This week, our directors met with the District Children's Officer and she gave ELI approval to accept the first 14 children. We are hoping to receive them next weekend. Before we accept them we still have some things to finish up. The bedding and mattresses for the children's huts should be delivered the beginning of next week. We are having the kitchen equipment installed next week as well. The sidewalks are being finished and we are wrapping up a temporary source of water or the toilets while we dig the borehole and water tower.
Please continue to pray for us during these extremely busy days in Kipkaren, especially as the team prepares for the arrival of the children.
Friday, June 30, 2006
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Boys' Talk - by Jared Kreutzer, Intern
This past week was hunting week on the west wing. The boys over there, since they do not have many normal toys, make their own out of whatever they find lying around. Well, they started making bows and arrows, so we spent a day making bows for all the boys. They were climbing in trees and tearing out branches, I guess I should have told them first to not do that. By the end of the day, every boy had his own bow. Even the smaller ones, they had little twigs with string, a miniature bow.
I could tell quickly that I would need to teach them some safety rules, for they were finding nails and making sharp arrows and just walking around shooting them straight up in the sky. So we had a hunters' safety session, which concluded with target practice on a Spiderman doll. The next few days were spent hunting rats around the kitchen. Whenever the boys would see a rat, they would all get so excited and take their bows and sticks and rocks and whatever they could find to throw at them. It was so funny the fist time they killed a mouse, they had it trapped in a bucket and brought it out to the field. They all stood around it, tall like warriors, ready to kill their prey. However, when they let the mouse out to kill it, the warriors turned frantic and they all ran away and were screaming. The mouse in the meantime was running through all of their legs as they tried to step on it. It was the funniest thing I’ve seen in a while. I was on the ground laughing the whole time.
Also, big news around the west side. Nelson and Dorcas had their baby on June 20, at 3:05 am. He is Victor Kiprop Rotich, named Victor to signify the victory which we have in Christ, and Kiprop, which means “it rained” to signify that it was raining when Victor was born. The girls had been praying for a girl, and even thanking God that it would be a girl, but all the kids were excited to have a new baby brother. Later that evening, I let the Rotich kids call Nelson and Dorcas on my cell phone and all the kids got to talk to their parents, who have been away for 3 weeks. Each child, after talking to their parents, would run around the room so excited, jumping around. It was precious.
Happy Birthday
The same day Victor was born, it was also Margaret Asinyen’s birthday. So I bought a watermelon and we had a birthday party. Many of the children forget when their birthday is here, so a lot of them will come up to their parents and ask, “When is my happy birthday?” So we celebrated all the “happy birthdays” in June. The children were so excited about the watermelon. The kept running around saying, “so sweet, it’s so sweet.” All the boys saved the seeds after they were finished. I think they are planning on trying to grow their own watermelon patch.
Let's Play Ball!
There is a big construction project underway at the children’s home. It is a basketball court, The last week was spent digging an area 20 X 12 meters to allow a marum (clay) basketball court to be built. The children have been so excited and many of the boys have been helping everyday with the digging. All that is left now is to spread and compact the clay for the court and then get the goals up. I’m sure that by this time next year, we’ll have NBA scouts coming to check out our players!
I could tell quickly that I would need to teach them some safety rules, for they were finding nails and making sharp arrows and just walking around shooting them straight up in the sky. So we had a hunters' safety session, which concluded with target practice on a Spiderman doll. The next few days were spent hunting rats around the kitchen. Whenever the boys would see a rat, they would all get so excited and take their bows and sticks and rocks and whatever they could find to throw at them. It was so funny the fist time they killed a mouse, they had it trapped in a bucket and brought it out to the field. They all stood around it, tall like warriors, ready to kill their prey. However, when they let the mouse out to kill it, the warriors turned frantic and they all ran away and were screaming. The mouse in the meantime was running through all of their legs as they tried to step on it. It was the funniest thing I’ve seen in a while. I was on the ground laughing the whole time.
Also, big news around the west side. Nelson and Dorcas had their baby on June 20, at 3:05 am. He is Victor Kiprop Rotich, named Victor to signify the victory which we have in Christ, and Kiprop, which means “it rained” to signify that it was raining when Victor was born. The girls had been praying for a girl, and even thanking God that it would be a girl, but all the kids were excited to have a new baby brother. Later that evening, I let the Rotich kids call Nelson and Dorcas on my cell phone and all the kids got to talk to their parents, who have been away for 3 weeks. Each child, after talking to their parents, would run around the room so excited, jumping around. It was precious.
Happy Birthday
The same day Victor was born, it was also Margaret Asinyen’s birthday. So I bought a watermelon and we had a birthday party. Many of the children forget when their birthday is here, so a lot of them will come up to their parents and ask, “When is my happy birthday?” So we celebrated all the “happy birthdays” in June. The children were so excited about the watermelon. The kept running around saying, “so sweet, it’s so sweet.” All the boys saved the seeds after they were finished. I think they are planning on trying to grow their own watermelon patch.
Let's Play Ball!
There is a big construction project underway at the children’s home. It is a basketball court, The last week was spent digging an area 20 X 12 meters to allow a marum (clay) basketball court to be built. The children have been so excited and many of the boys have been helping everyday with the digging. All that is left now is to spread and compact the clay for the court and then get the goals up. I’m sure that by this time next year, we’ll have NBA scouts coming to check out our players!
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Announcing the birth of Victor Kiprop
This morning at 3am, Dorcas Rotich, one of the orphanage mothers, gave birth to a beautiful, healthy young boy: Victor Kiprop. Kiprop is his Kalinjin name, and it means that he was born while it was raining.
Victor weighs 4.1kg (I believe that's 9lbs 7oz). Both he and Dorcas are doing well, and the dad (Nelson) and older brother (Levi) are beaming with pride! So are all the other children at the children's home.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Unedited note from one of the kids
Today, I was given this note by one of the girls. A friend of mine had sent her a jacket, and this is the thank-you note she wrote:
Thank you for give me jacket.
I am so happy because you give me.
I love Jesus so much.
And I love you so much.
I love my parents
and my teachers all of them.
My school is called Samro.
Jesus love very much.
I love you
and Jesus love you.
Store of Moses
Moses and the ten commandments to see who is watching baby Moses.
The Egyiptian princess diceded to keep the baby for herself. She called him Moses.
Moses brought up like an Egyptians prince.
Finally Pharaoh said the Isrealites cold leaves his land.
The israelites headed for their promised land. The israelites baby be were to be killed.
The cruel Egyptian hand made laves. (slaves? ed.)
The Israelites had live in Egypt.
My name is Winsam Jeptoo
Memory verse
Ephesians 5:26
Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank you for give me jacket.
I am so happy because you give me.
I love Jesus so much.
And I love you so much.
I love my parents
and my teachers all of them.
My school is called Samro.
Jesus love very much.
I love you
and Jesus love you.
Store of Moses
Moses and the ten commandments to see who is watching baby Moses.
The Egyiptian princess diceded to keep the baby for herself. She called him Moses.
Moses brought up like an Egyptians prince.
Finally Pharaoh said the Isrealites cold leaves his land.
The israelites headed for their promised land. The israelites baby be were to be killed.
The cruel Egyptian hand made laves. (slaves? ed.)
The Israelites had live in Egypt.
My name is Winsam Jeptoo
Memory verse
Ephesians 5:26
Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Little Intercessors
Tonight, as I went over to read to some of the kids, I discovered that everyone from the West Wing was in the gazebo. This is unusual, since it was 8:30, and at that time, everyone's usually in their rooms, getting ready for bed.
When I opened the door to the gazebo, all the kids were on the floor, kneeling and praying for Mama Joshua who is in the hospital. I just stood there and soaked in the moment. What a beautiful sight!
When they were through praying, they were excited to see me there and wanted me to read to all of them, which made my job way easier! Usually, I read to one room at a time, so I got 4 rooms in one! Oh yeah! After reading, we talked about the story (The Rainbow Fish) and how they, too, could give away their beauty to others. They started mentioning how they could bless others by sharing the fruit of the Spirit, the Gospel, by helping others, and if one mentioned they could do so by loving others, at least 10 echoed that same thought. And they also mentioned they can bless others by praying for them, like they were doing...
It's times like these that I wish you could be right here to appreciate the moment!
Adele
When I opened the door to the gazebo, all the kids were on the floor, kneeling and praying for Mama Joshua who is in the hospital. I just stood there and soaked in the moment. What a beautiful sight!
When they were through praying, they were excited to see me there and wanted me to read to all of them, which made my job way easier! Usually, I read to one room at a time, so I got 4 rooms in one! Oh yeah! After reading, we talked about the story (The Rainbow Fish) and how they, too, could give away their beauty to others. They started mentioning how they could bless others by sharing the fruit of the Spirit, the Gospel, by helping others, and if one mentioned they could do so by loving others, at least 10 echoed that same thought. And they also mentioned they can bless others by praying for them, like they were doing...
It's times like these that I wish you could be right here to appreciate the moment!
Adele
Monday, June 05, 2006
Kipkaren Children’s Home
This month, the second children’s home is opening at ELI’s Kipkaren Training Center, about 90 minutes’ drive from the Ilula Children’s Home. Please pray for the staff as they prepare for the arrival of their children. Pray especially also for the children. The adjustment to life in the home can be traumatic.
Having Fun on Independence Day
We had been told that Thursday (June 1) was a national holiday, but I had little idea of what to expect of Kenyan Independence Day. It didn't seem like there were typical celebrations planned, either. Perhaps there were big celebrations in Nairobi, but in our village, the biggest excitement seemed to be that the children would have no school, and that the visiting team from California would get to play games with them.
The children’s home directors had asked the visitors to plan something fun in the afternoon, and since the team had discovered some mitts while helping us sort through other supplies, baseball was the plan. The Kenyans had never played baseball before but boy were they quick learners! The children played first with some adults intermingled on each team. After about an hour or so the adults decided it was time to play their own game. Can I just say I have never enjoyed watching baseball as much as I did that day! The “sidelines” of the playing area were loaded with children, mothers and the few Americans, like myself, who simply wanted to watch.
The Kenyan men were all smiles as they set out to conquer this new game, and laughter would erupt as they swung at the ball and raced from base to base. I think it was the happiest I’ve seen the parents thus far - sweet joy. Everyone near that field was blessed, infected by a joyful spirit, the kind you find at some summer picnics, neighborhood parties, or even our own Independence Day celebrations.
It was a wonderful afternoon to top off the week of goodness the American Team provided. Some of the highlights of their visits were when they led morning devotions at school. The story of Noah and Moses would never be the same! While the kids were at school, the team worked on other projects around the compound.
Four o’clock would roll around and sure enough, 30 minutes of exciting, encouraging, tutoring would ensue. (One of the team members is an occupational therapist and was able to work with specific children with learning disabilities.) At 4:30 a sport or craft would follow, depending on the day. It is quite a challenge to do a craft with 50 children that don’t understand American English all that well, but this team succeeded! The children were left calling, “See me!” to show off their precious crafts of which they were so proud.
All in all, I’d say it was a packed week of fun thanks to the patience, generosity and commitment of the American Team.
From Kenya,
Christy Thomas
Intern
The children’s home directors had asked the visitors to plan something fun in the afternoon, and since the team had discovered some mitts while helping us sort through other supplies, baseball was the plan. The Kenyans had never played baseball before but boy were they quick learners! The children played first with some adults intermingled on each team. After about an hour or so the adults decided it was time to play their own game. Can I just say I have never enjoyed watching baseball as much as I did that day! The “sidelines” of the playing area were loaded with children, mothers and the few Americans, like myself, who simply wanted to watch.
The Kenyan men were all smiles as they set out to conquer this new game, and laughter would erupt as they swung at the ball and raced from base to base. I think it was the happiest I’ve seen the parents thus far - sweet joy. Everyone near that field was blessed, infected by a joyful spirit, the kind you find at some summer picnics, neighborhood parties, or even our own Independence Day celebrations.
It was a wonderful afternoon to top off the week of goodness the American Team provided. Some of the highlights of their visits were when they led morning devotions at school. The story of Noah and Moses would never be the same! While the kids were at school, the team worked on other projects around the compound.
Four o’clock would roll around and sure enough, 30 minutes of exciting, encouraging, tutoring would ensue. (One of the team members is an occupational therapist and was able to work with specific children with learning disabilities.) At 4:30 a sport or craft would follow, depending on the day. It is quite a challenge to do a craft with 50 children that don’t understand American English all that well, but this team succeeded! The children were left calling, “See me!” to show off their precious crafts of which they were so proud.
All in all, I’d say it was a packed week of fun thanks to the patience, generosity and commitment of the American Team.
From Kenya,
Christy Thomas
Intern
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