Recently I was talking with Ann (house mom for C4KK Children’s Shelter-coming soon!) about how exciting it is to see the building coming along and moving date getting closer and closer…God willing! We talked about her having her own room. You could hear the excitement in her voice as this is something she hasn’t had for years because she has shared a room with up to 4 children. She is looking forward to having a small space to herself. I remembered she had a wooden bed where she was before (where she was kicked out of the “other” orphanage, one we shall not name) and asked her if it was stored at a neighbors so it could be brought over once she moves into her room. Here’s a look at her room with the new floor:
Ann told me she had a bed BUT since the owner was not supporting them she used the bed for firewood. Yes you read that correctly, they had a little food at the home but no way of cooking it. She saw no other alternative (they had already used the fence posts for firewood) but to use her bed to help feed the children. After she burned her bed she was given another bed to use from the orphanage owner’s church. But when the owner came to the orphanage and kicked her out he told her to leave the bed since it was his. As for now she is sharing a room with 2 girls and they have 1 bunk bed and a couch (at least we call it a couch…you are basically sitting on the wooden frame) for them to sleep on.
With the shyness of a little child she says “but you know mum (that’s what everyone around here calls me) a new bed would be nice to go with the new room I’ll be moving in to.” “We will have to wait and see about finances” I told her. Then she says “the bed I’m looking at is 4500/ ksh.” Which is approximately $57 USD. It kind of made me laugh as she has apparently been looking at beds and daydreaming about the one she wants!
I tell you this for a couple of reasons: 1) Ann made a decision to sacrifice her comfort for the sake of the children, 2) She never complains about her current situation of sharing a room, 3) it’s neat to see her excitement and the kids’ as they watch their new home being built and knowing they won’t be kicked out of this one, and 4) as we move closer to “move in” day items such as a bed, dressers, rugs, curtains and much, much more are needed to make this a home for the children and Ann…which in turns means funds are needed.
Please prayerfully consider helping with any of the above items. (You can do that through our website’s donation page.) C4KK Children’s Shelter is going to be home to these kids, a place they can feel safe and wanted. A place where their needs will be met by a faithful God and a place which shows God’s glory on a daily basis just by the fact it is there!