Tag Archives: family

Slacker!

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Did not get a blog post out yesterday or the day before.   Here are my excuses:

  • day before yesterday internet was really lousy and I just didn’t have the fight in me.
  • yesterday we had kid stuff (more on that in a minute)
  • plus yesterday I tried 3 times to get a blog posted from my phone and it kept deleting the draft [aarrggghhh]

Now for more on the kid stuff:

 

We had a meeting with our secondary (high school) kids, they are back home from completing their first term of 2012!  Grades overall were good and we are looking to transfer 2 boys to another school which we have a really good relationship with and is #4 in the District!!  The reasons?  One school raised their fees 6000/ksh (approx. $71) the day we showed up to drop off the kid at school in Term 1 and has now raised fees for Term 2 another 7000/ksh (approx. $83)…both with no explanation.  The other school had a riot last year and hasn’t recovered, therefore education is not a priority for them at the moment.

It felt really good to talk to these kids as a family unit, letting them know they have a support system.  Plus I don’t think anyone has ever asked them their opinion about their classes, why they received a particular grade or what they see for their future.  We also had some “parental” talks….don’t leave the compound without permission (teen boys tend to think they know it all!), decide between getting your hair done (weaves are big over here for the ladies and the girls can only have it done during break because they aren’t allowed to have this done during school) or having a scarf for the cold mornings, no you can’t have all the lotions/perfumes/hair coloring you want!

I could see some taking it all in and even questioning a few things (yeah!) but I also saw a few not being too interested in the whole thing….guess that’s part of being in a family, different attitudes/personalities/objectives but that’s exactly what we told them.  We are a family and we all need to cooperate and talk about issues that come up.

So I’m sorry for slacking off the past few days…oh and by the way we are still out of running water, that doesn’t have anything to do with getting a blog post out but goes to state of mind!

Not the type of excitement I like

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It was quite an exciting morning at our home.  I walked into the kitchen and thought a worm was in the corner.  Then I noticed a pointed tail, unlike any worm I’ve seen.  Upon further examination, with a broom, I discovered it was a snake!  It was very aggressive too, striking at the broom and cup (which I eventually covered him with).  Wouldn’t you know it the one night Patches (our cat) decides to stay away at night and we get a snake!

Anyone have a clue as to what type it is?

Then I’m kind of in a mental state now because our daughter, Tarrin, is leaving for India in a few hours.  I’m excited for her and know she loves the Lord above all else and He has her covered in His grace, love and mercy but as a mom I’m a bit apprehensive about the whole trip too.  I know firsthand (as many of you do) the fight satan will put up to stop her from spreading God’s love to the people in India.  Yes God loves her more than I could ever imagine and I pray for God’s will to be done through her and on this trip, but I wasn’t there to help her prepare, pack, talk out jitters, etc…..but what a wonderful opportunity for her to rely on the lover of her soul!   Please keep Tarrin in your prayers as she begins this new adventure, walking the path God has laid out before her.

Surprise Sabbath

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You may recall me telling you about “plans” here in Kenya, if not you can read about it here.  Yesterday we had “planned” to pick up 3 boys in Tala from their mid-term break.  They said it would most likely be around 10am.  Ok, we stayed at home and waited…and waited and waited.  We called C4KK to see if anyone there had heard from the boys, nope.  So we ended up having a surprise Sabbath.  By the end of the day the matron (Ann) said most likely the school had decided to change the mid-term release date to today (Friday).  But we received no phone call from either students or administration.  The thought for me was if there had been an accident it was highly unlikely that all three boys would not be able to call, so we continued to wait.

I didn’t open my computer up the entire day…I take that back, I did open it so we could watch The Kings Speech (DVD player is broken).  We read (I finished book #2 of The Hunger Games trilogy), talked and basically never stepped outside all day!

Today we headed into Tala around 10am and would pick up the boys if they were there and if not they’d have to take a matatu (public transport).  Went into Sunny Lucky to pick up some rice and spaghetti (Ann needed more of these items because all the secondary kids are here now, meaning 8 additional mouths to feed for a few days) and just as we were about to leave, who walks up but the 3 boys.  They said the school decided to take their pre-mid-term exams on Wednesday and Thursday (instead of Tuesday and Wednesday) making it necessary for the kids to leave for mid-term Friday not Thursday as planned.

Kids are all now safely at home and it sounds like a youth group out there!  It’s fun listening to them all discuss grades, classes, teachers, etc. just like a family should!

 

Roll call!

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C4KK Children’s Shelter roll call!  We currently have 27 children – 16 boys and 11 girls, anticipating one more girl to arrive soon.

Here are a few of the faces!

Here’s the math:

16 boys

11 girls (12 eventually)

27 kids (28 soon to be)

Out of the 27 we have 19 primary students (Nursery through 8th grade) and 8 secondary students (9th-12th grades)

Here’s a list of the kids in alphabetical order:

Ben
Bonface
Caleb *
Ceciliah
Chris
Daniel
Doreen
Doris *
Edward *
Elijah *
Emma
Erastus *
Esther
Francis *
Frank *
Isaac
Jacinta *
Jane
Kelvin
Kevin
Mercy *
Morris *
Moses *
Nancy *
Naomi
Pius
Scholar

* = these children are still looking for a sponsor!  If you are interested please visit our Sponsorship Gallery.

There you have….C4KK Children’s Shelter updated kid list!

More welcome homes!

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Along with settling kids into their new secondary schools we’ve had a few additions to the C4KK family!  I am so happy to introduce you to:

Emma - sister to Bonface

 

Bonface

 

Esther - sister to Ben

 

Ben

 

I am so thankful these kids knew each other before arriving at C4KK because “fitting” into the family came naturally!  Emma and Bonface (the youngest in the family) seem to be settling in quite nicely and love running around and playing with all their brothers and sisters.  Esther has a wonderful “you go girl” attitude as you can see from her picture.  Ben is a stoic kind of kid but when enticed to smile he lights up!

Ben and Esther’s father died in 2007 and afterwards “their mother got lost and nobody knows where she is” according to an uncle.  Whereas Emma and Bonface’s parents separated, their father went to jail and they were then being taken care of by a relative before moving to C4KK.  These kids have bounced around, been passed around, and basically been told ‘you are a burden’, but now they have a loving home to finally call home!

Each time I see the kids acting like “normal” kids it brings a smile to my face (even through the discipline!) and I thank God He has allowed me to be a small part of this process (even through the discipline for me!).

 

Another aspect

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You’ve read here before about Caring For Kenya’s Kids (C4KK) and C4KK Children’s Shelter.  Helping to supply basic needs for orphaned children, widows and employing workers so they in turn can afford their families needs.  Today I’m going to show you another aspect of C4KK’s ministry.  We work with a friend, Ben, a local Kenyan and Executive Director of My Brother’s Keeper, who works with HIV/AIDS victims and those living in the slums.  We help support Ben on a case by case basis in which Chuck gets more detail on the situation, prays about it, asks God’s guidance and then proceeds with support if called to do so.  Here are a few stories of recent situations C4KK has supported.  Photos and captions are Ben’s:

This family had no water to use because there money to buy the precious commodity. I bought them soap and enough water to cook with, drink, wash their clothes and utensils, and most importantly to bathe with. Water is life.

The widow could not believe her eyes. She later told me she never even dreamt of getting good things like the items and food we brought her.

Today during our daily home visits i came across this woman and her baby. She is floorridden, pregnant (5 months), hiv+, has TB, vomiting, with a relentless diarrhea. She told me she had not eaten for many days.

When we arrived at Petronilla's house this morning.

Ben’s team cleaned the one-room home, cleaned mother and child, prepared food for them and the doctor came to check on her.  They brought the love of Christ directly into this mom and baby’s life.  ”She was so hungry and desperately ill even to talk. She murmered something like petronilla or something as her name. Today i get to go bathe them, clean the house and buy them anti diarhea and anti vomit medicines.”

Then bathed her for she had not fellowshiped with water for a very long time and badly needed one.

Feeding baby Mike whom we found eating her mother's feaces as there was nothing to eat.

There is no handshake or pat on the back which can reward Ben this side of Heaven for his love, care and concern for the “least of these”  but you can help Ben continue this work by donating at our secure donation site, marking “other” in the Allocation drop-down box and writing “Ben” in the comment section.  Those donations will be used on a case by case basis for helping these precious children of God.

Chuck will keep you informed on the cases which are supported by reposting Ben’s updates through Facebook.  Thank you in advance for your prayerful consideration in helping bring the love of Christ to so many.

A bit calmer today

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Actually I’m a lot calmer today compared to yesterday, thanks to prayer (not only my heart cries, but friends lifting me up) .  Today I haven’t heard anything from the student and I’m hoping that means he is back at school and staying!

It didn’t hurt either that I had three packages come in the mail so I got to end my day on a high note opening care packages which included pepperoni, Crystal Light drink mix, movies, beef jerky, Starbucks coffee and a few other items.  Thank you friends and family for sending the items!

I know life gives us all ups and downs and will continue to be that way until our final breath this side of Heaven.  My own personal issue is how to deal with those downs in a Christ-like manner and how to continue leaning on God during the ups.

“Two things I ask of you, LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.  Proverbs 30:7-9 (NIV)

 

Welcome home!

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Look who’s home!  Scholar, Ceceliah and Pius!!!  They arrived today with all their paperwork and are now living at C4KK!  It’s been a long, bumpy road for them to finally get here….birth certificates in the making for weeks for one thing.  But what a wonderful blessing and bright spot for the day!  I know, I’m using a lot of exclamation points, but I am so excited to finally  have them home!!

They arrived with little possessions and in their school uniform but as you can see from their smiles they don’t mind and simply are happy to be home.  Shortly after they arrived it was lunch time and I couldn’t help just looking at them eating with their family.

My prayer is this will be a beautiful beginning for their lives, they will forget about the “other” home they lived in and the conditions there and know they are loved and accepted at C4KK, their new home!  Thank you Lord for awesome homecomings like this!

 

Daily life

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I was asked recently to take some photos on one day, at a particular time.  It shows what is happening or what we see on a typical day at C4KK and I wanted to share that with all of you:

our local thorn bush

Maria does a last sweep of the day

Roman's fire pit for cooking his dinner

One of the kids shoes left outside so they don't track mud into the house

Jacinta and Doris wash lunch dishes...will be nice once the water is piped into the kitchen and they have a real sink!

Isaac and Daniel (far right) hang out with friends

Maria hangs up the wash while Bosco washes up after a long day

The muddy road in front of C4KK

Wash hanging out to dry

Shamba!

 

There is a typical day at C4KK for the kids…now what I didn’t show was anything Chuck and the crew were working on that day or Ann.  At the time I took the photos she was walking with 2 of the boys to Joska for food and that walk is approximately 2 miles one way.  But that too is typical.

 

 

Friends, family and more family

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Sunday Chuck and I decided to take a walk and see if Bosco and his family were home.  They live fairly close and would make for a nice walk.  We arrived at his home to find it empty but as we came back to the road Annastacia, Bosco’s wife, came around the corner collecting her kids who were playing in a nearby field.  She spotted us, not hard with our white faces blaring, and in her very broken English said “Bosco, mom, home”.  We got the idea and followed her to grandma and grandpa’s house.  Actually the kids ran ahead knowing full well where grandma’s is!  Once we arrived we said our hellos and were invited into the home for a seat.  We were able to have a conversation as Bosco’s dad can speak some English…his English is much better than my Swahili so I give him all the credit for carrying the conversation!  Great grandma (Bosco’s dad’s mom) arrived and her voice is so high pitched it almost hurts my ears!  But what a happy lady and whenever I see her she seems to be the happiest person around.  Then Bosco came, he was at a neighbors visiting, and he took us for a little tour of the area…which basically means meeting the extended family.

We first went to the backyard to see where Bosco lived when he first got married and had their first 2 kids.  The house is no longer there but he showed us where it had been and which plants he had planted.  He was pretty excited as some of those flowers were coming to the children’s shelter.  Then we went next door to meet a cousin, his wife and kids.  A few yards away another cousin and family.  Lastly we ended up at great-grandma’s house (Bosco’s mom’s mom).  She knows no English and spoke mostly in her mother tongue (Kamba) but was sharp as ever and told us of her belief in God and that He created us all the same…hands to work, eyes to see and mouth to speak to each other.  Then she quietly pulled out a small vile of something and put just a bit in her mouth.  My curiosity got the best of me and I had to ask…shyly Bosco said it was tobacco!  She chews!  Hey, give her a break though, at over 110 years old (no one was quite sure and some said around 120!) she deserves a little indulgence!

It was time to head back to grandma and grandpa’s for tea and mandazi (donuts).  After a bit more conversation and viewing of photos we were on our way home, or so we thought!   Next door (opposite from where we started) was another cousin who was home now.  Of course you stop and greet each other, we had met Raphael a couple of months ago at Coletta’s birthday party but we sat for a bit and had a nice conversation before finally heading home.

We left our house around 11 and arrived home at 5:30pm.  That’s a lot of family to meet!  But what hit me was how much this family loved being together, so much so that they live within a mile of each other…by choice!  The elderly are honored and taken care of with such love and concern and the entire family takes an active role in their care.  It was bittersweet for me though as it made me miss my own family, but what a blessing to spend a Sunday afternoon with a great family.