Today we took a break and took ourselves and the children on a day trip to the Kakamega National Rain Forest. https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5508/
We went to the Rondo Retreat Center at the entrance to the forest for lunch and a walk around the grounds and forest trails.
The grass was a treat for the children to run on and we brought a soccer – er – football to play with.
Fun was had by all.
Today we took a break and took ourselves and the children on a day trip to the Kakamega National Rain Forest. https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5508/
We went to the Rondo Retreat Center at the entrance to the forest for lunch and a walk around the grounds and forest trails.
The grass was a treat for the children to run on and we brought a soccer – er – football to play with.
Fun was had by all.
Pretty much a normal day here at Rehema. By the time we wake up, the Aunties have the kids to school, the babies up, dressed, and fed, and are already hanging laundry. Even the dogs are up and waiting patiently outside our door for Mr. Tom. Hey, we are on vacation and we deserve to sleep in past 730! Lol
We have an Auntie that takes care of us too. We hire the Aunties to cook for us, giving them an opportunity to make extra money. They get paid a salary from Rehema when the income is available so this gives them a little something to hold them over. They are truly amazing, wonderful women who take care of this children like their own.
These are the little boys that were part of the baby brigade when we were here in 2020. They now walk themselves back and forth to school – yes going outside the gate, down a busy rode and to the school. They come home for lunch and have the afternoon to play outside or watch the tiling and painting activity in the nursery.
One by one the older kids come home anywhere between 2 and 5 depending on the age. The girls school is further away and Jack goes and picks them up.
By 5 everyone is home, uniforms off, play clothes on and time for dinner. The kids all eat the same thing at the same time and then back outside to play – unless it is pouring and into the dining room they stay.
Friday Night at the Movies
Tonight we have the kids over for movies and treats. George downloaded movies onto his computer and we hook it up to a projector and speaker so all 11 of the older kids can see. I remember when we would circle around a small computer screen.
We can’t believe that we have been here a week already. We are hoping to take the kids on an outing tomorrow to either the rain forest or the pool to go swimming. Update on the projects: room two painted and tiled. Next cutting and grouting and then onto the 3rd room.
Many of you know we met George last year when he came with us to Bukura for a few days. He grew up at Rehema since he was one. He is now a 23 year old living and supporting himself as the marketing and promotions manager for Rehema. He joined us once again this year along with another former child Wesley who is about to graduate from Pan Africa Christian University. More about him tomorrow!
They both came to join the Joi Team and be part of the 2023 Mission to Bukura. He published the Rehema newsletter today and wrote about his experience being here and I thought you would enjoy reading it.
Having grown up at Rehema Home Nairobi my entire life, we would get a lot of teams, come and visit and help make our living areas more comfortable. I remember how excited I’d get every time our rooms got a new coat of paint or new tiling. After 23 years of witnessing this happen, I finally get to be a part of a mission and I am all here for it.
On Friday a group of 4 and I flew in from Nairobi into Kisumu where we drove for an hour and a half into Bukura a small town about 30 minutes from Kakamega town. We came to Rehema Home Bukura with the intention of tiling the little girl’s room and 2 baby rooms. We arrived and were greeted by barking dogs, excited kids, and a fleet of the most hospitable Aunties I have ever met. We spent the weekend getting settled in, getting groceries from town, and setting up so we could start tiling
A week in and I am loving being around the kids and helping out at Bukura. It takes me back to when I was a child living at Rehema Home. I can feel the love that the administration, staff, and our team pour into the kids, and get excited every time one of the kids ran up to me, or when I make their day by doing something as simple as giving them a little treat.
I see the simplicity of love in the everyday interactions between the administration, staff, and the children they care for. It is the small gestures we make every day that brings smiles and laughter, fill our home, and create a sense of belonging for our children.
As a child who has grown up at Rehema Home and now works there as a Digital Marketer, I have come to realize that at Rehema Home, love is at the center of everything. Rehema Home’s biggest mission is to provide a safe and loving home for children who have been orphaned or abandoned and to help them grow into happy and healthy adults.
I believe I am a testimony of the wonderful work that Rehema Home does and hope that everything I do while I am at Rehema Home Bukura will remind the kids that they are loved and cared for and will eventually lead them to have the best opportunities in life.
Love may be one of the most powerful emotions in the world, but it is also one of the simplest. It is a reminder that sometimes the greatest things in life are the ones that come from the heart. If you believe in the power of love and want to help make a difference in our kids’ lives, then please consider making a donation to Rehema Home.
Your contribution will help purchase tiles, and paint which we will use to make the girl’s room and 2 baby rooms more livable. We have already started tiling and have finished tiling the girl’s room, you can see the before and after below. It will also go into helping pay the Aunty’s back salaries. They deserve it for all the wonderful work they do at Rehema Home Bukura.
Together, you can help us continue to spread love and make a positive impact at Rehema Home. To make a donation click the link below and indicate that the money will go into our 2023 Mission to Rehema Home Bukura
Joy is an amazing young women that has dedicated her life to the children of Rehema. She is from the Rochester area originally and calls Bukura her home. She takes care of the home and the children making sure that is runs smoothly and the children are taken care of. This is a 24 x 7 job and one that is very difficult even in your country of origin. Having this responsibility in a foreign country with a very different culture and skin color makes it even harder. Last year when I was here I sat down with Joy to learn more about how she came to be here.
The video was to large to upload with the WI-FI here at the home and linking it here. https://karensjoi.com/2022/08/03/asante-sana-for-your-support/
Today I went into town with Joy to help her with some of her errands. Buying new mattresses was at the top of our list. The team before us had donated a sum of money to purchase them and they are desperately needed and will be so welcomed. The ones we wanted were the blue ones on the top shelf. When it was brought down the price was $500 shillings or $5.00/per mattress more expensive then her budget. That does not seem like very much to us, but when you have to buy 12 it gets very pricey and the extra 6000 shillings will help pay for other important items. Every shilling counts when you run on donations.
We made a few stops along the way to a super market, hardware store and tailor shop. We ran into people she knew and was introduced to them with a gracious hug. We even stopped for a Kenyan hotdog for lunch. Don’t worry Zweigles.
We had a rain free day so the little ones were able to come out between afternoon nap and dinner to have a ride on the whirly bird – I think that is what you call it. They were on it for a good hour without a peep and enjoying every minute. Yes, even with Tom cutting tile in the background.
Last night we fell asleep to the falling rain and tonight to the singing of praise by the Aunties. The night shift gathers every evening for prayer before saying good night and to pray over the children, family and friends. I too pray for you and yours and want to thank you for all the support you have given these children.
Today is declared as a national holiday. Some of the children went to school and some did not. When they went to school the classrooms were empty because some recognized the holiday rule and some did not…..wait, what?
Tell me if this sounds familiar. Nairobi had their elections last August. The losing candidate – by only .6% – thinks the outcome of the election was not correct. He declared today a national holiday (which he can’t) for his supporters to march and protest the election.
SOOOO, back in peaceful Rehema, it was a lovely day. The older girls did not go to school so had fun coloring with the crayons with pages brought by Tom and Mary.
Miss Mary was hard at work mending clothes and had an audience of children eager to help. Mary is now thinking of a little sewing project for the kids and determined to turn one of them into a seamstress. In fact this would be a well worthy talent to help support yourself and family.
The tiling has begun and continued in shifts throughout the day. The trick this year is that there are three rooms and two of them are where the babies sleep. So, we started with the girls room and need to completely finish it so that we can move cribs into the room. Finish that room, move the cribs from the second room into the 1st room and then when all three rooms are done put everyone back in the right rooms. Oh, yea – we decided to throw in painting and Miss Mary is making curtains.
I showed you this last year and it still melts my heart. The older children help feed the babies to help out the Aunties. When there are 10+ to feed, 3 x’s a day every day you need all the help you can get.
Meet the latest most precious little one to come to Rehema. So small and will be loved and cared for in the biggest of ways.
For those that have been following me since 2020 you may remember Grace. She was a little girl that I just fell in love with and was glued to my side for the time I was here. It was because of her that I continue to come back. She has since been adopted and think of her often. Well, meet Ester, my little shadow and inspiration. At first she would just stare from afar looking at me with serious eyes and when she decided I was a good one took my hand sat me down and climbed up on my lap. Okay, the cookie had nothing to do with it.
We are sitting here at 9:50 pm talking about our day and looking at the pics the children took with our phones. We are heading to bed and will be lulled to sleep by the sound of the pouring rain. The rainy season begins in March so we expect this to happen every day. With the rain the electricity goes out – and thank goodness for a working generator that keeps everything on.
Lala Salama
There are many “teams” that come to Rehema Homes on a mission trip. They are part of church groups, organizations or simply friends and family like us. When we arrived a group of 11 young adults had just been here from Solid Foundation Group. A young girl Maria stayed an extra two weeks and was still here the day we arrived.
“Where you from?” “Syracuse, New York she answered, “Have you heard of it?”It’s a small world began playing in my head.
The team, aged in their mid-20’s, had to pay for their travel and all expenses and raise money for a donation. They contributed to the home by helping to purchase a much needed refrigerator, bunk beds, a washing machine, mattresses, chicken feed and a new gas stove — just to name a few things.
Today was our team day to begin the preparation for our mission. We began prepping the first room by taking out the bunk beds and shelves and filling the deep cracks and holes.
AND, we got Miss Mary set up in the play room with a sewing area. There was a Mary Mending pile ready for her and she went straight to work.
It happens all the time. The kids will ask for my phone to play games, listen to music and primarily to take pictures and videos. You never know what you will get back. I leave you with a few photos that were captured that shows you a little slice of everyday life here at Rehema.
The JOIs of international travel. Up and wide a wake until 4am. Of course the neighborhood music, and barking dogs during the night didn’t help. Or the visiting cats that came in through the window who were being chased by the barking dogs. Of course, finally fell asleep until the goats and roosters helped me welcome the sunrise a few hours later. Thank goodness for the fresh coffee and chai tea waiting for me.
Today is a shopping day. We need to get provisions for our meals and we always get a list of the needs for the home. We started out going down to the local market to buy some fresh vegetables. This year we had some of the children come with us for an outing. Instead of just being the two of us we have 3 extra adults which mean 3 extra hands to hold. The Burkura market is only down the road and a short walking distance.
The market is on Tuesday and Saturday and you can purchase anything from clothes to vegetables to cloths and cookwear. To give you an idea of the pricing, we bought a dozen each of carrots, onions, and tomatoes, 2 cabbage heads and fresh ginger for under $5.00
Yes, here come the baby pics……you knew they were.
We returned home and had a chance to spend time with the younger kids and babies until our Matatu came to take us into Kakamega for a MEGA shopping adventure. And thank you to Rachel Dewey once again who sent over toys for the little ones and they loved them.
Kakamega is the nearest town and only about 1/2 hour ride. We hired a 14 seat Matatu to take the 5 of us and 5 kids into town. In addition to the needs of the home and ourselves we came away with treats for the kids and what would be a trip to town without a stop at the hardware shop.
It was a long trip and so far successful. It feels so good to be back at Rehema with the kids and the Aunties. Feels like we were just here except the kids are INCHES taller and the puppies bigger.
We left Rochester a little late and got to our JFK flight for last call. After an hour on the run way we set off for our 14 hour flight to Nairobi. Yes, 14 hours, but it is the only direct flight from New York. We were met by George and Wesley from Rehema and a very large van. Thanks to the very generous friends and family we had 6 50lb bags filled with clothes, toys, shoes and necessities for the kids and Aunties.
We went to the Rehema guest house to unload and immediately got back in to two cars to head into Nairobi to purchase a sewing machine. As you can see Mary Stevens – Mr. Tom’s wife came this year. She is great seamstress and will be helping to mend clothes, and many other items as needed to continue to make this homey. She is also in the nursing field and will be helping to see how to improve medical help for the kids.
Rehema Home, Nairobi
We were able to stop at the Rehema Home in Nairobi to take a tour and drop off some donations. We were able to see where George and Wesley grew up and the home for 60 children.
I was able to see George’s office and take a pic so he can see what I see when we zoom. A quick stop to the cellular store, supermarket for snacks and back to the guest house to repack for the next days journey to Bukura.
The journey to Kisumu Airport is not horrible if you are 1 or 2 people going for a short visit. There were 5 of us, plus backpacks, carry on luggage and don’t forget those 6 50lbs bags. Jack the ever faithful Rehema driver and a friend came in two vans to collect us for the 1 1/2 hour journey to Bukura. The hitch? Well if you remember last year the van broke down on our way. This year the van did great. It was the other van that ran out of gas – the van with the luggage. We had a little 1/2 hour delay to get up and running again and on our way to Rehema.
We got to Rehema and greeted with hugs and kisses, got settled in and started to make plans for our mission.
Thank You
This is an overdo thank you for your contribution to the 2022 Karen and Tom Mission to Bukura. We were there to witness the impact your donation made — it immediately improved the lives of the children and their care-takers. Your generosity started before we even got on the plane. The call went out for clothes and toys and friends and family did not disappoint. Thank you Kathleen, Lisa and daughters, Jim, Dad, Marc and Tracy, Arelis, Tracy V, Dan and Jill, Rachel, and Mary – they loved each and every item and it brought joy and smiles to all of them.
The Goal Grew
Our main goal was to raise enough money to tile the dining room floor. If you followed this blog you saw the additional needs for the home presented itself the minute we left the airport when the only vehicle the home has broke down. The car was going to be in the shop until it was repaired and paid. This meant there was no transportation for the children to get to school, doctors, store and us to get where we needed to go. We added this to the list of funds we knew we needed to raise.
We purchased the tile for the dining room and made the decision to also purchase the tile needed for the nursery and girls rooms. We anticipated the donations would come in to cover the additional cost and take advantage of current prices. Your donations covered it all – I knew it. Tom and I would only have the time to tile the dining room so we put aside money to hire a local mason. We are not sure if they will be able to do it or Tom and I will be back to do it next year. Anyone want to come and help?
The Difference a Dollar Makes
We can’t believe how generous you were. A special thank you to Paul and Linda, Tom H., Bonnie and Jim, Kevin M., Casey, Chris M., Donna D., Solid Foundation, Flo and Carroll, Ken and Karen, Esther and Jeff, Jen W., Jim F., Ray M., Gretchen, Katherine G., Antoinette P., Michael B., and Joel P. We raised $3,000. This is an amazing amount when the average hourly wage in under $2.00. Together with your love for children around the world, faith in Tom and I to honor your donation, and be your hands we were we able to put 100% of your donation to where it is needed most. Joy and Mama Jacinta would allocate the donations to where they felt it was most needed:
Fresh Milk: – $180/month to pay the local farmer to bring the children milk.
Auntie Salaries– $1,000/month for these amazing women who take care of the children 24/7.
Medical – $100/month to make sure they have medical care.
School – $100/month for school supplies and an education.
Driver/Car – $100/month for upkeep and get the children to school and doctors every day.
Dogs – $5/month to help feed the guard dogs on property.
Race for Rehema
I could not let you go without sharing the next fundraiser: Race for Rehema. I hope you can join.
Again, asante sana.
Karen and Tom
My Journeys Of Inspiration
Karen's JOI 