Bikeke School for Destitute Children & Orphans--Possible Land Found!

We have had several days available (before our main conference starts this weekend) to devote to the school and the women’s center.  I’m sure Brooks will have plenty to share on the later. Regarding the school… I don’t even know where to begin.  So, here goes the Reader’s Digest version…

• The school’s staff has grown larger and is sooooo impressive.  They speak such hope and love into the children and you can see the way the kids are responding with enthusiasm.
• We have heard so many stories of children who have been rescued from hopelessness.  For example one 12-year-old who was living house to house, from one foster home to the next, was taken in by the school.  He is in first grade because he has NEVER been to school before.  Yes, he makes for a very tall first-grader.  Yet he is flourishing, learning, and being cared for.
• We may have found our first plot of land that needs to be purchased to firmly establish this school!  Five acres are required altogether in order to be fully registered.  This plot is 1.5 acres in an ideal location.  There are surrounding plots that can be purchased in the future.  We have nearly enough funds available to make this purchase and trust that the remainder will come in.  We feel that it may, very well, be a God-thing that this opportunity has come up while we are here because we will be able to move on it quickly and secure a good price.  We are meeting with an attorney today and appreciate prayers on this.

Note: the public schools are completely failing the Kenyan children because the money needed to provide education is often siphoned off by corrupt officials.  Classroom sizes often swell to over 100 students in a class and many children complete their primary education (6th grade) who are still unable to read! Working with John (the church leader and director of the school) has kept me jumping but there is a clear sense that God is at work and leading.  I so appreciate all of you who are praying with us!