Let the Countdown Begin

It's just over a week until Kim, Harrison, and I begin our journey to Kenya.  Harrison and I are excited to see Kenya through Kim's eyes as this will be her maiden voyage.  It will be my 5th trip and Harrison's 3rd. Why do we continue going back?  I get that question a lot.  The simple answer is this:  the kids at the Virginia Home in Nakuru.  I was pretty anxious the first time we drove on the dirt roads through the slums with half-naked babies, drunks, dirty children and skinny animals flanking the road as we passed.  While their smiling faces and sweet sounding chants "How are YOU?!  How are  YOU?!" did alleviate my anxiety a slight bit, I was still pretty nervous.  When our van pulled onto the Virginia Home compound and all of the uniformed children ran up up with wide eyes and big smiles my heart melted.  When the hugs started and the singing and dancing ensued I was hooked!  On the last day, Harrison promised a 13-year old girl named Anne Wangui that we would be back in June to visit (promises are a no-no).  We made good on his promise! There are days when I wonder if one little ol' suburban mom is making a difference.  There are approximately 98 Children's Homes in Nakuru alone.  But I decided that for whatever reason, God put this Children's Home in my path and my husband and I would do what we could to help them.

In addition to feeding them daily, with the help of African Christian Outreach, we have seen such a change in the Director's heart, they have received electricity through a group in Australia, and they are starting to become more self-sufficient through by running a Cyber Cafe and raising chickens and cows.  The best is yet to come, I just know it!  I am excited to report that the majority of the kids in Class 8 passed their exams and again with the help of ACO we have found nearby high schools for them to attend while still residing at the Virginia Home.  It costs about $500/yr per student for school fees and uniforms.  I have guaranteed the money but think it would be so neat to find sponsors for each of these kids.  If you know of anyone who is interested in being a sponsor, let me know.  They would have a specific child they would sponsor and almost all of them have Facebook access so they could get to know the child they are sponsoring.  Every time I come up with another "idea" or "need" for the Virginia Home, my friend Tom Stickney, Director of ACO (which is who I work through) just rolls his eyes and says, "Those kids are pretty lucky.  Make it happen."