We were playing English/Swahili games in the car on the way to the service. I had asked the kids to teach me to count and they said "one, two, three, four . . ." (as opposed to mojo, mbili . . .) Even little Jennifer, who is only about two years old, was counting with the other kids. She is so smart and full of smiles all the time. She is such a blessing!

When we arrived at the church, I was staring out the window of the van, about as close to the door as I could get without falling out. I was so surprised when I looked out into the sea of blue (they were all wearing blue t-shirts) and saw Alice, Leah and Caroline (Carol). They are all in high school, so I did not expect to see them. I had never met Leah and Carol before as they were always at school during my visits, and I was sad as I thought I wouldn't get to see Alice this time. Alice has superb English and she is not shy to talk to us mzungu (white people), so it is always so much fun when she is around. They return to school tomorrow. I feel so blessed to have met Leah and Caroline finally and to have gotten to visit with Alice.

The children were actively involved in the service, singing and dancing, worshiping God with such talent as they always do. The priest even did part of his sermon in English for the two muzungu that were there (a.k.a. Joyce and Ike). His sermon was about our faith and our responsibiliby to our sisters and brothers who go astray, to help bring them back to Christ. It was certainly not Spring Valley, but it felt like such a community at their church and the choir sang so beautifully. It was a really great service. Tomas and Jackson sat with me the entire service. At one point, Jack was staring at my nails, which are currently painted a milky pink color, like cotton candy. He kept rubbing the nail and checking his finger to see if the paint rubbed off onto it. At one point, he rubbed my nail and them smelled his finger to see if it smelled like anything. It cracked me up! After church we packed 34 children and 5 adults into the van and small hatchback. I think it may have been a record!

We spent the rest of the day taking a tour and singing and visiting. The grounds look so different from last year. They have more land, a boy's dorm, an office and library (which Ike and I hope to paint while we are here), a guard house, a pen for the cows, additional pens for the goats and a well! Praise God for the Durango UMC and Living Water. We are hoping they will start getting usable water from the well during my visit.

It is good to be back in Kenya and at HOREC!

Welcome to Kenya!

We arrived safely in Kenya this evening. All of our flights were on time and service, etc. was great. Looks like the most excitement was on the front end of the trip! We were greeted by both Tomas and Philip at the airport. So good to see my rafiki yangus (friends) again. Dinner at the Classic Guest House was delicious - much better than any of the plane food we had along the way. Bwana Yasifiwe (praise God)!

Can't wait to see Christine and the kids tomorrow. We will join them at their church (a Catholic church near HOREC) that they now attend regularly. While we will miss the wonderful service at Spring Valley, it will be fun to worship with them at their church.

Lala Salama (goodnight) for now!

The Fun Begins

Ike and Kim picked me up at about 6 this morning, so we got to the airport with plenty of time to check in. Everything was going good. No lines at the premier check in. I checked in with no problems. Then, Ike tried to check in and was not able to because our flight had been cancelled. Apparently, they had rebooked me on an earlier flight out of Denver, but not Ike. After about 30 minutes with the agent, we were told Ike would not be able to get out today so we decided to both cancel our flights and try to rebook. The agent took us to a new agent to help us rebook. When we got to him, he said "you both are already rebooked on the 8:28 flight to Dulles." With less than an hour to go, he got us checked in. We rushed to security, to find NO LINE! We even had time to get water, etc. before getting on the flight. We get to our gate just as they were boarding our area. GOD is so good! He's surely keeping us on our toes, but he is delivering in every way! (Here's praying our luggage makes it!) Bwana Yasifiwe! Then, as I sat on the plane listening to my iPod, David Crowder's song "Oh, Happiness" came on. Oh, happiness in deed! I cannot wait to wrap my arms around those beautiful children! That is true happiness!