Mid Year Information

The first 6 months of 2011 are almost over, here in Kenya, we are at the middle of our Winter. Though Kenya strides the equator, we still experience a cold season at this time when the sun is down the tropic of capricorn. Today it's down to 16 degrees celcius ( not cold by European standards) but to a people used to 28-35 degrees, it's freezing. Now these past 6 months have been really trying in terms of our ability to meet our most basic obligations. While we have scrapped through, it has been a struggle. As I had posted earlier in the year, our struggles started when we had to abruptly demolish some 12 housing units which we used to rent out and earn income from. Then e had to erect a wall along one side of our land for security purposes. Within this struggles, 40 children were added to our home. ( read earlier report).

Now the other big source of struggles is the failed long rains, so there is no harvest to talk about from our farm. To compound all this, the high cost of fuel (gas) prices have escalated the prices of all the commodities and our budget is overstretched. Note: In the last 2 months, the Kenya shilling has depreciated from 80 to the US dollar to 92!! within the same time, a liter of petrol has gone up from Kenya shillings 85 to 115!!!

But in all this I would like to thank the following for coming out to assist us: Stichting Weeskinderen Kenia, Wings of Support, Stichting WANAWA and it's director Jane, United dreams Kenya and it's founder Ira, Stichting Studiebol, ( all these are coincidentally from Holland) Thanks too to Louise of new zealand, Lydia Breu and Albin, Ineke, CP shoes, Maroo Polymers and all the kind Kenyans ( you are so many and we appreciate you all), The Management Board of the home have also been very supportive. This list is not exhaustive and for those who have not been mentioned, you are highly appreciated and you are daily in our prayers.

We are now looking forward to the next 6 months to the end of the year and although the future may look bleak and the challenges are getting bigger and tougher, yet we have the faith in our God and also a reason to believe that our calling is noble and our work sacred. With this in mind, we are assured that we can only march forwards and a giant hand of providence though invisible will always be there to guide us. May our heavenly father bless you all.