I bring you greetings in the name of the Lord from Nyeri, Kenya and the Tumaini and Huruma Children's Home. We have just completed the 4th full day on sight which marks the half way point of our stay here. Our hosts continue to treat us like special guests and we have not grown weary of the attention but perhaps a bit spoiled as our meals are prepared for us, served tea twice a day and have our personal drivers to take us to town. 
The children continue to bring so much joy to our time here. It is amazing to see them in their daily activities. They have a bounce in their feet as they walk to school in the AM and upon return to the home in the afternoon they are ready to play with us and seem to crave the limited amount of time we have with them. The kids love the crafts planned for them - friendship bracelets and making bookmarks. From the youngest kids ( 4 years to approximately 20) they were easily engaged with the activities. It is amazing how you can get a "cool" adolescent boys engaged with such activities. Then we realize it is not about the activity but our time with them. We brought many beach balls , some basketballs and soccer balls. They are always the hit and bring much activity on the playground.
Today we held our first teaching sessions with 11 young girls using the program Day for Girls. Content of the program includes teaching the girls the basics of anatomy and physiology of the female and male reproductive system, the basics on feminine hygiene, concepts of self-defense, slave trafficking, and perhaps most important respecting and caring for their own bodies which is a gift from God. Upon conclusion of the program we gave each girl their own personal hygiene kit for easier management of the days in the month that otherwise may be very difficult due to lack of modern products. Kris, Kaki, Julie and Kathy taught the class. We were a bit nervous and uncertain how the girls would respond. We were delighted that from start to finish they were totally engaged and very excited to receive the hygiene kits. They even had some very good questions for us. We will continue to teach more girls later in the week.
As we prepared for the trip we were told that shoes for the children was one of the biggest needs. Therefore arrangements were made for the local shoe cobbler to measure each child's foot and shoes will be made at $8 per pair (about 200 pair needed) After seeing the kids and some of the conditions of their shoes we are convinced this is money well spent.
This AM we went to the bread baking enterprise which is located here on site. This project is run by 3 graduates of the children's home. Three days a week they make approximately 125 loaves of bread which is sold to other local schools and served to the children at the two homes. For these three people this enterprise gives them employment and provides a much needed service to the community. The bread is delicious and hard to believe it is cooked with firewood ( yes folks delicious bread with no electricity).
The team is holding up well. Their are challenges each day mostly with time management and planning but we all rejoice in being here and the relationship building that continues between Meadows and the folks within the parish and at the children's home. There are some frustrations as our day is planned and then it changes due to things beyond our control. We remind ourselves we are on Kenya time. We find comfort in knowing our Meadows family and many more are praying for us. We ask continued prayers for safety, energy and that God's plan for this trip be realized.
To His Service,
Kathy and the Kenya Team.
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