PGA raises funds for Partners of Hope

The Partners for Hope team told me they are "fired up and ready to fly". Four women of color committed to travel to see how they can help in Kenya have raised their funds - with the help of Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA). As many of you may recall one of the team members, Virginia, lost her son Alain when he was struck and killed by lightening when playing golf in Orlando. Alain worked for the PGA and was loved by those he worked with. To help Alain's mom fulfill her dream they stepped in to raise funds to send her to Kenya. They hosted a charity golf event to raise funds. The CEO of PGA flew down from New York to play golf in honor of Alain. I and all of the Partners of Hope team were there. The letter below tells how the people who knew Alain want to help keep his memory alive. While in Kenya the Partners for Hope team will explore ways to honor Alain. Many said this team could not raise enough funds to travel to Kenya. But, they were determined. They have had garage sales, did car washes and collected change. It will be a privilege for me to help them fulfill their dream and to help find a way honor Alain.

Blessed to help others serve,

Connie

A copy of a touching letter from the PGA sent to Partners for Care regarding Alain and our joint efforts to honor his memory is below.

Click on the picture for a closer look.

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Maggie's School Update

Partners for Care social worker wrote a grant requesting two more classrooms be built at Maggie's School. Currently, there are two classrooms with 257 children! With the help of the Member of Parliament (MP) the funding was approved and they are starting to build two more classrooms at Maggie's School. And, because the school is now an official goverment school teachers will be sent from the Teacher's Service Commission. And, the MP told us last week he has asked for more funding from the Constituency Development Fund. Maggie's School will continue to florish with the support of Maggie's Mom and those in Kenya that see the great need this school is meeting in the desert of Turkana land.
Glad to partner with the Kenya goverment to serve these most vulnerable children
Connie

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If I don't tell you the need you won't know and you can't help

So I will tell you a need the what if? HIV/AIDs prevention team has. They need a larger amp. They are now reaching crowds of thousands and need a larger amp to support the speakers needed to reach such large crowds. The cost is $1,000.00 And they need 3 more mics. cost $200.00. If you want to help these young men reach the youth calling them to create an HIV-free generation and spreading the gospel please let me know. The what if? team is making a difference in the fight against this pandemic. You can join them by giving them the equipment so thousands to hear their message.
Grateful for your consideration,
Connie
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Even better news!

I have known for sometime this was to happen but hesitated to share the news. I quess because I find it so hard to believe. God is indeed good! When the Carrollton team went last spring Terri's (team leader) son Ryan was on the team. He is 25, a great mature Christian (his father is a pastor) and has a degree in marketing. Having grown up in the church world he knows of ministries stateside and internationally. He liked the work Partners for Care was doing through the Kenyan staff. And, the PFC staff loved Ryan! Two months ago he contacted me and to my suprise said he wanted to quit his job and go to Kenya to help grow the PFC ministry. We talked about what role he would have and about his goals and PFC goals. I could not at this moment think of anything better that could be happening for PFC. We are a young ministry and I have no experience in working in a developing nation with a non-profit organization! Ryan will be Assistant Director for Partners for Care. He has already started work here in the US for the ministry and on Monday leaves for Kenya. Here is his letter he sent out to raise support for the next three months. You can see by his letter he is creative.
Dear friend, In a prominent Christian Missionary magazine last month, advice was given out to all potential persons writing mission support letters that "letters should be sent to people in 3 categories: people who love GOD, people who love you, and people who love both." Hopefully this letter finds you in one of those categories, and more than likely the first category. I will send a letter to my mom, so that should cover the third.
I have spent much time thinking about the person I am and the man I want to become. And for someone, whose background has been immersed in athletics and business, it has become quite a habit for me to reflect on where I am now and how can I can become the man that God wants me to be. Becoming a stronger Christian has become a journey that has no end.
One of the ways that I have gone about this journey, is to redefine some old religious rules, some biblical and some traditional, into new rules that I think exemplify what it means to truly follow Jesus. This brings me to the first rule I want to change in my own life. Be faithful. We have all heard this rule and it truly is a staple for the Christian life. It seems to me being faithful has transformed into an excuse for being passive. We have all said or have heard it said, "God will open a door" and then we will wait to see what he has in store for us. For me, that kind of faith brings about a passiveness in my life that was not intended, and a focus on what God will do for ME, and not what I can do for God.
So I'm changing the rule. Do Something Stupid. Now by using the word stupid, I really mean do something that would seem stupid to a person who only looks on the outside. For example, a shepherd boy with no armor fighting one-on-one with one of the most experienced battle-hardened warrior giant in history? Stupid. A man jumping out of a boat on storming seas because he thinks he can run across the water to meet another man. What an idiot. You get my point. Instead of waiting of God to open up doors for us, I believe we are to open up our own doors and then have faith that God will be on the other side. The idea of this kind of faith is much more proactive than the former. This idea of faith takes the focus off of ourselves and places it back on God.
My stupid move of recent? I quit my great job at Bridgestone Golf at a time when having a job is a blessing, and I am moving to Kenya, Africa for three months for an director internship for an organization called "Partners for Care." Beginning September 14th, I will help lead a team of Kenyans in Nairobi. This organization runs an orphanage for children with AIDS, helps maintain a Community enrichment organization in the middle of the second largest slum in Africa, and hosts a tour of AIDS awareness programs throughout the country. You might be thinking, "What an idiot." But I have spent many months praying about this decision and ultimately decided that this is a door I need to open myself and have faith God will be on the other side, I want to be proactive in my faith and this is a great opportunity. Many people have asked me what will I do for money while I am over there and what I will do when I get back to pay the bills. My answer is I honestly don't know but I continue to step forward in faith.
My plan is to undertake one so-called "rule of being a Christian" each and every week while in Africa, using my experiences over there as a lens, and transform them into something that I believe might make them much more real in my life…maybe even yours! I would love if you would send me your e-mail address so you might participate with me in this study, as well as update you on undertakings of the organization.
This week, I would encourage you in your own life to take a proactive view on faith, let it be something that propels you forward. Do Something Stupid.
I ask that you would pray diligently for me as I embark on this trip to Kenya, and I would greatly appreciate any monetary gifts that you feel led to give to help cover my expenses while in Africa.
God Bless,
Ryan Morris
His approach worked - he raised his support.
Grateful to God for His servant Ryan,
Connie

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Run for Rebecca

Partners for Care is sponsoring a race to raise funds for Beat the Drum and we need your help to make it a successful event. With the ecomomic times here it is even more difficult to raise funds to support the children who need our help. You can help with the run in the following ways:
1. Help us find sponsors. The sponsor information is at:
http://www.partnersforcare.org/Run_for_Rebecca/docs/SponsorInfo.pdf  
2. Help sign up runners. People can sign up on-line at:  
http://partnersforcare.org/Run_for_Rebecca 
Or you can print the application form at this same site.
3. Volunteer on the day of the race. We will need lots of people to get people registered on the day of the race.
We really appreciate any help you can give to make this run successful for Rebecca and all the other children at Beat the Drum. Just email me or David Gruber about ways you can help.
Blessings,
Connie
Gal. 6:9 - Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
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Good news

It seems of late many of my updates are bad news - children sick, people hungry, deaths. But, today I am sending some good news about Partners for Care Ministry. As most of know one of the main passions and focus of PFC is helping create an HIV-free generation. One way the PFC in Kenya is working with prevention is through their campaign what if? In June the National Aids Control Council (NACC) in Kenya announced the opportunity for funding for work in AIDS. We wrote a district level proposal requesting $10,000 which would be used for four what if? campaigns in Eldoret. We were just notified our proposal was accepted by NACC. This is a major boost to the what if team? as the competition for the grant was many well-established NGOs who have been working in the field of AIDS for years. The PFC what if? campaign is less than nine months old so the team was very happy to be funded. Some good news!
Blessing God for His faithfulness,
Connie
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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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