3 DAYS!!

3 Days until departure from our home in Vancouver!   The packing has started for our trip.  We have been blessed by the donations of clothing, shopping bags, and financial support for the work we will be doing in Embulbul.  John and James at Youth Art Project are counting the days for us!  

Clothes for youth and children in Embulbul

Dental supplies, salon goodies for Hannah's Twinkle Beauty, toys, school supplies, 

Chance will be with us in Embulbul for part of our trip and then he will venture to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to attend school at UCBU.  Jonathan and Kate Shaw are en route to Beni and are awaiting his arrival.  Chance will be taking classes (taught in Swahili) on Congolese history and culture as well as course work in communications and media.  What an adventure!  

Allison and I have prepared ourselves for this day but Chance is sure both of us are going to cry when he leaves for Beni via Uganda.  I am not going to cry!!!  

UCBU Campus 

Student Body and Staff of UCBU

Next stop Amsterdam...  will update again once we arrive in Nairobi..

Love you all,
Becki

Departure ~ 24 days and counting... Youth Art Project updates.

Departure countdown.. 24 days!!  John (pictured below) is counting the days until we arrive.  We arrive on Monday evening (the 9th) and get right to work on Tuesday morning.  

John and James are leaders and founders of the Youth Art Project.
The slum community of EmBul-Bul, just north of the Karen turn-a-bout.  (Karen, Nairobi, Kenya on your Google Map), is home to families who are cared for by the Youth Art Project.   John and James are dedicated to their community and creating a safe environment for youth and children.

 Families can stop by the Youth Art Project to receive clothing, shoes, and school supplies. We are happy to pick up any children's clothing (light weight) you would like to donate.
 Becki and Allison will be working with the women in the community on nutrition and using resources available in the community.  Since our last trip, John has played an important role in helping to bring "clean" water to EmBul-Bul.  A water tank is now available and women can walk shorter distances to get water for their families.

 School age children come to the Youth Art Project after each school every day.  They are provided with a healthy  snack, academic tutoring , as well as art classes, soccer practice, and a place just to "hang out" with friends.

Little Willie and his family live in the Youth Art Project compound.  He was not attending school on our last trip.  We have been able to stay in touch with his family thanks to John and the world of Face Book.  Chance is looking forward to spending time with Willie and getting him on the soccer field.

We look forward to you traveling with us via our blog.  

Becki, Allison and Chance...

                                                                       

September Departure for Kenya

Tickets are purchased!

September departure for Kenya!

Excitement is happening in our households as we get ready for departure in 37 days!  Chance and I leave from Portland a few hours after Allison leaves from Phoenix.  We will meet in Amsterdam on a Monday morning and be in Nairobi that evening.   

We have several projects with the Youth Art Project in Embulbul that will be the focus of this trip.  

• Reusable Shopping Bags are needed!  We will provide households with shopping bags to help reduce the amount of plastic waste in this small community and to teach families how to reuse items.  Trips to the local markets (on foot) will encourage women to purchase food stables and the shopping bags provide a way to carry their purchases home.

• Children's clothing is needed for the Youth Art Project mentoring program. All children receive school supplies and clothing at YAP.  We are in need of socks, underwear, and lightweight T-shirts, shorts and dresses.

• Mentoring of teen girls, through the YAP, allows us to continue relationships we made in 2010.  Not only will we be tutoring the girls, due to a lengthy teachers strike, but we will provide opportunities to take a "field trip" out of the slum and into the Nongh Hills for some hiking and "girl time".  

We will be spending time with Eunice and Caleb and the Widows of St. Martha's.  They are already working on new jewelry pieces for us to bring back.

A day with Eunice and Mary at the Global Bag Project is also on our list of must do's.  Yes, we will be bringing back new bags too!

Each of these projects are supported by our church, Vancouver First UMC, through prayer, donations and financial support.  You can help too!  Shopping bags and children's clothes can be dropped off at Vancouver First or we can pick them up.  Financial donations to support the projects can be sent to Vancouver First UMC, designated for Kenya. 

Be sure and bookmark Dust of Africa.  We want each of you to be a part of our Kenyan adventure.

Most importantly, please keep us in prayer as we travel and for our ministry in Embulbul and Kibera.  

Becki, Allison and Chance