September 15, 2006 Update
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“There is a time to come – and there is a time to go” from John’s goodbye presentation at the Youth Service the day before we left Tumaini.
Our last days were both happy and sad. We’re so glad that Sarah arrived safely – and that she’ll continue the work that we’ve been doing with the children the past three and a half months. She’ll help the youngest ones with their reading in English and their artwork. And she’ll help all 135 of the children on the computers. And she’ll scan and send the children’s letters to their prayer partners – and then print the messages that come for children.
Our last Sunday was a busy one. We introduced Sarah to two young women – Elaine from University of Alberta (Marilyn’s alma mater) and Melanie from Chicago. Both are working on AIDS projects in the Nyeri area, Elaine with a Canadian NGO and Melanie with the Peace Corps.
And the Women’s Guild from the Mt. Kenya Presbytery attended the church service and presented their donations and gifts to help care for the children.
We have many more friends here now – and the friends we made last year are much closer ones now – so it’s been sad saying Kwaheri (Goodbye), Tuonane (See you) and “May God bless you until we meet again” to Anne, Lillian and Janet ( computer teachers), to Joyce, Judy and Beatrice (sewing teachers), to Mrs. Kago (manager), to Grace and Esther (matrons), to Rev. Bernard and Mrs. Kariuki (founders), to Francis (driver), to Pastor Simon (parish minister), to Priscilla (parish secretary), to Virginia (teacher and counselor), to Nancy (evangelist) – and to Lydiah, Damaris, Johnstone, Rachel, Nancy, Alice and all the others who cook, do laundry and work in the shamba. They all love the children so much.
We hope that we have helped the children to hope in our Lord God – and to know that He will care for them and help them to do well in their studies so that their lives after they leave Tumaini will be much better than they were before they arrived here.
Sarah, Elaine and Melanie
Singing for the Guests
Mrs. Kariuki With Women's Guild
Gifts From the Women's Guild