Greetings from Chuka! We arrived here late Friday evening after a busy morning in Nairobi, visiting with some Tumaini alums, buying supplies and beginning a 4 hour ride north. Emily's bag made it thanks to our terrific driver Geoffrey who fought Nairobi traffic to get it at the airport early Friday morning.
Our travel has been uneventful except for a flat tire in the rice mill town of Mwea, halfway between Nairobi and Chuka. Once again, Geoffrey and David (our other driver) took excellent care of us and we were back on our way.
We pulled through the gates of Kenya Connection Children's Home to the smiling faces of the 28 kids who live here, along with their amazing caregivers. It was a short but sweet reunion before we headed on to Thuchi Lodge, which is our home away from home until Tuesday.
Yesterday (Saturday) was our first full ministry day, which included a Connection Day program for 70 children and their guardians in Kirubia. Leanne led a terrific lesson on the Fruits of the Spirit and we helped the kids create decorated tote bags to give as a gift to their guardians. It was touching to see the kids get to experience the joy of giving for themselves, and even better to see how much the guardians loved it. We delivered gifts from many of you here, took pictures of your kids receiving them, and chatted with the kids about you and your families. It's an incredible honor to be this bridge between you and your sponsored child.
In the afternoon we held the same program with the kids at the home and delivered gifts to them as well. We ate dinner outside with everyone under the moon (and a few swooping bats) and headed home to Thuchi bone-tired but hearts full.
We worshipped this morning at Kiereni Church PCEA, where Humphrey is an elder, and where we've worshipped before. The four elders on our team helped plan worship and serve communion. It's a joy to be introduced to the congregation not as visitors anymore but as friends. Leslie and Emily were liturgists and we heard an excellent sermon by Pastor Wilfred on "Arise and Rebuild" based on Nehemiah 2. I'm pretty sure they cut short the service for our benefit -- it was only three hours this time (after an hour of worship planning in the vestry of course).
Right now the rest of the team is helping the kids in the home write notes to their sponsors (many of you!).
Tomorrow we head to Tharaka -- a very dry rural region east of here -- where we will hold another Connection Day for the field kids there.
Thank you for your many prayers, which we've felt every step of the way. We have seen God's graces and interventions, and are being knit together as a team and with our ministry and church partners here in a tangible way. Mungo ni mwema (God is good).
In Christ,
Abigail
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