Linda and Sharon report on July 2010
My name is Linda and I have just spent three weeks with Kindfund in Kenya. I don’t think anyone could have prepared
me for the welcome and love received from the children in the homes.
I suppose things that stand out for me were the kindness of people in different projects who with very little
provided us with a lot. It was quite a challenging time to witness such need. God challenged me personally and gave
me grace for my time in Kenya.
Hi my name is Sharon and I went to Kenya with my mum for three weeks. I really enjoyed the experience; it was
great getting to know the children at Ngaremara and Wamba and also playing with them. Also I really enjoyed seeing
all the animals from the huge elephants to the singing birds and working ants. I learned a lot about the culture of
the people and the conditions they have to live in. It was great being out in Kenya and I would go back anytime.
Henrietta's report June/July 2010
This is a very short summary of my visit .
Writing a report for my visit to Kenya Kindfund this summer is not difficult , where to start is not so easy !
This is only the highlights ;
I went out this year with the purpose of looking at the new secondary school in Ngaramara and spending some time assessing the need/ potential of the work .
Kindfund currently sponsors two students there .
Secondary education is rather a mixed affair and whilst standards are very demanding and expectations are high one has to say there is a poor miss match with teacher input on occasions below par.
The pupils are keen bright and enthusiastic with a longing to achieve and succeed.
It was such a joy to be able to teach my favourite subject Maths and to have young people so engaged and hungry to be taught.
The school has no equipment or resources . A new headmaster has been appointed by the Government . There are no other trained teachers.
Four young students who have completed secondary education but not yet gone to university or gained employment help in the classroom .
They cover four subjects and teach by writing notes on the board which the students copy down. All the subjects are academic for example there is no art work etc. Access to university is limited and very expensive.
I did what I could . There is more to be done if the school is to succeed and remain open. We need more teachers.
So much good work is being done and so much has been achieved .
I need to find out what is going on within the education system in Kenya .
Listening to conversations I was having with people I was beginning to build a picture but I want to know more.
Margaret Mottram’s report 2009 - Reflections after 12 months
A year has passed since I started to book tickets and get necessary vaccinations to go to Kenya. In that time I have reflected on my time spent in that beautiful country.
My first impressions of Kenya were powerful and the sheer numbers of people out and about from very early in the morning going to school and work were overwhelming.
Nairobi—not a beautiful city but with Pamela as a fearless guide we were taken through neighbourhoods that I would not in a million years have gone by myself. We saw life as it was really lived in Kenya from the poorest to the most affluent.
Our companion and dear friend Nuala, who I had never met before, soon gelled together and it was like we had always known each other. Having a common bond of nursing at Ards Hospital soon had us swapping stories and I was greatly blessed in having her as a friend for first visit to N’garemara.
The changing scenes as we journeyed to N’garemara are forever etched on my memory. The markets at the side of the road, beds, suites of furniture were sold side by side with fruit, veg and clothing and everywhere people. The green fertile land giving way slowly to almost desert where people eked out a meagre living and dusty bumpy roads that seemed to go on for ever.
When we arrived at Kindfund N’garemara the welcome was warm and genuine. I wondered if I would ever remember the children’s names or get to know them all.
After settling in our routine was quickly set and our first morning our devotions centred around the covering wings of God(Psalm 17 v 8&9) how He sheltered us in the shadow of His wings and kept us safe. This word came to mean so much to me. I am not big on insects and in the middle of the night I met a black millipede approaching me from the toilet. However I dealt with it courtesy of ‘Doom’ without waking the whole household. Those wings were very real that night.
As I had gone to N’garemara to share my love of bead working with the village ladies I soon had 4-6 ladies sharing our skills and ideas. I enjoyed their company and came to admire – the way they coped with the harsh conditions of the land and brought up their children without any input from their husbands. Their simple faith and sense of humour was very evident and like ladies anywhere we did not need to speak the same language for the meaning of their conversation to become evident I felt I learned more from them about life than I gave back to them
The schools, nurseries connected to Kindfund by the feeding programmes were an eye opener and the hunger for learning was evident from the earliest years and the dedication of their teachers in very difficult circumstances was amazing. There was a great lack of resources and nothing was wasted.
The reliance on God’s provision and guidance was the overriding factor in the work of Kindfund. I came to appreciate just how much Ken and Pamela are totally relying on God to provide and guide the direction of the work will take.
I had often listened to Pamela talk about Kenya, her love for the children and her vision for an army being roused to proclaim the Gospel, but until I visited and was involved it meant very little to me on a personal level. Now I have so many memories which keep coming back at the most unexpected moments.
Glenda Malone will not forget
The decision to go to Kenya didn’t happen overnight. Approximately eight months before I boarded the flight to Nairobi I started to think about doing voluntary work overseas. I had spent considerable time researching various organisations but it wasn’t until Christmas time during a family get together that I first heard of Kindfund. It sounded perfect. My cousin Diane had also been making enquiries and before long we were booking flights and getting the first of many vaccinations!
Although I was feeling very determined to go I was apprehensive about my 3 week stay. I had many concerns. Travel, heat, spiders and the poverty I was expecting to see played on my mind. I needn’t have worried as our problems seemed so insignificant compared to those of the local people. Yes it was hot, the journeys were long and the poverty was heart breaking (I didn’t see any spiders!) but we had food, water and a great team who all supported each other. Ken and Pam took great care of all of us. We made some new friends – Linda, George and Nuala and got to know old friends much better (Glenda and Diane).
In Kenya, we met some wonderful people including the orphans and those adults who dedicated so much time and effort to looking after them. The children were very loving and thankful, and yet had so little. It made you realise what the important things in life really are.
I have many unforgettable memories. Our time in Wamba was very special. The praise evenings were so uplifting and the scenery was breathtaking. I enjoyed spending time with the children as we wrote their report cards for all of their sponsors. Base camp was Ngaramara and it felt so much like home. The sunsets were amazing and the children were like our extended family. I was also fascinated by the various tribes and their cultures and traditions.
Sometimes there were difficult moments. For example, the street kids in Isiolo were heartbreaking. But it was times like those that it was abundantly clear the difference that Kindfund makes to those fortunate enough to be involved.
I will always remember my time in Kenya and the people I have met along the way. It was an unforgettable experience and I feel very thankful to have had the opportunity to be involved.
Nuala O'Reilly has a memorable eight week summer experience
A privilige and honour
My trip to Kenya in June was a truly memorable experience and I thank God for calling me to become involved with Kindfund. Pam and Ken made it all possible and for that I remain forever grateful to them both. To see first hand the dedicated and committed Team making such a difference to a life in Kenya of absolute poverty, drought, famine and disease was all inspiring.
My days were spent getting to know God's beautiful children. I can still see clearly the smiles on their faces and hear their amazing singing in proclaiming their love of God. A lot of them are orphaned because of AIDS.
It was great spending time with them,playing, telling stories, giving TLC and of course sweets and chewing gum which they love most of all. I think it was the bubbles.
My nursing skills were put to use in attending to basic health care needs with a few medical emergencies. Education was given to the staff about various health problems and treatments as well as organising medical check - ups and forming subsequent records for each child.
I think of Elizabeth very often in my reflection. She is 10 yrs old and HIV+. I can still see her fragile little body lying in bed in the children's home in Wamba and her so sick. She had a very high temperature from pneumonia. Kindfund was able to get her admitted into the local hospital for intravenous antibiotics ( a life saving treatment ) the next day and she subsequently made a full recovery, thank God.
I had a wonderful 8 weeks in Kenya filled with lots of love, laughter, tears and most of all Christian Fellowship.
It was a privilege and honour to have been there
Diane Stronge has happy memories
Kenya July 2009 stirrs emotions
So much happened in such a small space of time, it's difficult to put into words. I feel like Ive been through a rollercoaster of emotions and am only able to talk about it properly now.
I have to start with the children, and this includes all the children we were so blessed to spend time with in all of the homes. From the first moment we saw the children in Ngaremara, we were moved. Coming from our luxurious Western world, into extreme poverty, the worst in 30 years, we were welcomed off our bus by children singing and dancing. The smiles on the childrens’ faces showing their delight to see us and all I could do was cry! It didn’t seem possible that they could be so happy. My eyes landed first on one of the orphans Bernard, sporting a “Golden cow” t-shirt and a huge smile. Trivial things like fashion didn’t matter here and it was lovely! They had clean clothes, which was a lot more than many others had in the area.
We arrived at a weekend so were blessed in how we got to spend time with children when they didn’t have school. I was amazed at their discipline and dedication. Saturday was spent washing clothes by hand (we later got a personal lesson from 11 year old children on how to wash clothes as they watched our abysmal technique-one of those special moments I’ll never forget!), more schoolwork and some play time. The best present to a child in Kenya is a pen-it was like Christmas to them. They would have happily read their social studies textbook from cover to cover like it was a romance novel! When they were given paper to colour in on they would have covered the page with numerous pictures so that they got most enjoyment possible out of it. An old rubber tyre was being wheeled around, with such pleasure-nintendo wiis would have destroyed this!
The children loved spending time with us, and it wasn’t because of who we were or what we did. As I went out feeling I had nothing to give, I realised God uses us all in different ways and, even though we may not have a specific talent, God has given us gifts that he’ll reveal when you least expect it. Simply the ability to spend time with these children and show God’s love to them was enough. They loved playing with our hair as theirs had to be kept very short or even pulling the hairs on our arms and feet as they didn’t have any. Knitting was a huge success. Also simple things like skipping ropes and balls provided hours of entertainment. At one stage we thought rounders would be a great idea but didn’t have a bat-as soon as we mentioned this, the children were away carving a bat out of materials they found on the ground-it was unbelievable.
Church time was really uplifting. A plastic barrel was all they needed to create amazing music-their natural rhythm and harmony was amazing to see and hear. The “mamas” (some very old) in the area that came to church monthly were given food provisions by kindfund. These ladies may have walked for three hours to get to church but still they got up and sang and danced with unbelievable energy! A definite lesson to be learned!
Unfortunately children suffered with a lot of sickness when we were out. There were many hospital visits and not one was pleasant. Sometimes it wasn’t serious, as all they were looking for was some “TLC” and attention, as they appeared with a “cough” However many of the illnesses resulted from diseases such as HIV and TB, which were rife in the areas we visited. The smiles through the sickness again was heart wrenching. I hadn’t realised how much medical expense Kindfund had until seeing this for myself. Without this support, these children may not have been alive.
We were really blessed in seeing the extremely remote areas in the Rendille tribal areas. Again, lovely people but seeing the tribal traditions was pretty tough. Men had numerous wives, the moon was worshipped and many more! We saw shepherds who were sometimes young girls that looked about 10 years old and children were rarely clothed. So many mouths to feed and so little government provision. Kindfund steps in to provide extra food.
As well as the children we met some lovely men and women. One of our greatest visits was to Mama Monica-a lady who had promised God she would serve him and stayed true to her word by opening an orphanage. Because the home is basic and run down, Kindfund again steps in. We painted the church/eating area/homework area, while George and the Kenyan men floored the boys dormitory. This project had to be abandoned for a few days because tribal fighting broke out. The children were amazing amidst this volatile situation- they remained happy and praised God in that they knew they still had God’s love and protection in Mama Monica. After our painting had finished and the children sang for us with amazing harmony. I again realised we had given so little in comparison to what I had received from these people.
I can’t stop there without mentioning our team, the "perfect eight"....
Ken, never failing to take time to educate us on Kenyan life, our personal chauffeur (including the bumpiest and dustiest roads I've ever been on-we all had what we thought was a great tan by the end of those journeys). He also brought a great sense of humour and fun to the group, which we miss now we're home.
Pam, brought a great calmness, along with a gentle and caring nature, The children in the homes knew just how special they were when Pam was with them.
Lynda had such a heart for the children, really taking time individually with them. She brought great fun to the group and cried more than me!
George, with endless patience to cope with us women! He had also a visible love for the children which made them run to him like a magnet(he also did help us reach those high bits of walls that we couldn’t reach with the paint roller-I’m only admitting that now!!)
Nuala brought her great nursing skills, giving the children vital care and attention. She also made us laugh so much with a great sense of humour. We all felt like we'd known her all our lives by the day 2 of our trip. (We very much appreciated the animated lesson on how to use our toilet on our first night in Ngaremara)
As for cousin Glenda, I was so impressed-starting with a fear of insects and travel sickness, she ended with no visible fear (rolling over back to sleep in our sleeping bags as Ken announced there was a scorpion beside us) and survived Kenyan roads without a bother. She also used her teaching skills and patience, spending valuable time with the children
And finally Glenda McElwaine(our assistant Pasteur) had endless ideas and tools to teach, play and interact with the children. She brought endless fun, energy, thoughtfulness and crucial organisation!
I feel privileged to have shared this experience with this team and this will hopefully encourage others to go out and experience a similar thing-you learn from each other and when someone’s feeling down there’s always someone there to pick them up.
My journey was amazing from start to finish, starting with tears and ending with tears but there was plenty of fun and laughter in between. I now find comfort in knowing that this isn't the end of my time with Kindfund. People had told me about having a "heart for Africa" and now I understand. My heart is still with the people of Kenya that I met through Kindfund. Thank you to everyone involved with kindfund for this wonderful experience.
Kim Walker recalls her visit in August 2009
Kenya recalled
Now that I’m home, Africa seems like a very long time ago but I know I’ll never ever forget the time I spent there, or the people I met.
When I first arrived I must admit it was a bit of a shock, everything seemed like the complete opposite of home, it was so dry, the roads so bumpy and the people so different!
When I arrived at the home in Ngaremara I was initially a bit nervous about meeting so many new faces at once, but I quickly got over that and found some of the most beautiful little people I have met!
I spent the first few days in Ngaremara getting settled in and adapting to life in Kenya and getting to know all the kids, especially my little friend Bernard!! And having a laugh with some of the bigger boys…who kindly informed me that Kim was definitely not a name for girls!! And after my initial nerves I very quickly got settled in and began having some real fun with the kids.
After a few days, two Dutch girls arrived which was a real blessing - we got along really well and it was really nice to have some girls around for my first trip to Wamba, which was really great. In Wamba, we made up a really simple drama and had a lot of fun, playing silly games with the boys, getting our hair braided by Sophia, and having wee chats with Peter and Abdi. Just spending time with the younger kids was great, lots of giggles and silly games!
The views there are amazing, with the acacia trees and the goats and camels, really ‘Africa.’ But aside from all the good times, I was really struck by the amazing work that is happening, I was really amazed at the sheer amount of people Kindfund is giving real, solid help to, not just food but much, much more, the kids on the feeding programme at Wamba and Ngaremara really have a place to spend their days with the kids in the home, a place to play and have friends, and that I thought was lovely, and the real sense of family, love and care in both the homes was just such a blessing to witness.
After our time in Wamba we headed back to Ngaremara and the Dutch girls returned to Nairobi, and it was at this time I really got to know the kids properly, just through doing simple things like making bracelets and spending time with them, I didn’t bring anything fancy or have any proper ‘skills’ but we still managed to have a lot of fun!! It was nice to have a month in Kenya but I definitely could have spent much, much longer, and I must admit I gave the thought of staying forever some serious contemplation!! But it did give me a chance to get to know the little people properly, and just spending time with them was such a joy, every single little face became so special to me and each child was such a blessing, I miss them all lots.
And of course every evening consisted of getting lessons in how to be a ‘proper woman’ (!) From Ruth, I’m not sure if she succeeded, but I can now cook cabbage and potatoes like a pro!
Then came the arrival of Henrietta, which was great and the bible camp was a success! I was really struck by the worship in Ngaremara, the first night I went over to their evening worship I was really struck, firstly by their beautiful voices, but there was so much more to it than that, the heart of the kids was just a real blessing and really touched my heart.
Ken and Pamela were so warm and welcoming, and I had so much fun with them, they made me feel right at home from the very beginning and helped me get settled in really quickly and kept me laughing the whole time, I am so grateful for all their support and kindness, they really did make my time in Kenya extra special
Then it was the end and time to go home - which I had been dreading for a long time! And with it a lot of tears, I really was genuinely devastated that I had to leave all the kids and so many little sad faces absolutely broke my heart. I don’t think I can ever really sum up my time in Africa in words, it was definitely the most amazing thing I have ever done and I wish I was back!!
Glenda McElwaine reflects on her visit from 8th to 29th July 2009
Kenya Thoughts
Although I’m home from Kenya eight weeks now, part of me didn’t get on the plane. On numerous occasions my heart strings were pulled in ways that I didn’t know was possible. From day one I felt completely at home, amazing when you’re removed from your home comforts and everything that you accept as normal. Pam and Ken were fantastic at helping us reach the people we worked with, recognising individual talents and allowing us the opportunities to use them to serve God. The team was fantastic, pulling together, working, sharing experiences, lending listening ears and shoulders for tears!
For me, being a teacher, I’ll never forget the wonderful children I met, from those at Ngaremara all the way up to Rendille. Beautiful children with hearts for the Lord. Impeccable manners, always willing to help. I remember one night three of us slipped out of the house late at night (well about 9pm but that’s late in Kenya) to wash our clothes at the well. We were met by girls from the home who insisted on scrubbing our clothes. It was one of those special, totally unplanned moments that I’ll never forget. As I stood watching, it reminded me of Jesus when he washed the disciples feet at the last supper, a humbling experience.
Life is so difficult for people in Kenya, dealing with lack of food, severe shortage of water, dying animals, disease and of course the tribal rituals. In our short time in Kenya we experienced many sick children, some of who were brought to hospital. Illnesses included HIV, malaria, cholera and TB, fortunately for those children under the care of Kindfund they receive medical help. It is heartbreaking as there are many children living in the homes at Ngaremara and Wamba who are orphans as a result of aids and have been diagnosed as being HIV+. Life for them is poor as they pick up infection easily. They have to live with it and it’s through no fault of their own.
So many times through out the three weeks God’s presence was evident and prayers were answered, right from the moment when we thought we wouldn’t get all our bags on the plane in Belfast as we were over weight to helping the sick children make quick recoveries.
Thinking of prominent memories and for me it would be those special times with the children in the homes at night, taking part in their worship sessions, spending time helping them with their homework, drawing, reading stories, painting nails etc. Each one requiring no particular skills, talents, or money, just time and a heart to serve.
I would encourage anyone with a desire to go, to just do it. You will feel at home as the staff and children who are all part of Kindfund are just wonderful people. Having the opportunity to be God’s hands and feet for a short time in Kenya has long lasting effects. I thank God for placing it on my heart to go and for Ken and Pam who helped make it possible and for the rest of the team: Diane, Glenda, George, Linda and Nuala- making it the perfect 8!
Henrietta’s Report on her visit to Kenya from 12th August to 2nd September 2009.
I am writing this on my last day with the Kindfund family.
We leave tomorrow morning early to make our way back to Nairobi and hence the flight home.
What were my first impressions of Kenya? What memories will I take home with me?
Let’s deal with the first impressions of Kenya.
I think the traffic and the look on the faces of oncoming vehicles as they saw Ken’s jeep gave me a certain sense of security. I felt sure they wouldn’t come closer.
Then the most amazing potholes and road works but what was that in comparison to the feeling of being in Kenya. Ken was at the wheel and all was well. You get the distinct impression that he knows these roads.
As we made our way northward I was struck by the dry and thirsty land where there is no water and I was due to speak on Sunday morning. It was clear the Lord had gone before me.
For weeks I had been considering “digging again the wells of salvation” and Ken had said to me. ”Do you realise you are doing the young peoples Bible Camp and we have some visiting Pastors, teachers and leaders coming for three days the following week.”
It is always good to have the store house full so when the unexpected happens you have enough to prepare a table.
What memories do I take away with me?
I think the joy, the rhythm, the ease with which these people sing and dance. They have no need of sound systems. They have no need of a five piece band. They don’t even need soft chairs.
An empty drum (water container), clicking fingers, clapping hands, melody in their voices and smiles on their faces. They must surely be among the happiest people on earth.
Seldom one hears a baby cry. Instead I saw in the eyes of the pastors and leaders an anguish of spirit. They were finding it hard; very tough.
They had travelled a great distance some of these men working in a very isolated remote spot right on the edge of the desert.
Already the cattle are dying. People also are suffering much. The cry of their hearts was, “please remember us. Please pray for us. Pray for healing for my baby,” and so on.
I was struck by their hunger and their thirst. Their desire to preach the gospel, and their longing for greater success.
It was a very good time.
The Presence of God was in our midst. It was a privilege and a joy to spend time with them. To give them what we had in our hand and to see Jesus Himself draw near and go with them.
My heart overflowed with a goodly theme many, many times.
It was good again to experience that Kingdom principle. It is in giving we receive.
My greatest problem was tiptoeing around the house early in the morning so I didn’t wake my hard working partners; Ken, Pamela and Kim. I know they desperately needed the rest.
We had fun. We had laughter. We put together some wonderful imaginary menus and then we laughed as we feasted together.
My plan is to return next year and do some more of the same.
I’m glad the Lord said, “Yes, you go to Kenya.
Liz reports on her visit Feb/March 2009
I left for Kenya on the 18th February to join Ken and Pam.
I give thanks and praise to God for bringing me to Kenya. My first visit was in July 2006. When we arrived at our base this time I was totally, ‘blown away’ when I saw what God had done in that place.
My job this trip was to pass on some sewing skills to two young girls both of whom are called Elizabeth; one of these a deaf girl. I had prayed very hard that God would help me to communicate with them and he did just that. I didn’t have a problem at all. It was great. We all hit it off from day 1- three Elizabeths.
When I wasn’t in the sewing room I was enjoying the Nursery School children, helping them with crafts and games and visiting the Kindfund Children’s Homes and schools which we support. I don’t think I had a dry eye those days especially when I had time with the orphans who came to the site every day after school for feeding and I had the opportunity to get to know them and share with them. God really pulled at my heart. The children have so many needs yet they are so happy when someone shows them God’s love.
On 27th Feb we went to Wamba for the opening day of the new Children’s Home on Sat 28th. I met Mercy and Moses the two youngest, just babies that we have in the home. The opening of the Home was a great day for all, mostly the children. We had a big party. I held Mercy all day.
We just loved the day. We had great fun with over 120 children 40 of whom had been bussed in from the various Kindfund supported projects at Isiolo, Ngaremara, and Archers Post. They had been practising for weeks and it was lovely to hear them praising God and see them dressed in their white tee shirts and colourful Kangas.
I just don’t know how to start to thank God for his love and goodness allowing me to share with his children. I have never seen God’s hand in so much as I have in this trip to Kenya so I pray that this will not be my last.
There is so much to be done. If we all can just give a little of God’s love to each other wherever he calls us to help in this world we will make a difference.
Maureen Reports on her visit at the end of June 2008
My visit to Kenya was one of the most memorable times I’ve ever had. We (Pamela Ken and I) arrived in Nairobi to cold and rain, so it did feel a bit like home. We travelled to N’garamara (base camp) to a welcome from Nancy, Lilian, Clifford, Yvonne, Glory, Ruben and children from the Blind School, Mama Monica and her children from Killimani home and some of the N’garamara children and staff. The welcome and singing was amazing. Tissues to the ready!!!
During my two weeks (too short by far) I spent time with:
The nursery children in N’garamara.
My thanks to Mary and Maria for letting me into class.
The villagers at Aukot
Saw first hand the problem of no water supply (the pump was broken). Luckily Kindfund had purchased spares, so this problem was easily rectified.
The Blind School
Where I tried to teach some of the pupils how to play dominoes. In fact I taught them so well that Solomon managed to beat me, he has now been tasked to teach the other children.
Mama Monica’s children’s home at Killimani.
The children here have very little in material possessions, but they have the love of Mama Monica now 70 years old who has dedicated her life to looking after them.
The Deaf School
After some tuition from Lilian I attempted a bit of sign language. It was wonderful to meet the children and try to communicate with them.
N’garamara Primary School
I met the Headmaster and the Deputy Head, and some of the children Kindfund Supporters have sponsored. The fact that these children are now being educated through the sponsoring programme has transformed their lives, and they pass on their heart felt thanks.
The new home at Wamba.
The home now has a roof, and it won’t be long until the children can move in. A home is desperately needed here. I photographed a family of 3 children aged 7 years, 3 years and 2 years. These children live on their own. The 7 year old boy is raising his 2 younger siblings, as both parents are now dead. But thanks to Kindfund donations these children are now on a feeding programme, and are receiving support.
Archers Post
Where we attended Church and met the family of young Ibrahim. The young boy has now fully recovered after an operation to repair a hair lip. Kindfund covered the family’s costs. We were warmly welcomed by the Pastor and the elders of the Church.
I had a wonderful 2 weeks filled with Christian Fellowship, laughter, and a few tears. The work Kindfund is doing has changed and is changing so many lives. Every project I visited, the staff kept telling me how blessed they had been since Kindfund got involved. The work of Kindfund has faced many obstacles, and to see the result of the power of prayer overcoming them has been inspiring.
|
Visitor Reports
