By Laura Phelan
Photos by Dan Cripe
July, 2006, Kenya - Just outside Nakuru in Western Kenya, something big is happening. On a 30 acre parcel of land, Tumaini Children’s Home is under construction. Tumaini, which means “hope” in Swahili, is currently located on 1 acre which is rented in town. Started a year ago with 5 children, it has grown to 24. But to the people of PCEA Nakuru West, 24 is merely a drop in the bucket.
In Kenya, there are roughly 3 million orphans. However, only about ten percent find shelter in orphanages and children’s homes. The remainder end up as street kids, domestic servants, sex slaves, or prostitutes. To some, this may seem like a monumental problem in a country with many. But to the people of Nakuru West, no task is too big when you’re following God. They decided they needed to do what they could to house more children. Under the leadership of project coordinator Sammy Kiige, they moved forward with a dream.
Last December, they took a huge step closer to fulfilling this dream. With a $210,000 donation from an anonymous donor in Atlanta, GA, they were able to purchase the land outside town and plan for completion of the first story of the new home. By January of next year, it will house 100 children.
This July, ROW Kenya program director Zablon Kuria brought a mission team of 11 from three different U.S. churches to Nakuru. I was blessed to be among them. Standing atop the newly constructed first story of the home, our group along with a delegation from Nakuru West rejoiced at the sense of true hope the area exudes. The land is lush and fertile. Tumaini is the perfect name.
As for Nakuru West, caring for 100 children will be wonderful. No longer merely a drop, the bucket is filling. Plans for Tumaini are great. A primary school will also share the premises, something that will be available not only to the orphans in residence, but to children from the surrounding community. There are plans for a farm. By growing crops, they will feed the children and sell the produce in town. This will help to make the home self-sustaining. As the home takes shape, it will be a place for the community as well as the children who need it so desperately.
Long after our time spent at the new site, the construction will continue. Eventually, PCEA Nakuru West plans to house 400 orphans at the Tumaini Children’s Home. Upon completion, it will serve as a role model for future homes to be built in other provinces of Kenya, God willing.
The dream is big, and the plans are in motion. But the cost is great. PCEA Nakuru West is relying on God. They’ve got a big faith, but a small budget. Come January, the home will need $100,000 a year to operate, which is one third of the church budget. And this only when it is complete.
For now, Sammy and his fellow members at Nakuru West look to God to guide them. The land is bought, construction has begun. However, without a well, the plans will halt. In order to properly care for the children, run the home, and irrigate the farm, they need water. To date, ROW has raised just over $10,000 for the well. However, the total cost is $26,000. Our new Kenyan friends are confident God will find a way for more children around the country to find shelter, from the completion of the Tumaini site to plans for future homes. After spending a week worshipping, working, and sharing with this amazing congregation, I know they will succeed. Together, we trust that ROW friends around the country will prayerfully consider helping to fill their bucket. We can start by letting the water flow!
Notes From Dan Cripe, Photographer
Jambo! My name is Dan Cripe and I was the “official” trip photographer and unofficial documenter. For many reasons this was an amazing trip, not the least of which was the sheer number and breadth of initiatives we were working on. In addition to the Tumaini work described in Laura’s article above, we had medical, technical, water quality, and evangelical “threads” in play. You can read about all of these on my trip log (with photos) at
http://www.dancripe.com/travel/2006_kenya/index.html.
There is no surprise more magical than the surprise of being loved. It is God’s finger on man’s shoulder