Monday, December 24, 2012


As I sit in my living room and look at all of the wonderful kids God has blessed me with I am overwhelmed at his goodness. God knows each and everyone one of them and loves them far more than I ever could. He saw their needs and came to their rescue.  On the days when having ten children with disabilities under one roof seems like total chaos, I take a moment to think of how far each one of them has come in such a short time. God has his hand on them. He is holding them and always near keeping his watchful eye on them. And he’s doing the same for me. Thank you all for all of the ways that you have supported us in various ways over this past year. I am blessed to be able to spend my Christmas with these sweet faces. Merry Christmas from all of us!

Sammy

Franco

Isaac

Lillian

Bramwel

Manu

Lavender

Cyril

Willy

Allan

Dan

Augustus 
Merry Christmas from the whole gang. 


God keeps bringing more and more kids to us and continues to bless us. Each time we think the house is too full, or we have our hands too full, God steps in and shows us that truly he only knows what is best for us. We got a call about a children’s home in a town called Nakuru that is about four hours away from here. This home had 130 kids with various kinds of disabilities and were basically just using the kids to get donations that they were using for themselves. The home was shut down by the government children’s office and they were left with many children that were difficult to place. When they called us they asked if they could send a few children for us to meet and if they were a good fit for our home. 

Lillian and Manu playing outside

We were blessed to get to meet Lillian and Manu. Two very precious little children. Lillian had lived at the home as long as she could remember. She has no cognitive impairments, but has some medical issues due to her spina bifida and needs an operation. She walks with crutches because her left leg was amputated just below the knee. She is adjusting well to living in a safe place and is starting to open up and become more comfortable. At the other home she was responsible for a lot of the care giving and chores that the staff should have been taking care of. She is a sweet girl and watches out for her “brother” Manu. She is a smart little girl with a giving heart. She helps out without being asked and is excited to start going to school.



Manu is also such a sweet little guy. We were told that Emmanuel was abandoned at a local hospital and then was taken in to live at this other home. Emmanuel was malnourished and also suffering from rickets, iron deficiency, malaria and typhoid on top of his disability. He has one arm that doesn’t move the way that it should, and Lillian told us that it was because one of the staff members at the other home threw him onto the bed, dislocating his shoulder and elbow and it was never treated so now there is permanent damage. Even though he can’t walk on his own, he is an active and energetic little guy. You will find him sitting and scooting around the house, or lying on his back or stomach and scooting around the hallway. Whichever way he is set down, he just starts going. He can only say a few words, but he understands everything that he is told and loves to laugh.



Franco and Manu playing 


We are blessed to have such a full house and can’t wait to watch as God continues to touch these 10 precious lives that he’s brought into our lives. 

Friday, November 23, 2012


This week I was encouraged by two very special women, who are great mothers despite the difficult circumstances that they overcome and face on a daily basis. 

The first is named Jacqueline. She is Cyril’s mother and also has four other children at home. Her youngest two children also have a disability and she struggles to provide for them. Yet she never loses heart.
Jacqueline

 I went down to her house on Sunday to celebrate Henry’s birthday. She wanted to do something special because she told me that it is because of God’s love for him that he made it this far. She said that it is only through Christ that he survived two surgeries to remove cataracts and glaucoma. 
Henry and I

She comes by the house to visit Cyril and so she knows the other kids here very well. She was asking me about Willy because the medicine for his epilepsy isn’t working and he is still having seizures almost daily. She said that God will heal Willy. She said that I have tried everything, every medicine, hospital and doctor. She said that know it is only God who can help him now and that all I can do is pray. I am amazed at her faith and pray that God will give me that faith as I pray for healing on his body. 

The second lady is named Pamela. She is HIV+ and lives with her son and three of here nieces. She has the biggest, most welcoming woman I have ever met. 

She lives in such a small house with her four children, so I helped them build a bigger mud house with two rooms and a sitting area. School closed last week and a few of the kids that are sponsored have no where to go so they stay at school. When I dropped of her children, she looked more frail, week and sick than I have ever seen her. Despite all of that she said, “I heard my kid’s friends need a place to stay. Bring them here to stay with us. You have blessed us with a bigger house so why not have the kids stay with their friends.”
The house where Pamela and here five children stay

The frame of their new house. It's almost completed now. 

I was shocked by her hospitality and brought Brian and Ezekiel to stay with her. She was at work when I went to drop the boys off, but that night she called me and thanked me for bringing such great boys to stay with her and her family. 
Ezekiel and Brian before they started school at Purpose Driven Academy.

I pray that God will continue to change me and make me have a heart like these women. A heart that loves even though the situation seems hopeless. A heart that always welcomes and never gets bitter in the face of struggles. And most of all a heart that relies on God to be the absolute provider in each and every situation. 

Thursday, November 15, 2012


Today we headed to Eldoret, which is the closest place where we can get a CT Scan. Bramwel was born with a large soft spot on his head that took longer to close than it should have. So he has lines in the center of his forehead and big veins that run along side the soft spot. We took him to the doctor to get a check up and he told us to take him to get the scan just to check to make sure that everything is alright. 


The whole hour and a half we spent in the car with Bramwel he was singing. Sometimes what he says is hard to understand, but he was clearly and repeatedly singing “It’s only you Father” and “Thank you Father.” I was reminded of Jesus’ words from Matthew 18:3 where he says, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” 

Because of Jesus’ love and guidance I am able to care for these children. He gives me the strength, finances and enough love to be able to give kids like Bramwel the life that they truly deserve. He’s almost seven years old and he has never had the means to be able to get a brain scan that he needed. We had a big meal for lunch afterwards that was probably more food than he ate in three days at his house. 
Bramwel with two plates. One full of chicken and one full of french fries. 

Then we went to a mini zoo and looked at lions, monkeys and all kinds of birds. He was able to have fun and run around without a single worry or care, like every kid should.  
Bramwel checking out the peacock.

Without God’s hand on my life and Bramwel’s none of this would have happened. Bramwel’s song reminded me how we all need to take his attitude and be thankful for the small things each and every day. It also reminded me to not let the little hiccups that each day brings to get me down and to live each day with as much joy as he has in his sweet little heart. 

Wednesday, November 14, 2012


Meet sweet little Allan.  We met him in an area of town called Waitaluk. We had arranged a meeting with the chief of that area a few weeks before and on Tuesday we went to meet some kids from his area. 
Allan

When we walked up we saw sweet little Allan sitting there on the grass and we instantly fell in love. The chief wasn’t there yet, so we talked with his grandmother, Alice, while we waited for him to come. Alice lives with him because her daughter was mistreating him and not giving him proper care. Alice not only is responsible for caring for Allan, but she also lives with and cares for her mother and grandmother. She was met with the challenge of having so many people relying on her to meet all her needs and not having a steady income or means to provide for them. 
Allan walking over to us with the help of his grandmother.


After talking with the grandmother, we knew that he was a good fit for the house. He is the sweetest little 9 year old boy you will ever meet. He has cerebral palsy, but is not hindered at all. He can crawl anywhere and everywhere he wants to go. He can pull himself off of the couch and get down with no problems. If he has something he can grab on to he will stand and even walk along the couch. He can talk and loves playing with the other children. We are so blessed to have yet another precious child in our home. 

Allan in his walker. All the other boys took turns pushing him around the yard.
Everyone had a blast.

Peeking out the window waiting for us to come home.

Such a little cutie.

Funny faces with Franco.
I thank God for putting yet, another wonderful child in my path. Another one of his beautiful creations into my care. I am excited to see Allan improve and to have him as a part of our family.  

Tuesday, November 6, 2012


God continues to bless me with great support from family and friends. Everything from prayers, to financial support, clothes and toys for the kids and visits. We really do appreciate all your love and support. I wanted to say a special thank you to Mr. DelPadre’s 5th grade class for sending cars, socks, and cards. The kids loved each and every one of them. With each car I brought out they were so excited. It’s encouraging to have the support of such young people with such giving hearts. 
Margaret and Sammy playing cars outside

Willy playing with his new car


Isaac holding his car. He was so happy
and couldn't stop laughing. 

Newton

Lavender loved her big pink truck!

Bramwel

Bramwel and Willy playing cars together.

My mom and Sammy reading his card together.

Willy and Newton reading their cards.

Cyril.

Isaac.

Lavender loved all of the letters written to her. 

Margaret reading her card. 

Bramwel checking out the drawings on his card. 

Dan taking a break from reading to pose for the camera. 

Newton showing off his letter.