Today was our first full day in Kenya. We woke up to a cool but sunny day. After breakfast and getting a tour from Molly of the grounds Joe, Molly, Jennifer, Victor, and I set off on our first adventure.
Victor is a Kenyan, about 30 years old, and lives with his wife in a small house on the same property as Joe and Molly. He’s an accountant by trade, but has been working more or less as the general contractor for the orphanage, hiring workers, ordering materials, making sure the work is done right. He also has a wonderful love for God and other people. He’s a month away from graduating from Bible college. He does a lot of other ministry work with the Bails and his real passion is for counseling people.
Samuel
Our first stop today was to help a boy named Samuel…
Joe and Molly had met him at the hospital a couple months ago. He has spina bifida and is unable to walk. His mother has been carrying him to school and from school every day, and Molly and Joe told him someway, somehow, they were going to get him a wheelchair.
One of the first things I noticed when we arrived is how small Samuel is. He’s 8 years old, but he is actually smaller than his 4-year-old sister Evalyn. We unfolded the wheelchair and we could tell he was anxious about this strange new thing he was being put in. His young mother – I think her name is Mimi – was very happy and excited about it. After showing her how to adjust the foot rests and a few other things, she invited us back to her house.
We walked through something of a wooden gate through a small dirt courtyard where laundry was hanging and into a room that was probably not more than 8 feet by 8 feet. It was made of wood, cardboard, and newspaper with a tin roof. Inside were 3 small sofas and a coffee table in the middle. This one room is her home where she, Samuel and Evalyn live.
Mimi then set out hot chocolate and bread. Everything inside of me said, I can’t possibly take something from someone who has so little. But the only way to honor her generous hospitality was to accept it with gratitude. When everything was set, she asked if she could pray. We bowed our heads and what I heard was sweetest prayer I’ve ever heard. Mimi has this quiet, angelic voice. Man, I so wish I could have taped that moment to replay again and again. She moved back and forth between Swahili and English and all flowed from a heart full of love for Jesus.
We spent some time just loving that family. Talking with them, taking pictures of them, showing Samuel and Evalyn the pictures. We gave them each a pair of flip-flops, a colorful “Jesus loves you,” bracelet, and a stuff animal.
Before leaving Samuel took another turn in the wheelchair. He started slowly wheeling it through the courtyard on his own, which was no easy task because his arms are so little and the ground rocky and uneven. But after a few minutes, you could see him getting comfortable and picking up speed. He was really starting to like his new chair and smiled. It was just something to see.
First Look at Springs of Hope
We went from Samuel’s house to construction site of the orphanage. I had seen pictures and even video of the children’s home being built, but they really don’t do it justice. It’s set on the side of a hill. The stonework for the buildings and the terraced hillside is just beautiful. Everyone who has supported Springs of Hope and Joe and Molly in this project should be so proud of what is being created here.
Joe and Molly gave us a tour of the main building. It’s got a large common area in the middle where there will be tables and chairs for hanging out, playing games, and doing homework. On each side of that runs a hallway the leads to bedrooms and a bathroom, one side for boys and one side for girls. Each side has 4 bedrooms. Each bedroom will eventually sleep 4 or 5 children. So, eventually this beautiful place could be home to as many as 32-40 children.
The interior still has some work to do, but it is getting close. Painting will be done fairly soon and the furniture is due to arrive from Nairobi soon as well.
Out the back door, we walked up stone walkway. There are some rooms there that will serve as offices or guest quarters. Finally at the top of the property is a wonderful little playground with swing set and a fort-like structure kids can climb up in or play underneath. I know my kids would love it, and so will the boys and girls who eventually live here.
And view from the top is just breath-taking. You can see Nakuru and Lake Nakuru and the mountains beyond that.
Linda
While at Springs of Hope we met Linda. The said Linda is 7, but that’s just what Molly and Joe told the doctor because they don’t really know. She looks smaller than my son, Aidyn who just turned 6. She’s looks more like late 4s or early 5s, but then again she was severely malnourished at one time so she could be small for her age.
Linda’s mom abandoned her. She now lives with her grandparents, and a woman who has been doing landscaping (her name escapes me at the moment) has been taking care of her during the day. I don’t remember exactly how Molly and Joe met Linda, but when they did not only was she malnourished but she had a bad skin condition which left her arms bloody and scabbed from all the scratching she did.
Molly and Joe took her to their doctor. The doctor suggested she get an injection. They didn’t have it on hand because it was a more expensive medication and they know patients can’t usually afford it. It cost $7. It’s been a couple of months since the injection and this skin condition which this precious little girl had had since birth appears to be completely gone. We gave Linda a pair of shoes and a stuffed animal and she just beamed.
The landscaping woman who has been caring for Linda during the day told us she also has 2 children of her own, a 7-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy. They were in need of shoes as well. We opened up the back of the Bail’s van, looked through our shoe stash, and were able to find black school shoes and flip flops for both her kids as well as some flip-flops for her. She too was sooo appreciative.
Street Boys
From there we went into Nakuru to pick up some things for dinner. When we pulled up to the store, Joe and Molly recognized one of the boys they know who lives on the street, Joseph. He looked to be maybe 12 or 13. Joe and Victor stayed in the van talking with him while Jen and I went with Molly into this little meet and vegetable store.
After we made our purchase, a small croud was gathering around the van. There were several people trying to sell bags of fruit and vegetables (which Molly bought) and then a couple of other street boys. They were even younger than Joseph. As I got into the van, they kept saying, “Buy me a meal, uncle.” I was like, “Uh, Joe, dude, what do I do here?”
Because Joe knew and trusted the older boy, he gave him some money and told he to get food for all 3 of them. Several other people Molly and Joe know came by and so they introduced us. While we were still talking with them they boys came back eating bananas. I was completely shocked. If I gave my kids some money and told them to get some food, they would not in a million years come back with fruit. Maybe pizza or a hot dog, probably cookies, but bananas? Never.
One Last Stop
I feel like I’ve already talked your ear off enough for one day, but I have to add one other little story. We had one last stop to make before returning to the Bails house, a supermarket (which was surprisingly modern by the way, computerized UPC scanners and everything). As we’re pulling into the parking lot, Joe and Molly spot 2 more people they know, a boy and his mother. This woman’s husband and other son were hacked to death with machetes during the riots that took place a year or two ago. And it happened right in front of her and her other son. I can’t imaging what that must have been like.
They fled for their lives and are now living in a tent in a refuge camp just outside of Nakuru. They have next to nothing. Joe and Molly noticed the boy was wearing these old raggedy shoes, so while doing the remaining grocery shopping, they also got him a nice pair of sneakers.
One the drive back to the house Molly said, “This is a pretty typical day for us.”
That’s just remarkable to me. They are constantly making new friends, running into old friends, and loving on them by talking with them, touching them with hugs and handshakes, and helping meet some of their physical needs.
And now that I think about it, I totally forgot to mention Bernard. He’s a former street boy Joe and Molly helped get into school. Between Samuel’s and Springs of Hope we stopped to visit his Aunt. Just another typical stop, on a typical day…
I think I’d like this to be typical for me too… and not just here in Nakuru.
Day 2: A Tour of the Bails <– Kenya 2009 –> Day 4: Intense
Wow – this is so amazing and inspirational. Thank you for sharing this with us!
Thank you for sharing your day with us! I’m truly at a loss for words.
just grateful to have a “sliver” of what you felt. You’re a fantastic writer, Paul. Please keep sharing. God bless.
I am in awe at all that you have done. Its an honor to know and have you as friends. You both are worthy of all of Gods glory. I’m sure that he holds a very special place for you. Take care..
Wow, wow, wow. God bless all of you. Keep posting – Steve and I are hanging on every word!
So excited about the stories…planning my own trip in my head…and wondering what more we can do for those beautiful children!! Thanks for posting..keep it up!
Thank you so much for sharing this. I cry every time I read your post because I can see the Lord working so much through you both. Praise God!
Aryn is good. She misses you both so much.
Thanks for all of your prayers and your comments. They mean soooo much to us! We’re so blessed to be able to share this experience with our friends and family back home!
Paul – thank you for sharing your experiences. Tell Molly I am so glad to see she got that wheelchair home and even happier to hear about the smiles it created! Lots of prayers for you all. Everything you do makes a difference and shares God’s love.
This is SOOO good, everyone should read this kind of posts. Very inspiring! I can sense a depth within you growing and LOVE pouring forth, yet all so new in this manner. I don’t think you will ever be the same. I call this: “A great Undoing and Renewing”. To be able to see from another set of eyes, is important.