Kisumu Adventures!

Today we are back in Nairobi & feeling like we're back at "home".  We spent a few days in Kisumu visiting Dago Support Group of widows & orphans.  They have many self-sustaining projects to generate income for food, medical needs and daily needs.  Some of the projects are raising goats, growing vegetables and a Tilapila pond.  Unfortunately, the drought caused the pond to dry up & the community has lost their fish.  They hope to restock once funds are available.  During introductions of our team, I mentioned meeting Rose at Dago two years ago, and the Pastor pointed out Rose was there that day as well.  We both looked at each other & squealed in recognition, running into each other's arms while embracing with great joy!  We were a real part of the community that day, worshipping, singing, serving & sharing.  Such suffering but also great joy about the small gifts we gave that day; some maize, soap & a mosq no toysuito net seem so insignificant to us, but are nothing short of life-giving to these women & children.

We also visited a orphan house filled with 22 children supported by Pastor Dennis & Deaconess Lorna with the help of sponsors.  We brought with us donations from St. John; many shoes & St. John T-shirts.  The shoes, especially a pair of green Crocs ;), and the St. John shirts were a huge hit.  the children shared dinner, songs, stories and children's games as the evening unfolded.  The kids really loved to have movies taken of them with my camera &  wanted to see themselves right away.  They would all groan when each movie ended.  The girls sang a song with the words "I'm no longer the same, I'm no longer the same.  Jesus has came and changed my life, I'm no longer the same" which I took a movie of while fighting back tears.  This is the exact story of their lives; they have literally been lifted out of slums, garbage, raw sewage, and extremely dangerous situations and given a family in this house, love, food & safe shelter.  Unbelievable to see how well the children played with absolutely no toys; they played with rocks, dirt, found objects like bike tires to amuse themselves.  They loved all the attention & "gifts"; new clothing & shoes for those who could fit the shoes we brought.  It is pure joy to hear their stories of life out of such desperation.  Dennis & Lorna don't even know how they will continue to raise these children, but they know that God will continue to provide!

I was finally able to post a slide show on the team blog, so please check it out & comment!  We will get back to working at the school in Kibera fixing up classrooms.  I will try to post more pictures on the team blog, so keep checking back in  :)