The process to purchase Christmas short sets for the orphaned/sponsored kids has begun. We must say a big thank you to the folks at North Point Ministries in Midland, Michigan for raising the funds in order to give these kids a Christmas gift…THANK YOU!
First some background…
We had a woman in mind that we wanted to work with on this project. She is a single mother of 2 boys – one is out of school and the other is a former Nice View Academy student who will be promoted to Form 2 (10th grade) in January 2011. We first met Rose and her youngest son, Abendego, in 2008 during our first trip to Kenya. They were living in a latrine converted to a one room home. Chuck could stand in the middle of the room and touch all four walls. They piled their possessions on the sleeping area in order to have room to cook, then everything would be moved for sleeping. At the time Rose was working as house help for a family living in another village so she was only able to visit Abendego one or two times per week. When she was able to visit she gave him a few shillings to help with costs during the next few days. Remember, Abendego was only 12 years old. He was cooking, buying food, cleaning, washing his clothes and getting himself off to school every day on his own. The day we visited he had 30/ksh (approximately .37 cents) and no food at home (we bought him food to last about a week).
Discussions began with Gideon (Director at Nice View) to see if Nice View could bring Abendego into the school as a boarder and sponsored child (meaning Nice View would waive his educational fees). Once the decision was made we asked his mother for permission and she began crying and thanking God for providing for her son. He was a boarder at Nice View in 2008 and 2009 and was promoted to Form 1 (9th grade) in January 2010 and has been doing very well in school. Rose has moved in with her sister and is working with her at the market selling second hand clothes and is hoping to save enough money to move into her own home.
That brings us to now…
Rose went to Nairobi yesterday (Tuesday) to purchase the outfits and delivered them today.
I will be gift wrapping and tagging the outfits for distribution on December 18th when we are having a Christmas get-together for the orphaned/sponsored kids. Thank you to everyone who helped not only in getting the kids a set of clothes but also helping Rose. I will continue to update you throughout this process, right up to the party on the 18th!