Dear Friends of Hekima Place,
Today our family and friends in the US will be inaugurating the first ever African American as President of the United States. As the whole world knows, Barack Obama is a son of Kenya- and the celebrations here will be as lively and boisterous as any in the District today or in the“burg” for the AFC Champion Steelers headed to the Super Bowl.
I feel that same kind of joy and pride when I think of this last year in our family:
2008 saw the installation of an immersible water pump at 200 metres below the surface (in the dinosaur dust, as it were); the construction of a pump house for all the computers that regulate it, and the construction of a 40 ft water tower and tank to gravity feed all the houses on the property; THANK YOU IMMENSELY TO OUR THREE DONORS; a four room and bath director’s cottage was built; Mum Gladys and the older girls created a huge farm garden in the ‘lower forty’ where the neighbor’s horses used to graze and Victor built the chicken condominium with attached nursery quarters… all these property enhancements support our growing family in its desire to be self sustainable.
In June, we gave “birth” to John Barak, a year old baby abandoned at birth by the side of the road. He was brought to us by our newly elected Minister of Gender, Children and Social Affairs, who has since become our Patron. He is the joy of our hearts as we help him make up for a year in hospital and his adoption procedures are soon to begin.
In July, we added Emma to our family. She is a business major in her second year at Catholic University of East Africa and a marvelous student and role model for the younger girls.
In August, we welcomed six little girls from the Kibera slum. Their coming, like Johnny’s, was a rescue from life threatening situations. We thank the families of Bedford, NY for sponsoring and loving these new children. We thank Tricia Mara for trusting us with them.
In November, our five eighth graders took the KCPE exam and exited primary school. As I write, we are expecting some letters from district schools and next month will find them boarding in a Girls Secondary School and enrolled in 12 or 13 subjects.
In December, Leah and Beatrice accompanied me to the US for a whirlwind thank you visit to the churches and wonderful people who support us – with some grand touring included in New York, Pittsburgh and Cleveland. (Big Thank Yous to Pepe, Janet, MA and Jenny to name a few.) On our return, Mum Gladys and I went off to a rented house near the National Park with the 12 children who did not go home. This mini vacation included Daryn Kagan (see www.darynkagan.com for great videos) who had come to spend Christmas with us.
So now, as Jan 20, 2009 dawns bright and clear, the five new Secondary Girls, with Colleta from last year, Mum Lisa and Big Sister Monique – are doing a game drive at Lake Nakuru….on a mini safari.
There are ten trees in the Graduate’s Garden and soon there will be benches…
And one month from now TUMAINI HOUSE will be available for us as a study house for Mum Gladys, the new class of KCPE candidates, the day scholars in secondary school, and our university girl.
AMANI HOUSE will revert to guest quarters, as we already have 22 volunteers booked to visit throughout this year. BARAKA HOUSE will be home to two Mums and classes five, six and seven. And MAISHA HOUSE will be home to two Mums and nursery class up through class four. (I so wish I had a picture of Frida and Flo (both 3 yrs old) in their tiny uniforms and sweaters).
This week the eleven ladies in waiting (on the Big Sister list), will be assigned to a little sister whose Sponsor serves both functions. And when that is complete, every child in this family, will have two adults, somewhere in this world, who pray for her, love her, write to her, and think of her with sweet concern at birthday and Christmas time. I cannot thank all of you Godparents enough for that precious effort on the children’s behalf.
In closing, I would ask all of you to...