July 15, 2003

Dear Friends,

Hello from Kenya!

I have now been here 4 days, and I've seen a great deal.

In the past two years, much has changed at the Good Samaritan Children's Home. They received money to renovate their building, with which they have built 5 new toilets and a permanent gate. Many of the children are now sleeping on beds instead of sleeping on the floor, though even the largest boys sleep three to a bed. The Home is in the process of building a new dormitory and kitchen to provide more space.

At the same time as this money for physical improvements has come in, a food shortage in Kenya has cut the donations of food they receive, and now the children eat only corn instead of the traditional corn and beans (githeri).

They will have protein in their diet soon, though, as the Home has been given several pigs and goats, some will be ready for slaughter soon.

Most of the children we met two years ago are still at the Home and doing well. Chalo continues to do well in school (except in math), though it is a struggle because he cannot afford the textbooks the other high school students have.

Boss is still a clown and troublemaker, but he has not gone back to the street and he seems very serious about learning carpentry.

Ochieng is in secondary school with Chalo, but he has moved out of the Home and into a little room in the slum. I have not seem him yet, so I do not know how he is doing. I hope to visit him in the coming days.

Mtindi and Alice have grown a great deal in the past two years, and seem very happy at Good Samaritan.

And Auntie, Freddy, and Helen continue their struggle to feed, educate, and care for an increasing number of children.

Only recently a sick mother abandoned her 2 very young children at the bus stop near the Home. Auntie took them in and cares for them.

I hope this finds all of you well.

best,
Randy