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Jambo everybody! Today, I am writing from HOT Eastern Washington! I have been here for almost a month, enjoying family and friends, and am now starting to think about what I still need to take care of before heading back to Kenya next week! You would think I would have it down to a science, and I guess for the most part I do, but it always seems to catch me off guard when it’s time to start thinking about packing! Meanwhile, back in Kenya, the first of three new girls’ houses is almost finished! The terrazzo floor has been poured, including a…

Jambo everybody! I hope you are all doing well! Here in Kenya, we are as busy as ever! The rains have come, which has given us relief from the dust, but now we are stuck (pun intended) dealing with mud! I know I’ve said it before, but it just seems like it’s always either dusty or muddy! A few weeks ago, a new baby joined the In Step family! Her name is Blessing and she is about seven months old. She is quite malnourished, but has a good appetite, so I’m sure she’ll pick up quickly! Her mother has been incarcerated for neglect, which is pretty unusual here! I’m…

Jambo everybody! Wow! How time continues to fly! On one hand, it seems like I just updated you all! On the other hand, so much has happened since I last wrote! So, here goes… One dilemma that Jeff and I are constantly faced with is the desire to help our community at large. It is a huge challenge because how do you help this family and not that family, when obviously, we can’t help them all! Also, once you start with handouts, a line magically appears out of nowhere… some who genuinely are in need and some who are doing just fine. But let’s face it… the “If…

Jambo everybody! I hope this finds you all happy and healthy! Here at the children’s home, we are doing well! Malaria cases have been few in number, although as we wait for the rains, that is likely to change. We are starting to have a few sprinkles here and there, but the real rains haven’t yet come. All of our neighbors have plowed their shambas (farms) and are now waiting for the rains so that they can plant maize.  We have also plowed and are waiting to plant, but we will only plant a small amount of maize, to eat fresh as a special treat. Most of…

Jambo everybody! Happy New Year! I hope your year is starting out well! Despite the craziness of the world these days, I have made up my mind that I am going to have a great year! I am going to trust God to sort this mess out and bring His justice to the world! This does not mean that I have my head in the sand. It simply means that I have released myself from worry or stress over it all! I have enough to worry and stress about already! My contribution will be fervent prayer! On January 1st, I arrived back in Kenya, after an absolutely…

Dear Friend, As you may know, Mama Carla is spending December in the United States with her family for a much-needed break so I want to share a mini-Jambo letter with you in her absence. Babu Jeff and missionary, Beth Ann, have been sending updates from In Step! Luci, the fundi (Swahili for seamstress), has made new pajamas for the kids and you can see how much the children are enjoying the new threads. The kids are continuing to help with chores around In Step with food preparation, learning how to take vegetables off the stem, and washing the vehicles and dishes. The children have been…

Jambo everyone!Wow! November! It’s weird how fast this year has flown by, despite its challenges! It has been a year none of us will ever forget and it’s not over yet! A few days from the time of this writing, I will be in Washington State! I got up Monday morning, inspired to start making my lists! (Yes, I am an avid list maker, especially when it comes to travel!) I need a list of: 1. Everything I need to get done before I leave. 2. What to pack. 3. Start my list of what to bring back with me.…

Jambo everyone! I hope this finds you all doing well! I have been enjoying seeing fall pictures on your Facebook accounts, especially from my friends on the East Coast! Someday, I will visit that part of the country during the fall season! Here, it’s still raining! Seriously! It has been raining for about a year, with very small breaks in between rains! The rains came later than usual last year, but once they came, they decided to stay! It’s crazy! I have exciting news! Step one to getting life back to pre-Corona is about to happen! The government is allowing…

Jambo everyone!I hope you are all doing well and getting ready for fall! Here, it is still raining! The flowers are beautiful, but everything else is a big, fat mud puddle! Nothing is changing. Every day is the same. I guess I’m getting a bit stir-crazy! LOL! I’m hoping to get to the U.S. in November, but still not completely sure about it! Here at the children’s home, we are just carrying on one day at a time, like the rest of the world! We have noticed an increase in babies coming, probably somehow related to the economic situation, due…