Fish!

Exciting news about the tilapia project--Martin made the first big harvest. There was enough not only for the children to eat but to sell about $190 worth--enough to buy two more beds. Here the preschool class is eating ugali with the fish. Ugali is maize flour and water cooked down to a consistency like stiff mashed potatoes.

Some good news and some bad news

I was getting worried because I hadn't heard from Martin for 10 days. It turns out that his older son was in the hospital for a week with malaria. His younger son was ill also but they believe it was typhoid. What a worry for Martin and Margaret. Martin's mother sold a heifer to pay the hospital bill. Thankfully both boys are now recovering.
In better news Martin was able to acquire the acre of land adjoining the school thanks to Shiloh Methodist Church. Kisima really needed the additional land to build more classrooms and a dormitory and for the cows and goats to graze.
Speaking of goats one of them delivered twin kids last week. Martin said that he would like to acquire more goats because they reproduce twice per year and and they require less care than cows. A Christ Our Savior member donated the money for another goat bringing the goat count to six.

The first bed!

The children were very excited by the delivery of a bunk bed. Hopefully many more will follow if funds are available. Currently the children all sleep on the dirt floor.

Smiling faces

Thanks to Shiloh

Many, many thanks to Shiloh United Methodist Church in Kokomo, Indiana, and to Bill Kring for sending the funds to purchase the acre of land adjacent to the school. This will ensure that Kisima has room to grow. The money they sent will also enable Martin to lease the fields where the maize is grown for five more years and to purchase two more cows, more mattresses, and a month's worth of food. Kisima is indeed blessed to have such wonderful friends.

Irrigation pump

Martin was able to buy a pump to irrigate the fields near the river thanks to the Rotary Club of Vienna VA. Last year there was a severe drought in Kenya and the harvest was poor. This year at least those fields will be protected. Many thanks to the Rotary!

A few sponsors

Eleven people have become sponsors so far. Thank you to them! It's a start but there's a long way to go. You might think that most of the orphans were AIDS orphans. However, there are more than twice as many orphans from election violence/tribal clashes as there are from AIDS. In the 2008 election violence what frequently happened was that people who lived in an area of conflict brought their children and animals to a safer area. When they went back to safeguard their property they were killed.

Sponsor Program

Please help by sponsoring an orphan for $20/month or a teacher for $25. It would be a wonderful thing to do for grandchildren or children--a great gift to open a window on a world where the children have never seen a t.v. or a computer game, sit four to a crude wooden desk for their lessons, and sleep 40 to a room on dirt floors. Please remember that Martin has no source of money other than what I'm able to raise with the help of friends and that 100% of donations go to Kisima.
If you are unable to sponsor a child perhaps you would consider a one-time donation. Tax deductible donations may be sent to:
Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church
260 Wade Rd. W.
Loudon TN 37774
Please indicate on the check that it is for Kisima.

(click on the photo)