Final Entry

I hope you have enjoyed keeping up with the CHCC Kenya team. As we finish this blog we ask you to pray for the children of Kenya.

Pray for God to provide for them.

Pray for health for them.

Pray for them to know Jesus.

Pray for a future for them.

Each child has touched our hearts.
Each child has a purpose in this world!!

Some may be Doctors, Some nurses, Some police officers and maybe one may be President of Kenya.

Each child has the capability to change Kenya and maybe even the world.

If you would like to help the children of CMIA

you can donations at:

http://www.christianministriesinafrica.org/

For more photos please go to

http://www.wonnie.smugmug.com/

Travel - Kenya 2007

Can you hear the prayer of the children
on bended knee, in the shadow of an unknown room?
Empty eyes with no more tears to cry,
turning heavenward toward the light.
Cryin' Jesus help me to see the mornin' light of one more day,
but if I should die before I wake,
I pray my soul to take.

Can you feel the hearts of the children
aching for home, for something of their very own?
Reaching hands with nothing to hold on to,
but hope for a better day, a better day.
Cryin' Jesus help me to feel the love again in my own land,
but if unknown roads lead away from home,
give me loving arms, away from harm.

Can you hear the voice of the children
softly pleading for silence in their shattered world?
Angry guns preach a gospel full of hate,
blood of the innocent on their hands.
Cryin' Jesus help me to feel the sun again upon my face.
For when darkness clears, I know you're near,
bringing peace again.
Can you hear the prayer of the children?

Day 11 and 12

Day 11

We had one last Safari before heading home.

This one was nice and early so we could see the sun come up on the Savanna.

What a treat!!

We then flew back to Nairobi.

There we repacked our bags to fit everything in them and then headed back over the Langata GCC for one last time with the kids.

There were many tears this day.

We knew it was good by to not only so many kids we had bonded with

but to Kenya as well.

After the very tearful good bye we headed of to Nairobi's famous Java House for some good old American food.

We had hamburgers, burritos, salads and much more,

then there was the desserts!! ICE CREAM and BROWNIES and COOKIES!!!!

On the way to the airport we saw a HUGE fire. It was in housing buildings. We say at least the top two floors fully engulfed in flames. There were so many people running down the side stairs of the building.

Our hearts broke as we saw so many people fleeing the flames that were jumping to the next building as well. We knew there was no government aid for those poor people who were losing everything.

Please pray for them.

Praise God though our flight left ON TIME!!

Day 12

This was our final day before arriving home. We had a 7 hour layover in London so Maya, Vanessa and I went in to see the sights. Everyone else caught up on some sleep and shopping at Heathrow.

Once again our flight left on time and we were home before we knew it....

I will have one last update tomorrow.

Day 9 and 10

Day 9

It was off to Keekorok Lodge and Safari.

Much needed rest was on its way.

We started the day in a small airplane that took us on our half hour flight to the Mara. It flew low enough for us to see animals as we flew!!

We found Keekorok to be a Wonderful place to stay.

Some in the group compared it to winning award on Survivor!!

Our first Safari was not for a couple of hours so we settled in. Some went for walks on the wonderful grounds, some read and other napped.
But no matter what you were doing we all felt the 2 earthquakes that hit!! They were not big ones but enough to shake us all up. We would feel two more before we left. Earthquakes are not common at all in The Mara.

Safari was fun for all. We saw many animals.

You can really see God's hand out on the Mara.

Day 10

We started the morning off with a Safari to the Mara River.

Here we got out and walked along a river filled with Hippos and Crocks.

We then got to walk the Savanna with a Giraffe. It was amazing.

Then it was off to the Kenya Tanzania Boarder. The boarder was only marked by a tall stone with a line down the middle.

The photo below shows half the team in Kenya (right) and the other half in Tanzania (left)

That afternoon a few of us went to the near by Masai Village. It was a special treat to see how this tribe lives. We even got to participate in some of their dances....

These days were full of rest and fun.

Days 11 and 12 coming... our last days....

Day 7 and 8

Day 7

We woke up early to head back to Langata.

Before we got on the way though we stopped by the wood shops across the street one

last time.

I was able to get a lot of great deals on wood carvings for the auction to raise funds for

CMIA in October.

Bargaining is a big thing in Kenya. The team did really well in this.

Then it was time to get on the road.

On the road we saw many termite hills. (Below)

They are HUGE!!

After checking back into the Guest House in Langata we headed back over to see the
kids of Langata GCC!!
Oh we missed these kids!!
And they missed us!!

It was a time of hanging out, laughing, loving and just running around.

Then we ordered 50 pizza's and 20 pops to bless the kids.
I have never seen pizza disappear so fast.
I think it was all gone with in 15 minutes.
We even saw some of the kids hide some pizza slices in bags and other things
and take it to their room for later.
It was such a treat for them.





By the time we go home to the Guest House we were all so tired.
I think everyone was in bed by 8pm.


Day 8

This was our first day of rest. We started it with shopping!!

We all deiced that the older girls of GCC don't get that much attention because the younger kids seem to keep us so busy. So we asked if we could take the 6 older girls with us for the day. They were so excited!!

First we stopped by the "mall". This was another fun place to bargain at. Once more I got some great deals on thing for the auction.

We all left with our hands full.

We then went to two more shops in Nairobi before heading to the world famous restaurant

Carnivore.

5 of the girls had never been to Carnivore so it was another great treat for them.

With VERY full stomachs it was on to Kazuri Beads.

Kazuri means "small and beautiful"

These beads sell at Norstrom for over $200 a strand. Many girls bought beads for family or friends who make their own jewelry.

and of course we bought a some for ourselves.

When we got home we cleaned up and then headed for our evening debriefing and praise time. It was during this time mine and Rachel's room was robbed. The thieves had checked into the very secure guest house. Posing as guest they watched us to see who was in charge knowing that person was most likely the one with the money.

They got away with mine and Rachel's spending money, my DVD Camcorder and about $2300 in our ministry funds.

Praise God we kept half of funds in another room. The sad part is that we were not able to do the things we wanted to with those funds.

• Buy two heaters for the hospital
• Buy the rest of the burn cream for the hospital
• Buy 4 new bunk beds for the girls home so they would all have their own beds. (right now 8 of the girls share beds)
• Buy 13 new mattresses for the girls home
• Fix the gate and two doors a the girls home
• although we had money in the other room we were still short $600 for the well at the girls home. The current well is not deep enough and they are not getting enough water. In just one more week they city will be shutting off the only other source of water. So this is VERY important.

We are trusting in God to bring those funds in still.

So after another encounter with the police, we were all ready for bed and out trip to Masai Mara the next day!!

Day 10 and 11 still to come.....

Days 5 and 6

In so many ways these days were the hardest ones of all....

Day 5

This is the day we painted all day.

During the night both Amber and I (Robyn) found ourselves sick from a Bactria

that is found in the water. So we were left behind to recoup at the hotel.

The rest headed off to Makindu to paint the girls home.

With a lot of hard work all but one room was painted.

All three pastors and David (one of the pastors sons, he is 4 years old)

picked up brushes and went to work with the team.

After a long day of painting there was a little time to shop at the wood carving shops across the street from Hunters Lodge. This is where we found the best deals!!

Both Amber and I were feeling a lot better by the time the team returned.

Day 6

This day was one full of God moving, Blessings and heartache.

We started the morning heading off to the Makindu Hospital. No matter how much you prepare to see the children at the hospital it is still VERY hard.

We saw children who lost legs due to cars hitting them, children burned by cooking fires, children sick with Malaria, AIDs and TB.

We came with $1000 dollars and a HUGE bag full of hospital supplies. The administrator of the hospital was so amazed at all we brought.

We then walked through the children's ward. Trusting in God to show our group come children we could help pay their bills for them. He gave us 4!!

• The first was a young boy who was in need of being moved to Nairobi for treatment of his liver. His mother did not have the money to get him there or for his medical bills. We did not hesitate, we called for an ambulance right then and there to take the boy and gave the doctors money for his bill there AND in Nairobi!!

• The second was a young boy who was burned all over his front side. He had been there since March 15th and would be there for at least 2 to 4 more weeks.

• The third was an orphan boy with AIDs. His 15 year old brother was there taking care of him. He also had two other siblings he was caring for back home. This young man gave up his exams for school to be with his brother. He will not be able to retake them.
• The last one was another child who was burned on her left leg. She had lost all her toes on her left foot and would need skin graffs on her whole left leg and bottom. She too would need to be taken to Nairobi.

We then went to the nearest chemist and bought up all their supply of burn ointment and nutritional supplements to give to those in the hospital free of charge!!

I have never seen a smile so big on a mans face as the one the administrator's. God moved that day in that hospital.

Children were saved physically and hopefully spiritually. They will look back on this day and say God came!!

Like any time God does something amazing the Devil will try to destroy it.

On the way back to the girls home from the hospital a car pulled out right in front of us.

We could not avoid hitting it. But this was not any normal car, it was a police officer!!

He INSISTED it was our fault. Even though everyone who say it knew it was his fault.

We sat in the van for about an hour while waiting for things to get solved.

Needless to say we drew quite a large crowd!!

Pastor Joseph finally hitched a ride back to the hotel to get our other van and came back to get us. Lunch was waiting.

I was still not feeling to great. (my stomach) So after dropping everyone off at GCC, Pastor Joseph was going to take me back to the hotel for some rest.

But on the way we were stopped by the other pastors. My presence was requested at

the police station by the "Chief of Police" himself.

I met a man that I would describe as very dignified and holds power well.

He is a man of God!!

He wanted to apologise to me personally for all the trouble.

He reassured me I had a friend in him and asked that I come back and visit him next time I was in Makindu!!

The officer we hit also apologized. Then Pastor Kanoti (the one driving our car) asked for forgiveness from the officer for losing his temper. (really we didn't see this and even if he had no one would have blamed him, he was being falsely accused)

I saw God move in that room as everyone shook hands.

Once again the Devil was defeated!!



After only an hour of rest, Pastor Jospeh and I headed back to the girls home. It was time to say good bye. This was not easy for anyone.

We had made great bonds with the girls. No one wanted to say good bye.

There were tears all around.

For me it was another good by to my daughter Zawadi (on the left). She told me 4 days was to short of time to be with her Mum. I miss her so much already. She is counting the days till I return again.
I was asked by many of the girls to please bring back the same people next year!!



Days 7 and 8 will be posted either tomorrow or Monday. :)