Sad News

From Jennifer Phillips Lawrence's blog (www.mytb.org/ITHM):

With terrible grief and heartache I must share terrible news concerning HOREC. On Thursday morning around 1 a.m. approximately 15 thugs broke into the orphanage. They were on a rampage coming from two neighbors’ homes that they had ransacked, beat and cut the people. All the people survived with multiple wounds. HOREC staff and children knew nothing of the havoc going on down the road until they too became victims. The men must have been watching the property because they waited until the night guard went into his house (just a short distance away from the dorm) to escape the rain. They quietly approached the dorm, cut the electricity supply, broke the lock to the front gate and made their way to the corridor of the bathrooms. Between the bathrooms and the girls' room the wall does not go all the way to the roof. Two of the thugs found the space and climbed over the wall landing in the girl’s bedroom. They then got the door open so that the rest could join. With flashlights shining directly in the kid’s eyes that were awake they told the children if they screamed they would be killed. They were carrying axes and machetes. Some of the men cut through the boxes of supplies, some were yelling at the staff to hand over money and cell phones, and others dragged two of the girls to the storage room and raped them. One of the girls is 14 years of age and the other is 10. Both have come from sexually abusive backgrounds. The housemother was being beaten mercilessly as some of the children were climbing under beds to hide. Miraculously some of the kids slept through the whole ordeal. Then, as fast as they had come they left. Their whirlwind was like a hurricane that ripped through bodies, hearts and minds leaving a shattered mess.

It wasn’t until they left that the housemother found a cell phone they had hidden and frantically called Christine. Everyone was praying it was a nightmare from which they would awake. Christine, her husband and the police arrived to find the chaos of screaming children. Both the girls were taken to Nairobi Women’s Hospital and treated then sent back home. One feels helpless at the situation. Questions go through our minds and frustration feels like a heavy weight. I know nothing can be done about what happened but I also know that we can take some action to help prevent the same situation in the future.

Christine and I have made an urgent priority list:
1. We want a counselor to come to the site and counsel not only the two girls but all the children. It will be awhile before they can peacefully sleep through the night but we would like to provide as much comfort as possible. Hiring a counselor will cost $200 for a month.
2. Hiring a security company- The company installs “panic” buttons in the dorm so that if one is pressed, the signal goes straight to the security team and they are sent to the property within minutes. As the orphanage sits about half a mile off the main road and does not have many neighbors it is in a vulnerable area. Having a professional security team (this is a common practice as insecurity is high in Nairobi) gives one a small piece of mind that there will be trained professionals coming to your aid if need be. A security company contract costs $100 per month. Perhaps you want to cover the orphanage for one month of the year or half a month. Whatever you can do will be a big help! I know it is not a sure fire way to keep thieves away but it will give Christine, the staff and the children at least a little piece of mind that there is a way to call for help.

Christine requests prayers for the home and for all involved. The ten-year-old said she recognized the man’s face that raped her. It is someone that she had seen walking by the orphanage. We are praying for justice, protection and healing. If you would like to help with HOREC please send ITHM an earmarked check. We are proceeding with installing the system within one week as well as installing security lights on the outside of the dorm, repairing the broken locks, etc.

Thank you for your love, concern, prayers and support.
Jennifer and Johnny

ITHM
23223 S. Warmstone Way
Katy, TX 77494

Our Last Day - Update

This morning we were surprised by Marcos joining us for another day. His safari group had cancelled so we were fortunate to have him again. Today was our last day at HOREC. A lot of tears were shed by our team and the children. We had a special BBQ - the children don't get meat often so they just devoured it. Even Little Carol cleaned her plate today. Thank you to Jennifer and Johnny for bringing their BBQ!

Today Beverlyne was crying when I greeted her after we had arrived. I asked her why she was crying and she would not answer. I wrote down my question on paper and she finally responded "I cry because you are going to leave us." It reminded me of the times my sister would come home from college and break up the routine and monotony of everyday life. I was always so sad to see her go. I think in some ways we became big sisters and brothers to these children this week. We each seemed to form bonds with most of them. For Marty, it was Agnes. For Betty, Big Mary. For Sandi, Joseph. For Priscilla and Sandy, Carol. For Joe, Antony. For Bryan and Shelley, Boniface. For me, Beverlyne. It was so easy to love these children. I know they brought us all joy. I am glad that we may have accomplished the same for them. It broke our hearts to leave and to see their tears. Many of us are already talking about when we might come back.

Tonight we had dinner at The Java House in Nairobi before sending off some of our teammates. It was a great meal. I know many are excited about returning home to their own families. Sandy and Priscilla can't wait to see their grandchildren - especially Sandy's new granddaughter born only a couple days before we left. Shelley told me tonight that she thought her kids might think she is a little crazy for awhile because she plans to hug and hold them a little longer when she gets home. This trip has helped us realize how fortunate we are - not just by all of the material things we might have but also by the love of friends and family that we have. Thank you for making this possible for us.

Thank you, too, to my teammates and new friends. It has been such a neat experience to work alongside this team and to get to know them. Praise God! (For Bryan, Bwana Yasifiwe!)

Our Last Day

Tomorrow we will spend our last day with the kids and staff at HOREC. We are planning a BBQ with them in the finished dining room and have some additional gifts to share with them. One of the gifts is a bible and bookmark for each child. Some people gave me money for the trip and I used it to purchase a bible for each child. And, one of Sandy and Priscilla's friends (Sister Donna) made the bookmarks with a bible verse on them. Each of our 14 team members has signed the bibles, including some notes where we wanted to share something personal with a child. I am excited to present them to the children tomorrow. We will also give each of the staff a small gift to thank them for their help during our visit - the men helped with the playset - and for taking good care of those precious children.

This may be my last post until I return. We will be leaving our current hotel tomorrow morning and may not have good connectivity after that. Sandi and I are going on a short safari at Masai Mara with some of our other team members after our mission. We want to unwind before returning home and this is such a great experience to see more of Kenya while we are here. We have been promised "The Big 5" by our driver, Philip.

God bless all of you who have supported our mission and for your interest in what we are doing here. This is only the beginning. We must do more - there is such a need here! Bwana Yasifiwe (Praise God)!!!!!!!!!!

To Market We Go

Today we went to the Masai Market. It was an interesting experience. At first it was difficult being there. After our day at Spring Valley yesterday, many of us weren't much in the mood for shopping. Me - not in the mood for shopping. I know this is hard to believe for some of you! But, after walking around the area and seeing all of the beautiful (maridadi sana) artwork and handiwork, it was hard to not want to take something home to share Africa with others. The pictures made of banana leaves, the wooden and soapstone bowls, beaded jewelry, pretty dresses, leather bookmarks . . . were all just so amazing. We all had fun bargaining - my experience in China was helpful here! Ghali sana (very expensive), bei rahisi (can it be cheaper)! CJ was a little less successful - she paid $20 USD for two small beaded necklaces - until Jennifer showed her how it was done. She felt bad bargaining with them, but it is expected. Later she had talked a guy into selling her a soapstone elephant for less than half price and felt bad about it. CJ has such a big heart! Sandi asked me to just get two of everything so she wouldn't have to bargain, but she ended up being great at it and got some good things at a cheap price.

The market also had another unexpected treat - Western food for lunch. I couldn't help myself and had two slices of pizza. After all of the stomach issues we have experienced here, it tasted so great! Most also decided to donate their lunch money to Spring Valley and buy our own lunch today. Today was a lot of fun and our moods were elevated for the time we were at the market. But, I think most missed spending the time with the kids. A lot of the kids returned to school today, so they would not have been at HOREC anyway.

Today we had to say goodbye to Marcos, one of our drivers for the week. He was so great (and patient with the Kiswahili lessons). He fondly referred to me as CJ2 - short for Crazy Joyce. I found myself crying as I returned to my room after the market. In this short time, we have bonded with our new friends (rafiki yangu). And, as we reflect on what tomorrow brings, I think it will be very hard for the team. We have such an affinity toward the children and the staff at HOREC. Saying goodbye will be very difficult.

Salome's Dinner

We were invited to Christine and Alois's home tonight for dinner - a rare treat! Salome (Christine's daughter) and Mercy (a friend of Christine's who used to work at HOREC until she had a little baby, Medrine, four months ago) spent all day preparing a meal of beef stew, seasoned rice and chapati (African pancake - like a tortilla). This had to be the best meal we have had here - it was really good (mzuri sana)! Salome skipped her last class and took the bus home from university last night at 9 pm so she could do this for us. It was for Marty, really, because Marty raised the money for Salome's tests so she could go to university. Thank you, Marty, for sharing this wonderful experience with us. Hospitality doesn't get any better than this!

It was nice to see how a local Kenyan might live. Christine and Alois have given up a bigger and nicer home to be able to make HOREC possible and to live closer to HOREC. It is amazing what this woman is doing for these children. And, it is obvious that they love her.

Sidebar: Marty is amazing! The children all remember her and just love her. She has been indispensible to us on this trip and we all oftentimes go to her for advice - Marty, what should we do about this, Marty, what should we do about that, Marty, is it okay if we do this, etc. I am so thankful for her insight and what she brings to this team. Thank you, Marty!

A Little Pick Me Up

After Spring Valley, we headed to HOREC to spend some time with the kids. Our intention was to finish the painting and put some finishing touches on the playground set, but most of the time was just spent with the kids. I was able to complete most of my interviews with the kids (thanks to Alice and Susan's help). I am hoping to start a child sponsorship program through Global Hope (to secure our funding to HOREC each month) when I return and wanted to gather some personal information on the kids while I was here. Boniface clung to my arm as I interviewed the small children. Susan, Josephine, Tabitha and Alice helped "fill in the blanks" on names, ages, etc. It was quite comical when the older girls would ask the younger kids for their favorite color, animal, etc. They really tried to tell the younger kids what their favorites were based on what they personally liked. Most of the kids like pink and orange. Most want to be a policeman/woman, soldier, doctor or get this, accountant! The saddest part was trying to get them to tell me what their favorite activities, etc. were. They couldn't come up with much because of their limited experiences, etc. If you'd ask American kids the same questions, they would have a ton of answers - reading, playing ball, playing video games, playing with my dog, climbing a tree, going hiking, swimming, etc. But these kids, these kids, didn't have much to say. I am praying that the playground set that the guys and CJ built will provide them hours of fun and enjoyment in the days ahead.

We also distributed the clothes to the kids and adults. The amount and quality of clothes that were given to us by family and friends was amazing! Amazing! Amazing! Thank you to everyone who has helped us gather these items and has supported us on this trip. Marty, Sandy, Sandi, Priscilla, Shelley, Betty and others folded all of the clothes and arranged them on the tables in the new dining room. The kids were then brought in to select clothes, shoes, underwear, etc. They were thrilled. After the children were done, they did the same with the adult clothes. Marty said Beatrice (the nanny - the kids call her "Grandma") jumped up after selecting a beautiful new dress. The guys also apparently were excited and appreciative to get some new things.

All of this was followed by another beauty session. Sandi brought nailpolish for the girls and they had a ball with it. I painted several little toes. And, they reciprocated by painting my fingernails neon pink! It matched Robb's shirt (sorry Robb, I had to give you a hard time about it one last time!) My fingernails are maridadi sana (beautiful)! I wish it would not wear off so I can have it forever.

After the time at Spring Valley, we all needed this "pick-me-up" with the kids! Thank you (asante sana), God!

Saturday is going come way too soon! I just don't know how I can say goodbye. Each of these children has found a special place in my heart. And, Christine and her staff have all just been so great. The hospitality we have received has been so amazing - what a blessing to have these new friends (rafiki yangu). Buana Yasifiwe (Praise God)! (I think you all have guessed by now that I like that phrase! Buana Yasifiwe!)

Spring Valley

I was not able to meet Christine in time this morning to go to the HIV clinic with her. I am disappointed about it, but there was no way to get me there to meet her in time. She took Danny, Thomas, Joseph, Big Mary, Carol and Little Mary today. They all returned to HOREC in the afternoon in generally good spirits and received their medications.

So, on to Spring Valley it was. We started the day with a trip to the supermarket to buy supplies for the food baskets we were going to prepare to deliver at Spring Valley. Spring Valley is the place where we went to church on Sunday. I guess you'd call it the Nairobi slums. There is a pastor and his wife there who have really turned things around for the people of Spring Valley. Nine years ago, Rev and Alice Stanley buried 418 children who died due to malnutrition. They started their program, which originally was to only feed and provide medical treatment to children (primarily babies), nine years ago. The program has expanded to include a school program. As the children grew, the school houses went up.

We got to visit three classrooms today. The children were so well behaved and just amazing. The Stanley's have 275 children in their program. They provide schooling seven days a week and food two times per day to these children. They often feed many children who do not go to school as well. One of these children was a little boy, John, who was so cute. I'd guess he was about four. He did not speak, so he was not able to attend school, and his foot was deformed from an accident. He followed us around a large part of the morning. Larry befriended him quickly and CJ got him to wave and smile. It was so great to see him liven up. WOW!

Anyway, the kitchen is so tiny. They cook the food over a wood fire in these big metal pots. The ventilation in the kitchen is poor. The woman who works in the kitchen has been cooking food for those wonderful children for the past nine years! Amazing! Alice told us that the typical salary for a teacher is only about $100 USD per month. They still need two teachers to fill their classrooms.



After a tour of the classrooms and kitchen and a little history from Rev Stanley, several of the students and a couple of teachers took us around to 14 homes to deliver food baskets and pray. I have to tell you this was so difficult. We met the families and asked for prayer requests. The people lovingly welcomed us into their meager homes. What a humbling experience! It was really difficult to keep it together for me there. Most had a very small home - maybe 6 x 6 or 9 x 9 - many made of mud with a tin roof. Many of the families had 2 - 4 children. Many were single parents. The homes were very dark - no electricity - and had no bathrooms. Most had limited furniture. It was really difficult not to cry and Shelley and I had to have our moment in the alley on the way back to the church. It just made me sick to my stomach to see such poverty when we all have so much. The amazing thing though is that the people were so grateful for what they received from us and their hospitality was beyond compare and, in spite of their situation, they all believe that there is a God, a gracious God. I remember leading the prayer in one of the homes. All the mother wanted was for us to pray for her and her children's lives. She had no special requests, no complaints, in spite of her situation. As I prayed, I just felt the Holy Spirit was there with us. It was so overwhelming. As I took little Rose's (she was one of the girls at the home) hand afterwards, my hand would not stop shaking. Words cannot describe what I was feeling at that moment.

Sidebar: Where was the super market on day one? We had a field day! There were so many things we could get for HOREC plus there were many supplies there we could have used during the week. It was really great! NFNY (note for next year)! Joe probably gets that acronym from his accounting days! : )

Tomorrow's Agenda

Tomorrow the team is planning to visit Spring Valley and bring some food baskets to 10 - 15 families. The morning will kick off with a trip to the market, followed by making up the baskets, meeting Rev Stanley and visiting some of the families. We will then go to the orphanage and spend some time with the kids and finish painting Christine's small office and the kitchen storage room. After that, we have been invited to Christine's home as a thank you from her daughter, Salome. Marty has raised enough money for Salome's eduation and she wants to thank her for that. We all get lucky enough to be included and visit a local Kenyan's home - a rare treat as I understand it. Thank you, Marty! : )

I may not be joining the others on their trip to Spring Valley. Christine has asked me to go to the HIV clinic with her and some of the smaller children - Thomas, Danny, Joseph, Little Mary, Carol and possibly a few others.

More later . . . It is La La Salama time! Goodnight!

Little Visitor

We had a little visitor in our room when we returned from dinner tonight. Thanks to the two Sandi/ys for their courage in collecting the little creature as I was in the bathroom. Many of us have dissentary or whatever it might be. Some of us are coughing and throwing up, too. Sandi and I are both sick, so one bathroom between us is becoming a challenge. But, this too shall pass - literally! I ran to the bathroom so fast, I didn't even care that there was a lizzard in our room! This is not good! Thanks to Joe for sharing the Pepto at the worksite today, not knowing if he'll need it for himself later or not. And, thankfully I bought my Immodium at Sam's Club in bulk - we might need every last tablet by the end!

Be flexible, be flexible, be flexible! Or, as they say in Kenya, "a kuna matata" (no problem)!

Children's Laughter Was Music to Our Ears

The playground set was completed today and the kids had their first chance to swing and climb on the rock wall. I was at the market when they finished so I missed this joyous event. But, to hear their laughter all afternoon long was music to our ears. The children were so happy. I noticed they were counting as they swung back and forth. Joe was telling us that they were bargaining for swing time with each other. It was quite commical. They counted in English instead of Kiswahili. In Kiswahili it would be moja, mbili, tatu, nne, tano, sita, saba, nane, tisa, kumi. I am having fun counting with Danny in Kiswahili.


I helped paint the boys new room today. Blue, very bright blue. I was covered. The older girls all wanted a chance to stand on the table and roll as well. Some got into it more than others. The girls entertained us all afternoon long as we painted, it was really great! They sang and laughed and told funny stories. The picture attached is of Sylvia and Beverlyne laughing as we painted.

The Best and the Worst

Jennifer and Johnny joined us for dinner tonight. Jennifer asked us what the best thing was so far. That is such a tough one. The only thing I could answer for her was what was the worst.
And, that happened for me today. There is a little girl here. Her name is Carol. She is 9 years old. Her favorite color is purple. Her favorite animal is a cow. She is in the 2nd grade and her favorite subject is Kiswahili. She loves to play soccer and wants to be either a policewoman or teacher when she grows up. If she grows up. She is HIV+ and has TB. She is absolutely beautiful. She has the longest eyelashes I have ever seen - lookout Hollywood! She recently got out of the hospital and she has been very weak our entire visit. But, today, today was the worst. She was so lethargic that she could hardly move or participate. She didn't eat her lunch and threw up the little she had eaten. I asked Christine if I could put her in her bed to rest a little and she said to do so. When I picked her up, there was nothing there. Her little arms are so skinny. She had to have wieghed less than most of the younger girls and boys at HOREC. It broke my heart. I cry everytime I think of her.

As for the best, there are so many things. One memory of note is my visit to the market today with Christine. WOW! It was so much fun to buy all of the food on her shopping list and to watch Christine bargain with the shopowners for a deal. She got one lady to give her 20 extra heads of cabbage - a total BOGO (she had purchased 20 heads)! We loaded the truck up. Thank you Kerry for sending some money to buy the food and giving me this opportunity! While we were in town, we stopped and bought sodas (pops for you Yoopers who are tuning in) for the kids, workers and missionaries. It was Bryan's birthday and Thomas (from the company that arranges our drivers - Nappet Tours) and his wife made Bryan a cake and we had a birthday celebration with the kids. Someone brought noisemakers and it got so loud in the new dining room, it was absolutely amazing. Danny kept tooting his horn long after the celebration was over. He is an absolute doll! A pistol as Sandi likes to call him.

It was also nice to spend some time with Christine. Some of her stories broke my heart - like the one about how the hospital originally refused to treat Carol for her TB even though TB treatment is free in Kenya. Or, how they nearly left Danny to die because he was HIV+ and sickly and not worth saving. Or, how Mary is treated differently at school because her skin is discolored from HIV. Or, how all of the kids are shunned at school because they live at an orphanage. With one in six in Kenya being HIV+, you'd think attitudes would be different. But, not only have these children been abandoned, they also are continuously shunned (refer to the story about swimming in a public pool). Yet, they have smiles on their faces. They call Christine "mama" and Alois (Christine's husband) "baba" as though they are their true parents. She calls them her kids. It is great what she is doing to help them. Yet, I cry as I write this. I was just so sad today as I heard these stories and recount them for this blog. So sad. Yet, I praise God (Buana Yasifiwe) because they do have a mom and dad in Christine and Alois.

Bryan's Blog

Check out Bryan's stories, photos and videos at www.horecorphanage.blogspot.com

Our Work Begins

Our vacation was over bright and early Monday morning. But, the kids are on vacation the entire time we are here - YEAH! How lucky is that! Thanks to Will and others for excellent planning! : )

We were rudely awaken at 5 in the morning by Priscilla's scream! The shower broke and the handle blew off from the water pressure. It flooded their room and started into Bryan and Shelley's room, too! We all were running around to fix the shower and move the luggage, etc. Some of us got to move some really interesting things, right Priscilla? ha ha. Joe climbed the very wobbly water tower to try and turn off the water. Eventually, he jammed the hole with a shampoo bottle that he got from the hotel in London (they were delayed overnight on the way here, unfortunately, but I guess God knew they needed that water bottle!) and stopped the water. AMEN! Buana Yasifiwe!

After all that excitement, a good breakfast and Bryan's devotional, we headed to the orphanage and started our projects. The guys and CJ started the playground set. Not an easy task with 12 inch rulers (thankfully, we packed some school supplies!) and a manual drill. But, they got a lot done. Every piece of wood had to be hauled back into a building at night so it would not be stolen. Not an easy task, but Sandi P. and the others were up to it mere hours after they had hauled it all out the first time. Thankfully, everyone knows the rules - be flexible, be flexible and be flexible. We have already had many opportunities to learn them here! : ) Today, they have nearly finished everything. They put the set into the ground and poured the cement before heading back to the hotel. The finishing touches of the rock climing wall and swings will be added tomorrow.

The paint didn't arrive until late on Monday, so we were only able to clean the walls of the dining hall on Monday. We primed and painted the walls - green - today. I am not the best painter. Thankfully, we will be tiling the floor so my mistakes will be hidden! The dining hall looked great when we left today, but that was some toxic paint! Robb, Marty, Sandi, Sandy, Priscilla and I all came home a little green - in more ways than one! Alois (Christine's husband) also helped. They really had fun with the rollers. That is something new for the local Kenyans. Even Anthony (the contractor) was amazed by the roller. He showed us the brush they would have used and told us it would have taken them all week to paint the building. They did a nice job with the building. We were all happy that they completed it before we arrived so we could finish it while we are here!

The girls (mainly Sandi P. and Shelley) hauled rocks to fill in the road as you enter HOREC. The ruts were so deep it was hard to get through them with the van and Land Rover. The HOREC girls helped. It was so neat to watch Beverlyne with a rock balanced on her head and another in her hands. WOW! What balance she had!

Betty and Carol kept the kids occupied most of the day. Betty was singing songs with the little kids - where is thumbkin, where is thumkin, here I am. It was so fun to watch them try to follow along! Carol was mainly with the older kids - reading and sharing pictures from home.

I started my personal mission, which is to start a sponsorship program for these kids. Once the girls found out I wanted to find out information about them, they swarmed around me. They were happy to share their favorite colors, animals, school subjects, etc. as well as birthdays and what they wanted to be when they grew up. Some want to be lawyers, doctors, police, soldiers and get this, even accountants! They were thrilled when I told them I was an accountant. I continued my interviews today. I love spending the time with the kids.

Today, we also assembled the other beds and replaced the matresses and sheets on all of the beds. We left each of them a note that the kids in the BUMC Sunday school wrote and colored for them earlier in the year on their new beds. It was fun to do this project because we noticed how they had all left their treasures under their matresses - school tests, buttons, coins, pictures, etc. Wow!

The contractor was there today to put metal doors and window coverings on the dormitory and big gates as you enter the property. Finally, these kids may now be a bit safe. They were telling us of how people would come and pilfer things from the property and also try to hurt the girls. It is just all so sad. Why? Why?

What a couple of busy days - a lot of work, a lot of laughs and a few tears!

La la salama (goodnight) for now!

Amazing Children

I am in love with the 24 children at HOREC! Who couldn't love them? They are all so amazing and smart and beautiful. I am sorry for not updating my blog sooner. The days have gone by so fast. I don't even know where to begin . . .

We arrived at the orphanage on Saturday afternoon after getting settled into the Sportsview Hotel in Nairobi. My eyes filled with tears as we were greeted by waving and dancing kids. Agnes was playing the drums while her older sister, Alice, led the others in song. We moved into the newly constructed dining hall for the performance of a lifetime. They sang and danced and played the drums for us. It was AMAZING! After the performance, they each introduced themselves and quoted their favorite bible verse. The kids told us they didn't sleep the night they found out we were coming. They were especially happy to see Marty again - she was there in January, too. There was a note on their blackboard that counted down the days to Marty and it read "0 days to Marty!" It was so cute!

On Sunday, we joined Rev Stanley and his wife at the Spring Valley Church. Spring Valley is a slum area. He told us how the people of Spring Valley were thrown out like garbage by the government. He said he personally buried 418 children who died of starvation/malnutrition. He started a school and meal program a few years ago and they have not lost a child to starvation since. Buana Yasifiwe (Praise God in Swahili)! We joined the children of Spring Valley for Sunday school. This little girl came up to me and crawled into my lap. Her nose was running, her eyes were watering and she was coughing, but I could not put her down. She kept stroking my arm and burying her head in my chest. She just wanted to be held. We sang and we danced with the kids as they played the keyboard and drums. I felt so alive with all of those children. They recited Proverbs 10:1 for us by heart. They were all so smart and well behaved. It was absolutely amazing. The HOREC children joined us for the main service - this is a rare experience for them so it was wonderful that we could make it happen. I ran to the van to greet them with CJ. My heart was just so filled up when I saw them. They were introduced in the service (as were all of us - twice!) and then they got up and sang for the congregation. They didn't even seem afraid or nervous about doing this. Meanwhile, some of us were nervous to just get up and say "I am _____."

After church, we went to a hotel with a swimming pool and had lunch (french fries, ugali, potatoes, boiled goat and BBQ goat). It was really good. The kids enjoyed swimming. The girls were embarrassed to put on their "swimming costumes" and were giggling in the changing room and covering themselves up. It was sad to see the other kids get out of the pool when the HOREC kids got in because they were from the "other side of the tracks" so to speak. We joked that it was because Robb Bourdon and Joe Lynch had gotten into the pool. Who wants to swim with murangi (white people), right? ha ha After swimming, they enjoyed putting my sunscreen on. Their skin was so dry from the chlorine in the pool. My sunscreen was white and very thick. The little boys enjoyed making pictures and designs on their arms with it!

What a super weekend! My heart is so full from these AMAZING CHILDREN!

History of HOREC

In March of 2003 Christine Wambui of Nairobi, Kenya, grieved the loss of her sister to AIDS. As she shared her loss with a friend who was HIV+, her friend said, "Your sister should not have died. Had we known earlier, we could have helped her."

On that day, Christine vowed she would not stand by and watch any other friend or relative die because of AIDS. She knew with the help of God she could help others fight AIDS. Christine started volunteering for an organization made up of women with AIDS. She became educated about the disease and learned about medicines available to help fight it. (Many did not arrive in Kenya until 2004.) She cared for bedridden mothers. She drove them to and from the medical clinics. Yet when many of these women passed away, there was no one to care for their children. Instead of letting these children roam the streets, she began taking some home with her. Christine's husband soon learned there would be more than just their four children in their home. When he returned from work one day he found five extra children. Over the next few months, she rescued many young orphaned girls being abused and left to be the head of the household after their parents' death.

The number of orphans grew. Eventually, Christine sold her business, her house in the city having electricity and indoor plumbing, and most of her belongings. A small house was rented and Christine started accepting children who either had AIDS or lost their parents to AIDS. The year was 2005 and Hope for Orphans REscue Center (HOREC) was established. A full-time house mother was hired to live with and cook for the children. The number of orphaned children soon grew to 25. The two bedroom orphanage was bursting at the seams. She realized having to pay rent might soon deplete her funds, and she dreamed of "owning" a home for these children.

Christine never gave up. She shared her story and told of her needs to all who would listen. During the summer of 2007, a young girl from Illinois learned of HOREC and spent two weeks helping with the orphans. Upon her return to the US, she raised and sent Christine enough money to purchase one acre of land on which a new structure for the children could be built. Christine's determination to find funding for this future home of HOREC was never-ending. A branch of the Barclay's Bank in Nairobi gave her the money, and the construction began. On December 19, 2008, 25 children and their meager belongings moved into their new home. It was an exciting day for all.

Global Hope, a U.S.-based non-profit organization, also learned of Christine's needs. In September 2008, they pledged to help pay the wages of a full-time house mother for the children. That pledge has increased to include covering the wages for the cook and the night watchman as well as assistance with other operational costs.

In January 2009, Global Hope's first team of mission workers arrived at HOREC. The international team of six (4 Americans and 2 Romanians) were greeted by the children singing songs of welcome. The team painted the girls' and boys' dormitory-style bedrooms. They constructed a clothes line and did a few other smaller projects on site. Most importantly, they showed God's love and kindness to the children and staff. They had come to labor in the name of God, but went home feeling they were the ones who had been given the gift of love.

This is not the end of the story. Christine continues to seek support, financial and personal, for the many needs of HOREC. She recently received a donation that has allowed them to dig the first 10 feet of a future well. Having their own source of water would mean they would no longer need to spend money to purchase it. Having an abundant source of water would also allow them to grow some of their own food. Learning to plant seeds and bringing them to harvest would be a valuable skill for the children to learn.

On that sad day in 2003, Christine asked the Lord how she could help the many Kenyan women diagnosed with AIDS. Not knowing the road God would ask her to follow, she dedicated herself to helping others. She has given hope to children who were left with none. She has offered them love and an extended family. Never did Christine imagine that her selfless efforts would not only impact her family and the AIDS victims’ families, but also touch the hearts of business persons, neighbors and Christians around the world.

Preparing for the trip

It is 12:20 am and I have finally finished packing and invetorying my bags! I am so excited for this trip. There are 14 of us going - 5 from Denver, 1 from Michigan, 2 from Tulsa and 6 from Durango. The mission trip was organized by Global Hope (www.globalhope.org). We will spend 10 days at Hope for Orphans Rescue Center (HOREC) in a small town called Ruia, just outside of Nairobi. There are currently 28 kids ranging from age 3 to 16 at the orphanage. I am hoping to be able to keep this blog during our time in Kenya to keep family and friends in the loop on what we are doing on our trip. Thank you to all of you for your support and continued prayers! God bless!