MAY 2021

It looks like rainy season is well underway- both in the UK and Kenya! Despite the terrible weather, we hope that you are well and are continuing to enjoy the increased freedoms that come with restrictions easing. We were delighted that at the beginning of the month the government removed the travel restrictions within Kenya and reopened schools the following week. We took full advantage of that small window and were finally able to get in our trip to the coast. We were so glad we did. It was lovely to be able to have a few days away from work and school and the trip coincided with Rachel’s birthday and Mother's Day in Kenya.

On our return Jonah went back to RVA for his final term of Grade 1 and Caleb returned to preschool. That still takes some getting used to as in the UK Caleb would be finishing Reception in July and Jonah would be finishing Year 2. Cornerstone Preparatory Academy, the school that is run by Naomi's Village, has also reopened so Sean is back there. The school has around 200 children from the community as well as about 80 from the children's home. We long to see these children grow up educated, equipped and empowered to change their communities and this nation. We want to see the chains of generational poverty broken and families living with autonomy and agency, no longer bound by the limitations that come with extreme poverty. Due to some of the challenges Cornerstone has recently faced and given his experience, Sean has taken on a more active roll in the leadership of the school. As well as looking strategically at school improvement, much of the focus has been on coaching and developing the staff. Rachel continues to contribute to the Naomi's Village social media accounts so make sure you like and follow the Naomi's Village on Facebook and Instagram! Although it not the role we had anticipated, she knows the value and importance of communicating with sponsors and supporters about what is happening here in Kenya and is grateful to be able to work from home around the boys' school schedules.

With the rain comes the challenge of navigating the muddy roads and a few hours after arriving back in Kijabe after our short break at the coast, Sean found himself off road and stuck. It took some friends 3 hours to get him out! We have also had our first hospital visit. Our money was on Caleb being the first one to need an X-ray but he wasn’t! Sean rolled his ankle and couldn’t put any weight on it so went to have it looked at. Thankfully it wasn’t broken and it is already much better. The hospital experience was certainly different from that in the UK, not bad, just different and we are glad everything is ok.