I realized that Satan was really at work on this trip. I found that surprising as I have never thought of myself as someone "spiritually" important enough for Satan to give a second look. And frankly, I'm still not, but for some reason God has really wanted to work through me/us in Kenya and specifically at the Virginia Home.
I go back to that first trip we took to the Virginia Home in March 2011. It was in terrible shape. Children who were all but forgotten, they weren't eating everyday and they was no spark in their eyes.
This was Ann and Carol, March 2011
This is Carol today with one of the ACO interns, Amie Akers
This is Ann on her way home from school. She's in Form 1 now.
Whenever I wonder if there have been any changes, successes, or progress since that first visit, I just compare the before and after photos. Look how HEALTHY these two girls look! Their DAILY eating is directly related to the success they have had in school. They are able to focus, and they are getting better marks! This has sparked interest from families who have heard that the Virginia Home is producing good marks, so they enroll their children in the school, pay the school fees and the Director now has some money to pay teachers (since ACO is paying for the kids' food) so things just keep getting better and better!
And the kids are HAPPY! I thought this as I looked around the room today, watching them sing praise songs and interacting with one another. They are happy. The unthinkable happened today. Never in a million years would I have thought that we would RECOMMEND the Virginia Home as a positive place for the kids to come, live, and go to school. But that's what we did! Remember I told you about the "Plan B" taking us to the Remand Home? Well, one of the children at the Remand Home had no parents, they could not find any family for him to live with, so they were looking for a children's home. Both my son Harrison and I thought of the Virginia Home so Joseph could get back into school and have a place to call home. The Remand Home asked us if we could get two sisters, Suzanne and Eunice, into the Virginia Home as well. We spoke with the director, he immediately agreed (he's actually a pretty good guy, I was wrong about him in the beginning), we purchased them beds, bedding and uniforms, and today we had the privilege of taking all three of them to the Virginia Home!
The girls especially weren't thrilled at first with the idea...their first preference I'm sure would be to go home to their mother, but they had many friends at the Remand Home and they felt safe there. We explained to them that if they didn't go to this children's home they would have to find another one to go to because they couldn't stay at the Remand Home indefinitely. They warmed up to the idea, they were just anxious...they are such beautiful girls and as I told Harrison, this is the right thing for them. They need to be back in school. He was worried because when asked where they were going by one of their peers, Suzanne said, "Mzungu" (which means "white person"). I think they will do just fine and can't WAIT to see them when I come back in November.
Eunice, the younger sister
Suzanne, the older sister
Now the boy, Joseph, was a bit of a different story. He knew he had no family left and wanted so badly to go back to school. While I know he was probably a little nervous, I think he was excited at the same time!
Joseph, the boy with the GREAT smile
I count this trip a success. I was able to see how far we have come with the Virginia Home and how far we still have to go. Our friend from the Remand Home, Gi Tonga (he's a child advocate so to speak), commented upon leaving the kids tonight, "I really like the kids here! They are SO active and happy! I will definitely be coming back to this place." Never in a million years would I have thought that would come out of someone's mouth regarding the Virginia Home. Wow.
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