Kenya - Week Two

We have finished another week in Nairobi. This week we worked at the BCC (Baptist Children’s Center) which is both a school and an orphanage. We worked with about 170 students at the school each day. We worked in all of the classes (tailoring, nursery, pre-unit, class 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5). We also helped cook and serve lunch in the kitchen and assisted in the medical clinic.
The BCC is a pretty popular place for those who travel with Buckner to Kenya, so they were used to visitors—especially “mizungus,” the term here for white person. When our van drives by, kids say “Mizungus! Mizungus!” or “How are you? How are you?” because we apparently say that a lot. It’s one of our favorite things to hear and we have gotten used to it.

We did not get to spend as much time as we would have liked to at the BCC—only 4 days. We got to play with the children during their break time, taught them lessons and bible verses, and served them food and snacks. The children there are well taken care of—they receive breakfast, a mid-morning snack of porridge, lunch, and dinner. We were really glad to see children getting several meals a day.

We were not completely sure which of the children we worked with at the school were the orphans that live at the BCC—there are currently 47 of them, and their capacity is 48. They have male and female “dormitories,” with no more than 12 beds in a dorm (it’s a large room with their beds and a closet space for each). They live with a dorm parent that takes care of them—sweet, loving people.

They have a farm there as well and grow lots of foods. Also, a church is located in almost the center of the area. Between all of these projects (school, orphanage, kitchen, farming, medical clinic) there are many hands involved to keep the BCC running. We enjoyed meeting these people and learning about their area. They told us stories about the recent violence and how it effected them and their families. They told us about Kenyan foods and people and things that we could only learn from them. It was fun to visit with them and learn more about the country we are in.

A special bond was formed between our intern group and the girls in the tailoring class, who ranged in age from 15-23. They worked hard to learn a skill to use in their community. They have never had a single student not pass the final exam at the end of the program in its 4-year history. The teacher is an amazing woman who shares her passion for the Lord with these girls, because she knows she has much more than just sewing to teach them. She has fostered a family with these girls and it was beautiful to be a part of. They worked until 2 p.m. each day, then cleaned and had a time of devotion. They invited us one day and we were amazed!!!! They sang beautiful songs in English and Swahili to the Lord and we were in awe of their talents. They sounded like a practiced gospel choir—it was too beautiful for us to even record with our cameras…we just have to remember what the six of us got to witness each afternoon in that room. The girls wanted to make us skirts, so we bought fabric and brought it to them. The last day, they gave us our very own, custom-made African skirts! It was so much fun and definitely a priceless keepsake.

We also bonded instantly with the children in the younger classes. They are the most welcoming to all visitors—they run at us with no reserve! They play, laugh, joke, pose for pictures—they are instant best friends! The nursery teacher has 30 3-4 year olds in her class….and we complain about 15+ kids in a daycare room!

Friday was our final day at the BCC. We gave each child some gifts, donated items to the medical clinic, and gave items for the orphanage to use (books, sports equipment, card games, etc). We know it’s not much, but we also are aware it has been a long time since teams have been able to come over from the U.S. One worker told us it is good for the kids to see us (visitors from other countries) because the kids know the country is at peace and it is safe enough for visitors to enter. It breaks your heart to hear that, but I was so glad that the children could have that reassurance again. We are so blessed that we have faith in a God that knows no boundaries--his love is available for all, everywhere!

Next week we will be in Kitale, where we will be with the Seed of Hope orphanage/school for one week and then a team from the U.S. will come for part of the following week to do some medical work. It should be a good experience.

Thanks again for your support and prayers! We are blessed to have such great people at home lifting up the work we do each day!

Alison Grooms