Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.“

Each child has a different story to how their life started. Some were orphaned, some were abandoned and some had families that could not take care of them. The beginning doesn’t really matter because when they came to Rehema Home they receive the love, support and hope for the future.

In past years, we would spend the entire time at Rehema Home in Bukura and not at the Nairobi location. This year is different. I have been able to spend the last 3 days getting to know the over 50+ children from 1-18 years of age. We made bracelets, looked at pictures of my cats, had my hair braided and just gave my attention and lots of hugs. They are hungry for it and wish I had many arms and laps for all of them.

They live in a community. They need to find friendship and comradery with each other. They have to work out squabbles and disagreements. The younger ones depend on the older ones for help and guidance. The older ones are expected to do their chores and set an example for the younger ones.

I was there today during lunch to see the process of feeding the children. There are 3 meals a day and everyone eats the same thing. If you do not like it, you don’t eat. Here the children are called to lunch and expected to line up to enter the dining area in an orderly fashion to take their place.

Then everyone waits until each child has taken their seat, settles and becomes quiet for the prayer to be said. Remarkable behavior learned by living in this loving home.

Next Stop Bukura

Wesley, George and I left for Bukura catching the 6pm flight out of Nairobi. We landed at 645 and greeted by Jack (Rehema friend and driver) and Mama Jacinta (manages the home). We had another 1 1/2 hour drive to Bukura and pulled into the home a little before 9pm. The children were able to stay up to say hello and there were immediate yelling of Auntie Karen and more hugs to go around. Hot chapati and stew were waiting for us on the table which we gobbled up. Mama came down for tea and a discussion of the plan for the week. The main goal is to access the needs of each child and the home to bring back to the US Rehema Board for resource discussion and future needs. It is a home that needs all our prayers and support to continue to provide these children with the future they deserve.

(oh and side note — yes, forgot an entire 50lb bag of donations back in Nairobi. Have no fear, it is being put on a bus tomorrow and will be in Kakamega by tomorrow night.)