Last Day in Karundus

Wow. What an amazing trip. This morning our team had the opportunity to view some of the conditions that children of the Karundus school live in. We visited two homes that were very well kept, but very small. The "kitchens" (which is basically a small fire and a pot) were usually located outside of the house. Both homes belonged to single mothers with several children, who fit into single-roomed, tin houses. These houses were about a mile/mile and a half walking distance away from the school, which children as young as 3 years old would travel by themselves sometimes. Quite amazing what these children were capable of. We were so thankful to the mothers to allow us the privilege of visiting their personal space and gave each family a gift of a blanket and various types of food that would last them a while. What a blessing to be a part of that!
In the afternoon, we dedicated the playground at the boys home. The boys (and pastors as well as some church members and staff) used the playground facility for the first time! It was a blast to see their enthusiasm. We were approached by several kids and adults alike saying what a blessing this was to them and they wished God's blessings on us. How special. We then did many similar things with these kids that we did yesterday as we operated a "carnival" of sorts. We had a blast doing relays, painting faces, coloring/drawing, tug-of-war, and puppet skits! The kids really loved it, and said we were welcome back anytime.
I'm exhausted right now, so I'm sorry if this doesn't flow well or make much sense. As a team tonight we talked about spiritual gifts of each member here and how each of us played an important role on this trip. It will be sad to leave here, but we hope to never forget the people, children, places, and experiences. Thank you for your support. Please pray for Kids Alive in Kenya (and around the world) that God may continue to bless the staff and children they support. God is good all the time, and all the time God is good. Seriously. :)
Sawa! Lala Salama,
Ann Smit