September 01, 2007
Categories: Diary
It’s a while since I wrote – apologies.
Things have been going well at the Faith Holy Orphanage Centre. The new buildings have worked and have been in use for 7 months now. There have been good rains recently and the maize, beans, peas and potatoes in the orphanage land are looking promising.
Each child has his or her own little plot of land this year in which to plant what he or she likes – mostly beans, peas and carrots; it’s a start in their working the soil themselves, experimenting and learning as they go.
90 fast growing eucalyptus trees have been planted by the children in the top corner of their land. Each child knows which tree was planted by him/her and will watch them grow with a personal interest in how they do. These trees will provide building materials and firewood in about 10 years time. Mango, loquat, avocado and macadamia nut trees have also been planted as well as lots of flowers to give colour. Reuben and Grace have been working hard.
Holmesdale Infant School in Surrey, UK held a Christmas book appeal, collecting donations for the orphanage. The generous response was absolutely overwhelming. So many books were given that there were enough to share around other schools and orphanages in the Njoro area and are being much appreciated. Well done, and thank you to all the donors at Holmesdale and to Alison Wadey, whose idea it was. Thanks also to Danny Nightingale, who got all the crates of books here to Kenya for us free of charge. No mean feat!
Katie Wilson and her House at Chapter House School in York raised 230 pounds at a bring and buy sale. Thank you and well done.
Ivo and Lynda Nightingale, their daughter Marguerite and friends in Canada gave us $1000 in January. Jane Scragg in Australia keeps sending donations she has collected there. Roger and Diana Polhill sent a cheque in February and Chris and Claire Coull and Wendy Briggs also made generous contributions. Thank you one and all.
Sarah Green and her family have been tireless in their pursuit of funds to help the children and have had such success that the small light at the end of a long tunnel of hope for these youngsters has blossomed into a bright ray of sunshine. Food for them is no longer a problem. They are well fed, housed and clothed. Secondary school education for each child is now a distinct probability rather than a distant dream. A big thank you to the Greens!
A few children have left the orphanage as relatives have either felt that they can now support them or have moved to other parts of Kenya. Bed space is available and Pastor Reuben has been given the go ahead to take more children in their place. He says he has a long waiting list of applicants. The orphanage has a good name in the district especially with the Primary Schools where the children are doing so well in their classes. All the textbooks your money has bought for them are paying dividends in academic results.
It is unduly cold and wet at the moment. The children walk to and from school, often in the rain. Colds have proliferated and five children had to go to the doctor. So this week, Reuben bought anoraks for everyone, which I hope will help. Rain brings its blessing, but also its problems.
Kasey Nichol from Atlanta in the States has spent her summer vacation from University to stay in Njoro and has made several visits to the orphanage getting to know the children, teaching and playing with them. She has updated the individual portfolio of each child with a nice picture of each. Thank you Kasey, the kids loved you!
