Planning for OP/Med day

Today we are going shopping for the OP day, we have planned for the day and what is the greatest need for the orphans so that we can purchase it at the local store in Kitale.  We have planned a visit to Leslie's orphan but the roads there are dirt and can be very slippery if it rains and yesterday and today have been cloudy, cold with some rain. Today may be the same and so that will dictate wheither we go or not.  The trip back to our guest house yesterday was nail biting as we had to access which side of the road to use and pray that we didn't slip into the ditch on the side.  Of course we made it and we will be setting out again soon.  My bag was lost at the airport but I am to receive it today.  I really didn't need all that I thouht I needed as I have made due with sharing with Leslie.  I might have had a bit more difficulty if she hadn't been with me.....but it has not been a terrible thing.  Please pray for better weather and that all preparations are finished before dark.  Debbie

--

Debbie
"We are moved by our love for Him!"
_______________
949 280-7987
Ordinary Women, Inc.
Joining Hands for Global Change
26861 Trabuco Rd. Suite E-146
Mission Viejo, Ca  92691-3535
www.ordinarywomen.org

First moments in Kenya

The flight here and experience at the Nairobi airport was familar to me and so I didn't feel strange or out of place. I'm glad to be back, to see the friends OWI and I have made over the years and to continue to work alongside them in whatever God calls this team to do. Yes we have an agenda but I am hoping that I hold it loosely so that it is His plans not mine that are fulfilled. We arrived at Mayfield later than we hoped to as one of my bags did not show up. I reported it to baggage claim and then left to greet our very good friend Gideon who was and has been there at every trip OWI has made in the last 7 years. He has gone over and above the call of hired driver to become a trusted friend and brother to us all. It was great to see him waiting there for us. After the introductions to our new traveler, Leslie and news of family shared, we jumped into our van and he quickly got us to. The Mayfied Guest House where we will stay for one night. As I tip toed around hoping to not wake the other guests, I thanked God for a safe trip, for sleep thru the night and a suitcase in the morning BEFORE we leave for Kitale in the morning.
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First moments in Kenya

The flight here and experience at the Nairobi airport was familar to me and so I didn't feel strange or out of place. I'm glad to be back, to see the friends OWI and I have made over the years and to continue to work alongside them in whatever God calls this team to do. Yes we have an agenda but I am hoping that I hold it loosely so that it is His plans not mine that are fulfilled. We arrived at Mayfield later than we hoped to as one of my bags did not show up. I reported it to baggage claim and then left to greet our very good friend Gideon who was and has been there at every trip OWI has made in the last 7 years. He has gone over and above the call of hired driver to become a trusted friend and brother to us all. It was great to see him waiting there for us. After the introductions to our new traveler, Leslie and news of family shared, we jumped into our van and he quickly got us to. The Mayfied Guest House where we will stay for one night. As I tip toed around hoping to not wake the other guests, I thanked God for a safe trip, for sleep thru the night and a suitcase in the morning BEFORE we leave for Kitale in the morning.
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OWI Kenya update, August 2010

Hello OWI friends,

 

The Ordinary Women, Inc. (OWI) Orphan Program which began in January, 2008 continues to run smoothly thanks to your faithful support.

 

The guardians who are a part of our Orphan Program (OP) have become a family in the last two years.  Before the OP started two and a half years ago, most of these guardians didn't even know each other.  Many of our guardians are widows.  In Kenya, when the husband dies, the husband's family is expected to take over caring for the widow and her children.  Most of the time, however, the husband's family blatantly takes any land, house, or personal posessions the widow has and leaves her with nothing but the children.  Some widows brought their own children into the program.  These orphans are considered half orphans in Kenya which means that the parent is completely destitute and has no way of supporting her children.  Some widows have taken in other orphans in our program that are not their own.  

 

Without this program, our orphans would be living on the streets.  Someone asked me just the other day, "then the government would step in and take over the care of the children?"  My response was, "No, there is no government assistance for these children.  They would be turned out to live on the streets, no matter how young they are".  We cannot imagine this in the United States, but it happens in Kenya, as well as in other countries all over the world.

 

So, these guardians have come together and have become an OWI family.  They come together each month and are led by the social workers of the OP.  They receive the monthly food allowance for the orphans.  Then, they are given training on a certain area that helps them be better guardians to our orphans. 

 

About one year ago, I started hearing of a savings program that the guardians were starting for themselves.  This came out of the need when one of our orphans passed away last year.  The guardian didn't have any money to bury our 8th grade orphan, Lorna.  OWI raised the money to give Lorna a proper burial.  The guardian wanted Lorna to be buried in her yard (which is still legal in this small village), so that's where the funeral and burial took place. 

 

From this tragedy, the guardians got together and started a savings account.  Each month, they each contribute 50 ksh (about 0.65 US) to the account.  Then, if there is an emergency or if they have a project they want to do, they can borrow money from the account.  They pay it back in payments each month with 10% interest.  They now have 30,000 ksh (about $410 US) in their account.  Some have borrowed money to buy small items for their homes, while some others have started small businesses like buying and selling of cereal, and vegetable growing and then selling of their crops.  This all benefits the guardians and orphans in our program. 

 

So, not only is your support and sponsorship providing the basic needs of food, clothing, education, and medical needs to the orphans, it's also empowering our guardians by being a part of a bigger family, and getting benefits from working together. 

 

Thank you so much for your ongoing support to our program.  Without you, this program would be non-existent.

 

If you are interested in supporting one of the orphans in our Orphan Program for just $35 a month, please go to our website at www.ordinarywomen.org and you can choose your orphan from the profiles.  Or you can write to us at:

 

                                         Ordinary Women, Inc

                                26861 Trabuco Road, Suite E#146

                                       Mission Viejo, Ca. 92691 

 

If you are no longer interested in receiving emails from OWI, please put "Unsubscribe" in the subject line and reply to this email.  Thank you.

 

 

Joining Hands for Global Change,

Darla Morfin

Ordinary Women, Inc.

Executive Director- OWI Orphan Program