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

Sophie (tall and in green) visiting the HCC orphans on Sunday, September 30...the kids love seeing her but only a handful posed for the camera

To see images of Holiday cards and ordering information, please go to the July 18 entry on this blog or contact me at kirstencarpentier@hotmail.com

Sophie sent me a very nice email yesterday after her visit to HCC. She said the kids are looking healthier and they were about to have lunch when she arrived. (See the lunch picture below.) She has been assisting Zablon with food shopping and finances at the HCC board's direction. Jim's congregation continues to send food money which she is helping Zablon to manage better. Sophie also brought some of her teenage daughter's old clothes for some of the older orphan girls and those were a hit. I know the children cherish Sophie's visits and the girls look to her as a role model. Sophie owns her own cyber cafe business and is educated. She also isn't under the control of any man and has made it on her own. In her parting remarks to Jim and me in her email she said that the orphans send their greeting and miss us both very much. I cherish seeing these photos as it already seems like a long time since I was in Kenya in July! I miss them, too!!

Yesterday I wired $320 to Dr. Jeremiah for continuing medical care for the HCC orphans. I am very grateful to all the donors and people who bought cards that made this possible. Dr. Jeremiah is in weekly communication with me about the various health issues of the orphans, and the children are lucky to finally be under his wonderful medical care. We are still waiting for Rose's health to improve to the point she can survive surgery (she has sickle cell, malaria and has been a very sick child needing a hernia operation), but I was encouraged to learn she was well enough last week to be in school. Dr. Jeremiah tells me that Emmanuel's testis/urinary tract infection is still persistent and he will undergo further tests to determine when he might be ready for his surgery.

In my last couple of emails to Dr. Jeremiah and Bishop Mambo I have asked them to discuss with the HCC board and Zablon ideas for generating ongoing support for the orphans' medical care there in Kenya. While I hope to continue to raise funds for the HCC orphans and I have a particular concern that their medical needs be addressed, I also think it is really important that the HCC board sees this as something that needs to be consistent. Unfortunately fundraising isn't consistent and while donors have been very generous, I can not predict how and when funds will be generated. The card sales have helped a great deal and so have surprise gifts to the HCC, but none are predictable.

What has become apparent to me after Dr. Jeremiah first examined the 93 residential orphans is that there are serious ongoing health problems that do need to have ongoing care and monitoring. I feel like the seed has been planted and watered with the money Americans have provided for the orphans' health care, but the Kenyan community also needs to find ways to continue the support. Dr. Jeremy has suggested that a small medical charge could be levied with school fees from the HCC day scholars who have relatives, and those funds would go to cover the residential orphans and the day scholars' medical expenses, as well as the medical care of the teachers' children. The HCC board will meet soon to discuss this idea and other community mechanisms to keep the care of the children constant. For now, though, Dr. Jeremiah has enough funds for 3-4 months (barring any emergencies) as well as the two surgeries. I am grateful, too, to have someone like Dr. Jeremiah being an advocate for the children's total well-being.

Milka, the child with chronic ear infections, still needs surgery to close her damaged ear drums and although no one has come forth to help with that rather expensive operation (probably about $1,000) the Danish organization will be coming back to Kenya in November, so we are praying. Milka just went through another ear infection in the past couple weeks, but fortunately she was treated right away because of Dr. Jeremiah's care.

Thanks again to all that have helped with medical care for the orphans! I had this dream to make this happen last summer, but I never concevied of just it might play out nor how complex the children's health problems might be. But I also know that there was a Divine hand bringing Dr. Jeremiah to the kids and letting me be a link in that process.

HCC orphans lining up for Sunday's lunch--yes, it looks a lot like ugali with beans!

# posted by Kirsten's Updates about the H.C.C. in Kenya @ 11:19 PM