Jambo everyone!
I hope you are all doing well and adjusting to the climate change, whatever that is, depending on where you are in the world! Personally, I have experienced a huge climate change after traveling from Kenya to Washington State! So, here I sit, after waking up starving at 4:00 AM (thanks jetlag), bundled up in my big fuzzy robe and warm slippers, drinking hot tea and trying to mentally put myself back in Kenya so I can give you guys an update!
October was a great month! As has been our tradition for the past many Octobers, we welcomed an amazing team from South Hills Church, Kennewick, Washington! This is always a highlight of our year and this year did not disappoint!
It is absolutely amazing what SHC team accomplishes in such a short time every year! This year, besides volunteering at the school, teaching ballet lessons, interviewing kids and staff for a video which is in progress, doing art projects, playing soccer, putting on a kids’ carnival, making repairs to the playground, taking care of baby Joanie, etc., etc., etc., they also built new greenhouses!
Before arriving, they had sent funding ahead to re-cover our two existing greenhouses, which were in desperate need! Then, while onsite, they worked together with the guys from the greenhouse supplier to build two more! So, in the end, we got FOUR greenhouses to help us provide food for our kids, as well as (hopefully) to grow some veggies commercially, as we work toward being more self-sustaining!
This is a great blessing and we are determined not to waste it. Jeff has been doing some research online and consulting with local experts, educating himself on how to get the most out of this wonderful gift!
Besides all of the hard work the team did, they also poured encouragement into the kids, staff, and Jeff and I! By the time they left, I felt like I had been on a short vacation! Thanks, SHC, for all the talks, laughs, great food and fellowship!
The month of October also brought us an addition to our In Step family! Baby Nancy arrived at the ripe old age of 20 hours old! She was born at a healthy weight of 7.26 pounds (a big baby for Kenya!). Her mother is a school girl. We don’t know anything about her father. For whatever reason, upon being discharged from the ward, the baby was left under a bush in front of the hospital and was found by the watchman. She was then immediately placed with us.
As is the case every time a child joins our family, there was much singing and celebrating when Nancy arrived at In Step! Everyone had to have a turn holding her, counting her fingers and toes, and all the other things you automatically do when a new baby arrives! She is a welcomed blessing!
Another awesome thing happened this month! A long-time donor wanted to help provide some variety to our menu. After some discussion as to what foods we could add to enhance the diet of the kids and provide extra nutrition, we settled on fruit two evenings per week, meat every Friday night and boiled eggs every Sunday morning!
To the average American, this probably doesn’t sound like a big deal. But to kids in a developing country, believe me, it is huge! And, when feeding more than two hundred people, it’s not cheap! Just these few additions add up! We sure appreciate our faithful supporters!
So, one day I was in my office, focused on whatever it was I was working on, when suddenly there was a huge commotion outside! I had no idea what was going on, so I jumped up and ran outside to see what was wrong!
When I saw the kids jumping up and down, giving each other hugs and high fives, doing cartwheels… I am absolutely not exaggerating…..I knew there was nothing bad happening, but what on earth could cause such a celebration? I grabbed a kid and asked what was happening and burst out laughing when I got the answer: the new menu had just been posted! Oh how I wish I had a picture to show you their excitement!
Some of you have been asking about baby Joanie. She is doing so well! She has literally doubled in size and is now over five pounds! Her appetite is good and her cry is strong! Nurse Abigail is taking care of her while I’m gone, but as well as she’s doing, I would imagine she will be able to join the other babies before I get back to Kenya.
As I mentioned, I am now in the states for the next few weeks! I am looking forward to lots of family time and catching up with friends and supporters. Jeff will join me here in a few weeks and we will enjoy Thanksgiving with our kids and grandkids!
Of course, to make this happen, a lot of planning and organizing must be done ahead of time. Jeff is working extra hard to get supplies on the ground to keep the home going while he is gone. Another thing that is making this possible is the willingness of a long-time partner and friend, to come to Kenya and keep the wheels on the bus while we’re gone. Thanks, Babu Terry! We truly appreciate the many sacrifices you make for us and the kids!
We appreciate all of our partners on both sides of the globe! Thanks for your prayers, financial support, encouragement, etc. Thanks to those who help spread the word by forwarding this letter to friends whom you think might be interested in joining the team! Thanks to those who share posts on Facebook! There are so many ways that you guys support us, and I never want to miss an opportunity to say thanks!
Happy Thanksgiving!
GIGATT (God is Good All the Time)!
Mama Carla