Kenya

I spent three days in Kenya this month. This was my second trip to Kenya in less than a year. When you have been to some place that impacted you, you wonder if it will have the same impact when you go back a second time. In this case, the answer is, "definitely, YES!" Dee joined me on this trip as we traveled to see two projects with the Massai tribe, plus visited New Life Home and Hope Academy in Nairobi.

Over the course of the three days, we were able to visit New Life Home twice. New Life Home rescues discarded and abandoned children. There were 51 babies, ranging from infants to toddlers. The level of care these children are provided is amazing. Between the staff and volunteers, these children get almost one-to-one care. This is one of those places that you get lost in time. Just holding and playing with the children blesses your heart - and to think these are the children that are the throw-aways of Nairobi! God has a plan for each of them!

Our trip south to the Massai tribe was amazing, as well. Because we were on such a tight time schedule, we were not going to be able to visit a game park or zoo. On our drive in the bush though, we happened across a giraffe and herd of zebra's! Dee said afterward, "Let's give the Lord a hand - he has blessed us!" Everyone else felt the same.

When we got to the first project, which is pretty isolated, we were greeted by the children singing for us. They are amazing kids. They face living conditions that most of us cannot relate to. Yet, because of the assistance of Mission of Mercy, they have hope. When we were there last November, we became concerned about the quality of the water. It was tested and found to be contaminated. Since then, we have provided a water purification system that allows the kids to drink safe water. The families are allowed to draw water for drinking, also, so the children are able to drink safe water in their homes, as well. I believe this will make a difference in the health of our Mission of Mercy children and their families.

During the trip, we also visited the home of one of our sponsor children. These are huts with sheet metal roofs, with hardened mud over a basic stick frame. The families do much of their cooking indoors, but the only ventilation is through the doorway, and two very small openings at either end of the hut. The last time I was in Kenya, when we visited a home they were cooking indoors. It took us several washings of the clothes I was wearing to get the smoky smell out.

For those of you who read this that support a child through Mission of Mercy, I deeply appreciate your support. Your sponsorship makes a big difference in the lives of these children. If you have not yet sponsored a child, you can do so by going to the Mission of Mercy website at www.missionofmercy.org.

I continue to marvel at how blessed we are in the US. Even in the midst of an uncertain economy, we can still reach out to "the least of these" and make a difference. This past week, I fell in love all over again with the people of Kenya. And I'm again encouraged by the work that we are doing, not just in Kenya, but in countries around the world!