AUGUST 2024

We finished up our time in the UK enjoying the last of Summer sun with days on the beach, walking across bridges and going to see one of the Banksys! Jonah and Caleb also spent a week at Scripture Union camp, which they loved. Then towards the end of August, the fun game of packing up 234523 suitcases, cabin bags and backpacks began.

The transition back to Kenya can often be a bit jarring, we live in two very different worlds and sometimes the dots do not always join up. Although this can be difficult, there are some more playful ways these differences come up. Since we have returned, we have had a monkeys stealing food from the house, from Anna, playing on slides and entering the boys' classrooms during lessons! Also, Sean was in a meeting discussing extending the school day with revision classes in the lead up to national exams and the operational and organisational impact of these changes. One of them being that dropping students home later invites the risk of them being attacked by wild animals, including hyenas - not something that we need to consider in the UK!

At the end of August Jonah and Caleb went back to school. Jonah is now in 5th Grade (Year 6 if we were in the UK) and has had 8 new pupils join his class. Whilst a bigger class has changed the dynamic, he has settled in well to a new school year and is enjoying being back with friends after such a long summer break. Caleb is now in 3rd Grade (Year 4 if we were in the UK) and has had no-one join his class so he is happy to carry on with school life as he knows it! Anna likes to keep everyone on their toes and was very glad to be reunited with Teddy, our dog. Rachel is busy with Hope Begins (the registered UK Charity that works with and supports Naomi's Village).

Despite a delayed start, after a course of antibiotics for an infection, Sean is now back at Cornerstone Preparatory Academy, the school that is a part of Naomi's Village. There were several senior leadership changes during our time in the UK, coupled with the beginning of the final term and national exams approaching, so much to keep him busy. He was also met by the stark reminder of the difficult circumstances that many of the community students face, with multiple children requiring hospital visits due to abuse from within their home. In the aftermath of the floods there is lots of ongoing rebuilding efforts in the community. Many are still without water and housing and Naomi's Village continue to work to support these families as well as other ongoing infrastructure works on roads and bridges. The mission of Naomi's Village is to provide all that is necessary, for every child we serve, so they will grow up to be world-changers; we keep going. 

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul talks about the church being a body, with each of us having a different job and role to play. We are so grateful for your support, partnership and friendship and the role you play as we seek to educate, equip and empower orphans in the Great Rift Valley. Asante sana!