Tuesday
Dec092008
Christmas in Kenya 2008 - Post 2
Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 02:25PM
Jambo! Our trip is has continued to be a spectacular experience for our entire group, with the exception of one young traveler who has really been struck sick. We hope she can recover, but has so far missed much of the time with the BCC kids at Brackenhurst. We prayed over her this morning (Tuesday) to ask for God's will be done in regards to her health. Her name is Zoe, she's only 18, and this is her first trip away from home. Needless to say, it hasn't been a very positive experience for her thus far.
For the rest of us, however, the trip has been almost exactly what you would hope for. As I related in my last post, we left the children of the Seed of Hope Center in Kitale on Sunday. It was very hard to leave (as it always is) , primarily due to the fact you have just begun to form relationships with some of the kids when they are cut short. My impression of the kids at SOH was they have had less exposure to groups like ours (compared to the BCC kids) and were therefore very eager to spend time around us, finding out what we were all about. As we were only the third or fourth group to visit (so I've heard), the kids still had a fascination with us white people (muzungus), playing with our hair, laughing as we lathered on sunscreen, hearing us try to pronounce Swahili words, etc. It was, in all respects, a joyous time, at least for me.
Communication at SOH was not too bad. Most of them understood English to some extent, but speaking it was another story in many cases. Regardless, and with the help of the SOH caregivers/social workers, we made due just fine.
Our VBS program was successful, I would say. We had a lot of fun doing crafts, learning memory verse, playing games, and listening to the Christmas story (way to go, Carson!) Carson, Hilary and I had about 30 kids, ages 7-12, and really, really enjoyed ourselves.
The children at the SOH were very well behaved, polite, respectful, curious, kind...not at all like American kids. According to Peter, our translator, almost all of the children are true orphans; that is, they have lost both parents, the vast majority to AIDS. A few of the children have "tested positive" (as the Kenyan's seem to phrase it), and I spent time with a few of them. Certainly you could tell their health was compromised, but, according to Peter, they are much better off since arriving at SOH where medicine can be obtained. It really breaks my heart to see these children who have the triple-whammy of tragedy: poverty, orphan and AIDS. I can't imagine live being any more difficult.
Once I return home I will post some photos of the SOH kids, and provide some more information. As of now, I am at Brackenhurst, a retreat/conference center in the countryside near a town called Limuru, outside of Nairobi. We have finished our second day of VBS with the kids and are having a great time. As my internet time is almost out, I will have to leave the BCC update to a later time. Please consider the following prayer requests:
- Zoe and her health
- The children of the SOH center
- A special prayer for those at SOH who are afflicted with AIDS. They are truly innocent victims.
- The caregivers at SOH. They work so very hard for "the least of these," and give much of their life to the care of the children.
For the rest of us, however, the trip has been almost exactly what you would hope for. As I related in my last post, we left the children of the Seed of Hope Center in Kitale on Sunday. It was very hard to leave (as it always is) , primarily due to the fact you have just begun to form relationships with some of the kids when they are cut short. My impression of the kids at SOH was they have had less exposure to groups like ours (compared to the BCC kids) and were therefore very eager to spend time around us, finding out what we were all about. As we were only the third or fourth group to visit (so I've heard), the kids still had a fascination with us white people (muzungus), playing with our hair, laughing as we lathered on sunscreen, hearing us try to pronounce Swahili words, etc. It was, in all respects, a joyous time, at least for me.
Communication at SOH was not too bad. Most of them understood English to some extent, but speaking it was another story in many cases. Regardless, and with the help of the SOH caregivers/social workers, we made due just fine.
Our VBS program was successful, I would say. We had a lot of fun doing crafts, learning memory verse, playing games, and listening to the Christmas story (way to go, Carson!) Carson, Hilary and I had about 30 kids, ages 7-12, and really, really enjoyed ourselves.
The children at the SOH were very well behaved, polite, respectful, curious, kind...not at all like American kids. According to Peter, our translator, almost all of the children are true orphans; that is, they have lost both parents, the vast majority to AIDS. A few of the children have "tested positive" (as the Kenyan's seem to phrase it), and I spent time with a few of them. Certainly you could tell their health was compromised, but, according to Peter, they are much better off since arriving at SOH where medicine can be obtained. It really breaks my heart to see these children who have the triple-whammy of tragedy: poverty, orphan and AIDS. I can't imagine live being any more difficult.
Once I return home I will post some photos of the SOH kids, and provide some more information. As of now, I am at Brackenhurst, a retreat/conference center in the countryside near a town called Limuru, outside of Nairobi. We have finished our second day of VBS with the kids and are having a great time. As my internet time is almost out, I will have to leave the BCC update to a later time. Please consider the following prayer requests:
- Zoe and her health
- The children of the SOH center
- A special prayer for those at SOH who are afflicted with AIDS. They are truly innocent victims.
- The caregivers at SOH. They work so very hard for "the least of these," and give much of their life to the care of the children.
tagged Buckner, Seed of Hope, orphans, travel in Africa
Buckner, Seed of Hope, orphans, travel in Africa
Reader Comments (3)
Daver....thank you so much for the post. It is great to hear about all you guys are doing for these kids. Poor Zoe....I will say a prayer for her for sure. I do wonder if you, Carson and Hilary will actually come home. I know how wonderful it must be to experience God using you so directly to meet the needs of these kids. Awesome!
Thanks for the update, Dave! Praying for you all...
Do the kids there love your arm hair? Kids in Uganda would sit and "pet" me for what seemed like eternity. I pray that your short time with these children will be of utmost meaning. I am sure you, Carson and Hilary make an amazing team which no kid could ever forget or not see God's love through.
Blessing.