Update - Elizabeth

I just spoke with Nick. Elizabeth has malaria. Malaria is the number one killer in the world mostly affecting children under 5 and pregnant women. Most deaths occur in subsahara Africa. Elizabeth is now on medication which hopefully will work quickly. When I was in nursing school we studied malaria - it was a tropical disease not possible to contract in the US. We only studied it in theory. Now I am around so many people with malaria I can usually diagnosis it even before the test is completed (not a sign of my nursing skills just a sign malaria is so common in Kenya). We do have nets for the children to sleep under but their living condition makes it almost impossible to prevent malaria and typhoid. Today we had someone join the effort to move the children and Nick and Charles now have $5,500 to build a home for 34 children, themselves and the aunties who care for the children. I am asking Pastor Omondi to oversee the building of the temporary structure. Pastor Omondi is the one who got Maggie's School registered with the Kenyan goverment. He will do whatever it takes to get this structure built and move the children. Thank you for your prayers. Nick was so encouraged by the support!

Grateful for your prayers and for drugs that treat malaria and for the doctor who tested Elizabeth,

Connie

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Prayers for Elizabeth

Many of you have held little Elizabeth. You have felt the frailness of her small body. Others of you have read about her in my updates. Several of you are assisting Nick and Charles to help move her from the slum. Elizabeth at 2 years old has AIDS. She is subject to opportunistic diseases - malaria, TB, typhoid, even a cold that could kill her. We know living in the slum isn't good for her and Nick and Charles with the help of the Carrollton team and a recent donor are taking steps to move her and the 33 other children she lives with in three crowded rooms in Mathare Slum. But, today Elizabeth needs your prayers. She is sick and Nick is taking her to the hospital to find out why. Pray God protects her - He loves the little children especially the orphans like Elizabeth. I have asked Nick to keep me informed of her condition and will let you know through the updates how she is.
Praying for little Elizabeth,
Connie
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reMEMber team video

Many of you followed the updates of the reMEMber team as my sisters travelled to see Maggie's School. And, I appreciated so much your encouraging responses! They always mean so much to me when I hear from you! You can see their DVD on You Tube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhNrh2jra6k
It will make you smile.
Blessings, Connie

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Returning from Kenya

After a month in Kenya David (my son) and I are returning to the US. This trip was good although there were challenges. The challenges included our van having mechanical problems and sickness among the Partners for Care staff. Both Sammy and Njokie had malaria - again. And, after a week of treatment Sammy still did not get well. Taking him back to the hospital he was diagnosed with a very bad case of typhoid. He was put on three types of medication. I am witness that typhoid is worse than malaria. He thinks he got typhoid when travelling to Lodwar.
The good things that happened this trip were the partnerships PFC has developed. We are now working with:
1. The Vice President's wife through the Kolonzo Foundation
2. The Healers program through the Lumumba Foundation
3. The National Aids Control Council as we continue to seek funding for the what if? campaign
4. Ringtone who is a major artist in Kenya. We will be going to schools with him with the what if? campaign. He is very popular with the youth and has been doing motivational speaking in schools for several years.
5. Kanjii - another major artist in Kenya. He has already launched a program going to the high schools with a program reaching the youth for Christ.
Land was purchased to build a home for the children in the rescue center!
And, of course the reMEMber team came to Kenya and went all the way to Maggie's School! It was a trip none of them will forget.
Now I return home to work and David to school. Oh, I forgot one other thing - David got his Kenya driver's license!
Next team coming to work with Partners fopr Care is the Partnering for Hope team who will be coming in October. Tragically one of their team member's son was was struck and killed by lightening on a golf course two months ago. She is still determined to go to Kenya - a lifetime dream. Her son's friends are holding a golf charity to raise money for her trip.
Blessed to serve with the Partners for Care staff in Kenya, Connie
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what if? partners for Healers

The what if? HIV/AIDs program is partnering with the Healers program. The Healers program is a program sponsored by the Lumumba Foundation and The African Institute for Leaders and Leadership. The mission of the Healers is to foster national cohension and patriotism among the youth. Through a community exchange program 30 university studies representing 30 major tribes in Kenya will stay with another tribe working in their community.

The Healers and the what if? team

We have conducted a training with the Healers and they will be taking the what if? camapign as part of their work. It is an excellent partnership as both programs are designed to help Kenya address tribalism and HIV/Aids.
Blessed to be a part of the healing of Kenya, Connie
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10th and last update

The reMEMber team has left but not without leaving their blessings and goodwill on the people of Kenya. From the slums of Marthare to the desert of Turkana the reMEMber team touched lives. Many people are no longer in pain because Dr. Eric and the team extracted painful teeth. Some had been in pain for years. The 257 children at Maggie's School have school uniforms and shoes thanks to the team and Kristi Kicks for Kenya. The children at Beat the Drum have new friends. The reMEMber team endured vans that broke down stranding them on the side of the road, getting stuck in rivers and sand in Turkana, days without water at our house because of the severe drought in Kenya. They slept in beds they weren't accoustomed to in rooms with other team members and ate food they had never seen or heard of and sometimes couldn't pronounce. They listened to the Temples of Worship sing and praise God. They prayed with and for the Kenyans. They allowed God to touch their hearts and in some cases break their hearts. They stepped way out of their comfort zone to travel for 24 hours (some longer) to serve the people of Kenya. The Partners for Care staff here in Kenya will forever.reMEMber them. You can see some of their photos at www.partnersforcare.blogspot.com
From kenyan Connie
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Fw: 9th Update - Wink Meets With Vice President Kolonzo's Wife

Yesterday Wink, Katie Martha, David, Njokie, Sammy and I met with Pauline Kalonzo - wife of Kenya's Vice President. Partners for Care had been meeting with her sharing what PFc does. She is a woman of great compassion for the suffering people of Kenya. On my last visit here we met with her and showed her Maggie's School video. She really connected with this school in the desert in Turkana land. On her own she directed the Kolonzo Foundation to seek funds for Maggie's School! They have written a grant for additional classrooms for the school. Her Excellency has personally met with people to seek funding.

Her Excellency with Wink, Katie and I.

At the meeting, Her Excellency thanked wink many times for Maggie's School. She told Wink she felt a connection to Maggie even though she had never met he. She acknowledged Kristi and what Katie has done through Kristi Kicks for Kenya. She told Wink she would visit the school to dedicate the next classroom. Suprising us all Wink said she would go with her!

God is amazing how He has orchestrated so many people here and in America to support Maggie's School - reMEMbering Maggie.

All the glory to the God we serve, Connie

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Land has been purchased!

Today is a great day for 34 children who live in Mathare Slum, their aunties, and Nick and Charles who care for them - land has been purchased for their new home! Thanks to the Carrollton team who raised the funds a beautiful piece of land has been bought. Nick and Charles rose early and with the owner and an attorney representing both sides signed the papers.

Praying for the land

A view of the land

Njokie, Pastor Omondi and I joined them at the property. Pastor Omondi prayed for the land thanking God and the Carrollton team for the mighty blessing. The name "rescue center" is now gone. This will be a home where two Christian men are raising children orphaned by the deaths of their parents due to HIV/AIDS. While the land was more than they had hoped ($8,000) it met the criteria:

1. Electrcity hook-up

2. Water

3. Schools very close - walking distance

4. Close to CT with matatu service so Nick and Charles can go to work

5. Safe!

6. Open area so the children can play!

The back has a beautiful view - Nick teased and said he could see elephants!

This week they will prepare plans for building a structure for the children. Soon these children will be moved to a home.

Grateful to the Carrollton team,

Connie

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7th Update - from Wink

This is what Wink wrote in her journal the day she visited Maggie's School.

The day I saw Maggie's School

We left at sunrise to travel what Connie called a hard trip. She so under estimated a hard trip. It was more like National Geograhic and Indiana Jones all wrapped into one. After being stuck in the river for over an hour and finally one car stuck in the sand for good. While stuck in one river we all took our shoes and socks off which we had been advised not to do due to parasites. We were going to walk across the muddy river. But the decision was made not to walk across the river. So I got back in the vehicle and picked out the very sharp barbs I had stepped on. About that time Connie walks up with the minister of education from Lodwar to meet me. And I held out a sock out to greet him. What a way to meet the representative from the ministry of education. We drove on piled together in two vehicles instead of three. We proceeded on and rounded the bend and the moment I didn't think would happen in a million years happened. I saw Maggie's School and felt like the time I gave birth to Maggie and saw her for the first time. Nothing was more beautiful. I felt awe and an overwhelming feeling of grace. I had never felt closer to Maggie sine she left this earth to be with the Lord. Tears welled up in my eyes and a lump was in my throat. No words could be formed. But no words were necessary. It was done. I was there! I was holding it together until I felt arms surround me and Whitney leaned on me and I broke down. It was hot. That is all I will say about that. People who know me know I don't suffer in silence - but I was silent! We went to see Maggie's children - again no words to describe. The most beautiful, smiling faces and big eyes full of love. They sang a special song about Maggie's School in English.

Wink and Katie meeting the kids

I once heard Don Piper speak of hearing the heavenly choir sounding like nothing he had ever heard on earth but he obviously had not been to the hear the Turkana children at Maggie's school sing. Again I stood in total awe as grace covered me. Wink(Maggie's proud MOM)

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6th Update - Visit to Maggie's School

Today Maggie's Mom saw Maggie's School and met the children who she calls Maggie's kids. There are now 257 Maggie's kids! And there are only two teachers! This will soon change as now the school is registered and next term the government will send additional teachers. The two teachers we have will be allowed to stay. The children greeted the team with shouts and laughter. They sang a song "greeting mum Wink" and thanking her for Maggie's School. The travel to the school was more than an adventure. We crossed two rivers and drove on sand for three hours. We got stuck twice in the muddy river and once in the sand.

Trying to push the vehicle out of the mud

Prayer and some good pulling with a vehicle and the men pushing got us out each time except the last. We had to abandon one of the vehicles and all crowd together with the some of the guys volunteering to ride in the open bed of the truck. We had lost precious time so the team needed to be very organized to do for the children what they had spent literally months planning for, praying for, raising funds for and dreaming in their heads what it would be like. Nothing really can prepare you though for seeing all these children in rags for clothes, some with shoes and some without shoes and one little one had on just one shoe. They are precious to us and in the eyes of Jesus. These are some of the children Jesus meant when he said the least of these. Our goal for the day was to serve the teachers and Andrew, Partners for Care social worker and the children. I am very clear that when on the ground we serve under the authority of the people God has placed there. We did a short ceremony as we brought one child forward and dressed him in his little school uniform - kahki and light blue the colors of the school Maggie went to school. We also gave him a backpack with Maggie's School imprinted on it. And sunglasses - which will help prevent him from getting cataracts from the sun.

The headmaster with a child after he received his school uniform

All the children will receive the same. We hope the picture we send you will show the transformation of a child in rags to a child in a school uniform. School uniforms are so important to a child in Kenya. It signifies this child is a student - learning helps lift them out of the poverty of their parents. The team also was able to accomplish the following:
1. Katie bought shoes from Kristi kicks for Kenya. Kristi is my other niece who died two years after Maggie died. The shoes were precious and now more of the children will have shoes.


2. The team had found wonderful teaching aids - white boards with markers and aids for the tin walls.
3. Each child was dewormed!

Carey, one of the team members, deworming a child

4. We left a scale and a measuring tape so the children can be measured and weighted each month to check their growth.
5. The dental team performed miracles relieving pain for all the children who had tooth pain and adults - over 60 people.

Dr. Eric treating one of the Maggie's kid's parents, assisted by his wife

6. We left 125 bednets so all of Maggie's children will now sleep under a bed net.
The last thing we did is give them a banner that reads Maggie's School and has Maggie's School logo. Then the Temples of Worship sang Remember Me. The children sang one last song - "Goodbye, bye, bye"
Wink and Martha have decided they will built a helicopter pad at the school to make it easier for them to get there - they are just kidding, I hope :)

Here are the words of each team member at the end of the day:

What an awesome day. The kids are precious and I find myself so touched. Love to all Martha

We held a dental clinic @ one of Bishop David's Churches in Lodwar as usual the Kenyan's blessed us with their gentle demeanor. We saw 72 patients. Love Carey

Loved serving the people of Lodwar. We saw many wonderful gentle people and amazed at their character. Africa is amazing! Love Wink

The trip today to Maggie's school was an adventure beyond my wildest dreams! Love Whitney

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Yesterday in Lodwar and today at Maggie's school.
Love Eric

I would do no justice by describing my experience at Maggie's school in two short sentences. It was awesome. We have an awesome God that sends Muzungus (white people) out all the way to the Akatuman. Awesome. Love Julianna

The time and distance it took to come is a blur,we are having an amazing yet heart wretching experience, our laughter and tears and touch are shared by all of us and Akatuman people. Love Jodie.

We are truly amongst God's people. No one complains and all seem happy if they are sick no one complains. Love to all. Joann

By the way, special heads up to Debbie Deardorff; God did provide a dentist in Lodwar and at Maggie's school. Love Carey

When we arrived to Akatuman I Felt like I'd reached one of the ends of the Earth, tucked far far away in the desert, Maggie's School was truly a sight to see, with the most welcoming, peaceful group of people. I Sang songs, fed the kids and pulled teeth! It was an unforgettable day. Love MK

I'm glad I came to share with Wink the experiences we encountered at Maggie's school. It was also special to bring shoes for the children in memory of Kristi. A true connection between our girls has been made the desert sand of Africa. Love Katie. Ps Kim thanks for all your love and support love mom. We miss you.

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reMEMber team comes to Kenya

If you had asked me two years ago when I started coming to Kenya that one day my two sisters would join me I would have not believed it. I believe God can perform miracles but bring my sisters to Kenya - no that wouldn't happen. My younger sister Wink as most of you know lost her only daughter Maggie four years ago and she continues to grieve although she has been remarkable in moving forward in living without Maggie. And, let's just say Wink likes comfort - cold water with ice cubes, air conditioning, nice cars and good roads. All things in short supply in Kenya! And my older sister Katie also lost her daughter Kristi 2 1/2 years ago at age 25. My sister is raising the three young children all under 4 years old left orphaned by Krisiti's death. So neither of my sisters were really candidates to travel 10,000 miles (24 hour travel!) to go to a slum and to travel on a missionary flight to the desert to see the school built in memory of Wink's daughter - Maggie's School. And, in memory of Kristi, Katie and her other daughter Kim created Kristi Kicks for Kenya and has collected hundreds of shoes for children at Maggie's School. As the three us sat last on the porch of the Partners for Care house and had one of our traditional "3 sisters photo" I reflected for a moment on just what God can do. Wink said that while our family has faced tragedies we were united in our efforts to serve and create a legacy for both Kristi and Maggie.

I and my two sisters at Beat the Drum children's home

The reMEMber team

Traveling with my sisters are Dr. Eric (a dentist) and his wife Whitney, my sister Wink's lifetime friend Carey, another friend of Wink's Jody and Jody's mom and Jody's son - three generations, Mary Katherine and Juliana - both young women and Martha a new friend who always wanted to come to Africa. We are packed and preparing to leave at 5:30am on the missionary flight to Lodwar - then three hour drive through the desert to Akatuman to see Maggie's School. Praise God for the miracles He can perform even when we don't believe.

From Kenya, Connie

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Passion

Sometimes I get discouraged because I see so many children infected with Aids, orphaned by Aids and children living in slums and on the street and I wonder where is the passion to fight this disease? Then I meet someone that let's me know there is passion to fight this disease. The first day we were here we were shopping a Nakumat (the big grocery store chain in Kenya). I was in the little health section looking for protein powder mix for Brian the little boy with Aids who lives with us. A young man was there reading each of the labels on the protein mixes. I told him that after he reads them all he could let me know which one was the best. He asked what I wanted to use it for. I told him for a child who has Aids. He said, "You know children who have Aids?". After telling him I did he said he was a model in Kenya and he and a group of other models want to do something for children with Aids. I took him and introduced him to Sammy, Njokie, Sam and Moses. His name is Patrick and he is in the Zain (cellphone company) advertisements. After introductions and plans to connect later he went on with his shopping and us with ours. As we were checking out he came up to us and took 400 shillings out of his pocket and gave us a big container of juice. He said that was all he had today but promised more later. He asked us to take the juice to the children. I emailed him later and told I would always remember his what he did and the passion I saw in his heart. I told him to the children I have grown to love. All infected by their Moms with the HIV virus. I told him I prayed he would always have the passion in his heart that moves him to action. I received a reply that he will mobilize others to help in the what if? canpaign to fight Aids.
Thanking God for passion He gives to those who allow Him to work through them,
Connie

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Divine connections

I am once again in wonder of divine connections that can only be the work of God. How else could I meet a man out of hundreds of passengers on the flight to Kenya from America and within 48 hours of arriving in Kenya we are together with his US team at the bedside of a woman in Mathare who has AIDS. And we also had a meeting in the Vice President's conference room with the Director of Vice President Kalonzo's Foundation. Only God can connect His people together to do His work. Actually, God used my son David who has come with me to Kenya for a month. The man on the plane I speak of is Dr. Erich. In the Brussels airport Dr. Eric asked David what he was doing coming to Kenya while I was off getting us water. David is a good spokesperson for Partners for Care and he told him what work PFC does. Then being polite David asked Dr. Erich what he was doing coming to Kenya. He told David he was with a group called Engineers Without Borders and he was helping them develop a medical component to the work they do with wells. Wow - water and health the two things we care about. I told Dr. Erich about Nick and Charles and about our work with the Kalonzo Foundation who is working to start Telemedicine. I was able to set a meeting with the Director of the Kalonzo Foundation and Dr. Eric. Dr. Eric also asked me if I would take them to meet Nick and Charles who I had told them about. Engineers Without Borders (EWB) works through university students as well as professional engineer organizations. This chapter of EWB is from a University in Montana and is putting in 58 wells and latrines at 58 primary schools in Nyanza! Imagine that! They are going to help connect us to a chapter that will have a passion and heart for Marsabit! And they will connect the Kalonzo Foundation with a professional group from EWB to work on some major water projects in Kenya.
Their experience with Nick and Charles was life-changing. They bought food for the woman we visited. They heard her story, they saw her pain. They saw first-hand the devestation this disease called AIDS has had on the world. They heard how her husband is infected, she is infected, her little girl is infected and the little baby boy lying on the floor is infected. She had sent word to Nick and Charles just that morning that she had no food and was starving. Nick and Charles did not have food nor money for food as they struggle themselves to feed the 34 orphans they care for. Then I called almost at the very moment asking permission to come with Dr. Erich and the US team to and make a home visit. We always take food when we visit so Nick knew just who we would visit.

Dr. Eric with Little Elizabeth

Dr. Eric's team praying for one of Nick and Charles' infected clients who they had gone to visit

Nick led us through debriefing after the group made the home visit and visited the rescue center. They met and held 2-year old Elizabeth who has Aids. They saw where 17 children and two adults sleep in a room the size of a small bedroom in America. One of the young American men said at the debriefing that Nick and Charles changed for him what it meant to be a good person - the bar had been raised.
As we were debriefing I received an email on my Blackiberry which read:
"Connie
My husband and I would like to explore ways we could support the 2 young men who care for the orphans in the slum. I couldn't remember their names. Please provide some insight into their ministry.‬‪Thanks so much.‬"
I smiled and thanked God as I sat and watched and listened to these young men of God and took God had just through two Christians in America sent Nick and Charles help.
Grateful to a God who connects His people to dp His work,
Connie

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A son's love for his mother

A small but very special team has been planning to go to Kenya with me in October. They call themselves Partners for Hope. The t-shirt someone made for them has their picture with the words "Sisters to Kenya".

Partners for Hope

The team members are four black American working women who all work at one of my client nursing homes. Going to Kenya has been a lifelong dream of each of them. Many have told them they could never raise the funds necessary for such a trip. But, they are determined! They have had a sale of donated items, collected change donations, written letters and are planning a walk and a car wash. They want to go help women in Mathare slum market the jewelry they make. These women in Mathare are all infected with HIV/Aids and the sale of the jewelry helps support their children. Sadly, three weeks ago the 32 year old son, Pierre, of one of the women on this team (virginia) was struck by lighting while playing golf in Orlando, Florida and killed instantly. His mother even in her grief has said she is still going to go to Kenya to help the women in the slum with their jewelry. Pierre's friends have made the decision to do for Pierre's mother what he can't do now - help her go to Kenya. They are raising funds for her and hosting a charity golf tournament in Pierre's honor. We plan to do something in Kenya in Pierre's name. We know in time God will reveal to us what we will do. The trip has become even more special. I don't play golf but I will go to the golf tournament to meet Pierre's friend.

Praying for Virginia as she grieves the loss of her son, Connie

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Family comes together to help honor Maggie

The race coordinator told my sister if 100 runners signed up for the first year it would be considered a successful race. But, determined to help raise funds for Maggie's School in Kenya my sister Wink McLeod posted Maggie's Run posters all over Greenville. The radio station advertised Maggie's Run with words "in the dessert of Kenya Maggie's memory lives on in the walls of a school built in her memory". With the help of her many friends and family Wink worked to make Maggie's Run for Maggie's kids in Kenya a success. The night before the race our family came to join Wink. My sons Mike and his family, David and Dan (who is like a son to me) came to both run and help. My other sister Katie had helped all along as well as her daughter Kim and her family. All working together to help Wink keep Maggie's memory alive. We stayed up most of the night before the race putting up tents and doing the many other tasks necessary for a race. We were up at 5:30 to leave for the venue before people came to register. By the time the run began 300 runners were ready to run for Maggie's Kids in Kenya! The run was a success. Plans are already underway for the 2nd annual Maggie's Run.
All for Maggie's Kids in the dessert of Kenya,
Connie
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Returning from Kenya

As I return today from Kenya I reflect on the many events over the last several weeks. The Partners for Care staff in Kenya continue to have an impact making a difference for many people both Kenyans and Americans. Here are some highlights:
1. Very successful trip by the American Youth team. They wrote when they returned they had left their hearts in Kenya. We will post their video on the PFC facebook.
2. Thanks to the youth team the children at Beat the Drum now have a swingset. And, I can tell you that is not an easy task like it is in America where you just order one from Sears! Sammy PFC staff did a lot of work "running up and down" as they say in Kenya to make that happen.
3. Preparations were made for the July team when my sister will travel with 10 others to see Maggie's School. The missionsary flight to Lodwar is booked, safari confirmed and we have found a dentist for them to work with when they do their medical camp in Mathare. He will also let them use his dentist office so they can clean all the PFC staff's teeth. Also picked up from our wonderful partners at HEART 120 bed nets we are taking to the children at Maggie's School. Njoie has "run up and down" a lot to make all this happen! She is always committed to see everything gets done and it isn't easy!
4. The what if? campaign was asked to be featured in Professional Magazine. We will have the interview when I return next time.
5. The what if? team performed at an event with 5,000 people with 1,000 signing the committment cards to test, to wait until marriage and to be faithful to one partner.
6. The what if? team was also asked to present at the Teacher's Service Commision to a group of people infected and affected by HIV. This group trains teachers on HIV issues and they want to work with the what if? team.
7. Maggie's School was registerted! Thanks to the work of Andrew PFC SW in Lodwar and Pastor Omondi!
8. We met with the deputy Provincial Officer who saw the what it? play at the United Nations. He wants the team to play at major goverment affairs.
9. We had a follow-up luncheon with the Vice President's wife Pauline Kolonzo. Next trip we will outline a partnership agreement with Kolonzo's Foundation.
10. We made some improvements in the PFC house - a bookcase for the wonderful leadership books people have given me to take to the team and a storage shed to hold our new beliver bibles as well as musical equipment, etc.
11. Developed and wrote a proposal for National Aids Control Council for the what if? HIV/AIDS prevention campaign. If funded the what if? team will do a 3-day event in each province in Kenya. Sam worked all night two nights and many hours to prepare the proposal.
12. Developed a plan to work with Kajii who is one of the most well-known gospel singer in Kenya. We will combine our efforts to reach high school students with the message of HIV/AIDs prevention and living for Christ. I met Kajii throught Christian of Milele.
13. Sam prepared a video of the need for the children at the CT rescue center to move. We will post on PFC facebook.
14. Secured more necessary licenses for the cyber and the clinic. Obtained more drugs for the clinic and got all the computers operational in the cyber.
The trip wasn't without struggles. All three leaders Pastor Omondi, Njokie and Sammy got malaria again as did 5 year old Faith (Njokie's daughter). I am getting good at diagnosing malaria. We always confirm with a lab test. And Pastor Omondi also had thyroid. And Charles from CT was sick with malaria. And, we continue to struggle with transportation! The van makes down a lot! And this trip because of so many meetings and presentations it seemed we were travelling all the time in the van. We are really praying for better transportation.
Good news is I did not lose my Blackberry this time so I consider that an accomplishment.
Proud of the PFC team in Kenya and grateful to God for his provisions, Connie
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Wonderful news

One always hopes that God will quide them in how they can reach out to the world to make a difference. My sister took the tragedy of the lose of her only child Maggie at age 19 and turned her grief into reaching out to help others. And, God has blessed her with ensuring her Maggie's School in the desert of Akatuman will continue for many years. I am very happy to tell you all that after many forms, inspections at the school, transporting documents on the missionary flights from Lodwar etc. Maggie's School Akatuman has been registered as an official school of Kenya! In less than a year of building the school it is fully operational and a registered school. The goverment will send teachers now and we think help with the food. We are still finding out the details of their support. It will remain Maggie's School and continue to be a Christian School. It is a humble school where children still sit on the floor and eat food prepared over an open fire. But, my sister now will be able to use the funds she is raising to improve the school for the children. She visits the school in July with those people who have most supported her on her journey through grief. She has made a difference in the lives of the 207 children at Maggie's School.
Blessed to partner with my sister,
Connie
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2nd Update - American Youth Team

Here is the second update I have sent the parents of the American Youth Team. All of us who are parents would be proud and blessed if our children served as this team has.
Dear Parents of the American Youth Team, It is time for me to tell you more about your kids. Yesterday they did what many people have never done and wil never do. They walked through Mathare slum, through the trash, the human waste, over small bridges, even at times jumping over the little rivers that run through Mathare carrying waste to sit in a small shack with someone infected with AIDS. The shacks are so small with one room, no kitchens or toliets and just a sheet hanging to divide the sleeping area. In these shacks they found mothers and sometimes as many as four children living together. They went in teams of two with Caleb and Rebecca going together with the Partners for Care staff Franko and David. Second team was Christian and Sarah with Partners for Care staff Justus and David. In each home they sat and listened to the stories of the women. Common stories with AIDS - their husbands died from the disease, they got tested and found themselves infected. Poor, alone and sick. These are the people Nick and Charles are called to help. Growing up in Mathare themselves Nick and Charles decided to stay and try to make a difference. Both age 27 are the co-directors of Community Transformers (CT). CT consists of young volunteers who are trying to make a difference in Mathare. Over the three years of CT they have seen over 400 clients - all infected with HIV. They have seen 82 deaths -23 of them children the last one a baby they called Diamond who they had loved and nutured hoping he could fight the mighty enemy called AIDS. I took your children for home visits for two reasons. One, for them to see at the "ground level" the effects of AIDs. Two to encourage those they visited. Nick and Charles have taught us that sometimes their clients feel so low, sometimes they have no food to take their medication and God sends an angel to encourage them. Yesterday God sent your children. The encouragement helps raise their spirits so they hang on for a few more days better equipped to fight the disease. And that is what each one of your children did with no one holding back. They sang Smile Again, they listened to their story of how they got infected, they listened to their struggles and they prayed for them reaching their hands out to hold the hands of someone infected with AIDS. And, they used the money they had worked to earn to bring them much needed food. And, as we stood to leave each one of them hugged the women they were visiting. A real, honest hug. Your children have seen HIV/AIDS in a way most in the world have never seen it. They have spent the night at an orphanage where all the children are infected. They have held a small child who is infected. They have sat at the bedside of someone infected. They have seen the poverty this disease has caused. And, they have joined the Temples of Worship in concerts where the Partners for Care staff ask the question what if? there was no AIDS? And, they heard the Temples of Worship call the youth of this nation and the world to do their part - to test to know their status, to wait until marriage and to be faithful to one partner. They heard the Temples of Worship in their song what if? sing "we can, we should, we must create an HIV free generation".
What your children will do with what God has shown them will only be revealed over time. But I know their efforts have not been in vain. They will remember the people they have met, the children they have held and those they have prayed for. They have come and equipped, enabled, encouraged and empowered those left behind to fight this disease on all levels. Thank you for trusting me with your children. They have served well and faithfully. I was proud and blessed to serve with them.
From Kenya,
Connie
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Is there hope?

Maybe it is because I spent the day and night at Beat the Drum and once again came face to face with children who were born infected with a virus that was transmitted from infected mothers who probably didn't even know they were themselves infected. Or maybe it was the visit to kijabe Hospital where I saw more people waiting in line to see a doctor or a nurse than I had ever seen (most were there probably because of preventable diseases). Or maybe it was because when we told the nurse at the hospital that the children at Beat the Drum had never been told they were infected she suggested they join one of the many kid's clubs. When we inquired what kid's clubs were she told us they are clubs for kids with AIDS. Or maybe it is because Pastor John who takes care of the children at Beat the Drum told us that the pastors from Mai Maihu avoid him saying he is the pastor who deals with AIDS. And, Njokie told me that Brian (her nephew who lives with us and is infected)) goes to a kids club in the park with hundreds of children who are also infected. Then I went to CT and and held little two year old Elizabeth who is infected. Her little body is so frail. It sometimes seems to me that this fight against HIV/AIDs is hopeless. How many will become infected before it stops? How many will die? How many children will become infected? How many orphans will there be? The latest statistics from UNAIDS are staggering - in 2007 there were 370,000 children born infected, 270,000 children died from AIDS, 11.3 million orphans in Africa because of AIDS. Is there hope? With God all things are possible. The Partners for Care Kenyan staff are trying to do their part. One by one they have felt the burden of this disease. One by one they have developed a passion to fight this disease. Last night they presented the what if? campaign to 6,000 people with 802 signing committment cards to do their part to create an HIV free enviorment - test to know their status, wait until marriage and be faithful to one partner. Will they do those things? We don't know. But, as the Temples of Worship sing when they sing the what if? song "it can be done, it should be done, it must be done".
Praying for hope,
Connie
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American youth team serving in Kenya

This trip I have an American youth team with me. They raised all their own money to come including money to put play equipment at Beat the Drum. Tye following is an update I sent their parents. These kids are representing American youth very well.
Dear parents and grandparents of the American youth team, I feel I need to send you an update myself as I can tell from their updates they are not going to be able to tell you the some of the things about themselves. Last night the Partners for Care team held a what if? event in partnership with a large church here in Kenya. All the Partners for Care team wore their what if? shirts and hats and so did the American team. The kids looked great in their shirts and wished they could write on the back of their shirts "we are with the band". The event was in an open area near a market. Many people gathered to hear the what if? message of HIV/AIDS prevention. The band sang as the crowd gathered. The kids were great clapping and dancing! It was funny for the crowd to see the American team. After the band (Temples of Worship) draws the crowd Pastor Omondi speaks about AIDS telling the crowd how following God's plan of waiting and abstinence will stop this disease. He calls them to test to know their status. The kids had agreed to go to the stage and introduce themselves and tell the crowd that no matter a person's color, no matter their country or their tribe HIV/Aids has affected everyone and must be stopped. Christian had agreed to be their spokesperson. He was so confident in his speaking! The kids looked wonderful on the stage in an open market area in Kenya with all Kenyans as their audience! 

The pastor who organized the event introducing the American team

A section of the crowd that was present

The crowd received their messsage well. When it was time for us to give the audience the opportunity to sign committment cards that say "I will do my part to create an HIV free generation - test, wait and be faithful to one partner" the kids went to the crowd asking people to sign the cards. God had placed a burden in Christian's heart for children with AIDs many years ago when he began to support two little girls who are infected with AIDs - Rebecca and Faith who live at Beat the Drum. The other kids also have seen first hand the devastation of this disease as they held the children at Beat the Drum who are all infected with HIV/AIDs. And, at Community Transformers they have met and held two year old little Elizabeth who has Aids and fights everyday to just live as her little body fights a disease that destroys her immune system. She takes a handful of pills everyday just to survive. And, the team has begun to integrate with the Partners for Care team here in the house. Every night at dinner the kids had sat together at the big table where we eat our meals. Last night however they announced they no longer wanted this segregation and arranged everyone "black/white". I noticed some of the Partners for Care team looking sort of amazed at the joy and laughter of the kids and how they seemed so comfortable. We spent the next hour around the table laughing and sharing. We ended in prayer as we prayed for a woman at the what if? event who told one of our team members that she was already infected with HIV/AIDs and that her pastor had thrown her out of the church. She had no shoes and no food. She will return today to the second day of the what if? event. The team is taking shoes and food to her. All of you should feel very proud of your kids. They are mature beyond their age, love the Lord and have the capacity to feel in their hearts compassion for others. I have been blessed to be with them and honored that they have allowed an "old person" in their conversations. They now are asking me more why are things the way they are in this nation of poor people and what can they and others do to help.
Blessed to serve with this American youth team,
Connie

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