Tuesday
Dec122006
Africa Update #2
Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 01:27AM
Well, how do you describe the indescribable? How do I paint a picture of something that can really only be experienced? This is the problem I face as I try to provide an update of our experiences with the children of the Baptist Children's Center (BCC) on a beautiful Kenyan Monday.
Before I continue, let me provide a bit of background on the trip and the people involved. I am traveling with an organization called Buckner Orphan Care, which in turn is a division of a bigger company (Buckner) which exists to serve primarily orphans and widows. Buckner works with both domestic and international orphans. From what I know (not too much), Buckner seems to mostly serve as a consultant to orphanages and related programs, and facilitates support and mission trips to the various countries where the orphanages are located. The orphanage that we are dealing with in Nairobi (the BCC) is different, however. In this case, Buckner completely manages the BCC: Buckner provides all of the funding for the staff, the child care, the facilities, etc. In fact, the employees at the orphanage (I believe) ARE Buckner employees. Buckner takes donations and contributions from churches and individuals to manage the BCC and to assist the children through a variety of programs. They also meet their basic needs of clothing, food, school and supervision.
As for the children, most are orphans due to AIDS; both parents have passed away as a result of contracting the disease. In many cases the children have either no other immediate family, other than siblings, or what family they might have are in no position to support them. Most of the children, I think, have been found in any one of the many slum areas which exist in Nairobi and the Kenyan countryside (I've read that one slum in Nairobi - the Kibera slum - is home to almost 1 million people - read about the Kibera slum by clicking here). While the BCC is quite primative by US standards, it is truly an amazing place for the kids. They have nice dormitories which sleep 12-16 kids, as well as a small attached apartment for the caregivers. Through Buckner, the BCC now features a small but very nice dining facility, a chapel, a two-room school for the younger kids, a health clinic and, very importantly, a water well and tower. The BCC also possesses several cows (for milk) and a small farm (actually a large garden) which they use to grow food for the children and to sell for income. (NOTE: I am not a Buckner employee and some of my information may be in error. Blame me, not Buckner.)
Below is a view of a BCC dormitory area. The common washhouse is on the left.
As you can see, the BCC, while very nice for the kids, is a bit barren. So, for the kids their trip to Brackenhurst is an amazing experience, one they look forward to all year. Below is a photo showing a view of the Brackenhurst main lodge.
The kids arrived on Monday, while those of us traveling on the trip arrived Sunday afternoon after attending church and eating lunch at the BCC. We used the time to prepare our VBS and recreation programs and too catch up on some rest. However, knowing that the kids would soon arrive kept many of us up late into the night and up early in the morning. When the kids did arrive it was quite the scene. Around 70 kids have made the trip and all of them were very excited to arrive. Although shy at first, the kids quickly warm to us trip participants and soon we were all laughing, playing and visiting. After tea time (a very dear Kenyan tradition), we broke into groups and the kids received bandanas identifying their team. Afterwards, we enjoyed a fine lunch. (One of the greatest pleasures on this trip is the honor of serving these kids their food. They are so polite and appreciative, plus we know that they usually don't get to enjoy the kind of food they do at Brackenhurst.)
Afterwards, we moved into the VBS and recreation programs. Bible stories, memory verse, crafts and recreation were all parts of the program. The kids constantly amaze us with their creativity, their sweetness and their knowledge of the Bible. They are truley amazing! Later in the afternoon (after tea time, of course!) we spent an hour or so just hanging out and getting to know one another. This was truly a special time, and the kids loved it (not to mention us)!
After dinner, we then had a great time with the kids as they got to decorate their Christmas stockings. They are so creative! They love the glitter, paint pens, markers, stick-on letters...everything that was provided. The kids really enjoyed doing this and look forward to when these stockings will be filled!
Finally, at the end of this busy day, the kids headed to bed. Those of us on the trip then took a few minutes to reflect on the day and the kids. I can only speak for myself, but my feelings for these kids and for this experience cannot be put into words. They are so precious, so sweet and kind, so gentle. But I know that they have suffered. They are orphans, after all, and have experienced tremendous hardship. Most of them have very bleak futures. My heart can't help but to break for them all.
We all look forward to tomorrow as it brings another which to spend with these beautiful children, kids who truly are "the least of these." Please pray for them. Pray for their caregivers (who have a very difficult job under very difficult circumstances). Pray for the Buckner staff, who do such a great job. Pray for us on the trip. But most of all, pray for these kids. Pray, pray, pray in hopes that God will somehow make their lives better.
Sorry if this was too long. I will try to be a bit more concise in the future. (Also, forgive any typos. I haven't taken the time to spellcheck.) Below are some photos of the kids. Enjoy!
Before I continue, let me provide a bit of background on the trip and the people involved. I am traveling with an organization called Buckner Orphan Care, which in turn is a division of a bigger company (Buckner) which exists to serve primarily orphans and widows. Buckner works with both domestic and international orphans. From what I know (not too much), Buckner seems to mostly serve as a consultant to orphanages and related programs, and facilitates support and mission trips to the various countries where the orphanages are located. The orphanage that we are dealing with in Nairobi (the BCC) is different, however. In this case, Buckner completely manages the BCC: Buckner provides all of the funding for the staff, the child care, the facilities, etc. In fact, the employees at the orphanage (I believe) ARE Buckner employees. Buckner takes donations and contributions from churches and individuals to manage the BCC and to assist the children through a variety of programs. They also meet their basic needs of clothing, food, school and supervision.
As for the children, most are orphans due to AIDS; both parents have passed away as a result of contracting the disease. In many cases the children have either no other immediate family, other than siblings, or what family they might have are in no position to support them. Most of the children, I think, have been found in any one of the many slum areas which exist in Nairobi and the Kenyan countryside (I've read that one slum in Nairobi - the Kibera slum - is home to almost 1 million people - read about the Kibera slum by clicking here). While the BCC is quite primative by US standards, it is truly an amazing place for the kids. They have nice dormitories which sleep 12-16 kids, as well as a small attached apartment for the caregivers. Through Buckner, the BCC now features a small but very nice dining facility, a chapel, a two-room school for the younger kids, a health clinic and, very importantly, a water well and tower. The BCC also possesses several cows (for milk) and a small farm (actually a large garden) which they use to grow food for the children and to sell for income. (NOTE: I am not a Buckner employee and some of my information may be in error. Blame me, not Buckner.)
Below is a view of a BCC dormitory area. The common washhouse is on the left.
As you can see, the BCC, while very nice for the kids, is a bit barren. So, for the kids their trip to Brackenhurst is an amazing experience, one they look forward to all year. Below is a photo showing a view of the Brackenhurst main lodge.
The kids arrived on Monday, while those of us traveling on the trip arrived Sunday afternoon after attending church and eating lunch at the BCC. We used the time to prepare our VBS and recreation programs and too catch up on some rest. However, knowing that the kids would soon arrive kept many of us up late into the night and up early in the morning. When the kids did arrive it was quite the scene. Around 70 kids have made the trip and all of them were very excited to arrive. Although shy at first, the kids quickly warm to us trip participants and soon we were all laughing, playing and visiting. After tea time (a very dear Kenyan tradition), we broke into groups and the kids received bandanas identifying their team. Afterwards, we enjoyed a fine lunch. (One of the greatest pleasures on this trip is the honor of serving these kids their food. They are so polite and appreciative, plus we know that they usually don't get to enjoy the kind of food they do at Brackenhurst.)
Afterwards, we moved into the VBS and recreation programs. Bible stories, memory verse, crafts and recreation were all parts of the program. The kids constantly amaze us with their creativity, their sweetness and their knowledge of the Bible. They are truley amazing! Later in the afternoon (after tea time, of course!) we spent an hour or so just hanging out and getting to know one another. This was truly a special time, and the kids loved it (not to mention us)!
After dinner, we then had a great time with the kids as they got to decorate their Christmas stockings. They are so creative! They love the glitter, paint pens, markers, stick-on letters...everything that was provided. The kids really enjoyed doing this and look forward to when these stockings will be filled!
Finally, at the end of this busy day, the kids headed to bed. Those of us on the trip then took a few minutes to reflect on the day and the kids. I can only speak for myself, but my feelings for these kids and for this experience cannot be put into words. They are so precious, so sweet and kind, so gentle. But I know that they have suffered. They are orphans, after all, and have experienced tremendous hardship. Most of them have very bleak futures. My heart can't help but to break for them all.
We all look forward to tomorrow as it brings another which to spend with these beautiful children, kids who truly are "the least of these." Please pray for them. Pray for their caregivers (who have a very difficult job under very difficult circumstances). Pray for the Buckner staff, who do such a great job. Pray for us on the trip. But most of all, pray for these kids. Pray, pray, pray in hopes that God will somehow make their lives better.
Sorry if this was too long. I will try to be a bit more concise in the future. (Also, forgive any typos. I haven't taken the time to spellcheck.) Below are some photos of the kids. Enjoy!
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