Just A Week Away

Our departure is just a week away! Oh, my there is so much to do before next Wednesday morning!

World Cup hype is everywhere in Africa. We are hearing from our friends in Nairobi how much excitement is in the air.... everyone is playing soccer! I just can't leave without thanking the many of you who have supported this trip. Your gifts of soccer balls and clothes will make a HUGE difference in the lives of the children in Kiberia. We will be purchasing and "building" soccer goals for the Bul Bul mission project that is linked to the Karen Community Church. Where are the Ocean Park Builders and Team DRIP guys when I need them? I am sure glad Jerry Hutchins taught me to use a drill!

A big thank you to Kristi Bowen for her help and to Tursi's Eastside Soccer for their generous donation of soccer jerseys, balls, and pumps! Each child who particpates in "soccer" school will recieve a jersey!

Game on,

Becki

Just a few weeks away. . .

We are just a few weeks away from the beginning of our trip to Kenya. Our plans are almost finalized ~ we have learned to work on Kenyan time ~ and most projects are in place.
Kenya is not all about the elephants and giraffes although we will have time to visit the baby elephant the Vancouver First youth adopted in 2008. Our baby is almost 3 years old. He plays a good game of soccer and we will get some soccer time with him as well as being able to tuck him in at night! The Giraffe sanctuary is in the community of Karen where we will be staying so we will have some play time with these gentle giants. Kissing giraffes is just like getting puppy kisses!

The real work will be in Kiberia, the largest slum area in Kenya, that is home to 2 million people. Children are everywhere in Kiberia. It is estimated that 5000 are "street orphans" moving from hut to hut, neighbor to neighbor, for food and shelter. Our projects will be working in the Bul Bul area with the Karen Community Church outreach team. World Cup has brought its excitement to Kiberia so our team will be leading a Soccer Camp in Vacation Bible School fashion... music, crafts, games and SOCCER! A huge thanks to all of you who have provided us with soccer balls. We are still collecting!! The children who attend the Bul Bul projects know we are coming and are "building a soccer field". Building means digging rocks out of a small patch of patch of ground with their hands.

Our friends from Boni land, Lucy and Ezekiel will be working us at Bul Bul mission project. Asked what we could bring from the US for their two girls.. the answer SHOES!!! We get to go shoe shopping before we leave!!! The world of Facebook has given us the opportunity to stay connected. We were able to celebrate Kenna's 9th birthday via FB!!

The widows and orphans of St. Martha's ministry also live in Kiberia. Our work will be with the children who are unable to attend school. Without a uniform you cannot attend school even in Kiberia. Some children attend only half day because they share their uniform with other children in their extended family. The widows make beautiful beaded jewelry. We will learn their trade and continue our project from 2008 to help with marketing their crafts.

The adventure continues as we DRIVE from Nairobi to Malindi ~ a small town on the Indian Ocean ~ for our next project. The drive is 222 miles on Kenyan roads and on Kenyan time! What might take a few hours could take all day! We will arrive at Kupenda for the Children for a week or two of work with deaf and handicapped children. Kupenda is the only school in Kenya for deaf students ~ using ASL ~ for teaching. Allison will be teaching and working with these students. Handicapped children in Kenya are often removed/isolated from their villages. These children board at Kuppenda. Rachel and Chance will be working in the classrooms. I am hoping to hold more babies!

Another DRIVE back to Nairobi and we will finish our stay at Amani Ju ~ a shelter for women with AIDS ~ very similiar to a DV shelter in the states. Women from all over Kenya (and Africa) come here for education, skills training, and support. I am hoping we will be able to work side by side with these wonderful women to learn some of their crafts.

Our time in Kenya will be a life-changing trip.. for Rachel, Allison and Chance... my life has already changed! More updates as we get closer to our departure! We will have internet access (no phones) and you can follow our trip with daily updates.

Becki