Welcome to Africa. Land of so many things I don’t understand. I have never felt this overwhelmed by writing a blog. There are so many problems in Kenya I don’t even know where to start. There are good things too, but in my present state of mind they are really hard to focus on. I did also just got back from the outhouse again. It smells so bad in there I just want to vomit every time I go in. Just breath into the toilet paper and you will make it out alive. That’s what I tell myself. I’ll just start with some of what I’ve been doing in Kenya and meeting an adorable orphan boy named Vic today.
Alex and I have been working with social workers from an NGO called Ordinary Women. They have 100 orphans in the program. There are many more on the waiting list. The children are between the ages of 6-18 years old and are total (both parents died) or partial orphans (one parent died). The most common cause of death of these parents is AIDS. What the program does is pay the school fees for the child so they can remain in school, pay for their school uniform, buy them some groceries every month, some soap to keep their clothes clean, and make visits to the child’s home or school to evaluate their well being.
They also encourage the child in their education if their grades are slipping and in their faith.
I want to be honest and say that the idea of the program and some of what they do is good, but there is a LOT of room for improvement. Questions to the children need to be asked in different ways and there are ways for the origination to be much more efficient and save funds. This I plan to put in my report for the Pastor at the end of the month. The social workers are doing the best they know how to do. There is a large need for education in Kenya. In this country you can pay to pass university classes and get your certificate or diploma
Alex and I met for the second time today a boy in the program named Vic. 
He is 9 years old. Both of Vic’s parents died and he lives with his guardian which is his Grandmother. He is blessed to have a family member to take him in. Vic doesn’t talk much. I wouldn’t talk much either to two white women if I was him. Vic has some learning disabilities. He had an MRI of his brain last month which showed was normal, but they feel he still has problems with his memory. He can’t even remember how to write his name, but could copy it when I wrote it for him today.
As I had a quick visit with this little orphan boy today, I once again prayed for the future of this child. Sometimes it feels I can really do so little. I know this is another part of what God is teaching me. It doesn’t matter how useful I feel. It is not and never was about what I could or can do. God doesn’t need me to accomplish His plan in Kenya and in Vic’s life. He is God. It isn’t about me. That is easy to say, but a lot harder to live out everyday.
Pure and undefiled religion before God is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble. James 1:27
Please continue to pray for our team and squad health. It’s hard to get exact numbers, but a good amount have Malaria, Typhoid, or both. Even if we don’t have these illnesses, many have stomach issues. Thanks!
