Kirsten's Updates about the H.C.C. in Kenya

Sometimes it takes a small thing in one's day to make a difference in the week of another person half-way across the globe. Today I had the delightful experience of sharing messages from Happy Children's Centre with students from Hillsboro, Oregon who had written cards to the orphans in January. After months of waiting I received a package from Sophie with about 100 of the orphans' cards and letters, including some from the teachers, Sophie and Zablon. The cards have simple messages (some of which are hard to read) and requests for prayers, books and visitors. I recognized many of the names on the cards and if I had a photo of the orphan, I attached it to the cards so that the Glencoe students could see a picture of who was writing to them. There were several words in Kiswhahili that needed translation (example:"Jambo, Rafiki" "Hello, Friend") and cultural concepts to explain (like why the orphans were so excited to have a "bore hole" or well at their school). But the orphans' drawings and brightly colored artwork on their cards really spoke volumes for them.

The Glencoe students studied the cards carefully and asked very astute questions that told me they were curious and engaged in learning more. We filled a full hour and a half with a discussion about the lives of the orphans, Kenyan poverty and the rights of women. I tried to impress upon the Glencoe students how their small act last January of writing to the HCC orphans has made a difference to the HCC children. Someone is remembering them and thinking of them! It means a lot when you are one of many without parents to love you. It was personally very gratifying to me to be able to bring the project full circle, tell the Glencoe students about my upcoming trip and encourage them to continue the dialogue with students 10,000 miles away.