In celebration of James' 25th birthday, Seth and Liz bought James the perfect Kenyan birthday gift - a goat! Yesterday the three of them walked to the market, picked out the best looking goat, and walked it back to the school. James' birthday gift has been donated to West Special School and will provide lovely goat milk for the children. But that's not all...this goat is pregnant with two kids. Considering that I (Quincie) am pregnant as well, James thought it would be fitting to call the goat Quincie. Therefore, West now has a pregnant goat called Quincie. When James told me this over the phone this morning I didn't believe him. I laughed. A lot. I couldn't stop laughing. But it's true. He named the pregnant goat Quincie. And I guess I'm okay with that.
6/22/2012
6/20/2012
The Monumental Moment
Earlier this week one of the students went missing. Her name is Marion. She is new to the school and still quite unfamiliar with the daily routine. On her way back to Wycliffe & Evelyne's home she became confused and must have walked in the wrong direction. Wycliffe sent out a search party to find Marion in hopes to help her before something dangerous happened. Fortunately, she returned to the school today. She had likely been sleeping in muddy fields and therefore was covered in dirt from head to toe. Everyone was glad she returned before something horrible happened. This situation is exactly why the need for a dormitory is so urgent. These children need a safe place to call home.
I (Quincie) am pleased to inform that last Monday officially marked the start of the dormitory project. Several local Kenyans spent hours digging the foundation for the building. The foundation will be complete by tomorrow, and ready for its first layer of sand, stones, and cement. This is a monumental moment for West Special School considering that they've waited nearly 2 years for the dormitory project to begin. The sooner the building is finished, the sooner these children have a place to call home. We couldn't have made it this far without God providing a school and an on-site house. Our hearts are full of thanksgiving.
James informs me that the children are happily learning and joyfully playing with one another. There has been great excitement among the students ever since the mzungus (white men) arrived. James, Seth, and Liz spend a majority of their day with the children either playing with a football or sitting in during the lessons. Even some of the newer students who have little exposure to other children have warmed up and are slowly learning how to interact with their peers. For instance, there is a new boy called Isaac at West. The majority of his childhood was spent neglected and unloved by his family. He was force-fed poo and vomit because his parents were embarrassed by him and apparently felt the need to punish him in this way. Thankfully, Isaac has made his way to West and is slowly learning how to be loved and how to show love. He is a very bright young boy, perhaps even the most clever student at West. His social skills are underdeveloped, however there is a hope and a future for young Isaac. He is slowly learning how to interact with the other students, how to trust, and how to function in a classroom setting. We're convinced that there is no better place for him to be.
May West Special School continue to attract children like Marion and Isaac...
I (Quincie) am pleased to inform that last Monday officially marked the start of the dormitory project. Several local Kenyans spent hours digging the foundation for the building. The foundation will be complete by tomorrow, and ready for its first layer of sand, stones, and cement. This is a monumental moment for West Special School considering that they've waited nearly 2 years for the dormitory project to begin. The sooner the building is finished, the sooner these children have a place to call home. We couldn't have made it this far without God providing a school and an on-site house. Our hearts are full of thanksgiving.
James informs me that the children are happily learning and joyfully playing with one another. There has been great excitement among the students ever since the mzungus (white men) arrived. James, Seth, and Liz spend a majority of their day with the children either playing with a football or sitting in during the lessons. Even some of the newer students who have little exposure to other children have warmed up and are slowly learning how to interact with their peers. For instance, there is a new boy called Isaac at West. The majority of his childhood was spent neglected and unloved by his family. He was force-fed poo and vomit because his parents were embarrassed by him and apparently felt the need to punish him in this way. Thankfully, Isaac has made his way to West and is slowly learning how to be loved and how to show love. He is a very bright young boy, perhaps even the most clever student at West. His social skills are underdeveloped, however there is a hope and a future for young Isaac. He is slowly learning how to interact with the other students, how to trust, and how to function in a classroom setting. We're convinced that there is no better place for him to be.
May West Special School continue to attract children like Marion and Isaac...
6/16/2012
New Land
As of yesterday, West Special School officially owns more land. This is a huge step in the progress of the project, and we are so thankful that land was available near the current school site. James reckons that the piece of land is 4 to 5 acres. In the near future we hope to begin planting crops on part of the land to create an income and food supply for the school. Additionally, after the dorm is well on its way to completion, we hope to build workshops for the children to learn how to build, sew, cook, garden, weld, etc. In creating an educational foundation built upon the love of Jesus Christ, we hope to introduce practical skills to these children in order that they would be best equipped to live in a culture where the social norms are to look down upon the mentally disabled and the hearing impaired. There is purpose and hope for these lovely children, and we are blessed to be a part of their lives.
6/13/2012
Arrival
James, Seth, and Liz have safely arrived in Chwele. As promised, Job prepared a lovely home for the team to stay in just on the outskirts of the village. Job's vehicle will serve as their transport to and from the school site each day. Yesterday James informed me that they have enough money to purchase more land, to finish the on-site house, and to begin building the dormitory. It was encouraging to hear how upbeat he was. At one point he said, "The on-site house is like a castle! Everything looks fantastic!"
There are several new students at West. Initially the new students were shy towards the mzungus (white people) however with time, we are hopeful that they will feel comfortable. Seth was able to bring vegetable soup that provides essential vitamins and energy that the children need to grow physically and mentally. Thank you Missions on the Move and Okanagan Gleaners! Additionally, James was able to bring two bags full of daily vitamins for the children. With the soup and the vitamins, we expect to see further growth and stability in each child.
In two weeks a group of five women will be joining James, Seth, and Liz in Kenya. Their main goal is to love the children. They will be teaching them crafts, Bible stories, and basic education. They will be building toys with them, gardening with them, and cooking with them. Pray for these five women (Susie, Ailsa, Emma, Sharon, and Karen) as they prepare to travel somewhere new to serve West with their time and their hearts.
Also continue to pray that both teams will be physically strong and healthy throughout the duration of their trip. The last thing we want is for a bad stomach or a weak body to interfere with what the teams are meant to be doing.
More updates with photos (hopefully) to come!
6/04/2012
The Story...
This video was filmed by Ende Photography in the middle of our trip during the summer of 2011. The school looks much different now, but if you would like to hear about the story and meet some of the people involved please watch.
Beautiful feet from Canada.
"Missions on the Move" a Canadian charity based organisation, headed up and founded by Jeff and Susan Cliburn, have been instrumental in the development of West Special School as a project. With passionate hearts, willing and ready for service they have taken up the cause of WSS as well as other causes in Mexico. They have been a blessing that we thought we would never see. They really are too good to be true and should be looking forward to a handsome reward in heaven one day. In the mean time we will be continuing to work closely and forming stronger bonds between ourselves and those on the ground in Kenya.
If you would like to find out more about Missions on the Move please visit their Facebook page:
6 days to go.
This coming Sunday (10th June) Seth, Liz and myself (James) will be traveling to Kenya. It has been almost a year since Seth and I have been in Chwele at the school, so we are excited to see how it has changed. Unfortunately, Quincie will be unable to come with us this year. We have recently found out that she in pregnant and under the advice of many doctors it seems as though it is wise for her to remain at home. As heartbreaking as it is for Quinc being unable to see her dear friends in Kenya this is the right decision. There are many diseases that a pregnant Westerner would face that a normal non-pregnant Westerner would not.
The school house now has a roof. It is covered and ready for the windows, doors and plastering. It will function as the hub of the school as well as housing for the leaders and a few children. Perhaps the most desperate cases will find this their home in the coming weeks. We pray for guidance and wisdom in making decisions over the next month. Some will be difficult to make I am sure.
As I understand it Job and Kutete have been working on a place for us to stay. They were gracious enough last year to organise this for us and in their usual form have done all the necessary preparations for us without us even asking. Evelyne is staying hard and we look forward to her completing her studies and being a fully trained teacher at West. I think the studying must be a trying time for her since she has been detached from academia for so long. But as we all know she is very very strong willed and with the final goal of being such an asset to the school she will come through with flying colours.
Things to pray for:
Traveling mercies as always.
Completion of the Schoolhouse so we can moved onto the dormitory.
The team of ladies who will be coming out on 28th June for 2 week.
The development of the children's mental, physical and spiritual lives.
The school house now has a roof. It is covered and ready for the windows, doors and plastering. It will function as the hub of the school as well as housing for the leaders and a few children. Perhaps the most desperate cases will find this their home in the coming weeks. We pray for guidance and wisdom in making decisions over the next month. Some will be difficult to make I am sure.
As I understand it Job and Kutete have been working on a place for us to stay. They were gracious enough last year to organise this for us and in their usual form have done all the necessary preparations for us without us even asking. Evelyne is staying hard and we look forward to her completing her studies and being a fully trained teacher at West. I think the studying must be a trying time for her since she has been detached from academia for so long. But as we all know she is very very strong willed and with the final goal of being such an asset to the school she will come through with flying colours.
Things to pray for:
Traveling mercies as always.
Completion of the Schoolhouse so we can moved onto the dormitory.
The team of ladies who will be coming out on 28th June for 2 week.
The development of the children's mental, physical and spiritual lives.
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