FINALLY SOME SUCCESS AND MORE BABIES!

Saturday, April 27, 2013

It is the day of the run/walk.  If I was nervous in the US you can imagine how nervous I was here, not have any control over the situation really except for motivation. Our ride was late which was not a great start. I was nervous already and Rashid had a punctured tire so he was late. That makes me anxious. When we arrived all of the tables were ready at the correct positions so that was good and then we each just took a table and started setting it up. It went off without a hitch at all.  A little disagreement about exact time to start, but it worked out very well.

The Deputy Governor of Mombasa Hazel Catana was present to cut the ribbon at the start line. She was pulled away on other official business (the president of Somalia came into town that morning), but she arrived to at least do the cutting and wish us well. She was a very welcomed guest of honor and she showed up on time.

We had about 40-50 running and lots more that donated to the Pregnancy Crises Center cause but where not able to come on the day of.  Thanks to Liz, Joy, Mercy, Benna, and Jayne for helping getting this going. We had food and fun.  The Crossroad kids did a great skit on how the need comes about for a pregnancy crises center and we had a great time.

Then we cleaned up and headed to our second baby orphanage which had moved on us and was actually located only a few blocks from the other baby orphanage we were at on Wed.  Tami and Patrick run this one.  Tami is from Australia.  She had a baby 4 months ago and she was in Australia for some medical procedures so we were able to see Patrick. A lot of the same babies were their as the last time. They were growing upward, but they look so skinny. They had to move from a bigger place in Nyali to a much littler place in Mikkidani which is not a great neighborhood. We are praying for both Tami and Patrick. It has been a lot of transition in the last few months, moving to this area, having a baby, and living in much smaller quarters.  Lots of adjustment and Tami is not keen on spirituality yet.

SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2013

Church at Crossroads which was great as always.  Jim Horne did the sermon and sang a few of the songs.  Then we headed out Vipingo. Paul and Rose were out their already. They were baptizing a few people and then we did Vipingo princess parties. The ladies were so excited. They were dancing and singing and so excited.  Then we headed to Yules with Liz and Jayne.

MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013

SOUTH COAST FINALLY!

My favorite part - south coast. We headed to Tiwi and they were closed. I was expecting Fred to have brought some of the kids in to see us, but no one was there.  Luckily I had contacted Pastor Vincent and he met us there and took us to his new very small starting off school in New Maba River area.  He is operating on God's grace every day.  This is where the newest OGH well is located thanks to some generous donors from Fox River.   We checkout out some cottages to possibly stay at on a March trip next year. If your interested on coming with, let me know.

We also went to see another school started by a man from Minnesota that moved here 4 years ago. It is a small start to a school but so far so good.  We also, thanks to Thomas, got to see a pregnancy crises center already in motion. It was an amazing place. They had little concrete base with palm branch roof huts that 2 girls lived in per hut with their baby.  Kennedy there was awesome and so helpful for us to get started with a budget and other things.

Sat and had a long lunch  on the ocean. It was great food -somosas finally - and very relaxing.

We also visited with Elias from the Lutheran's down here to set up dates for our March trip, somewhere around  March 15-March 30, but probably not all of those dates.  The trip will focus on south coast and we will be staying down there.

Then we visited his Faraja Children's home and got a tour of the new dorms as well as the expanded farm and got a chance to hear the kids sing.  WE gave them all toothbrushes and Burger King crowns.  It was a lot of fun.  Way off the road and beautiful views all the way to the ocean.

Then we got a chance to meet with a contractor for the south coast high school details.  It was very good to here him know what he was doing with building a secondary school.  Very excited about that.

Then we sat in traffic for hours and hours to get back home.  Very good day, but a little long.