This week at Kipkaren Children's Home: An accident at the bridge, the blessing of a washing machine, and more

~by Emily Rop
Kipkaren Children's Home Secretary

We opened Kipkaren children’s home in the year 2006. We praise God for his grace, mercy and love since it was started. The home has been running well though with some challenges. For two years now, assistant parents have been washing clothes for 24 children by hand. That means that they stand bent over and doing hard scrubbing every day! We have been praying for a washing machine.

On 15th of July 2008, our prayers were answered. We receiced a commercial washing machine! Our children sung to welcome the machine, they were very happy you could see them jumping around and talking much about the machine, something they had never seen before! They stretched their hands to touch the machine and they slowly escorted the car to the administration block ceremoniously while singing and praising God for the gift.

We really thank God for every person who contributed to purchasing the machine in one way or the other. In a week's time, the assistant parents shall be able to enjoy the device and let their hands to heal out of the scars they acquired during their dedication to wash for the 24 children. They really showed God's care to the fatherless by working tirelessly.

Local Visitors
Last Sunday, 20th July, our children had a wonderful time with students from a high school named Kapsabet Girls who visited us to encourage the children, love and share with them the joy of the Lord. They encouraged the children about education and made friendship with them. They worked around the home and school you could see our children happy, felt loved and finally they blessed them with different gifts: bars of laundry soap, toilet soap and tissues. They visitors also promised to continue praying for us. Our director Busienei appreciated them and he said a true church is the one that looks after the orphans and the widows.

The Bridge Broke!
Normally once a month we visit a nearby church with the children from our home, which is across the Kipkaren River. The bridge was build by one of the ELI teams to assit the community and the children who are going to our school. Without the bridge, the children would have to take a detour of travel 5 miles on foot to reach the school!

Last Sunday, after visiting the nearby church, our children had to cross the bridge to come back to the home. On reaching the bridge, children crossed in groups, the first group crossed with Mr Matekwa who is a foster parent. When they were in the middle of the bridge, one of the bridge cables snapped with a huge sound! They fell down flat on the bridge! Though the bridge didn't collapse into the water, the children's legs were dangling off the edge and everybody was scared. After a minute of confussion and suprise they came back to their senses and supported one onother off the bridge. Glory be unto God that no one fell into the river! It is our prayer that a permanent bridge be build for easy transportations. Many people have lost their lives by crossing this river.

Health
This week we had many children diagonised with malaria though we thank God for the healing they are improving very much. Being rainy season, malaria is very common in this area. Despite of all this challenges the children are busy preparing for their end term exam. Also, one of the girls had to go to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital to get a filling. At the moment, she can smile without any fear of embarrasment or pain. We look forward to the day when our clinic's dental wing can open so the children can receive dental care locally.

We thank God so much for changing the lives of our children spiritually, academically, and even physically.

Beatrice: Our first athletics and drama competition

It was in the month of May when our teachers informed us that we would go to Kipchoge Keino Stadium for athletics. We were as happy as a king in the palace. We started our practice because practice makes perfect. Our games teacher, Mr. Kogei, took us for cross country training, and we ran throughout our village of Ilula. It was hard but we had to do it.

We did our practice for about three weeks then it was time to go for the competition. We were to meet other schools from the zone. We were very excited to travel to town. We were six children from my family (Rono family) who were to go for the competition. Our parents ensured that we were smart and ready to go. We prayed before we left for school that morning and they gave us some pocket money.

After finishing our Friday assembly and devotion, we boarded the car to Kipchoge. Our father Mr. Nixon was driving us and we enjoyed as we saw many things on our way. We met other students from other schools and there were bigger children than us. The long races started followed by the short races and the other activities.

After everyone had participated we waited for the results. We were very happy to learn that two of our students were to proceed to the district level: Joyce and Rose. We jumped up and down thanking our Almighty Father for enabling us to win. We came back to school very happy.

In the month of June after the athletics we started getting prepared for drama festivals. We prepared poems and shahiri. Some of them were entitled “Pesa” (Money), “Mwalimu Fidhia” “Donda Ndugu” and “Maritha”. The one about money was saying that money is not a very big thing and that we should not boast about it. I presented a solo verse in “Maritha”.

Our music teacher Mr. Edonga Ekai trained us on how to recite poems. He didn’t want to inform us where we were to go but he promised us that if we practiced well, he shall tell us. A list of names of those who were doing very well was read and I was glad I was among the group.

We presented at the zonal, district and two pupils managed to go to the provincial level. Hillary and Fridah went to Kericho for four days and they tried their best.

We thanked God for enabling us to reach the provincials. We are praying that next time we shall get to the national level.

Scophia: The day we went to Kipchoge Keino Stadium

It was on a Thursday evening and we had prepared the school team and they were practicing hard. They knew that practice makes perfect. We had prepared ourselves because on Friday we would face tough competition.

On Friday morning, I was so excited because I was among the team traveling to Kipchoge for athletics. I woke earlier that usual, took a shower and wore my best uniform. After taking my breakfast, I walked to school. At the assembly we prayed for those going to Kipchoge that they may have a safe journey and that they may participate well.

We reached the stadium faster that I expected. We went round the field where we were going to run. There were so many students from various schools who had come for games. After sometime, we were all assembled at the field to be told what to do. There were many big boys and I was so scared of them I thought if you could step on them by mistake, they would beat you seriously.

My team was the first to run and so children representing all the zonal school lined up to run. We ran as fast as we could but the race was tough. During the short races, one of the runners was disqualified as he was a trained runner.

Rose Jepchirchir was participating in walking race. She was in first position all through until when she heard the bell. Rose did not understand that she had one more round to go so she stopped and the two students behind her overtook her. She never gave up but continued and she became position three. Joyce Jerotich also managed to be among those who were to continue to the District level in the long races. We were given glucose then we ate lunch and came back to school happily.

I thank God for enabling us to participate in games. I am praying that next year we are going to get to the national level in athletics and make our school famous in the country.

Hillary's thoughts on sports and speeches

On 23rd of May, our school was going to compete with other schools in Eldoret [in athletics]. We did not have enough time to practice, and we had not even competed against any other schools.

We went right to the stadium (Kipchoge Keino Stadium), participated, and waited for the results. Some of the sports we participated in were in 3000m, 8000m, high jump, long jump, walking race and javelin.

When the results were out, some of our students were able to proceed to the district level and the others did not, but we never gave up.

Came the drama festivals, we were ready to participate in it again. We had composed and recited many poems both solo verses and group verses. I was presenting public speaking in “umuhimu wa Amani” (The importance of peace) and another one on HIV/AIDS.

We performed at the zonal and when the results were out some of the children were to proceed to the district level. Our school which was a little known became famous and by now it could be known in the whole province.

Thank God I was able to make it to the provincial level at Kericho with my sister Fridah. We came back to school and polished where necessary. The public speaking topic that I managed to present in Kericho was the one on HIV/AIDS.

We traveled to Kericho and met many schools with children in different uniforms. When it was my time to go to the stage to perform, I stood in front of the adjudicators and I was really shivering but before my presentation, I prayed twice to God to give me the courage to do well. I tried my best and when the results were out, I was position 10 overall.

I thank God for that and for the far he had brought me. I never gave up and I hope next year I am going to proceed further to the national level. I know that it was just a trial as it was my first time and I took the first positions in the zonal and district level.

I am expecting even better results next year!

This week at Ilula Children's Home

~ by Caroline Kiptoo | Administrative Assistant
Ilula Children's Home

We thank God for his love, care, provision and protection upon our lives in Ilula Children's Home. Everyone is doing well and all the children are healthy. No one has been sick this week and we praise God!

It has been a busy week for the children as they are revising for the end of term II exams starting next week. The older children have also been helping a lot with laundry in the evening after school because our washing machine is broken. They have known how to wash their clothes and are willing to help the assistant parents do the washing. The younger children help with chores like washing their rooms, corridors, brushing their school shoes and picking their clothes from the clothes line.

The nursery school kids had an exciting week as they received games kits from school on Wednesday. They were very happy and they want to wear them all the time. Brian, Kelvin, Edison, Ruth, Caleb and Carole made sure that they passed by the office to show me their new games kits. They are so excited! We have 8 children celebrating their birthdays this month. They were happy to have a joint party and to celebrate with the NewSong team while in Ilula. Diana Jelimo who is being sponsored by Dan Perrine was among those celebrating their birthdays. She was very happy to celebrate in the company of her sponsor.

Our children are very concerned about their education and their future lives. They would like to be doctors, teachers, pilots, engineers, surgeons, artists etc. They are working hard in school and get encouraged by seeing other people who have made it in life. For example, this week Virginia Rono (Laban Rono's daughter) graduated from Jomo Kenyatta University in Nairobi. Our children were happy, encouraged and challenged to work harder when they saw Virginia arrive home in her graduation gown. They hugged her and congratulated her for the good work. Some of them even tried to fit in Virginia's gown. Many children were heard afterwards saying, "I want to work hard so that one day I can wear a gown like Virginia's".

Chepsat's and Rono's children can't wait to move in to their new gazebos. They are so excited and makes sure that they visit their new gazebo's 3 or 4 times a day. They do so especially at lunch time from school to see the progress of the gazebos and whether there is any new thing which was not there in the morning. Every family shall be able to have their own gazebo where they will be taking their meals, devotions and family time together. The kids are very curious to know when they will move to the gazebos.

The Ilula children enjoy sports/games very much. They like playing volleyball, basketball and soccer. They normally play after finishing their duties every evening and during the weekends. They say they want to retain their trophies they won last year in Kipkaren Children's Home during this year's competition. Dancers continue every evening with their practice. They normally present at church on Sunday's and during other function.

The western wing children harvested their carrots and black night shade this week. They sold them so that they can buy seedlings to plant other crops. It is a rainy season now and the children are preparing their small farm beds for planting. They get encouraged and motivated when they harvest the crops they planted themselves. The eastern wing continues to take care of their rabbits and hens. They feed them 3 times a day and have a duty roster to ensure they are attended to everyday.

The children enjoy spending time with the intern Alwin. They like playing with him, working with him and hearing stories from him. One child said, "I like our new intern, he is very strong and above all loves Jesus and he teaches us the word of God everyday".

Two of our children Hillary and Fridah represented Samro School in the Kenya Music Festivals. They went to Kericho (provincial) for 3 days. Hillary was presenting public speaking while Fridah was doing a solo verse poem. Although they did not make to the National level, they are encouraged that it was a good trial despite being their first time. All the children are determined to get to the Nationals next year.

It has actually been a successful week in Ilula. Praise the Lord!