Today we visited three students’ homes. You hear about the poverty but until you see it firsthand you can’t imagine it. One family has a big house (compared to the others) but no way of taking care of it and the supports are falling apart and a danger to the children living there. Two of our students (Rosemary and Kelvin) live there with another younger brother, Mutuku. .jpg)
The “white man” came and built the house planning to stay but then left the mother with the kids. Shortly after that the mom died (when Mutuku was about 4 months old) so now the aunt takes care of them here in the house. Then we visited Gideon’s home (another student from the school). Here is where Gideon sleeps.JPG)
and here is where they cook (it is in a separate building and they use cow dung for fuel on the fire). Then it was off to Maua’s and Samuel’s home. The clothes they have on were very dirty and very thin, but as soon as they got home they took off their uniform and put these on so their uniform wouldn’t get dirty. Their mother and father are gone so grandmother takes care of them. .JPG)
She works pruning coffee plants (when they need her) for about 10-20 shillings a day (that’s about 15-30 15-30¢ a day). She was very nice and brought us out chairs to sit and offered to make tea. When I asked her if I could see her house she was very proud to show me where she lives. Her bedroom is about 5’x6’ and she sleeps with one of her grandsons. The “mattress” is made of rope with a thin sheet of plastic and a very thin blanket, no actual mattress and it was very hard. The other bedroom is about 5’x5’ and the bed consists of a box layered with rags and a thin piece of foam to sleep on. No sheets but one thin blanket. 
These children, along with many more at the Academy, are very poor and have nothing as far as possessions. I’ve noticed that the first day I was here no one smiled at me, but once they realized that I was there as a friend they started smiling and waving whenever I came around.
When we reached school they were having lunch. Today it was rice and cabbage, no protein today! Then after lunch we gave some of the clothes away that we had brought to the orphans who have nothing. The first little boy, Kelvin came in and I put my arm around him and he leaned into me! It was the sweetest thing and when I took my arm out from him to write his name down; he continued to lean into me. So when I was finished I put my arm around him again! I think they are getting used to me and that
I’m ok to be around! This girl, Ndunge, was so pretty and shy. But I wanted to put this picture in because this is the jacket that Tarrin donated! You can’t imagine how happy these children are with our excess clothes! Even the boys who were given pink shoes or a pink hat were thrilled to have something – no complaints from them! I am learning so much here and I’m feeling very inadequate – Lord give me Your strength and your love to share with these children.
.jpg)
The “white man” came and built the house planning to stay but then left the mother with the kids. Shortly after that the mom died (when Mutuku was about 4 months old) so now the aunt takes care of them here in the house. Then we visited Gideon’s home (another student from the school). Here is where Gideon sleeps.JPG)
and here is where they cook (it is in a separate building and they use cow dung for fuel on the fire). Then it was off to Maua’s and Samuel’s home. The clothes they have on were very dirty and very thin, but as soon as they got home they took off their uniform and put these on so their uniform wouldn’t get dirty. Their mother and father are gone so grandmother takes care of them. .JPG)
She works pruning coffee plants (when they need her) for about 10-20 shillings a day (that’s about 15-30 15-30¢ a day). She was very nice and brought us out chairs to sit and offered to make tea. When I asked her if I could see her house she was very proud to show me where she lives. Her bedroom is about 5’x6’ and she sleeps with one of her grandsons. The “mattress” is made of rope with a thin sheet of plastic and a very thin blanket, no actual mattress and it was very hard. The other bedroom is about 5’x5’ and the bed consists of a box layered with rags and a thin piece of foam to sleep on. No sheets but one thin blanket. 
These children, along with many more at the Academy, are very poor and have nothing as far as possessions. I’ve noticed that the first day I was here no one smiled at me, but once they realized that I was there as a friend they started smiling and waving whenever I came around.When we reached school they were having lunch. Today it was rice and cabbage, no protein today! Then after lunch we gave some of the clothes away that we had brought to the orphans who have nothing. The first little boy, Kelvin came in and I put my arm around him and he leaned into me! It was the sweetest thing and when I took my arm out from him to write his name down; he continued to lean into me. So when I was finished I put my arm around him again! I think they are getting used to me and that
I’m ok to be around! This girl, Ndunge, was so pretty and shy. But I wanted to put this picture in because this is the jacket that Tarrin donated! You can’t imagine how happy these children are with our excess clothes! Even the boys who were given pink shoes or a pink hat were thrilled to have something – no complaints from them! I am learning so much here and I’m feeling very inadequate – Lord give me Your strength and your love to share with these children.