March '08 Mission Trip
Click here to see photos of the school.
Click here to see photos of the orphans/boarders

     Our departure went smoothly...that is, after I paid $1350 for the excess baggage.  Thank goodness for the generosity of my Rotary Club friends and the Sunday school class of Anoka U.M.C.  All 19 bags, foosball table, and box of sponsor bags made the trip with us.  Even the customs agent at the JKIA in Nairobi smoothed the way by letting us pass without inspection.  Three transport buses were waiting to take us and the bags to our hotel.
      The Jamiat Hotel was fairly new, clean, and safe, but we didn't care for the downtown location.  Our tour agent was able to book us at the Boulevard Hotel where Group #1 stayed last year.  We all preferred Boulevard's manicured gardens, secluded location, and open-air restaurant.
       After the first of our daily stops at the Nakumatt (Kenya's version of Wal-Mart), we hurried to the school, unloaded the bags, and toured the compound.  There were obviously many repairs needed so a priority list was made for Kim and Wendell.  Over the next nine days, the guys worked on whatever was needed to be done and accomplished so much.  Getting materials was a challenge, as Perry (from last year's group) can attest to, but the guys persevered.  They were sometimes helped by Onesmus and Kennedy, former Bright Star students.  They also trained Paul, our gatekeeper and water guard, to repair/replace mortar, which requires constant attention.
      The gals handed out clothing, repaired clothing, replaced clothing, shopped for clothing, fitted kids in clothing, etc.  It's a never-ending job which will be waiting for the June group to continue.  They also put up the pretty curtains made by Gerda.
      We were able to talk with the boarders (otherwise referred to as "orphans") and got to know them better.  They are loving, soft-spoken, caring, and appreciative young people with a deep love for Jesus Christ.  Some showed a great sense of humor, a quality I rarely see in Kenyans.  Most have proven to be intelligent and mature.  They have little in the way of material items, but they are thankful for those who care about them.  Each boarder received a sponsor bag full of gifts, sponsor letters, and photos.
      Each time we left the school compound, Peter Serem escorted us to the van where there were often two or three armed city policemen.  Peter is a retired police officer who is well-known and respected by everyone in the community.  We know we're safe when he's with us.  At no time did we feel unsafe during our stay nor did we see any sign of unrest or violence.   The worst thing we saw was the never-ending line of traffic ahead of us.
      Barb and I remained at the school while the other six members of the group went on safari to the Masai Mara.  They stayed at a permanent tented camp called Sekenani where they ate on china, had hot showers, and saw hundreds of animals on the plains.  They raved so much about this camp that I intend to book June's group there.
      I discovered that Class 1 was using Pastor John's church for a classroom.  In order to maintain the separation of the school from the church, the class was moved back to the classroom where Headmaster Obed and his family were living.  He, his wife Sarah (who also teaches at Bright Star), and their two daughters were moved to the room below the boys' dormitory, which was being used as the computer room.  When we found that Margret, our sewing teacher, did not know how to sew. she was let go and the sewing machines were put away so that the room could be used as a library and computer room.  Margret was also the girls' dorm supervisor.  Since we were in desperate need of space in the girls' dormitory for two more bunk beds, Margret's small room was dismantled, which provided the necessary space for the additional beds.  It was like playing musical rooms.
      The students were all given an article of clothing, a toothbrush, and a piece of candy; they were given a pair of socks and a piece of underwear until we ran out of appropriate sizes; all were given new pencils from Diana Tenbrook, erasers caps, and rulers from Steve Currens.  We didn't get the opportunity to play Bingo to win gifts but hopefully we'll be able to do it in June.  The children were treated to bananas twice, thanks to Karen Fairbrother and Katie and Patrick McDonald, watermelon from Gannon Guinn, and oranges, thanks to Desmen Hoppe.  Twice they received peanut butter and bread purchased by members of the group.  The boarders also were fed "cabbages", sukuma weeki, meat, and ugali paid for by donations from friends.  After church Sunday, the boarders did crafts, made tissue flowers, and strung beads.  Being short on time, some of the crafts have been put back until the June visit.
      Rosemary, our Pre-unit (kindergarten) teacher asked if we could make desks more appropriate to the size of her 5 year old students.  So smaller sized picnic tables were made for her classroom.  A kitchen sink was purchased for Peter, the cook, as well as a cooking stove that would eliminate the heat and smoke that normally filled our kitchen.  This stove would also use less firewood, a constant expense.  I'm eager to see these two items in use when I return in June.
      With money from the Indiana State Reading Association and the Argos teachers, an assortment of reference books, math manipulatives, and reading materials were purchased.
      Five of our students (Dorine, Jackson, Geofrey, Irine, and Risper) have received government scholarships to boarding schools where they are doing well.  They will return to Bright Star only during quarterly term breaks.
      Now for the sad news.  Twelve of our boarders had gone upcountry to visit relatives during the Christmas holidays and have not returned to Bright Star.  As you may remember, the election violence occurred during this same time and travel in Kenya became hazardous.  Without a means of communicating with these children, we don't know where they are or why they haven't returned.  It's our prayer that they are safe, have been taken in by loving family or tribal members, and are attending school where they are.
      Ponch and Sussie did not receive their second required conception shots and both got pregnant, one having five puppies and the other four.  With people going hungry and penniless, finding responsible guardians for these puppies would have been an impossible task.  So I made the decision to have the puppies euthanized.  It was a heart-wrenching decision, but Barb supported me, held the puppies as they passed, and placed them in their grave behind the school.  Peter sobbed.  Paul was angry with me.  Pastor John had trouble expressing his sadness. But I knew it was necessary and I don't regret the decision.  I've seen sick and starving dogs in the slum and I will not allow our puppies to live in such deplorable conditions.
      The group was loving, hard-working, and dedicated to making Bright Star better than when they arrived.  They succeeded!  Thank you all.

Jan