A Trip Through Rural Western Kenya

Earlier today Connor, Sutton, and I set out with Joel, Agape's chaplain, to visit six Agape boys who are home with family for the school break.  We left early, only got to see four of the boys, and got home late, but we had a great time!  As you'll see below, I think we spent half our time just trying to find the boys' homes!

While we only drove about 145 miles, the trip took us about 10 hours.  Driving in rural Kenya is always an adventure . . . a 4-wheel drive enthusiasts dream!

Three of Joel's church members were heading in the same direction as us and asked if we could give them a ride.  As an added bonus, they brought a live chicken and a box full of chicks . . . in other words, great distractions for Connor and Sutton (even though the chicks pooped all over the back seat).

Joel Asking for Directions #1

Connor hiking through a cornfield to get to Moses's house.

Moses Ouma, the first boy that we visited.

Moses's family's plot

This is Moses's mother's old home.  Moses's father passed away and left the family with very little.

Moses's mother's new home; culturally a woman cannot build a house on her own, so Moses's mother remarried a man in town who built this house for her.  He doesn't live here, though, because he has another family in town.

Moses and his mother inside their home.

Moses and his Mother

Joel Asking for Directions #2

Paul Ojanja's Family Plot

Paul (middle of the photo) with his mother and siblings.  His mother is probably the second or third wife.

Paul (on the right) and his family.  He was ready to begin living full-time at home, but his mother asked if he could finish out the school year at Agape, because it is sometimes difficult to get schools to accept new children mid-year.  We gladly agreed.

A few of the wives' houses in Paul's compound.

Our personal favorite house on Paul's compound.

Joel Asking for Directions #3

An old lady binds firewood together to carry home on her head.

Joel Asking for Directions #4

Some happy kids . . .

Daniel Akhwale at home . . . he wasn't a happy camper.

Daniel's mother and siblings.

Daniel (in the purple shirt) and his family.  We found Daniel returning from the Posho Mill with ground maize flour, a job culturally reserved for a girl.  This is probably why he was in a bad mood . . . just embarrassed.

Daniel's Home

A cute kid we came across . . .

Cute kid #2

Fredrick Adavua's home . . . sadly the family informed us that Fredrick spent about a week at home and then disappeared.  We're hoping that he'll show up at Agape in the next few days.  Please pray for Fredrick's safety.

William Siongor (white shirt in the front) with his grandfather's family and neighbors.  William has never met his mother and his father is in prison.  Please pray for William as he is Agape's most troubled and traumatized boy; he actually rode back to Agape with us so that he can begin intensive counseling.

One of William's neighbors house; i really like the painting on the side of the house.

Connor and the mtoto mchanga (baby)

Daniel's grandfather and great-grandmother.