Monday, January 31, 2011

Week 2 and 3: Missed matatus and Mithini

About a week ago, four of us volunteers decided to go and spend the night at the other WWB orphanage in Mithini. Loaded with supplies, we caught a matatu (a public transport minivan), for the 20 km trip. The roads were dirt and heavily eroded in the mountainous area and after a bone-jarring hour and a half we finally made it to the orphanage. The 8 kids that call this place home were delightful and we spent time helping them haul containers of water from the stagnant water source at the bottom of the hill. A well is under construction but for now the only water that is readily available for cooking and washing is the tiny catchment that most of their neighbours also use.  It was great to be able to spend some time loving and encouraging the kids and staff.

On Friday we came home from the nearby town to find 3 new faces at the orphanage. The kids had been dropped off with very little explanation except that their mother had died a few years ago and they had since been living with their great-grandparents. The great-grandparents were now very sick and so had given the children over to the orphanage for care. The oldest, George, is 10 but has never been to school. Dorcas is a sweet 7 year old who very lovingly looks after her 3 year old brother Issa. The first night was rough on all three kids. Issa wandered around the compound with big scared eyes and when we scrambled for blankets so they could go to sleep he just lay frozen in his new bed, silent tears snaking down his little cheeks. On Saturday we took them for their first medical check-up.  I hope you will join us in praying that the 3 of them are HIV-.

Sean, also Pick a Pocket staff, joined me here a week ago. Together with another volunteer, Robin, we have been planning a trip to the north of Kenya. We are all interested in experiencing a little bit more of Kenyan tribal culture and getting off the beaten track-  reaching the unreached- and doing what we are called to do.

Prayer requests-

Robin is not a Christian, but she is very open to hearing about our beliefs. I imagine that it will be an intense time for her- travelling to the north with 2 missionaries. Please pray for sensitivity and understanding for all of us.

Pray that the 3 new children all receive a clean bill of health and they are able to stay together in the orphanage.

Prayer for health and safety for the 3 of us heading north would be very much appreciated.

Last but not least- finances. Right at the beginning of this year I had a dream that I felt told me that God would provide as I went along the journey. I took a massive step of faith in coming to Kenya with less than half of what I need for the whole time here. I really do trust that God will provide, but as a human I still have sleepless nights worrying about how I'm going to get through the rest of this time. Please pray for an increase in my faith and ability to trust that God will provide.

Thanks so much! When I feel so far away from everything it really does make a difference to know that there are people out there in the world who are praying for and caring about me.


Please check out Sean's blog http://mrseanrogers.blogspot.com/ for a write-up on one of the kids here at the orphanage and some of his awesome photos.

:)

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