Earlier this year Paul King and his wife Kathy, whom I serve
with at Gideon’s International, heard that I was preparing to return to
Kenya. They sponsor students at the Living
Hope High School (www.livinghopehighschool.org) located in Bungoma, Kenya. This orphanage was started by Pendleton
County resident, Marilyn Uhl. When she
retired from teaching, she sold her house and her belongings and moved to Kenya
to make a real difference in the lives of these students.
Paul and Kathy learned that 50 wool blankets had been
donated to this orphanage and they did not know how to transport them. That is when I volunteered to help out. Since I was traveling on British Airways
which allows 3 bags weighing up to 51 pounds, I had plenty of room. In fact the blankets were also great packing
material for the Ethernet Switch for the AIU wireless network and laptops that
were donated from Christian Leaders for Africa.
Hearing that Marilyn has 5 of her brightest students that were preparing
to start their senior year of high school, I arranged for their transport,
meals, and lodging on the AIU campus.
Thanks to the generosity of local residents, they were also able to visit
the Nairobi Game Park.
For these students traveling to AIU to pick up their
blankets, this was a once in a lifetime experience. For many of them they had never been away
from their village in Bungoma. While on
campus they were paired up with other freshmen students for a campus tour,
visit to the library, and meetings with the admissions and student financial
aid officers.
But the story does not end there. The week before departure, we were visiting
Ed and Geri Moser, owners of the Breath of Heaven Bed and Breakfast. They had generously allowed us to come and
shower at their placed since our power at the North Fork Mountain Inn had been
out for a week. When they learned of my
upcoming trip to Kenya, they told me about students they sponsor at Living Hope
High School in Bungoma, Kenya. You can
imagine their surprise when I told them that I was delivering these blankets
for the students. So before I left,
Gerri purchased WV hooded sweatshirts and other gifts to send along. It is Winter here right now. But for me it seems quite comfortable. The Kenyans look at me with funny glances as
they are all bundled up in coats and I am walking around in a short sleeved
shirt.
While here I had a chance to visit with Saul Omulama, one of
the AIU graduates from this past weekend.
Saul is starting a ministry in the Kibera slums where he and his wife Nelly
have worked for the last five years. One
of their top priorities is to prevent human trafficking and prostitution which is
a way of survival in this poverty stricken neighborhood. When I asked how I can help him in his new
venture, he mentioned that he needs a new laptop and bibles. So when I return in October, I will be
bringing a re-furbished laptop for his use and will plan a distribution of
Bibles in the Kibera slums in conjunction with Gideon’s International.
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