Saturday we travelled to Narok to visit the children of Cheryl's Orphanage. We had some money donated to purchase plastic chairs for them to sit in while they eat their meals. Rosemary had asked for these for a while back, but we just hadn't been able to come up with the money. The Lord provided enough money for us to purchase 30 plastic chairs, a lot of fruits and vegetables, and the remaining amount of money Rosemary needed to be able to send all the children to school this term! We are thankful for the Lord's gracious hand that provided so much for them this trip! Nathan did a great job taking photos this time, so enjoy...
The children's school books.
We took about 4kg of unshelled peas so Rosemary gathered some of the girls around and they shelled peas for about 30 minutes. Our kids had to join the fun! They love shelling peas!
An empty bed in the extra room that she is waiting to fill with 25 more children.
A peep of the land through the window. It's beautiful out there. We love the fresh clean air!
Where the children store their belongings. And a lantern for the evening. The house doesn't have electricity.
Danson, being goalie while the big kids play football. I asked Nathan why he was goalie and he said none of the older boys wanted to be goalie so they made the little guys do it.
Nathan, John, and Ruth playing with them.
Rosemary and the House Mama working in the "kitchen". This is where all the meals are prepared. They talked to us about helping them get a cooker or stove for the inside. Imagine preparing meals outside like this in the rainy season!
More football.
I took fingernail polish to paint the girls fingernails, but when I asked about painting them, I was told they couldn't have it on their fingernails for school on Monday morning. So, I painted their toes! What an experience!
I think I probably painted over more dirt than has ever been on my feet! They all gathered around to watch. Even the boys stopped playing football to see what was going on!
But they enjoyed it! And were happy with their painted toes. :) See Esther holding back my hair so I could see? They even asked Rosemary to ask me to leave the polish for them, but she told them they would have to ask me. They were too shy and didn't do it. Rosemary told me this in the car on the way home. I'll have to be sure to take it to them next time we go visit.
Here are Timothy, Josephat, Danson, and a name I can't pronounce because it's Masai (left to right).
Our lunch cooking over the fire.
What a sweet boy (but we can't remember his name)!
Sharon washed her feet before she came to have her painted. What a beautiful spirit she has!
This has to be the funniest picture of the day. It makes me laugh every time I look at it! It's such a great action shot!
John loved being able to run around and play with the kids!
Here he is playing with Mike.
Several herds went grazing past while we were there. I think was a herd of donkeys and 2 herds of goats. John was watching every time. Nathan said he's going to be a shepherd one day.
Can you imagine washing dishes in the sun, bent over like that every day?
Danson is in the middle, Eric on the right, and I can't pronounce the one on the left. Most of the children are Masai and have traditional Masai names which are very hard for us to pronounce and remember.
Even the boys got in on holding Ruth. She's getting more and more used to it every time we go.
Lunch is served! They each got a quarter of an orange and avocado with their meal. Something that is very rare for them. We were excited to be able to take so much produce to them!
Rosemary helping hand out the plates.
Gotta hold on to that football!
Aren't they adorable in sitting in their chairs, eating their fruit, and wearing the dresses we were able to help purchase for them last month?!
Ruth drinking her juice.
John and Nocuseala (I have no idea how to spell it, but we've finally learned and remembered one of the Masai names!). They had a great time chasing each other around after lunch.
I would tell you their names, but they are Masai. We are slowly getting all their names. Hopefully we can remember a few more next time.
Relaxing after lunch.
They all crowd around the van to tell us "kwaheri" when we leave. I think we would just load up the van and bring them all home with us if we could!
Hope you enjoyed! Would you please pray about how you can help with Cheryl's Orphanage? We are trying to figure out a way to get some sponsors for these children as Rosemary is totally dependent on people to see the need and donate. Some days the children go without food because they just don't have money to buy it for them. Right now, I believe, the most urgent need other than food, is for school uniforms. She has been able to pay all the tuition for children, but 13 of them don't have uniforms. She has one month to be able to come up with uniforms for them before the children aren't allowed to attend school anymore.
"Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."
~James 1:27
We know God doesn't call everyone to adopt. And we know adoption only changes the world for one. But we can make a difference for these 27. Would you help us?
