Sunday is Washing Day

I attended church at Challenge Farm this past Sunday since I leave Kitale for the states on Monday. The service was alive and active with these new kids leading the worship songs. My smile was reaching from ear to ear watching them perform. That is what this group loves to do is perform. Each one is so expressive. I enjoy listening and watching them tell a story even though I don’t understand what they are saying. The rest of the staff and children at Challenge are just as thrilled about this new group as I am.

After our service every one began their washing clothes procedure. Many of the kids, staff and random people throughout town have been after me to wash my car. It has been a red dirt dusty mess for, well…. as long as I can recall. The dirt roads here create a nice think film coating the entire inside of the car, which didn’t really bother me at all but seemed to bother everyone else. So, I allowed the kids to wash it today, inside and out. That is the least I could do to somewhat welcome Whitney who will be arriving Kitale Wednesday. The kids did a splendid job washing every bit and even taking the floor mats out for a good scrub down. What a service? Why had I not done this every week? The kids really had a ball.

The time came to part ways for the next five weeks and it was a lot more difficult this time than it was last. I believe this is because I know I’ll be gone much longer than my previous trip. It could also be because I’ve grown closer to the kids so not seeing them for 5 weeks will be a much bigger deal. I’m worried the new little one, Sarah, won’t remember me. I have only been in her life for one week so after I’ve been gone for 3 she might just forget all about me. She did throw a pretty medium sized temper tantrum as I left which was touching to say the least. I do have that going for me. Lastly, I’m worried about returning to find that some of the new kids have run back to the street. I’ve been told that they usually average staying at a new location for one month before missing their freedom and glue. So please, along with me, keep each one of these 37 new street kids in your prayers. The enemy is wanting to remind them of how great their life was on the street so lets counter act those thoughts by prayers for God to reveal the great plan he has for their life.