tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50927713518505130312024-02-20T05:07:09.973-08:00An Oasis of Hope in Kitale, KenyaStories from Oasis of Hope: an organization working with orphaned street children in Kitale,Kenya as told by Lydia Monroe aka: Mama Oasis....a woman who went on a two week trip to Kenya in 2004...and found out that Kenya was where she was always meant to be....Mama Oasishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032004716161828008noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092771351850513031.post-51745196796895058442011-03-18T11:38:00.000-07:002011-03-18T11:38:02.769-07:00Playing 'Catch Up'It is time for a quick game of 'Catch Up'. Here is what has been happening at Oasis of Hope since our last post:<br />
<br />
<b>Hoping For Change Program</b><br />
<br />
The 'Hoping for Change' participants really came through! Over $2,000 in pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters (and strangely... 1 silver dollar) was collected in December- just in time to give the kids at Oasis of Hope a great Christmas.<br />
<br />
Allison Hibbard and I sat outside of a Starbucks in Lake Forest on a sunny Saturday and collected the over 200 pounds of change collected by the truly awesome young men and women who had faithfully deposited their pocket change into official and unofficial change jars for the past several months.<br />
<br />
It was a day full of sunshine, memories, coffee and endless counting, counting, counting as the change piled up. So...here is a shout out to Matt Gillen, Andrew Drey, Allison Hibbard, Sasha Hagenlock, Ryan Hacker, Taylor Shanton, Alex Phillips, The Frum Family, Jessica Powers, Phil Chenery, Cody Fields, Cory Tomlinson, Hannah Grady, David Hughes, Bre Dougherty; Pastor Steve, Connie and Caroline Rutenbar, John Corona, Jeff Burt and Teve Fulton who saved up their coins for the kids at Oasis.<br />
<br />
An unexpected surprise were the visits by long-time Oasis friends Don and Karoline Thompson, Jaclyn Grant, Debbie Trentacost, and Julie Hibbard who came by to not only say 'Hi', but to drop off donation checks for Oasis. They all left with their own 'Hoping for Change' jars as well!<br />
<br />
Now if we could just figure out what to do with the pile of Kenyan shillings, Mexican Pesos, Ukrainian Kopiyka and the mysterious bullet shell that came out of Pastor Steve's jar! I'm sure his next jar will contain Haitian and Japanese coins as well! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQa0mewnMD0UQdxAPdHIGyYMXVGm5Jer15iY5BrCQ1HaGuq2jlMdozNxJtexV0sUkDku6NMZSNMdh2TT0ji7tU54RO1MHgjHEjo96ZQtPbc0rKqqRpuMJIGJEcGeiZ87u8_0rTOHAzlyI/s1600/IMG_1325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQa0mewnMD0UQdxAPdHIGyYMXVGm5Jer15iY5BrCQ1HaGuq2jlMdozNxJtexV0sUkDku6NMZSNMdh2TT0ji7tU54RO1MHgjHEjo96ZQtPbc0rKqqRpuMJIGJEcGeiZ87u8_0rTOHAzlyI/s320/IMG_1325.jpg" /></a></div>Oasis of Hope's dearest friend: Pastor Steve Rutenbar<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbH6oX9I_N6RCxuik1B47t31f7MW7R1RdzI1I8Fo56WGyjliwZMlVgIV6_18Z0uC6AK8bYdAMmwrkP78dWotJ9QbiRIK1Js1e1iQDMGB-EvgqzXFs0xp2qw5ksJw67jRkjUX5AKfM6Q78/s1600/IMG_1321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbH6oX9I_N6RCxuik1B47t31f7MW7R1RdzI1I8Fo56WGyjliwZMlVgIV6_18Z0uC6AK8bYdAMmwrkP78dWotJ9QbiRIK1Js1e1iQDMGB-EvgqzXFs0xp2qw5ksJw67jRkjUX5AKfM6Q78/s320/IMG_1321.JPG" /></a></div>Allison Hibbard, Matt Gillen and Andrew Drey counting coins<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQlXe767Z2IjMiNbH-ep6ZfBDHkMQnQFmvbDmd9i2lV4D2ch523F3vGzJu9YM4fYtXn2qBHWPLQ5eB79i4z074T_zungjU-MqX77vUzl9bJeohnXTI-evl4YwSc7I8boNc6-hFBSpFL3Q/s1600/IMG_1323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQlXe767Z2IjMiNbH-ep6ZfBDHkMQnQFmvbDmd9i2lV4D2ch523F3vGzJu9YM4fYtXn2qBHWPLQ5eB79i4z074T_zungjU-MqX77vUzl9bJeohnXTI-evl4YwSc7I8boNc6-hFBSpFL3Q/s320/IMG_1323.JPG" /></a></div>Phil Chenery, Taylor Shanton and Ryan Hacker with Pastor Steve<br />
<br />
If you have a full jar of change ready to donate or would like to receive an official 'Hoping for Change' jar - write to Lydia at oasisofhope@mac.com.<br />
<br />
<b>Christmas at Oasis of Hope</b><br />
<br />
Christmas at Oasis means a new set of clothes, a special meal, and getting to watch a movie! <br />
<br />
Thanks to the 'Hoping for Change' donations and the gifts of several other dear friends of Oasis...we were able to make sure that the children of Oasis had their special day again this year. <br />
<br />
Here are some of the photos Christmas at Oasis 2010:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRYH8sikPYd_8886mfkVmuReGc6gRixc3ztp1iY3J1nllvlUoI3ttz8Fe5MN4UNtd1DIB-feSF-qnYepKopJLYuy3BiBnXkbWdrgOHeVEDX5QpOrJORxs_5EcfHJ0-4UXq1sdpF09lGgU/s1600/DSCF1509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRYH8sikPYd_8886mfkVmuReGc6gRixc3ztp1iY3J1nllvlUoI3ttz8Fe5MN4UNtd1DIB-feSF-qnYepKopJLYuy3BiBnXkbWdrgOHeVEDX5QpOrJORxs_5EcfHJ0-4UXq1sdpF09lGgU/s320/DSCF1509.JPG" /></a></div>The 'great hall' is filled with happy children dressed in their new Christmas outfits!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEiPQZCMSNHaHsh1m6EULN2OPngjPXKtUj0D9pHbn5ibxFiD67boDKepy9imeM17RUTKY_ra4IwrcNfoi8RLvZDMBJ-TdhVQfP1PIBg6TGruHIHF1oIY7tQydzhLCt5W8QGiKMj5XmDI/s1600/DSCF1539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEiPQZCMSNHaHsh1m6EULN2OPngjPXKtUj0D9pHbn5ibxFiD67boDKepy9imeM17RUTKY_ra4IwrcNfoi8RLvZDMBJ-TdhVQfP1PIBg6TGruHIHF1oIY7tQydzhLCt5W8QGiKMj5XmDI/s320/DSCF1539.JPG" /></a></div>Little girls everywhere love new dresses!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJbduL0gN4KFrpW4t1eRXOQqEdaWonJdNUlZA3sCP-Z9uqWDT_coFcTHEovF6DD-qtGslfGfvW4EbNIWpXLTVVQUPgtCdQNj_0XoUXmxnbPKCMdTxIPxBYZQez41avW7c29t9M-mLSoE/s1600/DSCF1523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJbduL0gN4KFrpW4t1eRXOQqEdaWonJdNUlZA3sCP-Z9uqWDT_coFcTHEovF6DD-qtGslfGfvW4EbNIWpXLTVVQUPgtCdQNj_0XoUXmxnbPKCMdTxIPxBYZQez41avW7c29t9M-mLSoE/s320/DSCF1523.JPG" /></a></div>Hundreds and hundreds of Chapati flatbreads were prepared by the staff of Oasis to top the Christmas beef stew and rice that made up a very special (and filling!) Christmas meal served to the children of Oasis of Hope.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrXF3xvZzE5xg9nnOH4aEPKCGY3mEY31woTpL6F0G1F_hqsKriqsGaKppmknsvwBFxC6uofjGe6i_5Ehky3kKnkymP1vv_I7QzLUrEaoxBvmw6J348zn91miyCkCHvUN3Yj-ap7lgTjc/s1600/DSCF1513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrXF3xvZzE5xg9nnOH4aEPKCGY3mEY31woTpL6F0G1F_hqsKriqsGaKppmknsvwBFxC6uofjGe6i_5Ehky3kKnkymP1vv_I7QzLUrEaoxBvmw6J348zn91miyCkCHvUN3Yj-ap7lgTjc/s320/DSCF1513.JPG" /></a></div>Headmaster Joseph reads the Christmas letter from Lydia before the showing of the movie.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8GkRoWjFjp5rcAHd3hyphenhyphenzpzKjLyrwRKiipJugHH6fTFZ1c_cesiCUCHIGmGg0GuLphZKz05fKZNEiJvl5DzeB3A1p3swXLlRndbP5uLcaFpq-Q-O9-624kr1x6UkmyMQDmydDgdGY45M/s1600/DSCF1516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8GkRoWjFjp5rcAHd3hyphenhyphenzpzKjLyrwRKiipJugHH6fTFZ1c_cesiCUCHIGmGg0GuLphZKz05fKZNEiJvl5DzeB3A1p3swXLlRndbP5uLcaFpq-Q-O9-624kr1x6UkmyMQDmydDgdGY45M/s320/DSCF1516.JPG" /></a></div>Over 200 children received new Christmas outfits!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDo82W44m9qvXI7SRe9xhs8BNzB6uiJhCS1uCFMSbcZj-uo2TIWHDbBBXFmY17GUPQOYYwX_5apwbEPcF5G44rsIdN6BHhGJPOz4sqp66zCdJOlZbZ7Giheo3uMB-GXsPIeOotGWTUVcA/s1600/DSCF1581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDo82W44m9qvXI7SRe9xhs8BNzB6uiJhCS1uCFMSbcZj-uo2TIWHDbBBXFmY17GUPQOYYwX_5apwbEPcF5G44rsIdN6BHhGJPOz4sqp66zCdJOlZbZ7Giheo3uMB-GXsPIeOotGWTUVcA/s320/DSCF1581.JPG" /></a></div>The teen boys from Group Homes 1 and 2 are happy to pose for the camera wearing their cool new Christmas outfits! (Oasis of Hope's Managing Director Geoffrey Okumu is in the center of the photo)<br />
<br />
<b>Six new High Schoolers!</b><br />
<br />
The results of the annual Kenya Primary Certification Exam (KPCE) arrived in late December. This rigorous 3-day exam is given to all Class 8 students in Kenya in late November. Six of the eight Oasis of Hope students who took the exam passed and became candidates for High School. <br />
<br />
The competition to be admitted to a good high school is fierce- but, by the end of January 2011- all six of the Oasis 'candidates': Steward, Shaaban, Edwin, Moses, Paul and Nancy were making preparations to begin their new lives boarding at 4 different schools in Western Kenya.<br />
<br />
Can't you just feel the excitement and the nervousness that these boys are feeling as the get ready to register for school?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FvQrXAVUB4dvLvTgLOLeAFiJLTCwYKiyZY6tnoPDA70bqCofD-d_qRyHxcCgnQ9M6uBGPSLdvGzNjyxp7_YNWtgXoqFhoH6pO1k1AhHx83EUzqaUn09v70vRt_QSmhNBpqOE3xWcL8Q/s1600/DSCF1700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FvQrXAVUB4dvLvTgLOLeAFiJLTCwYKiyZY6tnoPDA70bqCofD-d_qRyHxcCgnQ9M6uBGPSLdvGzNjyxp7_YNWtgXoqFhoH6pO1k1AhHx83EUzqaUn09v70vRt_QSmhNBpqOE3xWcL8Q/s320/DSCF1700.JPG" /></a></div>Paul, Edwin, Moses and Steward make one last check that they have all the 'boarding supplies' required by their schools.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnOHak5xjNFp2BzTghGyfP146LKv0S5Co8iu6TmJZ1wsn9DWXIBWUY7-61j3ssboXxSajYCwjrGJ21WxFFF4nGD-eSlMFW5JhT3OrhVDoBUtgTUCesKz-0CWOFQYv7Jo6IvTzus4ZOEg/s1600/DSCF1706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnOHak5xjNFp2BzTghGyfP146LKv0S5Co8iu6TmJZ1wsn9DWXIBWUY7-61j3ssboXxSajYCwjrGJ21WxFFF4nGD-eSlMFW5JhT3OrhVDoBUtgTUCesKz-0CWOFQYv7Jo6IvTzus4ZOEg/s320/DSCF1706.JPG" /></a></div>Steward, Edwin and Paul pose proudly in the uniform of their new school: Kabuwefwe Boys High School. Finally, they get to wear the long trousers of a high school student! No more Primary school shorts!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-rcu8pAIw6r7B_Wgk4oStwQwnhQ2BHH0uVMEdUHgEoRQiUj9_bGoxWqty69x0uNBXy_puq-_HLXYT8tZ07M1agEKMVMJcSO1tR6DmCPdPqswtxSDqhL-OA4RK10fFE_h-2mUH-2rlc0/s1600/Form+Ones+2011+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="291" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-rcu8pAIw6r7B_Wgk4oStwQwnhQ2BHH0uVMEdUHgEoRQiUj9_bGoxWqty69x0uNBXy_puq-_HLXYT8tZ07M1agEKMVMJcSO1tR6DmCPdPqswtxSDqhL-OA4RK10fFE_h-2mUH-2rlc0/s320/Form+Ones+2011+013.jpg" /></a></div>Paul, Moses, Edwin and Steward pose with Olivia Okumu as they get ready to go to their respective schools for registration day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqutG_hdjpvvSpxKLQjQ6bgmiMG0eOKujc_ZC2o9hPZ25giH3UPCS4SpdUqwqG-_au4pbmJ0VXSJj6UtaYAfJ5brBzGxAdgFwcESwMPKCc8nCZT1b95UiH8jFvASZI3vE7_YVO1y-EbgA/s1600/Form+Ones+2011+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqutG_hdjpvvSpxKLQjQ6bgmiMG0eOKujc_ZC2o9hPZ25giH3UPCS4SpdUqwqG-_au4pbmJ0VXSJj6UtaYAfJ5brBzGxAdgFwcESwMPKCc8nCZT1b95UiH8jFvASZI3vE7_YVO1y-EbgA/s320/Form+Ones+2011+023.jpg" /></a></div>Steward sits at a high school desk for the first time!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YTxVnWv_AvSi96bHZT4cOOKnKJhFmyNlyZS3AMrOZfYBFDtRaL-sWwICL0b0zDfuhINRxkJYpxKKgGPxDVVYbyOQTdtJCb05vYZvFwLwuz_Z2BaTz0m4Oc9WOjk2LQEby1DG0Yx86Cg/s1600/DSCF1718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YTxVnWv_AvSi96bHZT4cOOKnKJhFmyNlyZS3AMrOZfYBFDtRaL-sWwICL0b0zDfuhINRxkJYpxKKgGPxDVVYbyOQTdtJCb05vYZvFwLwuz_Z2BaTz0m4Oc9WOjk2LQEby1DG0Yx86Cg/s320/DSCF1718.JPG" /></a></div>Moses is lucky. He is enrolling at Kamusinde High School where his 'brother' Kevin (now a 2nd year student) will show him around and introduce him to his fellow students.<br />
<br />
*Note: as soon as photos of Nancy and Shaaban are available- I will post those too.<br />
<br />
<b>It's Camp time again!</b><br />
<br />
When the calendar page turns to February it can only mean one thing to the kids at Oasis: Saddleback Camp! Once again this year, our wonderful friends from Saddleback Church's HSM (high school ministry) led by Katie Edwards, Ryanne Witt and Josh Griffin brought a team of High Schoolers to Oasis of Hope to put on what has become the favorite event of the year.<br />
<br />
The three days of camp were filled with games, crafts, Bible Stories, skits and FUN! I wish I could post photos from the camp - but unfortunately, Geoffrey's camera died right before camp began. I'd love it if some of the camp participants emailed some of their favorite pics to me at oasisofhope@mac.com so that I could give a visual of the great time that was had by everybody during these 3 amazing days (hint, hint!).<br />
<br />
On behalf everyone at Oasis, I want to give a big THANK-YOU to all of you that love Oasis and who show your love by visiting, giving to, praying for and spreading the word about Oasis of Hope! And if you are reading this...I'd love it if you left a comment! <br />
<br />
Mungu akubariki sana....May God bless you very much!Mama Oasishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032004716161828008noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092771351850513031.post-35437794021516429442010-12-03T16:48:00.000-08:002011-03-18T07:49:46.313-07:00Oasis of Hope is...... "Hoping for Change"<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDc8yWC_EwlTUyo9AOANkn5HtOWE7CPjN1P6AGLriwQGwOySVDGjUwFO5taaDMVkHrCbKsweyeDn4OpNK70YZ4Duyz8uN3zhbt2pzxrYAIMqQrfzaM8gV4GGaZZpMC1NIE_qmN6gUvT1Y/s1600/IMG_3222.jpg"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">When Oasis was born back in 2004- our dream was to be able to help the street children, orphans and vulnerable kids of Kitale. We reached out to children who slept on the street at night, to children who slept in tiny mud huts in the slums surrounding Kitale. We reached out to kids that couldn't go to school because despite Kenya's "free" public school laws-they didn't have money to buy a uniform. We reached out to children who are the cast-offs, the unwanteds, the ones that Jesus called the 'least of these'. We reached out and they came.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-t9stGJ_r910zoNbaxm8i6zNKowhWb-5l2tDFBA4xvxvWpSzBM-w6MaKbXD7BDC-Oe2gTkhtLCLdk7RpPr7ft0ocIXUMoW5pZQfnhTsKKgv-e99vLWMZ8mwRF9jnNcALuI7TaE8gh5r0/s1600/StreetMinistry091_1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-t9stGJ_r910zoNbaxm8i6zNKowhWb-5l2tDFBA4xvxvWpSzBM-w6MaKbXD7BDC-Oe2gTkhtLCLdk7RpPr7ft0ocIXUMoW5pZQfnhTsKKgv-e99vLWMZ8mwRF9jnNcALuI7TaE8gh5r0/s320/StreetMinistry091_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546651183829547154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYcZ9rQjG3zzwoWdsHT5kxnGQe83G0YAT9ExMChqvwXUU2XDdHGuKh2zRmIrLDICCsoFheZZRHqWtwdRaCGXzra7MAvvL5Wiuohff1mwPBPyoUg5uhZEmER9WviWpD3exWkEYwCfr83Y/s1600/oasis+of+hope+trip+1038.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYcZ9rQjG3zzwoWdsHT5kxnGQe83G0YAT9ExMChqvwXUU2XDdHGuKh2zRmIrLDICCsoFheZZRHqWtwdRaCGXzra7MAvvL5Wiuohff1mwPBPyoUg5uhZEmER9WviWpD3exWkEYwCfr83Y/s320/oasis+of+hope+trip+1038.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546651181589942066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYcZ9rQjG3zzwoWdsHT5kxnGQe83G0YAT9ExMChqvwXUU2XDdHGuKh2zRmIrLDICCsoFheZZRHqWtwdRaCGXzra7MAvvL5Wiuohff1mwPBPyoUg5uhZEmER9WviWpD3exWkEYwCfr83Y/s1600/oasis+of+hope+trip+1038.jpg"></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">They came from the middle of Kitale town and they came from the slums. These slums have names like Namanjalala, Matisi, Tuani and Shimo la Tewa...musical names that roll off of the tongue - but, in actuality places where no child should live. These are slums full of violence and hunger and sadness. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5XXDtcs3xc8iKKN8zQrA8S4IodMKVP587cPNpkUQh1vRV3yodTvfUEu48meZPKBjBYZo_W5pI4Vuuq81JAhRH3nF3IWZGmNsIDazMmaYYzpbNy_2D6eEIbakFPbNcNKbAkX9wnug9dA/s1600/IMG_1904.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5XXDtcs3xc8iKKN8zQrA8S4IodMKVP587cPNpkUQh1vRV3yodTvfUEu48meZPKBjBYZo_W5pI4Vuuq81JAhRH3nF3IWZGmNsIDazMmaYYzpbNy_2D6eEIbakFPbNcNKbAkX9wnug9dA/s320/IMG_1904.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546659716476613042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMFl4taOz4f_7wpBqSYyJ2FE7qWeH2FS1fhsN6DwYxW4niv99otideqh2g9aR9nHDZxJtMPAP7bgbIOzIOecaJ5YqdNT9TkuX-fguoF6Z1oBsJN6tTIe_E0nWYeds8wQSFYvQdBMoqtw/s1600/IMG_2015.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMFl4taOz4f_7wpBqSYyJ2FE7qWeH2FS1fhsN6DwYxW4niv99otideqh2g9aR9nHDZxJtMPAP7bgbIOzIOecaJ5YqdNT9TkuX-fguoF6Z1oBsJN6tTIe_E0nWYeds8wQSFYvQdBMoqtw/s320/IMG_2015.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546659709717772546" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MpCHQSS695w09_dMGfRbclI_9ZEXHyVoEEjujuTk5Acm6Xea-6S2p5ELat1TI-mYRxEeg-T6GJQN3JZK2QMpUG7sikVxKBUoaTBmhZbFFP8XNwP5VCxIC_jRlUy6jUHZSnGmtwflLMk/s1600/IMG_1957.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MpCHQSS695w09_dMGfRbclI_9ZEXHyVoEEjujuTk5Acm6Xea-6S2p5ELat1TI-mYRxEeg-T6GJQN3JZK2QMpUG7sikVxKBUoaTBmhZbFFP8XNwP5VCxIC_jRlUy6jUHZSnGmtwflLMk/s320/IMG_1957.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546659705900623874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Oasis of Hope was formed to be exactly what its name implies - an OASIS from the struggles that no child should have to contend with. And so, six years later - over 200 children eat, and have decent clothes to wear, are receiving an education and are routinely cured from illnesses like malaria and typhoid that most likely would have killed them had they not come to Oasis of Hope.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmudhIHkfQlo_nBhJlXAKqVx3y5hl-yn-T1jsC8HQY70pk6Sprv4G3v64K6GmLKWqaAoPLwS3H2tJp0pIBLb6Dt-E0wLdtDNHIYaHQkKTnK3mmRRNiTWXeXgKgk7Dt7XdSkmy8ADSCwA/s1600/ygp1B9FMA10892744-0006.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmudhIHkfQlo_nBhJlXAKqVx3y5hl-yn-T1jsC8HQY70pk6Sprv4G3v64K6GmLKWqaAoPLwS3H2tJp0pIBLb6Dt-E0wLdtDNHIYaHQkKTnK3mmRRNiTWXeXgKgk7Dt7XdSkmy8ADSCwA/s320/ygp1B9FMA10892744-0006.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546652187903285890" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7l7C_OWjOBrYxYX_lSU5NC2YMeq_K8OS9e1QsySDX9Xg9CuICvlZ64OL9J8P_StnSabC9095zXgWJ0UI2uH_WN8AudGeJLGSZzGPtmdioA2sCULG6_gObm_SZ4yypaweFk0u0MvGGpPk/s1600/oasis+of+hope+trip+975.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7l7C_OWjOBrYxYX_lSU5NC2YMeq_K8OS9e1QsySDX9Xg9CuICvlZ64OL9J8P_StnSabC9095zXgWJ0UI2uH_WN8AudGeJLGSZzGPtmdioA2sCULG6_gObm_SZ4yypaweFk0u0MvGGpPk/s320/oasis+of+hope+trip+975.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546655605384955202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UB6mufq-5t7VgOeAnhJEBfFN46q0heNmDazq1eVhaDuMzYvSF5uAhFP15xW8gy8937ftoJX5yB0vUGSd-Qt60XZ5W6Oah2sbV8aTjGo13qZkoA6EamYr_snh_xhA23UmAyRUPkTeWYs/s320/Medical+supplies+015.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546664382119264402" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6CL1whyphenhyphenzbWX6PgL6N4CY5QKu9pT92xSnFjy3uREGjGMW-UCd3rdgKj1H0BRYiJv28cq9_s6Por73vrOzI6x6OcxiNSI3xs7SrvvDOdtoMGbn26bl-0DrKwNzQEllejQm7hvzoebhvt0/s1600/DSCF1398.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6CL1whyphenhyphenzbWX6PgL6N4CY5QKu9pT92xSnFjy3uREGjGMW-UCd3rdgKj1H0BRYiJv28cq9_s6Por73vrOzI6x6OcxiNSI3xs7SrvvDOdtoMGbn26bl-0DrKwNzQEllejQm7hvzoebhvt0/s320/DSCF1398.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546655593599479298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOheBqipDOIyu9RdT5qTs9J4TWN4tpGPPovHPjAmrUtfdF5Lvk13ZhLY1UFoBGjAqFQ2tLfRxaK9ygOgoaCELrhEmxKsAXlRo2suzBGNE4iEQAqE83pFyj4aXZCa2V8tObk1oNky4Enk/s1600/DSCF0390.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOheBqipDOIyu9RdT5qTs9J4TWN4tpGPPovHPjAmrUtfdF5Lvk13ZhLY1UFoBGjAqFQ2tLfRxaK9ygOgoaCELrhEmxKsAXlRo2suzBGNE4iEQAqE83pFyj4aXZCa2V8tObk1oNky4Enk/s320/DSCF0390.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546655577796088098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></u></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">When we began this venture, we knew that we were following God's call on our hearts to help the children of Kitale, Kenya. And when we succeeded in doing this - we rejoiced! But, sometimes when you set out to do one thing - there are other happy results that you never anticipated. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Since the doors of Oasis opened in September of 2004 - well over 500 visitors from American, England, Germany, Mexico, Holland and other parts of the globe have come through the doors of the Children's Centre thinking that they were there to 'help'. And help they did. But, they also went home profoundly changed. As I always say to people who mention that they want to visit Africa, "Be very, very sure before you go. Because there is no such thing as going to Africa once. Your life will be never be the same and you need to be ready for that before you go." </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Oasis has taught people that joy is something that can be felt in the most humble of circumstances. The people - especially the children- of Kenya are joyous. They have so little.... much less than the average American would be comfortable with. And yet, there is that pervasive joy....and the kind of faith that we rarely see in our busy, technology-filled, too-much-stuff lives. Hundreds of people have told me that going to Oasis was a turning point in their lives. They have told me that the children of Oasis - in their humble poverty and illuminating joy taught them more about the gigantic love that God has for us than anything else that they had ever experienced.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67uS8F1GWXDtXp1um3n3wM3MshMDLMU1FcPO2d8bZSDFztGX6ZQKnkQDWLOYIYJCtJpTa5mASsIXPoUEnoXt3Yh4D9TjKNl9325BHhycyouZnAffA6T3pjuhRzTGyWgADMDFPiW8CkN4/s1600/oasis+of+hope+trip+652.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67uS8F1GWXDtXp1um3n3wM3MshMDLMU1FcPO2d8bZSDFztGX6ZQKnkQDWLOYIYJCtJpTa5mASsIXPoUEnoXt3Yh4D9TjKNl9325BHhycyouZnAffA6T3pjuhRzTGyWgADMDFPiW8CkN4/s320/oasis+of+hope+trip+652.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546662026881472226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VFEXWu-gT3K4KvmdXWJHhc6_rtg9cSb7uyBU3pHD-Jn2EVkIoYeaEIbqxVK7IZtt3mftGhFs5AzBznfwYFy-RwysoldfUSFFRZCT3n5hUDhTUHvi94NgEKaB5VZ6cZRRnrywWA0Gxj0/s1600/Kelly+and+group+024.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VFEXWu-gT3K4KvmdXWJHhc6_rtg9cSb7uyBU3pHD-Jn2EVkIoYeaEIbqxVK7IZtt3mftGhFs5AzBznfwYFy-RwysoldfUSFFRZCT3n5hUDhTUHvi94NgEKaB5VZ6cZRRnrywWA0Gxj0/s320/Kelly+and+group+024.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546662018628094274" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRCvfGAbMG8ie3FUgFlH1VhHy3RfMcygXzEwNxEz66wO4SMXxQoXw0VeqOO2qhxWuQSLEPRs3J1NIe4RnDUibmnHhgoRKK2MLVjwOem8IAcvn5nvsDquuiCnlGCJBfLRwgBgyrZU9N-Q/s1600/oasis+of+hope+trip+1118.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRCvfGAbMG8ie3FUgFlH1VhHy3RfMcygXzEwNxEz66wO4SMXxQoXw0VeqOO2qhxWuQSLEPRs3J1NIe4RnDUibmnHhgoRKK2MLVjwOem8IAcvn5nvsDquuiCnlGCJBfLRwgBgyrZU9N-Q/s320/oasis+of+hope+trip+1118.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546662006158116034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEj5c88EYdrZe3azjynWxLFB46OhMFTUnKJYQZsewUcXhqyfHadIEMiHDh6N81uM_5Lb7qvcsp1-1taHqAqlOzTSh-LY8E1v1jhN8Ckd4s8E193OURliuocNKvRSsYGEcdw966XdV7k0/s1600/africa+sandy+004.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEj5c88EYdrZe3azjynWxLFB46OhMFTUnKJYQZsewUcXhqyfHadIEMiHDh6N81uM_5Lb7qvcsp1-1taHqAqlOzTSh-LY8E1v1jhN8Ckd4s8E193OURliuocNKvRSsYGEcdw966XdV7k0/s320/africa+sandy+004.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546662002541614178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Over half of these visitors have been teenagers and young adults from Saddleback Church. They come with the Saddleback HSM and Wildside Ministries to put on an annual 3-day 'camp' at Oasis. It is 3 days of games and crafts and singing. It may not sound like much - but to the kids at Oasis of Hope it is a trip to Disneyland and Santa Claus and Heaven all rolled into one. Saddleback has put on this camp every year for the past 6 years and some of the Oasis kids have had the joy of attending all 6 times. For kids whose lives consist mostly of a kind of poverty that we can barely imagine - the 6 years of 'camp' memories to savor and remember are quite possibly the very best memories of their lives. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpHxg18AwyPWMni1KZ_NhfMXdc3B6r4CctCPvEtO7yv0nIfndoyxzrQfmNIdu2pxKjFGI3fQuV8GquwENPX5Z1mdjeGR0Yz_E19tf8zO0ZsheaUXssZ3QusWHc6MTS3rEE5aQ85YjBMQ/s320/DownloadedFile-16.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546659720298108706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4woxB5IVPudURqj7IjGZtBe8ABRFuctWqy9B13Emvr2pMo3rqE_stGJMJqVNcMel80TyuiXuvP-8DGdEJuZ8P4gUfmixLy3pVQsu45G7VJnHckM53j5Qe3KcQiEnoidLNTkZRT001F7g/s1600/n535645662_2343385_172.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4woxB5IVPudURqj7IjGZtBe8ABRFuctWqy9B13Emvr2pMo3rqE_stGJMJqVNcMel80TyuiXuvP-8DGdEJuZ8P4gUfmixLy3pVQsu45G7VJnHckM53j5Qe3KcQiEnoidLNTkZRT001F7g/s320/n535645662_2343385_172.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546651200425473154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FQhyphenhyphenoISMVq8vhLFR2MTazypAx_u4RyBA9Unol1ssqCF1pxeoYpgB30PK4E8HSQFL0nd-IOHd6frlbCsffju36AsRw2TC5UXARTzihIzdGlxRTf-YEYyOfttowzx2h1EuqvnpM1GueKk/s1600/26194_1306047903829_1609486690_30751695_4619847_n.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FQhyphenhyphenoISMVq8vhLFR2MTazypAx_u4RyBA9Unol1ssqCF1pxeoYpgB30PK4E8HSQFL0nd-IOHd6frlbCsffju36AsRw2TC5UXARTzihIzdGlxRTf-YEYyOfttowzx2h1EuqvnpM1GueKk/s320/26194_1306047903829_1609486690_30751695_4619847_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546651198172440722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmitmMvr0VRTBe49JfaKtMjXQSIqQAyQxskNKuRJM4YIZBNpc2mypW3Rc1fMUkn0uebsWp2b1t8key9dG8liH3BVuNsI8dn9Myc0RKqCe5jfYrNnWhN5W-jsDLPv62LhLfFx_1wlqjqdk/s1600/elise.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmitmMvr0VRTBe49JfaKtMjXQSIqQAyQxskNKuRJM4YIZBNpc2mypW3Rc1fMUkn0uebsWp2b1t8key9dG8liH3BVuNsI8dn9Myc0RKqCe5jfYrNnWhN5W-jsDLPv62LhLfFx_1wlqjqdk/s320/elise.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546651189988114594" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px; " /></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZwff2km70pXSeJ30JgQIyoHXW_kxE5wjHa3lpjby1xBNNJ-Hf-yCpPEoQabHiIXyG7XyjvMwYFaRkGU7Dm0HRE8uZlJywekPXC11MCIsnmzIYa2mJvUF3fxXGcDCv8MHK0P2kUOP1Fs/s1600/26086_552638242939_156801621_31962715_4452388_n.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZwff2km70pXSeJ30JgQIyoHXW_kxE5wjHa3lpjby1xBNNJ-Hf-yCpPEoQabHiIXyG7XyjvMwYFaRkGU7Dm0HRE8uZlJywekPXC11MCIsnmzIYa2mJvUF3fxXGcDCv8MHK0P2kUOP1Fs/s320/26086_552638242939_156801621_31962715_4452388_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546652173570410770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDc5mp7-0ujxBGrw-NMOTBJozuo4mO0XSQYin22Vt-pIDOMQcsY8sz3VydRFOjYtIwS7xHEGB3scQfotcOx6llWW54uxfboC9LsATsDMYOHtIjPlUI7O1QbBgl5lNOSVB6uT9fOR5z19c/s1600/cheering+blue.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDc5mp7-0ujxBGrw-NMOTBJozuo4mO0XSQYin22Vt-pIDOMQcsY8sz3VydRFOjYtIwS7xHEGB3scQfotcOx6llWW54uxfboC9LsATsDMYOHtIjPlUI7O1QbBgl5lNOSVB6uT9fOR5z19c/s320/cheering+blue.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546652169399435938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqC5uo2T9QQhxWkRiZ2AK4i6HWI7sXxlVwHupYPBNZG3wXY71r0FdigRtalN18fJoacKytZl2qh4wjPnsH5mrkk7f_2oFsaA-13ipEq5tVgbsWZ6NYfyFUBq1hLZLwBgrjnOoJc5w48I/s1600/dancing1.jpg"></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqC5uo2T9QQhxWkRiZ2AK4i6HWI7sXxlVwHupYPBNZG3wXY71r0FdigRtalN18fJoacKytZl2qh4wjPnsH5mrkk7f_2oFsaA-13ipEq5tVgbsWZ6NYfyFUBq1hLZLwBgrjnOoJc5w48I/s1600/dancing1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqC5uo2T9QQhxWkRiZ2AK4i6HWI7sXxlVwHupYPBNZG3wXY71r0FdigRtalN18fJoacKytZl2qh4wjPnsH5mrkk7f_2oFsaA-13ipEq5tVgbsWZ6NYfyFUBq1hLZLwBgrjnOoJc5w48I/s320/dancing1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546652163274910818" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge59GHaSyUiHJGRKzRu29dJGm1uBaB-tLHcPqPWaA-ho-JIYfmS0qK7p7XCDLPCTvYRxxy_flSGUtt6ImetQmmsgzVlgAsHAU_TrE38J6EESeMMh6a_Bi8EHoS_2FnRCoDbXbBtHBK4WU/s320/DSCF1712.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546659698954449106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">But, it isn't just the kids at Oasis of Hope who take memories away from camp. The Junior High and High School Students go home with new eyes and new hearts and a burning desire to go back to Kitale and to Oasis of Hope as soon as they can. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Over the past 3 summers- Saddleback Church has also held the Kitale Leadership Institute where up to 20 College aged young adults have spent 2-3 months in Kitale. Oasis of Hope has been the central meeting place for their summer ministry and I have been amazed to see how God has changed the hearts of these students. They came to Kitale for a summer adventure and to 'help' people and they leave utterly transformed - with broken hearts and eyes that have been completely opened to God's love, mercy and grace. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0jya9aREVtfLgV9MoNWH2NxPoLE9aSOeylhVLFHdBV7ewWiPMMZ-yDz_vLx-k6VPd921BGuf2NVyf0chDcQhGxrJ2cOss0jtFm63A5lD5ZCKEA4kE8-gk7P4pEeDM3jPglUxk5AABPs/s320/l_ffeeb267a1aa42243f7a066d0ccfb16b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546662030585516290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UB6mufq-5t7VgOeAnhJEBfFN46q0heNmDazq1eVhaDuMzYvSF5uAhFP15xW8gy8937ftoJX5yB0vUGSd-Qt60XZ5W6Oah2sbV8aTjGo13qZkoA6EamYr_snh_xhA23UmAyRUPkTeWYs/s1600/Medical+supplies+015.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhQuXsww3a7SeGur3zuatJLw1hvqFDSbYnN522aQ9guSRxH-k80e-ynDOYmVUZK58AQCf2sfY9mUjNB7OHXU6hyphenhyphenMseWl8fyTYulNXklRb43EncZIk0uRbsZoIbZkwpAa3OLuKmvceN3E/s1600/IMG_3563.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhQuXsww3a7SeGur3zuatJLw1hvqFDSbYnN522aQ9guSRxH-k80e-ynDOYmVUZK58AQCf2sfY9mUjNB7OHXU6hyphenhyphenMseWl8fyTYulNXklRb43EncZIk0uRbsZoIbZkwpAa3OLuKmvceN3E/s320/IMG_3563.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546664374842232018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtHln_bum3iLTuRFyDJmARMzlp4Pcl8ShIlAGHQFq7Qa-Rz9wG2p_UVUXGjF01Lam8T3cfjrWc5Icos8n3RL7cqfERdvBRZTTM_gofIdNA0-CnSGuylo1L4mqDjuzjIAsWvipko9rkT8/s1600/Bre+and+Matt+enjoy+the+ocassion.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtHln_bum3iLTuRFyDJmARMzlp4Pcl8ShIlAGHQFq7Qa-Rz9wG2p_UVUXGjF01Lam8T3cfjrWc5Icos8n3RL7cqfERdvBRZTTM_gofIdNA0-CnSGuylo1L4mqDjuzjIAsWvipko9rkT8/s320/Bre+and+Matt+enjoy+the+ocassion.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546664366314310066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZk1ezi_cGbpRREwPedgyTKU1hMBMg5_Ssy6W4R_u2ffKTRmgMzxlK3eTAfHbfXu8ZJdE_iQ32a-JoGZCGybMW0XNoW1BBzfT1k1arkP694KOHvTeFLZNr4IJZ-n-XEpFSGo8zpeH-d4/s1600/Cameron+with+the+kids.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZk1ezi_cGbpRREwPedgyTKU1hMBMg5_Ssy6W4R_u2ffKTRmgMzxlK3eTAfHbfXu8ZJdE_iQ32a-JoGZCGybMW0XNoW1BBzfT1k1arkP694KOHvTeFLZNr4IJZ-n-XEpFSGo8zpeH-d4/s320/Cameron+with+the+kids.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546664359423708450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWDfXJ9FCJSGOjFMaF-C-l5iM5cmZWj76vsu4g1I1CLzEkjz3TYRHzDgfIJBwGD2OHfaGM3mFuAT0CdAHgGezFBwbnlu9ZwAQHt78Y-VzElFGxgKS333RVkZd3Vr_urr_c5IzpSsxFDo4/s1600/39234_552293414421_201001391_32170923_8312323_n.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWDfXJ9FCJSGOjFMaF-C-l5iM5cmZWj76vsu4g1I1CLzEkjz3TYRHzDgfIJBwGD2OHfaGM3mFuAT0CdAHgGezFBwbnlu9ZwAQHt78Y-VzElFGxgKS333RVkZd3Vr_urr_c5IzpSsxFDo4/s320/39234_552293414421_201001391_32170923_8312323_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546664343266802514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I have come to expect the emails and the Facebook posts from the students upon their return. " I love Oasis...I love those kids....I can't wait to go back.....I want to help." And so, this spring, when a new group of students flew back from Kitale - there was an Oasis of Hope USA event planned and waiting for them. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The "Hoping for Change" program was born! On a sunny April morning, over 50 high school and college students who had been to Oasis of Hope sometime over the past 5 years, along with seasoned Oasis of Hope veterans: Allison Hibbard, Chris Wohlers, Matt Gillen and Pastor Steve Rutenbar joined with me to put on the first Oasis of Hope event here in the US. A pancake breakfast was mixed with a slide show and photos and graphic representations of the programs at Oasis. A presentation about these programs and their costs and the need for young advocates for the children at Oasis was met with enthusiasm. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-OE4Tbt6kEJxvCHGKYogRz3KLs8FHeacOBO7MQtjlNN226q4lzvq5AcdIud6VmwTjmUWOt8shea1jnkGcwsL3aGhA5Ma7eNu7cctbk4QySu538zjo1B8BeiB6ual1ppkBQdub9_XAVc/s320/CIMG0019.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546649296529849010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWNQ-n2MjJsoUGKFfFWJxKcu0YS0qMzFKzJ-VJJQGDY-v0sZE6681nPtP2SQ8_uexTXim2Rp-XfME7BIytog08iY-mZM5xCbIc3vegi5NFpwEc2FB3x0Os6RJ8Za4wnCJfrYFIJ5zKvg/s1600/IMG_3161.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWNQ-n2MjJsoUGKFfFWJxKcu0YS0qMzFKzJ-VJJQGDY-v0sZE6681nPtP2SQ8_uexTXim2Rp-XfME7BIytog08iY-mZM5xCbIc3vegi5NFpwEc2FB3x0Os6RJ8Za4wnCJfrYFIJ5zKvg/s320/IMG_3161.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546650163335263170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5vDqKtF3ci_8oeGM_fzhwOrfFQk1COe0s2vESbY3Z1RRVBYO6YtKxJvrNK9Ri59hwcn02OOPEcs_a9wSGGIwSOz3JReEEmWCYXNLRl9O3IZMG6LMJ0KcpeYFS8XS15x_cJFwwie49AI/s1600/IMG_3176.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5vDqKtF3ci_8oeGM_fzhwOrfFQk1COe0s2vESbY3Z1RRVBYO6YtKxJvrNK9Ri59hwcn02OOPEcs_a9wSGGIwSOz3JReEEmWCYXNLRl9O3IZMG6LMJ0KcpeYFS8XS15x_cJFwwie49AI/s320/IMG_3176.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546650153476976930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEVVlcnn11k3nnM4d4ik2Ura0ai28VETPNK2IPtn4cgk-VcIunYAx4FIAGvoZjpyXCkoA8qnOZi3nF0XRPVOn-Mu4WCESzRDDFzR1-mh7VRaOZPjMzVwzhBa6yiryHpl8nlQ0tS8KNkE/s1600/IMG_3166.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEVVlcnn11k3nnM4d4ik2Ura0ai28VETPNK2IPtn4cgk-VcIunYAx4FIAGvoZjpyXCkoA8qnOZi3nF0XRPVOn-Mu4WCESzRDDFzR1-mh7VRaOZPjMzVwzhBa6yiryHpl8nlQ0tS8KNkE/s320/IMG_3166.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546650147356589986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMazTNBs-IRxp-YRuPC2vvdUqQVn2pwep8wQL6RNeRQKZV5-U7u_XTZeSx9c0NACQxH66UeExavDDx36jorMdHc7a_HGYDvxGsIBg2I7xk6iQUROKxuoYH1W1i4lK5EyIOzFVfzzkGW3w/s1600/IMG_3141.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMazTNBs-IRxp-YRuPC2vvdUqQVn2pwep8wQL6RNeRQKZV5-U7u_XTZeSx9c0NACQxH66UeExavDDx36jorMdHc7a_HGYDvxGsIBg2I7xk6iQUROKxuoYH1W1i4lK5EyIOzFVfzzkGW3w/s320/IMG_3141.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546650133415720930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_al8KM4dYVWbnJnPLGarFrVXJ-ORfKgki92WTfgKT4HxHb5ZBZ0HFvZpH02VARO_ypJillR6IrRbP4ufO7wLD6NEkSbxFgi5ATxwGOZ_EZHexTwjfDYpD2erOL4FwldENODDoXTbFwcg/s1600/CIMG0021.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_al8KM4dYVWbnJnPLGarFrVXJ-ORfKgki92WTfgKT4HxHb5ZBZ0HFvZpH02VARO_ypJillR6IrRbP4ufO7wLD6NEkSbxFgi5ATxwGOZ_EZHexTwjfDYpD2erOL4FwldENODDoXTbFwcg/s320/CIMG0021.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546650126062685346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Each guest took home at least one "Hoping for Change" jar to collect their spare pocket change at the end of each day. But, more than money - a label on the jar and a photo of an Oasis child on top of each jar requested that the students pray for their child, for Oasis of Hope, for Kitale and for Kenya. It was a wonderful event full of memories, stories and a shared love of Oasis.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik00yJTgHz7HOpMV9YZT6MPmpwwGBM7rUrwd0luMdOSqj5ak-YTLCBQi7F5NKL1LfTp3R768ZBLBMhw5Wsg33z7xIFJgnHvGcyR_SxX76PcrBKNYe0aG3y98Gb7p7zLH96KKuJ2tHaVyo/s320/IMG_3227.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546647535881138946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDc8yWC_EwlTUyo9AOANkn5HtOWE7CPjN1P6AGLriwQGwOySVDGjUwFO5taaDMVkHrCbKsweyeDn4OpNK70YZ4Duyz8uN3zhbt2pzxrYAIMqQrfzaM8gV4GGaZZpMC1NIE_qmN6gUvT1Y/s320/IMG_3222.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546647070207378178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">These are difficult times all over the world. The U.S. economy has struggled and worsened over the past 3 years. The rest of the world struggles with us. When millions of formerly employed Americans lose their jobs and their homes and their comfortable lifestyles - charitable giving all but vanishes from their spending. And like most other non-profit organizations - Oasis of Hope has seen a dramatic decline in donations as well. The "Hoping for Change" program was formed to show that a lot of people joining forces to give a little bit can combine to make a huge impact.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">And we were correct. The Friday after Thanksgiving - almost 7 months after the first event- Allison and I sat at the Starbucks in Foothill Ranch hoping that our last minute Facebook announcement directed at the students who would be home for Thanksgiving would result in lots and lots of change being turned in.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">We weren't disappointed. In the 5 hours that we sat in the sun, delighted to greet one member of the Oasis of Hope 'family' after another - over 2,000 dollars in change (about 120 lbs!) was delivered by these same students who had taken the jars home seven months before. Many had re-filled their jars several times over the months. And when we were done, we realized that even with the giant mountain of change sitting in front of us - at least half of the jars were still waiting to be collected! We are hoping to get the students who have been collecting change to bring that change in this coming week. In fact, Allison will be at the High School Ministry Church Service at Saddleback on Saturday night and we are reaching out to all "Hoping for Change" participants to put their change in a ziplock bag with their names written on the outside of the bag to come and drop off their change with Allison. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUbG301-np37wvIP8RQ3bPQWxGMsxYWGhiNRp5k_TDK7QFSyYE1y024aGUcncuQlrrXhDVHjhLvqKl5-flOik0vv-7nLn6_8KRQD8ieHiW6mY6WbpbS2PKglLpb7xZ3-y0kJ4JyAsPTA/s1600/IMG_1322.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUbG301-np37wvIP8RQ3bPQWxGMsxYWGhiNRp5k_TDK7QFSyYE1y024aGUcncuQlrrXhDVHjhLvqKl5-flOik0vv-7nLn6_8KRQD8ieHiW6mY6WbpbS2PKglLpb7xZ3-y0kJ4JyAsPTA/s320/IMG_1322.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546657208141350834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTeF9XlcoTgleNkd1ZLRmMrCu52j50Iwnvle5q9Nj29uVHti5TnrUIr8AXyEUMKdNSPuiFm8r4dXcPxrBVPUnhXjSFskV3FLcw78beoPZaB38RPzvBZSqhxSlURlLugqZnuNgSnDGnx54/s1600/IMG_1321.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTeF9XlcoTgleNkd1ZLRmMrCu52j50Iwnvle5q9Nj29uVHti5TnrUIr8AXyEUMKdNSPuiFm8r4dXcPxrBVPUnhXjSFskV3FLcw78beoPZaB38RPzvBZSqhxSlURlLugqZnuNgSnDGnx54/s320/IMG_1321.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546657202887385250" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinu5jkJP21OUg9QkDGEh5B70dV4zw4r_lfzVp7FAMVtBmWDZHO-dKH62FbCETTBqMDxeUNj8R7Zvkgu0-kM94KB-HkhgiXJuopAgHioyUoOmiQXcpPdvD5a9X-NB4XtQ_ILcj9liM01X4/s1600/ChristmasParty2005119.jpg"></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">We have dedicated this change to Christmas 2010 at Oasis of Hope. Camp is special at Oasis - but Christmas is even better! Christmas means a new set of clothes, new shoes, a special meal and a party complete with a movie! This has been a hard year at Oasis in terms of funding and as difficult as money is right now - we don't want to cancel Christmas at Oasis. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinu5jkJP21OUg9QkDGEh5B70dV4zw4r_lfzVp7FAMVtBmWDZHO-dKH62FbCETTBqMDxeUNj8R7Zvkgu0-kM94KB-HkhgiXJuopAgHioyUoOmiQXcpPdvD5a9X-NB4XtQ_ILcj9liM01X4/s1600/ChristmasParty2005119.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinu5jkJP21OUg9QkDGEh5B70dV4zw4r_lfzVp7FAMVtBmWDZHO-dKH62FbCETTBqMDxeUNj8R7Zvkgu0-kM94KB-HkhgiXJuopAgHioyUoOmiQXcpPdvD5a9X-NB4XtQ_ILcj9liM01X4/s320/ChristmasParty2005119.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546655613045500050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUeUugtcwfNeb1Q-rFY6VMDuyQ8W1HZBrKLwc3q-W5k0MMDbLmmJdRrEOReSirqQLC4XjQvcdP0IYF3tuNTWzRbOziaS4gatbZDm7_3b_0W2BWC9TQ9Wrhc6pB1PXZ3XsL1tXZa6VnSg/s1600/ChristmasParty2005081.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUeUugtcwfNeb1Q-rFY6VMDuyQ8W1HZBrKLwc3q-W5k0MMDbLmmJdRrEOReSirqQLC4XjQvcdP0IYF3tuNTWzRbOziaS4gatbZDm7_3b_0W2BWC9TQ9Wrhc6pB1PXZ3XsL1tXZa6VnSg/s320/ChristmasParty2005081.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546655610454825586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruuehNvh7vPSWakBjfLGdxwBY5iJpofiI4_Cbj6qeVaIu1uzADjN5kmFl9l2NLK0yO6O2waAr4_ks-nccBdpNJZDmybXb_twAciRLHf1DQ4O2yxG72nH12h1AUIX1lqJbD6C6h9Lfbeg/s1600/Kids+waiting+for+days+activities.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruuehNvh7vPSWakBjfLGdxwBY5iJpofiI4_Cbj6qeVaIu1uzADjN5kmFl9l2NLK0yO6O2waAr4_ks-nccBdpNJZDmybXb_twAciRLHf1DQ4O2yxG72nH12h1AUIX1lqJbD6C6h9Lfbeg/s320/Kids+waiting+for+days+activities.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546657224189475586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 295px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ped5Dsfv54dz5fKyjLRKa-qzTNBdo3PV7ZE2tRcROl72395L7LA3nCiwQTRbOrTE1dWgTSs5EkDuOrm_tm81qorbgSSkAv-NFVDdkGtjUB8tmUjPCapByq1mUA4cqWk6yLFm2YUea_c/s1600/Merry+Christmas+greetings.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ped5Dsfv54dz5fKyjLRKa-qzTNBdo3PV7ZE2tRcROl72395L7LA3nCiwQTRbOrTE1dWgTSs5EkDuOrm_tm81qorbgSSkAv-NFVDdkGtjUB8tmUjPCapByq1mUA4cqWk6yLFm2YUea_c/s320/Merry+Christmas+greetings.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546657218379917442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RhKkWwlK84zgIN_G8g9SeYpmMXGajrxoU0hn0fKXbhLTuXsHzQdFxcsyJJ2uVQ6gD6pO9GMHK5ONIEMxC8w4SrnAidGgp-OF9zyvuXBWcUqY1heWX2gXDgRp-wCrdi1BxsXqD93J8Q8/s1600/Jeniffer+%2526+Easther.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RhKkWwlK84zgIN_G8g9SeYpmMXGajrxoU0hn0fKXbhLTuXsHzQdFxcsyJJ2uVQ6gD6pO9GMHK5ONIEMxC8w4SrnAidGgp-OF9zyvuXBWcUqY1heWX2gXDgRp-wCrdi1BxsXqD93J8Q8/s320/Jeniffer+%2526+Easther.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546657212105353570" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUbG301-np37wvIP8RQ3bPQWxGMsxYWGhiNRp5k_TDK7QFSyYE1y024aGUcncuQlrrXhDVHjhLvqKl5-flOik0vv-7nLn6_8KRQD8ieHiW6mY6WbpbS2PKglLpb7xZ3-y0kJ4JyAsPTA/s1600/IMG_1322.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmudhIHkfQlo_nBhJlXAKqVx3y5hl-yn-T1jsC8HQY70pk6Sprv4G3v64K6GmLKWqaAoPLwS3H2tJp0pIBLb6Dt-E0wLdtDNHIYaHQkKTnK3mmRRNiTWXeXgKgk7Dt7XdSkmy8ADSCwA/s1600/ygp1B9FMA10892744-0006.jpg"></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">It took us a while to think of the name "Hoping for Change". Believe me, we came up with a lot of silly names before we hit on this one. It expresses exactly where we are right now with Oasis. Yes, we are hoping that we get a bunch of coins in. But, even more...we are hoping and praying to change the lives of the street kids of Kitale, Kenya. And, we are praying and hoping that the economy of our country changes so that people feel that they can begin giving again.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The Hoping for Change program proved our point. Many people working together to share a small bit of of the blessing of their lives (and we all still have so many blessings despite these difficult times) can combine to produce a miracle....a Christmas Miracle, in fact!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">As I said in the beginning of this post - We set out to positively change the lives of children of Kitale. The added bonus was that we were also able to do the same for hundreds of youth in America. Isn't that exactly what God's love looks like? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">From the Oasis Family to your family....Merry Christmas ...... Hoping for Change. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0JVcRlTZqtuFn-pr8ZEO2ZSquoGpMiRP-R_pkkAe6wjpVAKh4ttlKZI5LtGgc1AaXXlKVEqMdDaiw8xvpVcEUDr5KLDnIt9T1DebVdeasPKSIkLPtn4z0ZNHpv2BgAxmV7jmqEEkKbw/s320/Copy+%25282%2529+of+oasis+of+hope+trip+028.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546702646468731186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTBBI8160rXV5BC_MhJKAqg8WD29jgFVLdDaDGelhvN5S9vJgtARNiqKcEwr4hEsKrGavRiNfpUoy1oaFhPqi4KHBxcdeHpqWhApTwH6gSVHyW4s_XoJ9TJroMzIxhYiBYzUopfkNJwI/s1600/n535645662_2492653_144.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UB6mufq-5t7VgOeAnhJEBfFN46q0heNmDazq1eVhaDuMzYvSF5uAhFP15xW8gy8937ftoJX5yB0vUGSd-Qt60XZ5W6Oah2sbV8aTjGo13qZkoA6EamYr_snh_xhA23UmAyRUPkTeWYs/s1600/Medical+supplies+015.jpg"></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><script type="text/javascript"><br /><br /> var _gaq = _gaq || [];<br /> _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-22147221-1']);<br /> _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);<br /><br /> (function() {<br /> var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;<br /> ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';<br /> var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);<br /> })();<br /><br /></script></span></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Mama Oasishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032004716161828008noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092771351850513031.post-68642905519144032052010-01-23T00:24:00.000-08:002010-01-23T01:49:37.379-08:00Girls are fun too!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLbTHG2qnNcISXExulm2jqRCMjnGG_VJGcmxf5_aNFYu9HAosqdvvFl0HLidByHNDHDmcOmJcxGt1I1qKHF-x3kXXwfVG-yVIuFf2tDNOGj9sOWMZzcG6iCwpjoYeVgtU3OM0U8LC3i4/s1600-h/IMG_1004.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana, serif;font-size:medium;">I often am accused of spending more time with the boys than I do with the girls. When I hear that, I feel badly..but, I have to admit that it is the truth. Not because I love the girls any less. It is just that I knew the boys first and mostly because they learned to speak English before the girls did. It is so much easier to spend time with them because we can communicate easily.But, I decided that this trip, that I would make a concerted effort to make sure that my time was equally divided amongst all of the kids.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRD_BAbEqOueRFl_UxQ-ARC843ahqK3s36e7v-1g05frCxxQyDx8TY9-h_2h6pqp_huOifGvSf1tmPZDo_eK8Vq9jY0fa2lcJrshqCq5xEvgj4NDd4bwWHbqCtRcAAP2JJBB2-HGHj03A/s1600-h/IMG_0980.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRD_BAbEqOueRFl_UxQ-ARC843ahqK3s36e7v-1g05frCxxQyDx8TY9-h_2h6pqp_huOifGvSf1tmPZDo_eK8Vq9jY0fa2lcJrshqCq5xEvgj4NDd4bwWHbqCtRcAAP2JJBB2-HGHj03A/s400/IMG_0980.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429857716188385506" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-family:verdana, serif;"> Little Alice at the front door of Oasis of Hope's girls' home.</span></div><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><i> </i></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">So, on Wednesday evening, I arrived at the Oasis Girls’ Home at 4 in the afternoon to join them for supper carrying “juice” and biscuits as my contribution to the meal. The girls’ home is located in Shimo La Tewa, which is located about 2 miles from my house in Milimani. It was pouring rain as I arrived in my taxi. The girls’ house mom, Rebecca ran outside with an umbrella in hand to greet me and escort me into their tidy home.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">At that time of day, only the youngest girls are home. The girls in class 6 and above were still at school. While I prefer spending time with small groups of kids- unfortunately this group of girls had very little in the way of English speaking skills. But happily, I had brought along a game that was one of my favorites as a child: Candy Land. As I knew that they would, the girls loved the game immediately and the rules were easily understood without much language required.For some reason, Sarah was particularly lucky and won the first 3 games!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpkalDTc2XRbU-y7JvavonoxsIueBXokm61TCiXf3bF19piMB1mh-Rm5bOgTkrgDkO-c5Hpz4DWbJqHvXCe-sz_SPUm3o_3pKZ-ryPmly0bLVjztYg-qEAU-lYq-7p524-25BJDxahx0/s400/IMG_0905.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429854808136522706" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><i> Clockwise: Alice, Janet, Sarah, Christine and Helen playing Candy Land</i></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZO_ERrhPKzYQ7VaS5vcsJLZ4FbJ7AoQDgHid_RFgy1fT28r71F_8C7icr9uMTxDvJY5acq9lTia3DQ7tryAFnPs2Ig7gVLN5yFt-FB_ljl59-2YGpjJSnEFBH7AWuLlrMfAcix97zbzk/s400/IMG_0970.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429862714091837954" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Ajix, Christine and Dorcas challenged me to a game. I lost!</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">As we played , word got out that Mama Lydia was in the neighborhood and soon a group of 5 neighbor children arrived. Three of the kids are regular attendees at the Oasis of Hope- pretty sisters Jennifer and Selena and cute Lucy (a great favorite of many of the Saddleback college kids who were here last summer). Lucy brought along two of her siblings: Erika (5) and baby Peter. These are the 3 remaining children from a family that already has 4 children (Patrick, Ajix, Christine and Irene) being assisted by Oasis either in one of our group homes or in boarding school.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijELUnoYl1eTrHCfblCdBVBQX347A2cpaYrt_Zi5hVAWKJLAY3oFMtbFJfoIEOjkbaEsiLN-Y0WCozcFuq5PydqJHO5Y3vGJH2mSCOVohtTVFUv9U7Ha04fP73OgOFPJRpdL1XQye5kHU/s400/IMG_0916.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429862708552561954" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><i> Me, with the 5 visiting children</i></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Unfortunately, the parents of this family are unable to provide a stable home environment. The mother brews the local brew, Changaa, which she sells and drinks herself and sometimes shockingly feeds to her baby! The father, also a drinker, does not have regular work and is unable to provide sufficient food , clothing and care for his family. We try to help as much as we can, and I predict that the remaining children will eventually make their way to the care of Oasis as they become a bit older. I can only pray that these parents stop producing children!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfAgkDG8V_JCcjgCx6kWUJvSs8Q3Nt3b0aGKcOWqUzrxvWIN_-jCPn6fC_bPyAFBspBt4KNiJ3Iu-PqH4An3W3xz-3WXCFmDPhE0a55bl6cu1o0nx51ROYFCxkzgegMaBt7r_8f9mjHI/s1600-h/IMG_0943.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfAgkDG8V_JCcjgCx6kWUJvSs8Q3Nt3b0aGKcOWqUzrxvWIN_-jCPn6fC_bPyAFBspBt4KNiJ3Iu-PqH4An3W3xz-3WXCFmDPhE0a55bl6cu1o0nx51ROYFCxkzgegMaBt7r_8f9mjHI/s400/IMG_0943.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429854827040324738" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><i>Sweet Erika....so tiny at 5 years old.</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">But despite their difficult living situation, these children are playful and often smiling. It is hard for Americans to understand that children can be allowed to live like this… and it took me a long time to be able to visit families such as these without breaking down in tears. As hard as it is, I have come to believe that they are under God’s protection and that He has a plan for their lives. I can only pray that more people will open their hearts to Oasis and that with increased regular funding, we can help more children like these to have better lives.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqMPof6lUcmvtu7kI7Orx-EJlHUf6ZBWx0pMRxdw6g2DsUBbldPE1YpQDa9EEt1_vPG9Wgk5ThO7GV7COmSq4dpqv0sNvjTke5pgo0b2SbUKwLRaTVRakfUDacvJqX0B2S0uK8rCR0AQ/s1600-h/IMG_0912.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqMPof6lUcmvtu7kI7Orx-EJlHUf6ZBWx0pMRxdw6g2DsUBbldPE1YpQDa9EEt1_vPG9Wgk5ThO7GV7COmSq4dpqv0sNvjTke5pgo0b2SbUKwLRaTVRakfUDacvJqX0B2S0uK8rCR0AQ/s400/IMG_0912.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429854837454726610" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "></span></p><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><i>From the back: Selena, Lucy, Peter and Erika</i></span></span></span></div></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The older girls began to make their way home…Dorcas and Rael returning first; followed by the class 8 girls; Centrine and Nancy. It was now 6 pm and they had arrived at school at 7 that morning. The Kenyan school system is so much more rigorous - both in quality and quantity of education than is ours in America.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtDwEekRsSAJOh_8QO9kmu5QJBUz-7J0BEhsXPhMQZGbXEw3fFTJMPHmPa2JJaNc8YuzXs3gY5ZwUDIVAcWXiLndVSfcK3rfMGARFladnf7aIS-kFNO23ZnwWkkh2zvj5sAPDWXE1iEI/s400/IMG_1002.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429867366995349634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, serif;"><i> Gorgeous Centrine...just home from school- ready to change out of her uniform.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The first order of business is to change out of uniforms into ‘home clothes’ and then to inquire as to whether Rebecca needed their assistance preparing the evening meal: chapatti, rice, green grams (mung beans) , and meat stew. The older girls helped and I kept the youger girls (Sarah, Helen, Alice, Ajix, Janet, and Christine) occupied taking photos, dancing and playing Candy Land. In the past year and a half since I have been here - the girls have grown comfortable with their home and have developed very distinct and charming personalities. They are often quiet when in a mixed group with the boys - whose strong personalities tend to dominate. But, when alone with each other - they are hilarious!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1fbf1npU-Iysc4LaBxxxVzg24tBrf8jea32RBFXVD1DWuYz4_C5BnBGa3Y065FDce3CcbL5I54_cUDw_1gw17QXy-VCCgUSQPt4ISGij4ezWJTl0-1Pvm62NdO6LPKMPVB1doT-Xddk/s1600-h/IMG_0909.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1fbf1npU-Iysc4LaBxxxVzg24tBrf8jea32RBFXVD1DWuYz4_C5BnBGa3Y065FDce3CcbL5I54_cUDw_1gw17QXy-VCCgUSQPt4ISGij4ezWJTl0-1Pvm62NdO6LPKMPVB1doT-Xddk/s400/IMG_0909.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429854811463108530" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><i>Janet , so quiet when she moved in a few years ago - now has one of the boldest personalities in the girls' house.</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaARPPvCUQGsGOS53SXHBYeRSLh2YVtgvO7SjVjx78Q7H8knPGLv4WsYw6XnkowYoH06OIIAlKVj9Rtu1oRad0gC7E-mOZbL1NRwceFzhyr2fxnPAfaSwvHBUW4bwN_2qT-pqIImYsIEs/s400/IMG_0910.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429854821731438290" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><i>Helen...after a fit of giggles!</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtV-uMn64Vl8yCI7ueRf2Q3rbILcVf6PqBwt9Dc_1njCfcsdVs5Nq0cQJGgCV40LmiGOqCn4VH3fn7qasqUwZAYMipmTjJWvNV7c7yoTnUhn_VQoDM2Rbyn1xmG6tbg975AVAJraRtyQ/s400/IMG_0996.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429857724949052754" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><i> Tomboyish Christine (Amlango) doing gymnastic moves on her bed.</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCQlK8SkIMoIfsZwRI5_d31Ucjm0IjgAdXMFu_fFMUnjHTBqzhH4pbUwyfGDKTigwxVtcXrYiUNclRwlB02-k_Lrs06nHsMOAw_r7VWIaOM65E1MPwCm2N2JrPN7VgVn5AgYYYGDX19M/s1600-h/IMG_1001.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCQlK8SkIMoIfsZwRI5_d31Ucjm0IjgAdXMFu_fFMUnjHTBqzhH4pbUwyfGDKTigwxVtcXrYiUNclRwlB02-k_Lrs06nHsMOAw_r7VWIaOM65E1MPwCm2N2JrPN7VgVn5AgYYYGDX19M/s400/IMG_1001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429862695807153570" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><i>Sarah....in a rare serious moment.</i></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLbTHG2qnNcISXExulm2jqRCMjnGG_VJGcmxf5_aNFYu9HAosqdvvFl0HLidByHNDHDmcOmJcxGt1I1qKHF-x3kXXwfVG-yVIuFf2tDNOGj9sOWMZzcG6iCwpjoYeVgtU3OM0U8LC3i4/s400/IMG_1004.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429867360816244210" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></i></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, serif;"><i>We once feared that Alice-so small and sickly- wouldn't live to see 7. Today, although still tiny- she is healthy and in possession of a quirky personality.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Supper was delicious as it always is at the girls home. I have to laugh because unlike at the boys’ house- the girls always offer me hot water to wash my hands before eating and they do the same. The boys just dig right in dirty hands and all. Boys!!!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">We finished our meal by dividing up the biscuits (cookies) and with a few more songs and dances. The girls taught me some new steps..and I think kept up pretty well although I am not blessed with the skill nor the natural rhythm that they possess! Promptly at 8, my taxi arrived and I hugged them all and promised to return next Wednesday.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxdaz2W87qFGZ7gacEqYzK8qrCNsec2_sO6Vy4qJ1yMfBlbfdR5ltVPG29n2FUTwOWTbVXmszIF9-CShMD6TiaGURmcitdA4-oq913ABF_pYa8wiYv52Hhb11gWpjPIm6WIsUJYU4hh8/s400/IMG_1005.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429862699052553346" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><i>Beautiful Ajix teaching me some dance steps!</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Those girls are so much fun. I can't wait to return next week. I think I will bring along Chutes and Ladders!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:20.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Mama Oasishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032004716161828008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092771351850513031.post-11634300042717928122010-01-19T22:28:00.000-08:002010-01-20T11:12:19.453-08:00What's for supper? or...The care and feeding of teenage boys.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhBN72MWhauQ5B22O3RjyrfnepjnFHnp96CKV3vThC45nXf8CNN_FwbnATPWpuawTU8jeg_Ad1kg2i0Lj88AVd2Xd_txJcNtM1B_KQ4BLZd-y0e0aPh9RtFqcU8JrPVwGroqI2RMyb1E/s1600-h/IMG_0687.jpg"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">It is the same everywhere..teenagers are hungry ALL THE TIME!!! Saturday was my first full day in Kenya...and by 11 am, the house was full of kids from the Oasis group homes who all got up early to do their Saturday housekeeping chores and washing of their clothes so that they could rush over to "mom's" house. I was happy to greet them one by one as they arrived...but, soon realized that the few necessity food items purchased the afternoon before (tea, bread, butter) would not suffice to make lunch for them. So, a taxi was called and along with Martin, Johnstone, Steward and Moses..I went into town for food.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhBN72MWhauQ5B22O3RjyrfnepjnFHnp96CKV3vThC45nXf8CNN_FwbnATPWpuawTU8jeg_Ad1kg2i0Lj88AVd2Xd_txJcNtM1B_KQ4BLZd-y0e0aPh9RtFqcU8JrPVwGroqI2RMyb1E/s1600-h/IMG_0687.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhBN72MWhauQ5B22O3RjyrfnepjnFHnp96CKV3vThC45nXf8CNN_FwbnATPWpuawTU8jeg_Ad1kg2i0Lj88AVd2Xd_txJcNtM1B_KQ4BLZd-y0e0aPh9RtFqcU8JrPVwGroqI2RMyb1E/s400/IMG_0687.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428900539259965010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Johnstone pushes one of the 4 carts we filled up at the Gigamart.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Unlike my weekly trips to Albertson's at home where I am shopping for only myself....I buy food in bulk here. Sugar, rice, ugali and chapati flour in 20 lb. increments, cooking oil and cooking fat in the largest containers, 30 tomatoes, 50 potatoes, 30 carrots, 30 onions, 3 or 4 bunches of the small sweet Kenyan bananas that have 15 or so bananas per bunch, 20 mangos.....and more. The requested lunch item was "long rice".....which I knew meant spaghetti. Six pounds....that should be MORE than enough (ha!).</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Thankfully, food is so much less expensive here ...but, still - buying in that kind of bulk adds up quickly. The shopkeepers are always happy to see me. I think I single-handedly improve the economy of Kitale when I am in town! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Then back home to the task of cooking lunch for 12 teenage boys....oh wait - now there are 18....no...more kids have arrived...."We are 22....23 including you mom."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I had to laugh that the stores here sell bottled "Ragu" spaghetti sauce which the kids love (I bet you introduced them to it Allison.)...so we purchased 4 bottles. We also made a fresh 'sauce' with onions, tomatoes, garlic, grated zucchini and grated carrot. As more kids arrived...we added more veggies. The pasta was cooked- one pound at a time in two large pots. Finally, it was all done and we started to dish it out onto 23 plates and bowls. And then the kids started coming in....1, 2, 3...10, 15..20....23...wait...more kids are entering the kitchen....when did they arrive? As it turned out there were close to 50 mouths to feed ranging in age from about 3 up to adults.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">In Kenya, you feed anybody who is there and it is quite rude to not do so. So, we quickly began dividing the portions up into smaller bowls....keeping the large portions for the teenagers. In the end...there was enough....for everybody but mom that is!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#551A8B;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(85, 26, 139); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cHQ6n_ByX4WfmK6oRz-ZEPH6Pe2hBYYSzzgVYPOPGvUQXgZBXdiVy9XbN37u0iVk1ZoDHgq9AmlPt4jGQRGZzXaGZqdB35nDkuKXxqIt4KOeS7uyDuHjPRowhT5nw6Xo2x339aBAhZU/s400/IMG_0536.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428892917210371378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Justus enjoying his 'long rice' sans sauce</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">As soon as that was noticed however...the boys began coming to me one by one - sharing their lunches with me...making sure that I had my share. If you know me at all - you know that I took each bite with a tear in my eye - marveling at the care these kids return right back to me.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRBC7GsqKm5wW8ieh2-Vx1_kkZoXl7X-Q9PxaXFSCqST4fC2cdcBK7S3oE_IPgCpcxcp3v3nv2DKE5jJnVuzSslENtEVT9uggifI1znCnoXRt6bdMb8g5QQKMoHwO3YD7Slq5tjF3VT8/s400/IMG_0537.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428892928982947778" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div></span></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> surprise guest Wilson carrying empty plates back into the kitchen....</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">And then ...the clean-up! The kitchen was a disaster. But, as is our rule here at Oasis House...if you cook you don't have to clean. So, those who had been watching movies - switched places with the cooks and quickly set the kitchen back to rights. Of course, cooking and cleaning were accompanied by loud music played from my ipod on the much loved portable speakers. So, both events were interspersed with singing, dancing and fun, fun, fun!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#551A8B;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(85, 26, 139); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQwuLzj2NbQvBnltrI4TsiGPyK1cFsRM5rdnEiS_QWy8l0VP3boRoZboNYvjQPN3E9hjFPERoGFOoINOf3gv_n71W5x7JB68RA_8erWtJR6PgUfI7MNxSyP1VZEslJjqWeh-45QO_01g/s400/IMG_0544.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428892931942775330" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The clean-up crew cheerfully gets ready to tackle the lunch dishes!</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzWg5i8sgm824WS1U29hDk_6rwSsPik3omrIQE7WN7S7Csajjml4eVdC4Tv_diYOWqTntl0UK8wyMlY5K5Ix_m875f8qkx4SLdnOJlmDsWyuPoUSWDGNzsdz2Plz8l4Ahz7gxOlrotN0/s1600-h/IMG_0550.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzWg5i8sgm824WS1U29hDk_6rwSsPik3omrIQE7WN7S7Csajjml4eVdC4Tv_diYOWqTntl0UK8wyMlY5K5Ix_m875f8qkx4SLdnOJlmDsWyuPoUSWDGNzsdz2Plz8l4Ahz7gxOlrotN0/s400/IMG_0550.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428897710456510626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><i> Patrick (house 2) posing next to the newly clean stove!</i><br /><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">It had already been decided that the 4 boys who will be entering high school in a few weeks (Martin, Johnstone, Justus and Kevin) would be spending the night here. The rest of the crowd slowly dispersed home. When the last one exited the compound and the gate closed behind them....I turned to walk back into the house with my 4 teenage 'sons'...thankful that we had fed everyone and that the kitchen was nice and clean. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">And just then Martin turned to me and said "So mom.....What's for supper???" </span></span></div></div>Mama Oasishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032004716161828008noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092771351850513031.post-44284229162999374282010-01-15T22:25:00.000-08:002010-01-15T23:20:46.790-08:00Isn't it nice to be home again!<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Finally, after 2 long days...the little 13-seat plane I boarded in Nairobi was bearing down on the runway at the Kitale Airstrip. It's hard to describe the feelings that were rushing through me...anticipation, thankfulness, joy. As we taxied to a stop in front of the little building that made due as a terminal - I immediately spotted my greeting party: Geoffrey and his wife Olivia, their baby Charlotte (named after my mom) and two of my beloved Kenyan sons- Johnstone and Martin. I couldn't wait for the door to open so that I could give them all huge hugs.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I had asked Geoffrey to keep my arrival a surprise and he had done just that - telling the boys that they were going to the airport to pick up a 'friend' but not saying who. The second that they spotted me....the hugest smiles lit up their faces - smiles that mirrored the one on my face. Hugs, Hugs, Hugs! I cannot remember a moment in my life that was as perfectly joyful as this one was.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I was amazed at how much both of them had grown since I had last seen them. I always think of them as they looked when I first met them in 2006 when they were still living on the streets of Kitale:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU53f6OURXnU78zXi6I1ndaQNabjtyPtMQyjgsMcyo128xVr0yjrUPgpxUVSqTAJZNkA13i1EQilBLpc9QJ0b7PVuGC31R7aIKsVYP3OMUeFxUui7V5BUhgsEaMsMbLbD64WxY2SRKfu0/s400/DSCF1687.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427229726293799602" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Martin & Johnstone in January 2006</span></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheaYHoUqGqwx_JBE4xh5ZgEa6jOLAL2WeD8wOSFCACqVR-7kTM2kkuA_HGEDNArS0cbaLLfh4qpkwy_lLVH1jQnU8MpaRFBr7A2QMsoiqdOoss6o8NZukIyNL35mckm38LK3TSNN9K4Ao/s400/IMG_0454.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427228391756683954" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Martin and Johnstone now</span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I'm sure there is no mom anywhere prouder of her sons.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">As the day unfolded....I reunited with so many people that I love - Onesmus and Phoebe who take care of my home, the 120 kids at Oasis (many of whom were new since my last visit), the wonderful staff at Oasis, the girls from our girls home who came to Oasis from their primary school next door to have lunch, so many people in town- street kids, vendors and old friends, and finally - the rest of the boys in now combines Boys' houses 1 & 2.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It was late afternoon and they were all at home studying at the big dining room table. The door was open, covered by the traditional fabric flap to keep out insects. I called out "hodi" (to announce my presence) and then entered the house. Ten faces looked up from the compositions they were writing and one by one recognition and excitement registered on their faces! Cries of "mom", "Mathey", and "Lydia" rang out as they scrambled out of their chairs and ran over to envelop me in hugs. Again...pure joy. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We spent an hour getting caught up, talking about the good and bad events of the year and a half since I was here. Each boy in turn had his moment to speak with me privately...showing his heart and sharing the special needs and concerns that only a mom can understand and help with. There were tears and laughter and silliness and the inevitable photos.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOdshACKiW2rGQnVaLgViLH-lAufGEXn1dpSH9yDoqTOSf4pVyYAPIvqu9XHdSemXAOx6hSTB2EwGuKYcY6P2fiWxS7UVADOqU2vMi3n122xNp93ZbgRlLyCJMZ9A8D__MhzaBbQyGPo/s400/IMG_0524.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427228397858997378" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Me and Bramwel</span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The day, jet lag (and my 4 hours of sleep the night before) started catching up to me and I actually nodded off during a story that Steward was telling. So, I was promptly taken to one of the three bedrooms and put down for a little nap by my boys while they cooked supper. Refreshed after about a half hour, I joined them outside around the charcoal jiko (stove) that they were very competently cooking a giant pot of rice on. The beef stew was simmering in another pot. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">All 14 of us squeezed into the dining/sitting room while Johnstone and Steward served supper. They made sure that the food was divided equally and then Johnstone thanked God for the food and for the day. I have eaten many a fine meal in a 5 star restaurant...but truly...not one of those meals tasted as good or was as enjoyable as that simple bowl of rice and stew.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8Avz5z_zmTnrOcVPAcZzirCwW2mymQR8FXwx0n4co4iGmCWmaGHrpu2nv4_wtoulK41qcl_XPaCTg8JfCFeDqQX5zCuoWNNR6LdxaC7MNVWnhkkHg7OUrsx8_s8KrEcOqsCEe8fDHH8/s400/IMG_0521.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427228403210329570" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Steward (with Justus and House Dad Robert)</span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I left at 9 pm after hugs and kisses all around. The boys begged to come to the house on Saturday after their chores were done, of course. They should be here shortly and we are all trooping into town to stock the house with food. We are going to cook a pasta lunch! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The sun is shining...the birds are singing and God is surely not only in heaven... but right here by my side . Isn't is great to be home again!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, serif;"><br /></span></div>Mama Oasishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032004716161828008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092771351850513031.post-63269098161003549142010-01-13T08:13:00.000-08:002010-01-13T08:50:16.477-08:00It's snowing in London! Next stop: Kitale, Kenya!<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">It has been almost a year and a half since was last in Kenya. The reasons are many and can be summed up in just a few phrases: 1. The Economy 2. Life Challenges and most importantly 3. God said 'Wait'. So, while I obediently waited for God to give me the green light to return - I did my best to keep funds flowing into Oasis in these horrbile economic times and dealt with life challenges involving work and family. It hasn't been an easy time...but, I learned a lot about what I am capable of and I gained some valuable life lessons.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">And finally - I was given the assurance that it was indeed time to pack my bags and my 14 tubs of donated school and medical supplies and book a ticket back to Kenya. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">So, as I sit here in my hotel room in London on my overnight layover - I am so thankful that in just a couple of days, I will once again be hugging the kids I love so much!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">It has been in the 70's in California and the same in Kitale. But look at what it looks like in London! The temps are in the 30's and it is snowing. Despite the fact that I only have my carry on luggage (with just lightweight clothing) because I checked my bags in at LAX all the way to Nairobi-I had to go take a little walk and snap some pics. This California/Kenyan girl doesn't get much opportunity to watch snowflakes fall out of the sky...so, even though I was pretty tired after the long flight; the brisk air was invigorating. One day of this is fun...but, I pray that the weather doesn't get any worse and my flight to Nairobi will leave as scheduled in the morning!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Next stop...Kitale!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9HOQB2lbqXGspmR-AdzjwFLkMtI6Dk89JgqgtA9C2dJCPADIvRzxYytgjzAuUHPtgS1idwdbrtl5Z3BcJviyMU84urOyKDOY0ZS6mY0SUlVu_ciOWAa0b_kZ6DsMy338K0VmS7g-l84/s1600-h/IMG_0429.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9HOQB2lbqXGspmR-AdzjwFLkMtI6Dk89JgqgtA9C2dJCPADIvRzxYytgjzAuUHPtgS1idwdbrtl5Z3BcJviyMU84urOyKDOY0ZS6mY0SUlVu_ciOWAa0b_kZ6DsMy338K0VmS7g-l84/s400/IMG_0429.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426262569969059362" /></span></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9HOQB2lbqXGspmR-AdzjwFLkMtI6Dk89JgqgtA9C2dJCPADIvRzxYytgjzAuUHPtgS1idwdbrtl5Z3BcJviyMU84urOyKDOY0ZS6mY0SUlVu_ciOWAa0b_kZ6DsMy338K0VmS7g-l84/s1600-h/IMG_0429.JPG"></a>If you look closely, you can see snow falling!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbs6E4AvZotkojDvXiWeO3zpyRG2JUbsmF-YTJd93zBqkjGko-JmdFDAyPhvtE6M7UAmVeDRiTMH5b8BsRYK2V40t9YUvFljbwh3n9QiyhcIHGLCFxZva_hSQJkwnfJy_juq4x_1KtXp8/s1600-h/IMG_0436.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbs6E4AvZotkojDvXiWeO3zpyRG2JUbsmF-YTJd93zBqkjGko-JmdFDAyPhvtE6M7UAmVeDRiTMH5b8BsRYK2V40t9YUvFljbwh3n9QiyhcIHGLCFxZva_hSQJkwnfJy_juq4x_1KtXp8/s400/IMG_0436.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426262386940738290" /></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbs6E4AvZotkojDvXiWeO3zpyRG2JUbsmF-YTJd93zBqkjGko-JmdFDAyPhvtE6M7UAmVeDRiTMH5b8BsRYK2V40t9YUvFljbwh3n9QiyhcIHGLCFxZva_hSQJkwnfJy_juq4x_1KtXp8/s1600-h/IMG_0436.JPG"></a>The hotel is right next to Terminal 5 at Heathrow. In fact, I walked over a covered bridge from the airport.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge88eLqbmIiovHPaOEKdHkYt-YsEB4QU_GKo7WJj-UX7EhBuiaL6SCCJ0hHyZ2irptvCc_Gb95Ij5umI7rTbqEPqFGLOnvkMNCiWkU7y9r8u5L0-qxXX-QmtXZWOb2TVsVoJJhM3ACMrM/s1600-h/IMG_0428.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge88eLqbmIiovHPaOEKdHkYt-YsEB4QU_GKo7WJj-UX7EhBuiaL6SCCJ0hHyZ2irptvCc_Gb95Ij5umI7rTbqEPqFGLOnvkMNCiWkU7y9r8u5L0-qxXX-QmtXZWOb2TVsVoJJhM3ACMrM/s400/IMG_0428.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426262379129007266" /></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge88eLqbmIiovHPaOEKdHkYt-YsEB4QU_GKo7WJj-UX7EhBuiaL6SCCJ0hHyZ2irptvCc_Gb95Ij5umI7rTbqEPqFGLOnvkMNCiWkU7y9r8u5L0-qxXX-QmtXZWOb2TVsVoJJhM3ACMrM/s1600-h/IMG_0428.JPG"></a>The landscape in me was enjoying seeing these Boxwood bravely face the cold weather without even a yellow leaf!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8p7q1jItP-u6JCDZwa8xp6JIZ0QwRXiYJnk0KKcXXMJN0QurKg7sZ2vzhaljoL3itYBgfx_newcut9KSyZ4I-L26N-ifi09V5vid2FBSgzMEoi9VnLJAM5Y3VdGDHXKyFB-v5zbzcMU/s1600-h/IMG_0426.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8p7q1jItP-u6JCDZwa8xp6JIZ0QwRXiYJnk0KKcXXMJN0QurKg7sZ2vzhaljoL3itYBgfx_newcut9KSyZ4I-L26N-ifi09V5vid2FBSgzMEoi9VnLJAM5Y3VdGDHXKyFB-v5zbzcMU/s400/IMG_0426.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426262373547774834" /></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8p7q1jItP-u6JCDZwa8xp6JIZ0QwRXiYJnk0KKcXXMJN0QurKg7sZ2vzhaljoL3itYBgfx_newcut9KSyZ4I-L26N-ifi09V5vid2FBSgzMEoi9VnLJAM5Y3VdGDHXKyFB-v5zbzcMU/s1600-h/IMG_0426.JPG"></a>This mural of a tree in summer is funny..you can see the real trees poking their bare branches up behind it....<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjR1-R9rYTuONBDWval91ru34jwstgPej91xUaVkpw9TuIU2-IoopY3cXcitaanw_JPzet4Emgbpv8MnAp6oTPi0NqXaaaoR1s7GJjkl9gTJWBHvXZgp6RP85F4jSSiKn1c9kcQk13WWg/s1600-h/IMG_0425.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjR1-R9rYTuONBDWval91ru34jwstgPej91xUaVkpw9TuIU2-IoopY3cXcitaanw_JPzet4Emgbpv8MnAp6oTPi0NqXaaaoR1s7GJjkl9gTJWBHvXZgp6RP85F4jSSiKn1c9kcQk13WWg/s400/IMG_0425.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426262370038242258" /></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjR1-R9rYTuONBDWval91ru34jwstgPej91xUaVkpw9TuIU2-IoopY3cXcitaanw_JPzet4Emgbpv8MnAp6oTPi0NqXaaaoR1s7GJjkl9gTJWBHvXZgp6RP85F4jSSiKn1c9kcQk13WWg/s1600-h/IMG_0425.jpg"></a>The hotel is warm...but it is pretty bleak outside.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9so5rMdoGRKD85mp-cCncyFgH6Tmu_C0OLB9yJmbFU89h4f1Olxmfx8AsnvV2CrIlzeDgRRMeYE-ol4gW1On8EvPEQT0uW9IyORKx1Bg1XyM9cfaKmtLHVnlbn051i1cc8W60C5_bAs/s1600-h/IMG_0422.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9so5rMdoGRKD85mp-cCncyFgH6Tmu_C0OLB9yJmbFU89h4f1Olxmfx8AsnvV2CrIlzeDgRRMeYE-ol4gW1On8EvPEQT0uW9IyORKx1Bg1XyM9cfaKmtLHVnlbn051i1cc8W60C5_bAs/s400/IMG_0422.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426262362708193634" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">BRRRRRRRRRRRRR....back to my room for some tea and a hot bath!</span></div>Mama Oasishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032004716161828008noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092771351850513031.post-83601324118229707382009-05-25T07:12:00.000-07:002009-05-27T16:32:23.498-07:00Just in Time....The New Oasis of Hope Drop-In Centre<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">On a September day, 5 years ago...the Oasis of Hope Children's Centre opened its doors for the first time. Over 50 children showed up that first day. To most people, the unassuming little wooden shack with its tin roof, wouldn't look like much. But, sitting there next to the rusty, long-abandoned railroad spur....something amazing was beginning. </span><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:medium;"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqn8K1DryPZGgEOOjWEbR5DVvjbOeFXaoG3zJSM-ZYDqGWOjewBO5VV6Eu7faXmbrixaRcK2rtMhWKuotlvuAjF05uimekU9Q9IGpIenp2yruZhkfddCBcdL-XbpUTjI9CNQU_cDTHCW0/s1600-h/oasis+of+hope+lisa+and+dean+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339784761688315186" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqn8K1DryPZGgEOOjWEbR5DVvjbOeFXaoG3zJSM-ZYDqGWOjewBO5VV6Eu7faXmbrixaRcK2rtMhWKuotlvuAjF05uimekU9Q9IGpIenp2yruZhkfddCBcdL-XbpUTjI9CNQU_cDTHCW0/s400/oasis+of+hope+lisa+and+dean+015.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0oj1yhkZzjohkxiB76SECb2qimgrMwEwLmJb8-QG-qh0HvyeI7y0QE2LrRL6pOmF-0whMdcaieNyW6ZxB7fLep-L6Q2VQIx8mbInuGHp_Ae_hkxof7ZoANcnMhjzebelOcgWrKx_yn4/s1600-h/oasis-2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339777676463709618" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0oj1yhkZzjohkxiB76SECb2qimgrMwEwLmJb8-QG-qh0HvyeI7y0QE2LrRL6pOmF-0whMdcaieNyW6ZxB7fLep-L6Q2VQIx8mbInuGHp_Ae_hkxof7ZoANcnMhjzebelOcgWrKx_yn4/s400/oasis-2.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The street-children of Kitale, Kenya came that day after hearing rumors that a free breakfast and lunch would be served. They came; long-unbathed, in their dirty and tattered clothes. They came; barefoot and clutching glue-bottles in their hands. Those glue bottles - full of the noxious poison that kept them sedated, helped them sleep at night while it kept their empty bellies from realizing that it had been a while since they had eaten - those glue bottles were their prized possessions. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTug3-41b4A1FRpkwey_nbe-hzJ003x0McvYXzWkcHpaaW9EcJv0qHa4Dde2x8gC_Ab4qZlkENzTOtUcaHPERISomMeJv7Wdq5euqsKRA-sj_TKamfE9eqhB7OK9aCB5BVmVkCC3oZ6jA/s1600-h/StreetMinistry091_1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339797182149479314" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 299px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTug3-41b4A1FRpkwey_nbe-hzJ003x0McvYXzWkcHpaaW9EcJv0qHa4Dde2x8gC_Ab4qZlkENzTOtUcaHPERISomMeJv7Wdq5euqsKRA-sj_TKamfE9eqhB7OK9aCB5BVmVkCC3oZ6jA/s400/StreetMinistry091_1.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZkG3hTpaiXSVHJxqbGNTA5BScR43MCS-t_DkU9agnpt6G6Q2eoWHK7W7hgr2puB15MBCyhyy9c9SS7ysuDG8-J80qHsInvqERPZxILIS-FX9ksRbCth-sCZTy48Hu6ePZxJ6uQoa4Fc/s1600-h/kenya_8595.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339797180550707186" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZkG3hTpaiXSVHJxqbGNTA5BScR43MCS-t_DkU9agnpt6G6Q2eoWHK7W7hgr2puB15MBCyhyy9c9SS7ysuDG8-J80qHsInvqERPZxILIS-FX9ksRbCth-sCZTy48Hu6ePZxJ6uQoa4Fc/s400/kenya_8595.JPG" border="0" /></a></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkEBEQQzXufCIuQsHf4lMcwyk1DidKsOpLEYKTCzfx7K-kojd6shQ2m4o26VrIk6bKHciQAe5PM-3sof1Udv-e-eyWI5e-ukt1Bjw91NSZ1y-8-_lROzHVva6V7fz6n_uRXatMdxC6LE/s1600-h/DSCF1290.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339797169916304018" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkEBEQQzXufCIuQsHf4lMcwyk1DidKsOpLEYKTCzfx7K-kojd6shQ2m4o26VrIk6bKHciQAe5PM-3sof1Udv-e-eyWI5e-ukt1Bjw91NSZ1y-8-_lROzHVva6V7fz6n_uRXatMdxC6LE/s400/DSCF1290.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvthHOpFl_4tulPNPM2TPnyK_5pnjsZItdPhYahb2os1RunEv3em9YL4dK8xTXH2UddHp8WEkgejH1gbNbn60rOvZ9hTRjjfGcVIgOzxRoqYHrDvCEx9AnewNr7YMM7HSw2EBTfVgyPeo/s1600-h/kenya_8617.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339797168287178594" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvthHOpFl_4tulPNPM2TPnyK_5pnjsZItdPhYahb2os1RunEv3em9YL4dK8xTXH2UddHp8WEkgejH1gbNbn60rOvZ9hTRjjfGcVIgOzxRoqYHrDvCEx9AnewNr7YMM7HSw2EBTfVgyPeo/s400/kenya_8617.JPG" border="0" /></a></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">At the door of the little shack, stood Geoffrey Okumu.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrQhC6upilS8EWWuJPKkF2OYHVYVVwNOBpFKhZ1tdFmS6vhyAtgFfidPZy8VJJZqW9LIdKA0L0L__MJAWFVy9hAeJXL_nr22gct7gj50HN2yrjkV37xQCIX24xylWDwYqJJ1M8zmq9Bg/s1600-h/geoff+red+shirt.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339798191025644898" style="WIDTH: 284px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrQhC6upilS8EWWuJPKkF2OYHVYVVwNOBpFKhZ1tdFmS6vhyAtgFfidPZy8VJJZqW9LIdKA0L0L__MJAWFVy9hAeJXL_nr22gct7gj50HN2yrjkV37xQCIX24xylWDwYqJJ1M8zmq9Bg/s400/geoff+red+shirt.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">As the children arrived (and the noise, fighting and chaos that always accompanies a group of street-kids high on glue ensued), he silently wondered if he was going to be able to do this after all. </span><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3azWXxLoc-CREr2devKTrafAfRiyreaTkrJHxIKtT-bXtC2CEyH0E4rlaakkAbZssxdNARZ4FbGDc2EmZ0qRHKAgelJnuMSj1UkYRs7SrEKDCNF-SJLwOwejoe75ZOI9C_vTXU3IlSE/s1600-h/StreetMinistry039.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339784767731178738" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 299px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3azWXxLoc-CREr2devKTrafAfRiyreaTkrJHxIKtT-bXtC2CEyH0E4rlaakkAbZssxdNARZ4FbGDc2EmZ0qRHKAgelJnuMSj1UkYRs7SrEKDCNF-SJLwOwejoe75ZOI9C_vTXU3IlSE/s400/StreetMinistry039.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">We all know that moment of doubt that precedes a big step into the unknown. We ask ourselves 'What was I thinking?'. But, what differentiates the heroes of this world from the dreamers is the next moment....the plunging in and DOING the thing. And that, is exactly what Geoffrey did that day....he stepped in to the fray and Oasis of Hope was born. </span><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv439upGcU4MrXOhM2dqI6pRD98kQIO3pS22X6a4NhPzyXM5PL-r5e4lZf1zoLbTV3MMKjVEhC4jK_Q467MWl4z4B3ZqTsetrXLzBrJdnVwrftdwF-QnY3sC8JW7a9GZ3kE5ewcjeIB_0/s1600-h/Geoffrey+168.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339784755897992546" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 299px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv439upGcU4MrXOhM2dqI6pRD98kQIO3pS22X6a4NhPzyXM5PL-r5e4lZf1zoLbTV3MMKjVEhC4jK_Q467MWl4z4B3ZqTsetrXLzBrJdnVwrftdwF-QnY3sC8JW7a9GZ3kE5ewcjeIB_0/s400/Geoffrey+168.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">In the 5 years that followed; miracles happened in that little shack. Hundreds of kids went from a life of hopeless despair to one of hope reborn. Children that would have undoubtedly died from malaria, an overdose of glue, a street fight, or just malnutrition - became whole, healthy and strong. Minds that had become dull with idleness - came alive again under the guidance of teachers Joseph and Geoffrey. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmW0ZTrm3mgWsK5vJJsE0VpBZVhBYK2UvmfsCKQeIwWhDlQvSSIuoyC__ZQTsfB8klD0zPVuo-dYXDJTBJf2l5ycxezGJ0cRarEnXVe4rXBcKWtc5r-PqERM9nuXGJ1NZ0lyQETA4Iww/s1600-h/oasis+of+hope+trip+996.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339783723813019618" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmW0ZTrm3mgWsK5vJJsE0VpBZVhBYK2UvmfsCKQeIwWhDlQvSSIuoyC__ZQTsfB8klD0zPVuo-dYXDJTBJf2l5ycxezGJ0cRarEnXVe4rXBcKWtc5r-PqERM9nuXGJ1NZ0lyQETA4Iww/s400/oasis+of+hope+trip+996.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIFmAd78ulyuoRufjNUmyRp7G54dfkWdwwHVCG5r6fYuNXPrkO7fD-pxszQ1-3syAROXDRvKnHCavymnJ0H2FDPlt3wIp3vZkirEpPWy32Tx4wIHVHHxrrkORrA9etft58sdAWEW8DFg/s1600-h/DSCF1398.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339783720396091698" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIFmAd78ulyuoRufjNUmyRp7G54dfkWdwwHVCG5r6fYuNXPrkO7fD-pxszQ1-3syAROXDRvKnHCavymnJ0H2FDPlt3wIp3vZkirEpPWy32Tx4wIHVHHxrrkORrA9etft58sdAWEW8DFg/s400/DSCF1398.JPG" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Little bellies were filled every morning and afternoon with the delicious meals prepared by Oasis cook, Jane. And woven though every moment was the message that they were worthy of love because God so loved the world that he sent his only Son to die on a cross.</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9VGfRtLNw-773Oc52OTNwKTkG-SmkFdfwULq77gitbnKaN3qrt_5pDOBJvjQld7yO0HV8Riy69cuig45-op23OCa-JU0xK-MgNCjZ8w5cj5YOOG_q4LplsUYwljeMnRQK2g6YmZCb_8/s1600-h/DSCF2467.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339792836314778450" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9VGfRtLNw-773Oc52OTNwKTkG-SmkFdfwULq77gitbnKaN3qrt_5pDOBJvjQld7yO0HV8Riy69cuig45-op23OCa-JU0xK-MgNCjZ8w5cj5YOOG_q4LplsUYwljeMnRQK2g6YmZCb_8/s400/DSCF2467.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEUmhjZcHccTcMtL9sbQ-YkmFFxdLPbbXw66easBMA0IghE5fl5S9yvbQdwx8DtwXGzLCa-w6RIWTHss6302PphyphenhyphenjZy1Aq_9IjWsv1aSgDaufCJXhzYiUWqirlqNSX0Es4cvNKRs1U4C0/s1600-h/oasis+of+hope+trip+237.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEUmhjZcHccTcMtL9sbQ-YkmFFxdLPbbXw66easBMA0IghE5fl5S9yvbQdwx8DtwXGzLCa-w6RIWTHss6302PphyphenhyphenjZy1Aq_9IjWsv1aSgDaufCJXhzYiUWqirlqNSX0Es4cvNKRs1U4C0/s1600-h/oasis+of+hope+trip+237.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339792834138092034" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEUmhjZcHccTcMtL9sbQ-YkmFFxdLPbbXw66easBMA0IghE5fl5S9yvbQdwx8DtwXGzLCa-w6RIWTHss6302PphyphenhyphenjZy1Aq_9IjWsv1aSgDaufCJXhzYiUWqirlqNSX0Es4cvNKRs1U4C0/s400/oasis+of+hope+trip+237.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The program grew....children were transitioned into group homes to live as families and attend public school.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGTlgow7rhlWXR-t8ypDzndMMa2bER147YeAeUFGdNTGyXntQLY3K5_oTumCASadA9PhthdmmFw0qAOPyKG6bfrrVd5Ay8mMbFLs2kg5tNTHcbOnzgofjSumZ-8YaaBoZwZgDhl6zSoA/s1600-h/Schoolgoing064_2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339783734811307218" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 299px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGTlgow7rhlWXR-t8ypDzndMMa2bER147YeAeUFGdNTGyXntQLY3K5_oTumCASadA9PhthdmmFw0qAOPyKG6bfrrVd5Ay8mMbFLs2kg5tNTHcbOnzgofjSumZ-8YaaBoZwZgDhl6zSoA/s400/Schoolgoing064_2.jpg" border="0" /></a></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGxS7tU99QfqelZAVmi-iFnx6xCWYP3EyJbg_gAdxU0VBzIZv06YWjqPgeopnwrxgB_iL5HAafj3l-mplk2ASToVXIWH4cfmEaAoFLIWGa9Kt9qCzsJhrMSx27ggzRdbGePtpWHv_WMQ/s1600-h/Boys+2+Pics.+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339783726861248754" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 299px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGxS7tU99QfqelZAVmi-iFnx6xCWYP3EyJbg_gAdxU0VBzIZv06YWjqPgeopnwrxgB_iL5HAafj3l-mplk2ASToVXIWH4cfmEaAoFLIWGa9Kt9qCzsJhrMSx27ggzRdbGePtpWHv_WMQ/s400/Boys+2+Pics.+003.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Others were enrolled in boarding schools where, despite their past- their futures began to look bright.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-WtfpSP3H5Oujx1xNwCi4aTlgvESHOqrE_-0ToSdgSY2dCLx7dRYhiZ4poLuvX6lpDN2nFUcj7u0C3cizUE5IqV8KLD1TOeWK_7u3ZEodAdKC4oZ7WFVKbz1u_FtDr4pOyOgwW69hqI/s1600-h/IMG_1266.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339792850554381426" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-WtfpSP3H5Oujx1xNwCi4aTlgvESHOqrE_-0ToSdgSY2dCLx7dRYhiZ4poLuvX6lpDN2nFUcj7u0C3cizUE5IqV8KLD1TOeWK_7u3ZEodAdKC4oZ7WFVKbz1u_FtDr4pOyOgwW69hqI/s400/IMG_1266.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> Kids began to participate in Scouting, in Soccer leagues, and in Choirs.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc14e90Ka40jtAqLPt6AXp0TBTfZVyh-MILxnehdSBq-OnRGRZ5e0GeiR8UhnO9WKr-hBepgMspUl1aOxOD8Ff0pYKmNL_8Rqv9fhXm4Pws8tU5l87YiDz1HHub9GsUK5dn26LsQBgD4w/s1600-h/SamuelandJoseph.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339784758776123042" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 299px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc14e90Ka40jtAqLPt6AXp0TBTfZVyh-MILxnehdSBq-OnRGRZ5e0GeiR8UhnO9WKr-hBepgMspUl1aOxOD8Ff0pYKmNL_8Rqv9fhXm4Pws8tU5l87YiDz1HHub9GsUK5dn26LsQBgD4w/s400/SamuelandJoseph.jpg" border="0" /></a></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDQGt72HNkxUaDFN4mW1F3dSngUqEQhv-6VEx5XQd06guqPRqjW8kVlwxoL6parq51B5_WhDnpq47q_l10ENL_OeQ1IKd1yi9pW5_qvbpZOUT83CsJDrKV9RR959o7umXHxr0O9x9SiY/s1600-h/ScoutsandGirlguides049.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339783729919997234" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 299px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDQGt72HNkxUaDFN4mW1F3dSngUqEQhv-6VEx5XQd06guqPRqjW8kVlwxoL6parq51B5_WhDnpq47q_l10ENL_OeQ1IKd1yi9pW5_qvbpZOUT83CsJDrKV9RR959o7umXHxr0O9x9SiY/s400/ScoutsandGirlguides049.jpg" border="0" /></a></span> </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaPgG6Vp-4sCswkpzEfQIfdGUF5wUWEK72s2dk08cDxjLnx7DWDfCTtll54C510JNkKm64e0S1tlEhAf5inO4rzwYoIE5eu5yLO3CyALcppw0nvweZA4xyVqnQpL79tnuQTD08O-Dei0/s1600-h/IMG_2189.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339788581989406514" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaPgG6Vp-4sCswkpzEfQIfdGUF5wUWEK72s2dk08cDxjLnx7DWDfCTtll54C510JNkKm64e0S1tlEhAf5inO4rzwYoIE5eu5yLO3CyALcppw0nvweZA4xyVqnQpL79tnuQTD08O-Dei0/s400/IMG_2189.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Oasis started a church to meet the spiritual needs of these kids and the joyful noise of praise shook the walls of the little shack each Sunday morning. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgww2TPbR17Yql1v0PumTPurM3o-eQSldrzrmVYu51dHWqDLvrNk1rk04_OpKymvFAunY2M2_7mdwm9iLEkmJwvFvWG1ae7dTIawWKMUUNuoNWX5znZEDnerYfPoI-X0a-WplGPXRpcau0/s1600-h/Theboysdoingtheirthing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339788584617974610" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 299px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgww2TPbR17Yql1v0PumTPurM3o-eQSldrzrmVYu51dHWqDLvrNk1rk04_OpKymvFAunY2M2_7mdwm9iLEkmJwvFvWG1ae7dTIawWKMUUNuoNWX5znZEDnerYfPoI-X0a-WplGPXRpcau0/s400/Theboysdoingtheirthing.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Oasis Boys' Gospel Dance Troupe performs at Oasis Church</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">As of today-Oasis has placed 53 of these children- that the world viewed as not worth a second glance - in public schools.</span><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0l6nwe7zYH-vWIXaJVZwokev1hM66bcuU3OmG-IQTFZqYNRikgYclbBQ1TMcBw5agvyzEQ9sFUDkZjYExMzR3FRwzFUm1xbgQx7lt1AdK-WPPUOwh_eF5u1ivMmURUiXoyqGGczCZxl4/s1600-h/Scouts+and+Girl+guides+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339797187688519938" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 299px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0l6nwe7zYH-vWIXaJVZwokev1hM66bcuU3OmG-IQTFZqYNRikgYclbBQ1TMcBw5agvyzEQ9sFUDkZjYExMzR3FRwzFUm1xbgQx7lt1AdK-WPPUOwh_eF5u1ivMmURUiXoyqGGczCZxl4/s400/Scouts+and+Girl+guides+024.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">But, there were always more children needing help. The little shack was bursting at the seams with over 100 children crowding in at its little benches and on the dirt floor. The termites were busy too...eating away at the little structure. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYPbx5BK8hWxUbh1oLaA6VH-0qnwKwsIYvjW1-qGAhuSeMTEjzGeTrNqzRnj1v0a_5i4a4gnLNbMwQ7qUFRnwqvWMckF_gjhE9XyNkNUoNR0OG7Oh8hVuG-L0pspiGjRWNy2Xg3VqChQ/s1600-h/oldcenter.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339777673368495634" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYPbx5BK8hWxUbh1oLaA6VH-0qnwKwsIYvjW1-qGAhuSeMTEjzGeTrNqzRnj1v0a_5i4a4gnLNbMwQ7qUFRnwqvWMckF_gjhE9XyNkNUoNR0OG7Oh8hVuG-L0pspiGjRWNy2Xg3VqChQ/s400/oldcenter.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iVPExyPjduBRCxGa8-3omZL_Ym54upSoScEXbWaAH9-oSBLr8sS3H1yrw9jdX6LemvNVnxWfL17g7rtgSmWc8IjvC672yTY_1jLHV3SMiRIrKn4_8LkTZQo-HNKJ7Qw3dwZ83ZfuFl4/s1600-h/youngerclasses.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339777678350193042" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iVPExyPjduBRCxGa8-3omZL_Ym54upSoScEXbWaAH9-oSBLr8sS3H1yrw9jdX6LemvNVnxWfL17g7rtgSmWc8IjvC672yTY_1jLHV3SMiRIrKn4_8LkTZQo-HNKJ7Qw3dwZ83ZfuFl4/s400/youngerclasses.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLTvksRbynMT7tHDuKxV3VyV-ROl423ZCFQu5uM9Gga4iayJ_JYYlDrz7dANgRjK3XSUt1a6xnH69JO2q1Uoc_J2Z9ralmP_ng-Bvq3IXnZx71sCafg3qzD9WOIhriIBAXNplnbuBQ04/s1600-h/oasis+of+hope+trip+460.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339788571102179474" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLTvksRbynMT7tHDuKxV3VyV-ROl423ZCFQu5uM9Gga4iayJ_JYYlDrz7dANgRjK3XSUt1a6xnH69JO2q1Uoc_J2Z9ralmP_ng-Bvq3IXnZx71sCafg3qzD9WOIhriIBAXNplnbuBQ04/s400/oasis+of+hope+trip+460.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Geoffrey knew it was time to move on...but to WHERE? </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">In January of 2009...the answer to the question (and the many prayers) came. A wonderful property on an acre and a half of enclosed land became available. The two sturdy brick buildings were the site of a former nursing school that had relocated. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6XZKLczbRUIUNI2_MsnQ1K7nc44_oCnMR-K-UliW7Sqxu8gNK1xP08mEvd6npGbc9k5qAwAqikz8qE-az7mgO3UNEHQYaPDevrVgn_pvcrt8DbT46QzrvMqlJ-rg9UeW9A48cqW5b9I/s1600-h/23.The+two+buildings+as+seen+from+another+angle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339777667283123586" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6XZKLczbRUIUNI2_MsnQ1K7nc44_oCnMR-K-UliW7Sqxu8gNK1xP08mEvd6npGbc9k5qAwAqikz8qE-az7mgO3UNEHQYaPDevrVgn_pvcrt8DbT46QzrvMqlJ-rg9UeW9A48cqW5b9I/s400/23.The+two+buildings+as+seen+from+another+angle.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhBS9uHAFpWrBhyphenhyphenRhywd8MERSQfnwKbjCNw27eGLN8PnkcCegvUQ4l64a6GincaAEIuzr1xS1WuZS6KR-Xx28Ui8e9RDFdCM4LtlyjoV4oqoUGlw03lJauG0d84Ca4O_KV0fpdFQr75o/s1600-h/outside.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339778957907661650" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhBS9uHAFpWrBhyphenhyphenRhywd8MERSQfnwKbjCNw27eGLN8PnkcCegvUQ4l64a6GincaAEIuzr1xS1WuZS6KR-Xx28Ui8e9RDFdCM4LtlyjoV4oqoUGlw03lJauG0d84Ca4O_KV0fpdFQr75o/s400/outside.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The property had running water....with toilets and showers! There was electricity and even a real kitchen. There were so many rooms- enough for each grade to have their own space. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXtwVntPgdQz-0ZGFzG3tDV4ktwXmjyPiqE54XRG1M7Iijc8FBmd9sm78CSvEtFjeVP4LpMqxun9xGF6cOC9NsOJC8EOyhWMGsYAVZ090190Z64ElpalnFZZjZPKWuorhDiirJLKH0Ufo/s1600-h/13.This+hall+used+to+be+the+Children+ward.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339778942080582898" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXtwVntPgdQz-0ZGFzG3tDV4ktwXmjyPiqE54XRG1M7Iijc8FBmd9sm78CSvEtFjeVP4LpMqxun9xGF6cOC9NsOJC8EOyhWMGsYAVZ090190Z64ElpalnFZZjZPKWuorhDiirJLKH0Ufo/s400/13.This+hall+used+to+be+the+Children+ward.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXtwVntPgdQz-0ZGFzG3tDV4ktwXmjyPiqE54XRG1M7Iijc8FBmd9sm78CSvEtFjeVP4LpMqxun9xGF6cOC9NsOJC8EOyhWMGsYAVZ090190Z64ElpalnFZZjZPKWuorhDiirJLKH0Ufo/s1600-h/13.This+hall+used+to+be+the+Children+ward.jpg"><br /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The property had large, open expanses of grass - a place for the children to run and play...so different from the narrow railroad tracks that had served as a playground for so many years! </span><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjrREIBBEZxrFR3HZCF05vwvpkFiilqDRsIY8i3O-9Aw5xqjOQYpWiE76t5yCIDm0lGaBGG9u3LTk6SpRYT3A9oiJ_cY9bCG9GDLuVUXd5T3QAIk6TP_8E-vasrVwyl2yMGxTTE3qDaE/s1600-h/18From+another+angle+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339780569581223282" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjrREIBBEZxrFR3HZCF05vwvpkFiilqDRsIY8i3O-9Aw5xqjOQYpWiE76t5yCIDm0lGaBGG9u3LTk6SpRYT3A9oiJ_cY9bCG9GDLuVUXd5T3QAIk6TP_8E-vasrVwyl2yMGxTTE3qDaE/s400/18From+another+angle+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifi1B7zTzAJ6itCKzVfaXuZWKOH7xhWGZn_UDBJhL8Tj0d0abX9pr7SUYWv1iTZ25sXXnLyMtYb3OCYJl1Wx2uoTetPQe1DC8eNRpPQ8i8TEZO-sEj-QAOgZ04IGsWDsoP-w_F9qNktA0/s1600-h/16.The+compound.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339780569116836834" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifi1B7zTzAJ6itCKzVfaXuZWKOH7xhWGZn_UDBJhL8Tj0d0abX9pr7SUYWv1iTZ25sXXnLyMtYb3OCYJl1Wx2uoTetPQe1DC8eNRpPQ8i8TEZO-sEj-QAOgZ04IGsWDsoP-w_F9qNktA0/s400/16.The+compound.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">But, the cost for this new facility would be much more... $300.00 more a month for the rent alone. That didn't include the costs for water, electricity and the night guard who would be needed. And....with a property this fine...more children would surely come! A blessing, to be sure...but, one that came with added expenses for food and supplies. The budget for Oasis was already stretched beyond the breaking point. Donations were down....way down...since the economy in America had taken such a hit. Was it wise to take on this added expense....even with as wonderful as this property was?</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">After much prayer....the decision was made to sign the lease. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">And, in the way that often happens....God showed that this was indeed the right thing to do. The very next day, the Kenya Railway Commission sent a notice stating that the long abandoned railway spur was to be utilized once again. The little shack that had housed Oasis of Hope for so many years was going to be torn down!!!</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">So, the big step was taken. The benches, the books, the pencils and crayons, the kids and the staff moved across town to the new Oasis of Hope. All that remains of the old Oasis is the sign that adorned the roofline of the little building.....it was lovingly taken down and now has a prominent spot at the new building.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHo0_dFAH4Shs4ThA6AFYpXfgBHZXgYSmHSZjHNOEZHUlxrkf2jlGy58IY-M3dPA6fTY6OFsKKkkm_U5mobdoff5gU-tX7lxZ7nIVGZ0h2PhV0XiC3AbDKJ99KMnVoLhNVE0FRy5zdm0/s1600-h/old+sign.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339792854440768994" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHo0_dFAH4Shs4ThA6AFYpXfgBHZXgYSmHSZjHNOEZHUlxrkf2jlGy58IY-M3dPA6fTY6OFsKKkkm_U5mobdoff5gU-tX7lxZ7nIVGZ0h2PhV0XiC3AbDKJ99KMnVoLhNVE0FRy5zdm0/s400/old+sign.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">And so, Oasis of Hope now operates out of a wonderful new facility. As predicted...enrollment has almost doubled. Over 170 children come each day to be fed, bathed, educated and loved. The bright, sunny classes ring with the sound of children learning!</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbiyYXg-GZfbKT2RPOATPnkFELw1K4k-5RThqZaj2r-Ew_axTKCbXNwlupKa1pKZCDxgVUgJrdibZyVaJVbiPbRM28UNfwwO1u6CExxsLsmVmoFW7Gsfkqd7GFz1UyhGAv5wUAvOxJ-c/s1600-h/class4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339778954185560770" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbiyYXg-GZfbKT2RPOATPnkFELw1K4k-5RThqZaj2r-Ew_axTKCbXNwlupKa1pKZCDxgVUgJrdibZyVaJVbiPbRM28UNfwwO1u6CExxsLsmVmoFW7Gsfkqd7GFz1UyhGAv5wUAvOxJ-c/s400/class4.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6S1O4LFgCQttHUWcKmfAWQ2Sq8dU1IKrXEzcJZYRvhDSStGF5Vym4EyxIRW-IEdVHMMorDb1DJw2X7fZKltMBC0F2P61k6PkQOx86XYmxV-p1YyxemZNebhMLFc4TikrWd8YEoZ_D_HQ/s1600-h/kids+front.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339780576411904770" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6S1O4LFgCQttHUWcKmfAWQ2Sq8dU1IKrXEzcJZYRvhDSStGF5Vym4EyxIRW-IEdVHMMorDb1DJw2X7fZKltMBC0F2P61k6PkQOx86XYmxV-p1YyxemZNebhMLFc4TikrWd8YEoZ_D_HQ/s400/kids+front.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Money is tight to be sure. God continues to provide...but funding remains an enormous challenge. Geoffrey, the staff, and I continue to pray for people who will come alongside of us in this amazing adventure that is Oasis of Hope. Even ten dollars a month can help to feed a child- to change a life. Come and join us....you won't regret it. The old Oasis may be gone....but there are plenty of miracles waiting to happen at the new one!</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3xQvvAjkZth0MSYm7ch9eDuAqSdUUsEQpmyF0vmqadSVIzS_zv-UqKP8uKPQLSZfGtQX0j17BlY_8dD_cjS-06QQRS7sQCUhjKRnPKyTjT9_SEtK-IQm7p0y3dErIlw8OJIcDJL35rU/s1600-h/happiest+man.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339777665132077186" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3xQvvAjkZth0MSYm7ch9eDuAqSdUUsEQpmyF0vmqadSVIzS_zv-UqKP8uKPQLSZfGtQX0j17BlY_8dD_cjS-06QQRS7sQCUhjKRnPKyTjT9_SEtK-IQm7p0y3dErIlw8OJIcDJL35rU/s400/happiest+man.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8KPwpnlbcrTCLM8X9B67XPJVaDCvbr4OuLHUxzUX5Em6jig1JowZDGQPhPo6wuwVOZNWh3HhzHcKYDOsSpV6U7f77BMyDWaBaZZsCpyZXAoy1PbFQSgGIGVMCw0gpp82UUVf4TyNwtM/s1600-h/new+sign.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339798992948835602" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8KPwpnlbcrTCLM8X9B67XPJVaDCvbr4OuLHUxzUX5Em6jig1JowZDGQPhPo6wuwVOZNWh3HhzHcKYDOsSpV6U7f77BMyDWaBaZZsCpyZXAoy1PbFQSgGIGVMCw0gpp82UUVf4TyNwtM/s400/new+sign.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Oasis of Hope has partnered with Groundspring to facilitate easy giving. You can set up a monthly donation to Oasis (please note that Groundspring charges a 3% fee to process credit card donations). </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11;"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:16;"><!-- Start Cut-and-paste Code - DonateNow Button --><br /><a href="https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=29937"><img src="http://www.groundspring.org/button/lime_med.gif" border="0" alt="DonateNow" /></a><br /><!-- End Cut-and-paste Code - DonateNow Button --></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Or...contact your bank to set up automatic withdrawals. Checks should be be made out to Oasis of Hope and sent to 1600 East Mcfadden Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92705. Oasis of Hope is a 501c3 non-profit charity and all donations are 100% tax deductible. 100% of all donations go directly to Oasis of Hope in Kitale, Kenya.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11;"><br /></span></div>Mama Oasishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032004716161828008noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092771351850513031.post-70140204335518140382009-05-24T10:27:00.001-07:002009-05-24T11:31:18.464-07:00M.I.A No More<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Has it really been over 7 months since my last blog posting? I guess I have to admit now that I am an unreliable blogger. I truly am envious of people that have the discipline and the fortitude to blog daily! It isn't as though I don't have creative and interesting things to say. (Well, at least they </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">seem</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> as if they are creative and interesting when I think about them!) </span></span></span><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It is more just the problem of finding the time to sit and write and find the perfect photos to go along with the text. What with trying to keep my landscape contracting business afloat in these crazy economic times, getting my mom's house sold and moving her to Huntington Beach, trying to get my deceased brother's house sold, and constantly trying to make funding ends meet for Oasis....there is hardly a moment to sit and reflect.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And, if I am going to be totally candid- truthfully...the other problem is that I am a bit of a perfectionist - can't stand the idea of posting something that doesn't seem </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">significant. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ha! I guess I need to get over that and just start posting little tidbits of information on a more regular basis. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">With the time that has already gone by...I realize that I may have lost whatever audience I once had here. In a way, that takes away the pressure! OK...I know I have said this before - but I am going to try to post on a more regular basis. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What would really help is if anybody who reads this would post a comment or two so that I know that I actually DO have readers. Thanks! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And, on the off-chance that there are actually a few of you who have checked this blog regularly over the past 7 months...only to be disappointed that there has been nothing new to read....I feel as if I should pay a penance to you for my lack of attention. So, in that spirit... I have sifted through my zillions of photos from Kenya and am posting a some of the truly unflattering pics of myself taken over the years for your viewing and laughing pleasure. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGV-2i682lHtqtpq6IR-gkfgtC2E-vWDcUSbQ0Xffkhzo-OyDTLVbAZxSIzTdYRIn4jKlYz8L5YV06qVOPv_CkSvIV-YtjwuHYQZctdazAZPC6gkQDsjdhzwsZIgO15kGF5HY1E6QTWS0/s1600-h/IMG_1639.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGV-2i682lHtqtpq6IR-gkfgtC2E-vWDcUSbQ0Xffkhzo-OyDTLVbAZxSIzTdYRIn4jKlYz8L5YV06qVOPv_CkSvIV-YtjwuHYQZctdazAZPC6gkQDsjdhzwsZIgO15kGF5HY1E6QTWS0/s400/IMG_1639.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339458136290215634" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">I love sneaking in a funny face!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWxW3ZVW4b8ZNHirTef76d5Zk4LFJa3fUmoENEwLsvXywGEeysG6R43A5QWFGcJ9_ga_znBFBq3vRcBq4lNcBjxA6leXES-7TiWI-xmmNMt_GIaByKnHhoUnkl6tRWEK0b9o1aShAmUk/s1600-h/IMG_1813.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWxW3ZVW4b8ZNHirTef76d5Zk4LFJa3fUmoENEwLsvXywGEeysG6R43A5QWFGcJ9_ga_znBFBq3vRcBq4lNcBjxA6leXES-7TiWI-xmmNMt_GIaByKnHhoUnkl6tRWEK0b9o1aShAmUk/s400/IMG_1813.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339458134331382082" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">On a taxi ride....</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsNFuDU3g87VsCKSa3GCaWu2BSL01SgGXbw0Ouak6NxLlNy7ZGrAaDNjzQJOwigpblE-8sZ2jr5-cKizcQtSUi9EDt6TeLODEVhtlif_YVUFt0zAjm9uA6LKHAeh2AeLxFHMvxog_EfQ/s1600-h/DSCF1906.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsNFuDU3g87VsCKSa3GCaWu2BSL01SgGXbw0Ouak6NxLlNy7ZGrAaDNjzQJOwigpblE-8sZ2jr5-cKizcQtSUi9EDt6TeLODEVhtlif_YVUFt0zAjm9uA6LKHAeh2AeLxFHMvxog_EfQ/s400/DSCF1906.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339458127667086402" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 330px; " /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Teaching useful skills to the boys!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwWsaEDDA8Nx1Ot5smvRwYWQ5lrCK-LBAfxQNtBKwd_Vuev6RxeSTT9c7F6dTOIN49o-sJlQfE2oVdKINkahZQyvnotFeCCF_jRVo7c3BmuSlACq66z6rP7kh_YqR6LdLJhNSa4Jve14/s1600-h/DSCF1359.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwWsaEDDA8Nx1Ot5smvRwYWQ5lrCK-LBAfxQNtBKwd_Vuev6RxeSTT9c7F6dTOIN49o-sJlQfE2oVdKINkahZQyvnotFeCCF_jRVo7c3BmuSlACq66z6rP7kh_YqR6LdLJhNSa4Jve14/s400/DSCF1359.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339458133372281746" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Modeling a 'gift' from one of the Oasis moms! sigh....</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Ok.... penance paid. I'm Missing In Action no more!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Mama Oasishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032004716161828008noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092771351850513031.post-87433509995046887592008-10-18T07:58:00.000-07:002008-10-18T10:32:37.186-07:00Hi Mom....Call back please!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Thank God for technology! Yesterday morning as I was getting ready to go to work, I checked the clock as I do many times a day and considered what time it was in Kenya. Until we change the clocks in a week, Kenya time is 10 hours ahead of California time. So, to calculate, I always say "Flip it and subtract 2". By 'flip it', I mean that when it is morning here, it is evening there (and vice-versa). So, if it is 8 am here, it is 6 pm there. In a week, it will be an 11 hour difference, since Kenya doesn't "Fall Back" with their clocks as we do. Of course, when in Kenya, I have to calculate it backwards to figure out the right time to call America. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rcNAWtJ-zmfwRXAZYLXHpPEgeTtcF-8yGoXwKym8Fk39Y29z8lWCdbquwkJ-9Kh3FzaCoqeN31PoqjD7aijER6PEvUU0kSU0ZeNAw8LBJ7WdH5NFkM9ZLpiHOIjL9sqQVOy-m76W03s/s1600-h/IMG_2089.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rcNAWtJ-zmfwRXAZYLXHpPEgeTtcF-8yGoXwKym8Fk39Y29z8lWCdbquwkJ-9Kh3FzaCoqeN31PoqjD7aijER6PEvUU0kSU0ZeNAw8LBJ7WdH5NFkM9ZLpiHOIjL9sqQVOy-m76W03s/s320/IMG_2089.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258524101392553378" style="cursor: pointer; " /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">An evening at 'home' in Kenya with Moses, Edwin and Martin...calling my mom in America.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Anyway, I usually call the kids in our group homes every week. The best time to call is around 7 pm their time. At that time of evening, they are all home...doing homework, playing in the yard, preparing supper. It is a noisy time of day, to be sure!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So, as I said, I was thinking about calling yesterday around 9 am and then realized that since it was Friday night that the three wonderful 20-something Americans that are staying in Kenya for 6 months and who work with Oasis 3 days per week would be at House 2 having supper with the boys. So, I decided not to disturb them and to wait to call another day. (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">You can check out their blogs at the right of this page</span>)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFBQ-BfCXk-q8jAmwnvUb147Bvw5oMRpxDrWRg_c1YUH3ETrFejqE6kKMWakuwRCfgjRwUlmhEIrp06NORd3dUfg35a0h4ORukJmO8xUP3Tvxu4SASkR13VPNYiW6AGQAwyy0jNvuPiQ/s1600-h/IMG_4347.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFBQ-BfCXk-q8jAmwnvUb147Bvw5oMRpxDrWRg_c1YUH3ETrFejqE6kKMWakuwRCfgjRwUlmhEIrp06NORd3dUfg35a0h4ORukJmO8xUP3Tvxu4SASkR13VPNYiW6AGQAwyy0jNvuPiQ/s200/IMG_4347.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258535334543040818" style="cursor: pointer; " /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Daina with Edwin </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOy7FLc13wwrPJ1_KFOZ7sA9g4ierjIUhM5bUU7KJIliD8O8WT-shJEsc1OmmgzyWGTLMjgv32kgFWCo7D9YQ_nWK3o2qwv62wxJeLgHUKktPCiGhXgULvESTQ_-_vFMoGM4UP29HY0gQ/s200/IMG_5330_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258535333176669586" style="cursor: pointer; " /></span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Allison with Paul</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia;font-size:16px;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfVzBnxc_BexEr1VoIoBSZ0tVd0n-mShoaZr5D8lmihL4jToLaS9Mvxpa2jnHxFf25insRCWxf0sWvgDI9OkJ7n7xatUePKzFtu4n0ygqdCWY4hJC2g5xnvFZAMrIavmx3sqoILKTD24/s1600-h/IMG_4344.JPG"> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfVzBnxc_BexEr1VoIoBSZ0tVd0n-mShoaZr5D8lmihL4jToLaS9Mvxpa2jnHxFf25insRCWxf0sWvgDI9OkJ7n7xatUePKzFtu4n0ygqdCWY4hJC2g5xnvFZAMrIavmx3sqoILKTD24/s200/IMG_4344.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258535327659123938" style="cursor: pointer; " /></a></span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Chris with John</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Just at that moment...my phone rang. The caller I.D. announced "unknown caller". I picked up the phone and said "Hello". Then a very familiar voice said, "Hi mom. Call back please!" It was the voice of Stuard from House 2.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">He had been thinking about me at the same time I had been considering calling them!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUUSJrMMXAlE40Y6ExPWZi8t5oFN5xW5cAkFHWLlFaKLcdc-A4e54ck4iBMCWfZIxOdJ0NhfEJSm4WPIK4N4x3RGwFwuULvmrTiF7CFlewDHgOuj1NkDDnYpNXIjonb02Pcv8PgzdNwA/s1600-h/IMG_1406.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUUSJrMMXAlE40Y6ExPWZi8t5oFN5xW5cAkFHWLlFaKLcdc-A4e54ck4iBMCWfZIxOdJ0NhfEJSm4WPIK4N4x3RGwFwuULvmrTiF7CFlewDHgOuj1NkDDnYpNXIjonb02Pcv8PgzdNwA/s320/IMG_1406.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258524092223204482" style="cursor: pointer; " /> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Stuard</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So, using my international calling plan (which brings my rates down to cents a minute rather than dollars!) I called back to their house dad's phone. The great thing about Kenyan mobile phones is that only the person calling gets charged; unlike our phones where both parties pay. So, as long as they have their phones charged, I can call and it doesn't cost them anything.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">After greeting Dad Robert for a few moments, I asked him to put Stuard on the phone. "Hi mom! Thanks for calling back. We just really wanted to speak with you!"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Each of the 7 boys in the house (Stuard, Johnstone, Martin, Joseph, John, Moses and Timothy) took turns with the phone. Our conversations have a predicatable sequence. First come the Kenyan greetings. Greetings are essential in Kenya. "How are you? I am doing fine. How are you? I am good too." They always inquire about my mom, whom they call 'grandmother'...making sure that she fine as well; and always making sure that I promise to "give their greeting" to my mom.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIhjRjFUlBL3Q0uPnpXSBHmZqp329wPupuIFROl9pX0rIvngQDoRzE6LhH_93Iwoml-_1y4K3f2F-GLw00PmTmak4_R_U_o1Zr0iXOmFW44_Pfh8vS0vzmlT4TPE7H_6kgLFLdL30HSc/s1600-h/DSCF1930.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIhjRjFUlBL3Q0uPnpXSBHmZqp329wPupuIFROl9pX0rIvngQDoRzE6LhH_93Iwoml-_1y4K3f2F-GLw00PmTmak4_R_U_o1Zr0iXOmFW44_Pfh8vS0vzmlT4TPE7H_6kgLFLdL30HSc/s320/DSCF1930.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258543106145546978" style="cursor: pointer; " /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">House 2 (from bottom right): John, Joseph, former House dad Simon, Steward, our good friend Heidi, Timothy, Martin, Moses, Me and Johnstone (photo from February 2007) </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">They usually ask "How is America?" or "How is California" and until recently, I always said "Fine, the same as always". But, because I am always truthful with them, this week I said "Things are pretty tough here. Our economy is having some problems. Pray for America." They each replied in earnest sincerity that they would and that America should "Trust God." Hmmm...out of the mouths of babes, eh?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I always ask about school. They all just completed mid-terms exams (in primary school!) and they each told me which subjects they felt that they did well in and which ones they struggled with (usually math!). They told me how they were all going to my house tomorrow to do a Bible Study with Allison, Chris and Daina and get a little tutoring from them as well. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Some of the boys had special concerns or questions and I did my best to give them encouragement and insight. This week, they all wanted to talk about Edwin (from House 1) running away and tell me what they knew about the situation. I told each of them, "When God opens doors for us, we have to walk through them. God gives us free will. Edwin used his free will. We have to pray for him and hopefully he will come back soon. He is part of our family. We love him." They all assured me that they would never run away and that they didn't understand why Edwin did. For these boys, who have little family except each other...it is a huge loss to have one of their brothers leave home. They wanted to talk about their feelings and I did my best to council them and reassure them....from half a world away.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRH5LwycALYpQbq_y88jrGk4s9v_vGJRl2e8Kw5eKWiItRXotsHJmzT-d7HOnnWJuy5Gdzx46xF8duNiiXzusZ2FSzft2rPv9Bmn4_3iB040G3Kgc0fHh5P6loOE4YBsqw73NdD2wvkQ/s1600-h/IMG_4051.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRH5LwycALYpQbq_y88jrGk4s9v_vGJRl2e8Kw5eKWiItRXotsHJmzT-d7HOnnWJuy5Gdzx46xF8duNiiXzusZ2FSzft2rPv9Bmn4_3iB040G3Kgc0fHh5P6loOE4YBsqw73NdD2wvkQ/s320/IMG_4051.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258524109835400258" style="cursor: pointer; " /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Edwin...still not home.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We always end our talks with "I love you and I miss you." Sometimes I get kisses over the line and the question "Did you receive my kiss, mom?". And always the question, "When will you be back?" </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It isn't the same as being there. But, these calls are a lifeline for all of us. I can tell from their voices if they are well and happy. I can tell by the order in which they talk to me if one of them has an issue he doesn't want me to bring up. They know that I always find out about their grades and their behavior from Geoffrey. If one of them has gotten in trouble....he will always be the last one on the line and his hello will always be quiet and tentative. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuCfe6p9pM9MBmoGUBykqAN0n0yIjzFdKT766HOVxk4yGkIrlt54NUKaR2YEQmAjGl-nCbGySKR8pbJQocMjFu_YyTV8jTsA3-kAurpks5JE8NqlcFwWw3-bJmIeYvk8yK2rq9sP3YJY/s1600-h/IMG_2081_2.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuCfe6p9pM9MBmoGUBykqAN0n0yIjzFdKT766HOVxk4yGkIrlt54NUKaR2YEQmAjGl-nCbGySKR8pbJQocMjFu_YyTV8jTsA3-kAurpks5JE8NqlcFwWw3-bJmIeYvk8yK2rq9sP3YJY/s320/IMG_2081_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258528649694639138" style="cursor: pointer; " /> </a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I wish I could have this moment back with Edwin. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I want to be there every day. I want to sit and look into their eyes when they have a problem to discuss. But, for now at least, that isn't possible except for a few months each year. So, as families do.....we make the best of it. Thank God for technology!</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div>Mama Oasishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032004716161828008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092771351850513031.post-43803934479019731312008-10-17T06:27:00.000-07:002008-10-17T14:27:39.849-07:00They'll break your heart if you let them...ah, but don't you let them.<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">That title is a line from the old James Taylor song, "You've Got A Friend". I am old enough to remember when that song came out and for some reason I have been hearing that one line in my head for the past several days. </span><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Loving others is the most wonderful thing in life. In the Bible, Jesus said that the two greatest commandments are to love God and to love others. Along with the joy of love, comes the risk of pain. Pain; when those that you love disappoint, hurt or leave.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">This blog is not about the romantic kind of love....I am referring to the love that has resulted from opening my heart up to hundreds of kids in Kenya. Loving these kids has taught me the true meaning of love and has transformed my life. It has also made me vulnerable. Moms worry about their kids...they want them to be happy and safe. When my kids are hurting...I hurt too. It's all part of what comes along with loving others.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Now, people that know me will say that I am a "glass half full" kind of girl. I mostly choose to look on the bright and shiny side of things... believing that people are good and that things will just work out right. When it comes to the street kids in Kenya....I really believe that most of them just want a chance for a normal life....school, home, family. Like that Field of Dreams movie line, "If you build it, they will come."....I came into this work believing that if Oasis of Hope provided that chance...that every single kid in need would gratefully come and their lives would be magically transformed into something wonderful and they would live happily ever after. Ok....I know that is a little (ok, a lot) naive. Happily ever after only happens in storybooks and movies. Real life is; well...so much realer!</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">First of all, there is this little thing called "Free Will" that God gave us....and sometimes it works against what is best for us. Everybody else can see that we are making a really bad decision. In fact, even <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">WE</span> know that we are making a bad decision...but, we do it anyway. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">This past week brought some really disappointing news.... 3 of the kids that I love very much have been making some really bad decisions. One, has been choosing to sneak out of his boarding school and hang out with friends on the street for days at a time. Another, after years of coming to the Children's Centre...was finally given his chance to go to school....and now he is getting into fights with his new classmates almost daily. And the hardest one.....one of our boys in a group home...who has lived in that home for over 3 years....packed up his stuff and ran away last Sunday and we don't know where he is. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">My first reaction is always shock, "I can't believe that they would <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">DO</span> that!"....but, then I stop and think about how many teenagers in America make equally bad decisions....even after growing up in loving families their whole lives. Sometimes I forget the lives that our kids at Oasis have had....watching parents die at a young age and fending for themselves on the streets. I realize that I often don't understand the depth of the damage that has been done to their emotional well-being. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">And then there is the whole "teenager rebellion" factor to take into account, as well. Sixteen year olds all over the world are busy breaking the rules, I guess. It is a natural part of the growing up process. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">So, as I sit here, half a world away, I am frustrated and sad that I am not in Kenya when these things happen. I want to sit with these boys and find out what is going on in their heads. I want to go out and look for our missing boy myself and hug him and encourage him to come home. But, I trust Geoffrey and the staff of Oasis of Hope to do these same things. I used to get all worked up and my heart would break every single time...but, I have learned that these dramas work tend to work themselves out. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">In the meantime.... all I can do is pray that they will be safe. I believe in the power of prayer to change lives. I'd really appreciate it if you would take a moment and join me in praying that Elvis will get serious about his High School studies, that Silas will settle into boarding school and control his temper and most of all...that Edwin will come home. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I'll keep you posted on what happens....</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYm8MhGIJGqEKrMfqsY_lM7xmiUlDAHMujQMU-XUA7glncEivRKaWaRGa92DnuNcv3dTlBfRsnq_EADnZQ4_4zrZdSLRxP4K2HqCm2wWMqEPqjareB2wPNURkRXghtCGu3bqg7pKyzGyk/s1600-h/IMG_6055.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258132443400329970" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYm8MhGIJGqEKrMfqsY_lM7xmiUlDAHMujQMU-XUA7glncEivRKaWaRGa92DnuNcv3dTlBfRsnq_EADnZQ4_4zrZdSLRxP4K2HqCm2wWMqEPqjareB2wPNURkRXghtCGu3bqg7pKyzGyk/s320/IMG_6055.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Silas</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoshTO-GUpPyMQIXwO631u0rv9JH7etw4zHeNe4F1PbM-WZ78ZQCPV5kbQGcSk6GGKHFptdH-q9gwY94n4fqZP6krB9hiiMET8FbsqrVRRWlKxAB9MSlFLyYaiTyAwF2lDE2lPC5Se_Xc/s1600-h/IMG_1969.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258132474887567346" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoshTO-GUpPyMQIXwO631u0rv9JH7etw4zHeNe4F1PbM-WZ78ZQCPV5kbQGcSk6GGKHFptdH-q9gwY94n4fqZP6krB9hiiMET8FbsqrVRRWlKxAB9MSlFLyYaiTyAwF2lDE2lPC5Se_Xc/s320/IMG_1969.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Elvis</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinA78L6ESUPbPb5ai4AwbTK_vpDZss5JMacA-6kIix9GCjjMpg5rzfHLizMJ0IYWRnk_KMPf1b616c_CBhyphenhyphenAoeC_X4dNYLLlR0SKONlM8NGqxEsMiZYnNqz1InGfUg3p02hIOwTncf4Q/s1600-h/IMG_4010.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258129206047640354" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinA78L6ESUPbPb5ai4AwbTK_vpDZss5JMacA-6kIix9GCjjMpg5rzfHLizMJ0IYWRnk_KMPf1b616c_CBhyphenhyphenAoeC_X4dNYLLlR0SKONlM8NGqxEsMiZYnNqz1InGfUg3p02hIOwTncf4Q/s320/IMG_4010.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Edwin</span>Mama Oasishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032004716161828008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092771351850513031.post-64204909106399999852008-10-10T08:14:00.000-07:002008-10-17T14:28:42.142-07:00Lights, Action...CAMERA!<span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I always bring my digital camera to Kenya. The photos from my trips are the primary way I share Oasis of Hope with others and I end up with thousands of photos every time. But, about 80% of those pics are not taken by me. The kids love to take photographs of themselves. Every evening, when I return home...I spend an entertaining hour checking out the photos taken that day. </span> </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The boys and girls from our group homes have gotten especially adept at staging themed "photo-shoots" of themselves that often incorporate props...usually with hilarious results. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Johnstone with my sunglasses and a dishtowel....</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuyow7BCXD9Uw_RpwjD4jEql5TA1gcplbEAxp47VP7FO2UWQ90ewD4N4JjN4cksupdjQPyJOFzOpqzzI3aXZfPVwlrDuhi8tXzCuOknKCAxDGlq6KCa_AAaAy5t_5-RWLX7Lt_TJpGFvw/s1600-h/IMG_0526.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255546570472221250" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuyow7BCXD9Uw_RpwjD4jEql5TA1gcplbEAxp47VP7FO2UWQ90ewD4N4JjN4cksupdjQPyJOFzOpqzzI3aXZfPVwlrDuhi8tXzCuOknKCAxDGlq6KCa_AAaAy5t_5-RWLX7Lt_TJpGFvw/s320/IMG_0526.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKZ4rDvU0AlA7gEikRdbodNTH8NfwHiWA7BFgygroYFxHg3yVWa-5Norm_4Ro6IDlNLw5pweInfH59W-UbHoarOfFGQNVRirUFVerX5UndKZO7Iwe0_BUYQXShTam9YkOSkadbZe8OJY/s1600-h/IMG_0527.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255546574872568594" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKZ4rDvU0AlA7gEikRdbodNTH8NfwHiWA7BFgygroYFxHg3yVWa-5Norm_4Ro6IDlNLw5pweInfH59W-UbHoarOfFGQNVRirUFVerX5UndKZO7Iwe0_BUYQXShTam9YkOSkadbZe8OJY/s320/IMG_0527.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5J32KiWB5JEIG1tOgZS8eMNVfT00gSJltrOn_Ad_UPSKwQswx1pYDKlfF98XR3FQ3I4wyDEAGIO5kIdYZz08LyB81mPFuWMb6A2FtsvgoiK1qVXZn_lQ18NkUiTcDH9PTsl4gcqyf7Og/s1600-h/IMG_0529.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255547555872991394" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5J32KiWB5JEIG1tOgZS8eMNVfT00gSJltrOn_Ad_UPSKwQswx1pYDKlfF98XR3FQ3I4wyDEAGIO5kIdYZz08LyB81mPFuWMb6A2FtsvgoiK1qVXZn_lQ18NkUiTcDH9PTsl4gcqyf7Og/s320/IMG_0529.JPG" border="0" /> </span></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11r4F-msveoDGOOzII6wRKIUnuxm4Fe-G56hQIdgR3pEfSCJi1BBtJ_m5OohAjfUHHcueQMpogiOZX5iuythaEFzkKMO6ZYPt3SNdFUvdaVZLiYwhrGRF6dwyS5JLXlF2PCdTq1fVgHw/s1600-h/IMG_0532.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255550038098141218" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11r4F-msveoDGOOzII6wRKIUnuxm4Fe-G56hQIdgR3pEfSCJi1BBtJ_m5OohAjfUHHcueQMpogiOZX5iuythaEFzkKMO6ZYPt3SNdFUvdaVZLiYwhrGRF6dwyS5JLXlF2PCdTq1fVgHw/s320/IMG_0532.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUF4Hpa6MXHnD_W3BsbasBzXMwj-yNIO1X8FZZV7I8u2gEWAY-43rvTGQ83XiJwboFVjHBE8GPVZ0u6DPDZO8caiV8fPecPmtxjlM-rzingLw0SDOcCbxuLDNQ_HSEumm1TezbKvALDc/s1600-h/IMG_0528_2.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255546583576590290" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUF4Hpa6MXHnD_W3BsbasBzXMwj-yNIO1X8FZZV7I8u2gEWAY-43rvTGQ83XiJwboFVjHBE8GPVZ0u6DPDZO8caiV8fPecPmtxjlM-rzingLw0SDOcCbxuLDNQ_HSEumm1TezbKvALDc/s320/IMG_0528_2.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIBfJkg2pt3UTfIA8Cs2UsP3YGRIgpniuUVMY_QskFV9CRwDKfXVysq2z1sLT1V1K0l0NnchyphenhyphenyAdVgDGflb9ydhADooM_3JpULmy0O52jRD_jnLGQr-aDP23qgWsSki6Hz6p0_M0Ksjk/s1600-h/IMG_0531.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255548837778997250" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIBfJkg2pt3UTfIA8Cs2UsP3YGRIgpniuUVMY_QskFV9CRwDKfXVysq2z1sLT1V1K0l0NnchyphenhyphenyAdVgDGflb9ydhADooM_3JpULmy0O52jRD_jnLGQr-aDP23qgWsSki6Hz6p0_M0Ksjk/s320/IMG_0531.JPG" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">....this last one is especially funny to me since the photo-shoot was happening while supper was being cooked by Sasha (my business partner's daughter...visiting Kenya for the 3rd time this year) who was completely oblivious to the action taking place right next to her!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">This group photo shoot was taken in August of 2007 one Sunday after church. It features Johnstone (of course!), Timothy, John, Martin, Paul, Elvis and Edwin:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2p3jM-XaNB6PCI4Xz8faQhPF7xvRTHdXPEHUWeVnYR4Gwq1hlwgCHovrzBvDBZmOZCmbc3GA8NRloCYzkzpDJbX9rNmVclmF9lYqB-Gebc6xApFtGkA-faIFKu93CB-umx5-r-R1WgY/s1600-h/boys+1+and+2+127.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255553831280163746" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2p3jM-XaNB6PCI4Xz8faQhPF7xvRTHdXPEHUWeVnYR4Gwq1hlwgCHovrzBvDBZmOZCmbc3GA8NRloCYzkzpDJbX9rNmVclmF9lYqB-Gebc6xApFtGkA-faIFKu93CB-umx5-r-R1WgY/s320/boys+1+and+2+127.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXs1egChuEcfpirp_oWzalY3MTdP77Z0vbkE0eOowAvtE1N5Cd455CrEPSsNFR-CkpKJU4c-2Yxzsj9MTO3d9sh937dhz6j5aqK0rSMPQMmBUh0_HeTtLZBtBIFVHCxdUvcMF1GCvcxc8/s1600-h/boys+1+and+2+113.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255553837005630050" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXs1egChuEcfpirp_oWzalY3MTdP77Z0vbkE0eOowAvtE1N5Cd455CrEPSsNFR-CkpKJU4c-2Yxzsj9MTO3d9sh937dhz6j5aqK0rSMPQMmBUh0_HeTtLZBtBIFVHCxdUvcMF1GCvcxc8/s320/boys+1+and+2+113.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZErRx8QyAIrYMZKWjqHFksDNV5sHdYzWD4PcWh-uTvH2wZnT7NdGyJWqMpSPF4VcTcKZNq8x6lx_Rb81-81OSBlXiqbtKLFEpR-RE_n1S2lfKj0-Ww8FJS3xhvvrLEEMlfUlQDyVtQLo/s1600-h/boys+1+and+2+120.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255553839381805298" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZErRx8QyAIrYMZKWjqHFksDNV5sHdYzWD4PcWh-uTvH2wZnT7NdGyJWqMpSPF4VcTcKZNq8x6lx_Rb81-81OSBlXiqbtKLFEpR-RE_n1S2lfKj0-Ww8FJS3xhvvrLEEMlfUlQDyVtQLo/s320/boys+1+and+2+120.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf75dQWOvShE0d0Mpaj065edzDubeeSUPrYqHmyapXnKKrGymXa9xYGJXJnOvmcY9k3lN_gFsgOPzjjqsKZ4go6OkbdomTa5dkJIrwIZ1iTMUVbVQ1TYCle6hyphenhyphenYlzlxjrpOSE0VcB__Fg/s1600-h/boys+1+and+2+142.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255553846769312562" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf75dQWOvShE0d0Mpaj065edzDubeeSUPrYqHmyapXnKKrGymXa9xYGJXJnOvmcY9k3lN_gFsgOPzjjqsKZ4go6OkbdomTa5dkJIrwIZ1iTMUVbVQ1TYCle6hyphenhyphenYlzlxjrpOSE0VcB__Fg/s320/boys+1+and+2+142.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbkUQBwL3MrjkN4LjsB2HTxMPndSn8IIHiWtIOl06v8cVgQzt5QI1yBuV0DeUUbUI0bxP65feXaxfk2BzMgXXCAYi95BKMT6xa9rnG5DAFFI0BJ5sb-savKfS3X6afjIiqZ8Q0Tb-5Bg/s1600-h/boys+1+and+2+157.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255553854680030466" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbkUQBwL3MrjkN4LjsB2HTxMPndSn8IIHiWtIOl06v8cVgQzt5QI1yBuV0DeUUbUI0bxP65feXaxfk2BzMgXXCAYi95BKMT6xa9rnG5DAFFI0BJ5sb-savKfS3X6afjIiqZ8Q0Tb-5Bg/s320/boys+1+and+2+157.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The thing that I love the most about these photos is how they portray the spontaneous joy that these kids are now capable of. They aren't smiling because I am prompting them to...they are enjoying each other and exhibiting the silliness that can only come out of a kid that is comfortable and confident in their life.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">It has only been a few years since all of these youth were Kitale streetboys....dressed in torn and dirty clothes, barefoot, hungry. Many of them were trapped in the addiction of sniffing glue. I look at them now and can't help but smile and shed a tear at the same time while I thank God that Oasis of Hope has been able to transform so many lives. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Many times the only photographs that come out of Africa are the ones that show the despair and the seeming hopelessness. While I run the risk of having people look at the photographs in this blog and think that these clean, well fed, nicely dressed kids are a world away from the typical Africa photos....I believe that it is important to show the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">HOPE</span>. Our byline at Oasis of Hope is "Giving hope to the hopeless" and these kids are a perfect example of that sentiment in action.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Paul, Moses, Edwin, and Joseph show that a dog (in this case...my Kenyan dog, Sky) can make a nice prop:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNg2ZSsaQp3UtI46mDbb0dLOyv2GITWEfLCyX7_rKbX-otNPJ6Vh_h_is1pmZPENWs7N_Uu-pMdGu4OP1cjVYks3CcDdGy3hOecnxCkXoal95pB9Ub-y84WZNw8Me_MY51iqbsW6ibX4Q/s1600-h/IMG_1442.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256655923984847858" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNg2ZSsaQp3UtI46mDbb0dLOyv2GITWEfLCyX7_rKbX-otNPJ6Vh_h_is1pmZPENWs7N_Uu-pMdGu4OP1cjVYks3CcDdGy3hOecnxCkXoal95pB9Ub-y84WZNw8Me_MY51iqbsW6ibX4Q/s320/IMG_1442.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cxwIsksfpNhOp_icJVGfnL4x5iq8T4H0et796lnhy6x0BcmXJB15tUCO0r4ozl3NqHbElM_pIVjeDLFk0IWXfIyWANB_s_cAmA-SvnDvgifUKANDuF5ZIeHBqv5mxdD3Gm6s1B1Crc0/s1600-h/IMG_1444.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256655931850381634" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cxwIsksfpNhOp_icJVGfnL4x5iq8T4H0et796lnhy6x0BcmXJB15tUCO0r4ozl3NqHbElM_pIVjeDLFk0IWXfIyWANB_s_cAmA-SvnDvgifUKANDuF5ZIeHBqv5mxdD3Gm6s1B1Crc0/s320/IMG_1444.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzgFUm_iR2qPDjn0HZR8M3N_9xUu7RJMJgFIU1G2avnf5XYQWe-8g07y2lDsOZZJMM71vHm0529d-klB6tfd92V0WbeQBKrEvpXA2m50hyphenhyphen1u1LFh-GCEgVgpF2SoRBVONcBywZ9Ecvxc/s1600-h/IMG_1452.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256655939090670066" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzgFUm_iR2qPDjn0HZR8M3N_9xUu7RJMJgFIU1G2avnf5XYQWe-8g07y2lDsOZZJMM71vHm0529d-klB6tfd92V0WbeQBKrEvpXA2m50hyphenhyphen1u1LFh-GCEgVgpF2SoRBVONcBywZ9Ecvxc/s320/IMG_1452.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGF9ApzTd5rcY379NCy5pFuzonSmz0_91t3oggwlXSeq0imKraI8S0UwdbfiZ8A56vGuW2VPZdNeJ0WG9sHvrszqqNPHO-cO0c6X-qUtDFINxZ06lceX1JuPgiUOMDwKa2y2k6e2H1td4/s1600-h/IMG_1493.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256655950084394018" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGF9ApzTd5rcY379NCy5pFuzonSmz0_91t3oggwlXSeq0imKraI8S0UwdbfiZ8A56vGuW2VPZdNeJ0WG9sHvrszqqNPHO-cO0c6X-qUtDFINxZ06lceX1JuPgiUOMDwKa2y2k6e2H1td4/s320/IMG_1493.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-size:85%;" >I couldn't resist being part of the action!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOwI9Gv7BMsJlxWkpH5w1KGgMROMtOLJhM2T6ZEp7h0XPZIkfppKaTeCHOB-GrpFd2wuacMnr0mzVLyCu9Inx2WRQhMtOQiaCtlLVq1LTDAyxW_oLE1MmqP_S1jz3vKaj8zBn6Mc99DiA/s1600-h/IMG_1502.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256656841289778962" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOwI9Gv7BMsJlxWkpH5w1KGgMROMtOLJhM2T6ZEp7h0XPZIkfppKaTeCHOB-GrpFd2wuacMnr0mzVLyCu9Inx2WRQhMtOQiaCtlLVq1LTDAyxW_oLE1MmqP_S1jz3vKaj8zBn6Mc99DiA/s320/IMG_1502.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">S</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">ometimes the photographs that the kids produce take my breath away....as in these dramatic shots of Edwin, Johnstone and Moses:</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEeSaLJU5TO4oIa9mjUl26Q_VkZsafnLaLYIDuvWBjMXzg178wGkW9OCx9Ij5P6L11c_e4PSHEyXBUDrqW5zE9IX9Ki6lVYC-2wbWIQKAVxkbbZob-5hUOz0pQgF8RWU0hh7IYa3poBpg/s1600-h/IMG_1859.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256656848048312722" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEeSaLJU5TO4oIa9mjUl26Q_VkZsafnLaLYIDuvWBjMXzg178wGkW9OCx9Ij5P6L11c_e4PSHEyXBUDrqW5zE9IX9Ki6lVYC-2wbWIQKAVxkbbZob-5hUOz0pQgF8RWU0hh7IYa3poBpg/s320/IMG_1859.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskud3MA4D11-LP83MMib3OwsVmDhA0Pgq37t8-um6gIdA0pXOCd47aEZbu1Wt5oMHqz8tFSraHBRdMb-6TgcCcvJ03v5ojpU1psNb1ekoH34hlCkyDKvjVaD1fgXFUrECFSa4J9T_jD0/s1600-h/IMG_1865.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256656849465023554" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskud3MA4D11-LP83MMib3OwsVmDhA0Pgq37t8-um6gIdA0pXOCd47aEZbu1Wt5oMHqz8tFSraHBRdMb-6TgcCcvJ03v5ojpU1psNb1ekoH34hlCkyDKvjVaD1fgXFUrECFSa4J9T_jD0/s320/IMG_1865.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptutidYuRoXG_tZHAQjDql132SIh_FVK8678jDD7F8RxB7F4hVaUphdUfcD1IySgSFZ3R_Hi2aEQZXvrnOpKE513CNW7ZE7X9N4QAuS5I0xzzFShDITpVRa6EEqD6Z3d6k5n4fU4R8nE/s1600-h/IMG_1868.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256656854864421298" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptutidYuRoXG_tZHAQjDql132SIh_FVK8678jDD7F8RxB7F4hVaUphdUfcD1IySgSFZ3R_Hi2aEQZXvrnOpKE513CNW7ZE7X9N4QAuS5I0xzzFShDITpVRa6EEqD6Z3d6k5n4fU4R8nE/s320/IMG_1868.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwH9y-lg3bXmoCDTbzAYrKnaGbL5PoL_xkMiWFSJ3nZ2SAcQspKBrjXKK8KkJms4ttHQo_wy3lXLj97gqoOqzHfw7w_R0bYUfQBmal0obE4Hb2ou_wbwPD_mTy-pM2q1ODs0OfDdKBmw/s1600-h/IMG_1883.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256656856060880194" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwH9y-lg3bXmoCDTbzAYrKnaGbL5PoL_xkMiWFSJ3nZ2SAcQspKBrjXKK8KkJms4ttHQo_wy3lXLj97gqoOqzHfw7w_R0bYUfQBmal0obE4Hb2ou_wbwPD_mTy-pM2q1ODs0OfDdKBmw/s320/IMG_1883.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I can't wait to see what they think of next!</span></div></div>Mama Oasishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032004716161828008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092771351850513031.post-28871860371816734892008-10-07T07:29:00.000-07:002008-10-17T14:30:27.208-07:00They Grow Up SO Fast!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcyVH6RgEdxOmC8SXdnD_gi3V60LgejP0LvQExl_Z7Dhk79i8S9x5dpqCqz5mGqolnyOm4yasdledmOPuwYO7LmD4d7ylaBbKE74SkN1gymsMhCVNekZpdK1S3BKV0ladNFEvWNlRMJg/s1600-h/DSCF1687.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254833590960225250" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcyVH6RgEdxOmC8SXdnD_gi3V60LgejP0LvQExl_Z7Dhk79i8S9x5dpqCqz5mGqolnyOm4yasdledmOPuwYO7LmD4d7ylaBbKE74SkN1gymsMhCVNekZpdK1S3BKV0ladNFEvWNlRMJg/s400/DSCF1687.JPG" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSck2LZo-8Y5SBuE2TMyo1AptrLRcNGSc-zmTZp60DgNGf_0Vq8f0hKttxEH3ZcQyRZb0xEWkHpo83scaDccri17g-FM__hqG5VyhXl0UGfqBwaWoREvq_wecyOA8X05wcbhitJCX0Lo/s1600-h/IMG_1199.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254833591458096050" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSck2LZo-8Y5SBuE2TMyo1AptrLRcNGSc-zmTZp60DgNGf_0Vq8f0hKttxEH3ZcQyRZb0xEWkHpo83scaDccri17g-FM__hqG5VyhXl0UGfqBwaWoREvq_wecyOA8X05wcbhitJCX0Lo/s400/IMG_1199.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-size:85%;" >I know that I didn't get SHORTER!!!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" >top photo: Me with Johnstone and Martin in February 2006</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" >lower photo: Me with Martin and Timothy in July 2008</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I still feel like I am about 25 years old. I'm <strong>NOT</strong> saying that I <strong>LOOK</strong> 25....in fact, sometimes lately I catch my reflection in a window or a mirror or see a photo of myself and think, "Oh my! When did I get so old!!?!" </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">That being said....all in all, I feel pretty youthful. I think a big part of this denial/young attitude is a result of not having kids when I was in my late 20's or early 30's like many of my peers did. I am always surprised when I meet somebody that is about my same age and they comment that they have kids in college or even more surprising....that they have GRANDKIDS! And then I do the math and realize that had my life taken a different path that I too could be a grandmother right now!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Over the past few weeks, I have been organizing the thousands of photos that I have taken of the kids at Oasis of Hope. As I look at some of the photographs taken 4 years ago and compare them to pics taken just a month ago....I am finally starting to understand how the passage of time is most reliably felt as you watch your kids get older. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Taking a boy or girl out of life on the street or life in a slum where food has been a luxury and not a given and then just feeding them 3 meals a day causes a remarkable change....in a really short period of time. Geoffrey (managing Oasis in Kenya) and I have finally learned not to buy too many sets of clothes for a child that is just coming off of the street because they outgrow them in just a few weeks when they start to eat regularly! </span><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I have seen some of our boys actually grow over a foot in height in just a year! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">So....I guess I am finally starting to "feel" my age a little bit as these boys and girls that I met as little kids are turning into young men and women. Of course, there are always new little ones coming into the program....the sad fact of Africa. I always say that the best day will be when we can hang a "closed" sign on the children's centre because there aren't any more kids in need of help. Wishful thinking on my part, I'm afraid. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I know for sure that some of these kids wouldn't be alive right now if not for Oasis of Hope. Malaria can kill a kid in a few days when they are on the street. Life is violent on the street too. I thank God every day that Oasis has been able to transform the lives of so many children. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">But, there are so many more...waiting...waiting for <strong>THEIR</strong> chance....to go to school, to live in a home, to be safe and warm and dry in a bed at night. That is what keeps ME awake at night...praying for more people to come alongside me and the growing family of people who love these kids and who share the blessings of their own lives so that another child can be set free from a life of hunger, sickness, violence, and separation from God. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">So here are some 'then' and 'now' photos of my "sons" and "daughters" in Kitale. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">And like any mom would...I have to say I very proud I am of ALL of them!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">But they do grow up <strong>SO</strong> fast! </span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" >Shaaban in January of 2005 and now (just enrolled in 7th Grade!)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiKuSIwBC7i35l041Tj8gsFrYNFbdeaxl6yol-37w_yhE9wlXjF6_6cTt729cLMhCOj5BDhoAPlu-ot4CeHnrUcrRp75NHBGXlStkMf41F7mwHMyIY2xHyL2sWltuyZHoCqbXf-28VGo/s1600-h/oasis+of+hope+trip+742.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254424829595741922" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiKuSIwBC7i35l041Tj8gsFrYNFbdeaxl6yol-37w_yhE9wlXjF6_6cTt729cLMhCOj5BDhoAPlu-ot4CeHnrUcrRp75NHBGXlStkMf41F7mwHMyIY2xHyL2sWltuyZHoCqbXf-28VGo/s400/oasis+of+hope+trip+742.jpg" border="0" /> </span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiKuSIwBC7i35l041Tj8gsFrYNFbdeaxl6yol-37w_yhE9wlXjF6_6cTt729cLMhCOj5BDhoAPlu-ot4CeHnrUcrRp75NHBGXlStkMf41F7mwHMyIY2xHyL2sWltuyZHoCqbXf-28VGo/s1600-h/oasis+of+hope+trip+742.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"></span></a></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGk6otU86PtPoUCINlAyFq_u48xSzrQleO1dMvh3KoSpyJe0DHvxBCejvNFY5DOs82TK5kTAmxuflNSidJvTxeHyTujVX_8sSn5q2y62ZJDMSE_WlF2zGhi6VqPTTjx1LeQpD9N3ZpF4c/s1600-h/IMG_6054.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254813111153288418" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGk6otU86PtPoUCINlAyFq_u48xSzrQleO1dMvh3KoSpyJe0DHvxBCejvNFY5DOs82TK5kTAmxuflNSidJvTxeHyTujVX_8sSn5q2y62ZJDMSE_WlF2zGhi6VqPTTjx1LeQpD9N3ZpF4c/s400/IMG_6054.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" >Timothy (Timo) in January 2005 and now (a future Chef!)</span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8R6N6RfmXmSv8ir7Ij-p7EhZ4BFj9VZOjn3WWSvD9hhCn66SUiXX-rN5gad55_EfY0Agx_s7saJhGxTHbqZeINkf51c3JC5SoE4sChiRM2qt-FablQWhNuFh87LSO-eKR8CCs5CsAwVY/s1600-h/DSCF1356.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254821713410253298" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8R6N6RfmXmSv8ir7Ij-p7EhZ4BFj9VZOjn3WWSvD9hhCn66SUiXX-rN5gad55_EfY0Agx_s7saJhGxTHbqZeINkf51c3JC5SoE4sChiRM2qt-FablQWhNuFh87LSO-eKR8CCs5CsAwVY/s400/DSCF1356.JPG" border="0" /> </span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRF11RCnAFH0SN9bDs2530iaiEoJkaUY50DOL-fMdOhVyEJURvghQDy2uJ3BEDAZZTL5wmw9YN85qt4qNqqI257vKSIi5GdejFe66DEV_Ocqk0H1apc9-HNyGb_54ibyooX4NYTMXYzYs/s1600-h/IMG_4057.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254825462898240722" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRF11RCnAFH0SN9bDs2530iaiEoJkaUY50DOL-fMdOhVyEJURvghQDy2uJ3BEDAZZTL5wmw9YN85qt4qNqqI257vKSIi5GdejFe66DEV_Ocqk0H1apc9-HNyGb_54ibyooX4NYTMXYzYs/s400/IMG_4057.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" >Steward in January 2005 and now (doing great in 6th!)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZK5h7rvoOegl79tbtqtK2iX4wwC-s9UllYooAvRtz8dgYmD8UXqGjuIbxnW3dNp6ss0PkLzrYI_oSYrUmFVsVfwc82lJ2DOtX-2AtklS2VcFkjOjV6pV92kAsi0pJwSCI7ixbwC5NOA/s1600-h/oasis+of+hope+trip+056.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254805625762086786" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZK5h7rvoOegl79tbtqtK2iX4wwC-s9UllYooAvRtz8dgYmD8UXqGjuIbxnW3dNp6ss0PkLzrYI_oSYrUmFVsVfwc82lJ2DOtX-2AtklS2VcFkjOjV6pV92kAsi0pJwSCI7ixbwC5NOA/s400/oasis+of+hope+trip+056.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwbx6tCyrqLOZ_odaCOytYzEBaFYQPv8WnnduHB7HD0Ay9n0BRgZcX1w_To5u8LFp1chsq0SsLZ7Bx1ITCaNfB8DCl8OBJEMLQJX6UwQcHMx8wfumn3coQj4rqdtnL_iUT3um7cUL-mo/s1600-h/IMG_4082.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254821712473340658" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwbx6tCyrqLOZ_odaCOytYzEBaFYQPv8WnnduHB7HD0Ay9n0BRgZcX1w_To5u8LFp1chsq0SsLZ7Bx1ITCaNfB8DCl8OBJEMLQJX6UwQcHMx8wfumn3coQj4rqdtnL_iUT3um7cUL-mo/s400/IMG_4082.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" >Adorable Donald in January 2004 and now ( a busy 3rd grader!)</span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhZitqXu8ntt3J8eT_dDXwhUqrCRyoA61dLgqg49nLbIMR8BhQzXULPgKLeQdh1tggCiACQ-2AlCm_aD7VWcSKEvm33hB6G8fbfpIjXyWvTdYPFohMKZBYvDGXXJxeU9rK1gzWNcQkf0/s1600-h/oasis+of+hope+trip+397.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254821717126562338" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhZitqXu8ntt3J8eT_dDXwhUqrCRyoA61dLgqg49nLbIMR8BhQzXULPgKLeQdh1tggCiACQ-2AlCm_aD7VWcSKEvm33hB6G8fbfpIjXyWvTdYPFohMKZBYvDGXXJxeU9rK1gzWNcQkf0/s400/oasis+of+hope+trip+397.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pMvQadnhQ-pxsk5wSAx1kgvuzDK-yHNL53LapSKuvinrjnY7bLog4dF61e4tKATlpDXuT4tiYM2j7y6ATMEOxnmYRYoPDU23wovxBaA-SigcmplR58ee08Ovc8w4zR9GFRZvkffml1I/s1600-h/IMG_4086.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254825455719222802" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pMvQadnhQ-pxsk5wSAx1kgvuzDK-yHNL53LapSKuvinrjnY7bLog4dF61e4tKATlpDXuT4tiYM2j7y6ATMEOxnmYRYoPDU23wovxBaA-SigcmplR58ee08Ovc8w4zR9GFRZvkffml1I/s400/IMG_4086.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" >Beautiful Centrine in January 2005 and now (doing so well in 6th grade!)</span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSY2uejAcl0lxT9olz97N9YADC2tc4tRkPfnV6nloIsEuk6TblzBIQWqW_tcVKIikKi14uiFT53pJNhyPhqHAkWN34vn1gzNijCDF5k2tjk3MNnUYlyU6R6KUlmKaU6zdrSZRGR3dwmXU/s1600-h/oasis+of+hope+trip+259.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254805632961588674" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSY2uejAcl0lxT9olz97N9YADC2tc4tRkPfnV6nloIsEuk6TblzBIQWqW_tcVKIikKi14uiFT53pJNhyPhqHAkWN34vn1gzNijCDF5k2tjk3MNnUYlyU6R6KUlmKaU6zdrSZRGR3dwmXU/s400/oasis+of+hope+trip+259.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IjNi63sqs9nKGffpywhvTwpm9S0Ox8IiTx8weBkG52F2yQil7KHlDMLN-xv5TTyqjuQeTqCnqd8jS6T4ZCUOu55OC9RDeXSLqnXaCyTLYcSqQaHqJVZ2AyM1F7H0VstHgGnFIfdyP-I/s1600-h/IMG_4099.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254808148994778786" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IjNi63sqs9nKGffpywhvTwpm9S0Ox8IiTx8weBkG52F2yQil7KHlDMLN-xv5TTyqjuQeTqCnqd8jS6T4ZCUOu55OC9RDeXSLqnXaCyTLYcSqQaHqJVZ2AyM1F7H0VstHgGnFIfdyP-I/s400/IMG_4099.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" >Paul in September of 2005 on his first day of school and now (doing great in 6th)</span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRUP6Z5Iq81SQltTyawYJtLHIS_HXUyUYoJHrlVWmcPG1tOaaAkVwYratD8BJe9Xpid_tT1rz1nNKzvo6vi9TFubWIxOQsIpAgL69hcUwBSCipyE7FRnfGtp6q-05IOh1jnuCnKeNlDU/s1600-h/Schoolgoing043.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254806553714421474" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRUP6Z5Iq81SQltTyawYJtLHIS_HXUyUYoJHrlVWmcPG1tOaaAkVwYratD8BJe9Xpid_tT1rz1nNKzvo6vi9TFubWIxOQsIpAgL69hcUwBSCipyE7FRnfGtp6q-05IOh1jnuCnKeNlDU/s400/Schoolgoing043.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr13TpkQLmvnDa2DTHHKN_yEL2lGs8qoyhYRIvh60FQA6dMeZK4BxO3aE2LkcGzPemr7NqOSs4IbbThtn2h1PFYLqRxhaFgJ-gVBgC4EFtvtzoaWNWi7objsbM3gCjtlt3tykQoZ_JcGg/s1600-h/IMG_1344.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254808137670408898" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr13TpkQLmvnDa2DTHHKN_yEL2lGs8qoyhYRIvh60FQA6dMeZK4BxO3aE2LkcGzPemr7NqOSs4IbbThtn2h1PFYLqRxhaFgJ-gVBgC4EFtvtzoaWNWi7objsbM3gCjtlt3tykQoZ_JcGg/s400/IMG_1344.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Martin in February 2006 and now (top of his class in 7th grade!)<br /></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepo5zeEWdMhs7ZuU_-JKUOt7O_X-ns1f031cLnVaOc5QHtVS0k9pUDCOohE11UGIOkkrdpiGHD-qZoL0pPxJ8Eh97rQFHImw52LYf3JFqgU0GQFsskhoP2WitQJqZQpVYN4CdZvw8xtA/s1600-h/DSCF1533.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254805628466156914" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepo5zeEWdMhs7ZuU_-JKUOt7O_X-ns1f031cLnVaOc5QHtVS0k9pUDCOohE11UGIOkkrdpiGHD-qZoL0pPxJ8Eh97rQFHImw52LYf3JFqgU0GQFsskhoP2WitQJqZQpVYN4CdZvw8xtA/s400/DSCF1533.JPG" border="0" /></span></a></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYFldk-alvhX26UhoST073vBv8yOaXlYU4pNTA_DofeevEMHXZT4qh3L4uB02hT1D6O_yS_JTp015T5IHf384H98_V0_htAhCtTUeGGY9EsHUsL94i89F_109HDQ_7qlMCYcnlhoz2Lo/s1600-h/IMG_4059.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254813115923807090" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYFldk-alvhX26UhoST073vBv8yOaXlYU4pNTA_DofeevEMHXZT4qh3L4uB02hT1D6O_yS_JTp015T5IHf384H98_V0_htAhCtTUeGGY9EsHUsL94i89F_109HDQ_7qlMCYcnlhoz2Lo/s400/IMG_4059.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" >Elvis in January of 2005 and now (in his first year of High School!)</span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNEzgz-AWpXjbnGgFyPwUZ6rtG79DChE2eaEqS1ECHaX7_W-8qz9wx4t3yiNTMBQk5WTNXcWoATz3FUpkXJVBRqp_XFKNkiKBuzoOFSkuryMuRBQsWi46fVRRAT_XoRF3i04ldj0KVII/s1600-h/oasis+of+hope+trip+732.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254424831952676210" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNEzgz-AWpXjbnGgFyPwUZ6rtG79DChE2eaEqS1ECHaX7_W-8qz9wx4t3yiNTMBQk5WTNXcWoATz3FUpkXJVBRqp_XFKNkiKBuzoOFSkuryMuRBQsWi46fVRRAT_XoRF3i04ldj0KVII/s400/oasis+of+hope+trip+732.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VQExfNor2LS65vrfvRItCSS9vm6L0pS5TXQ3HeDOlWRqI7tCp8Xx1Na1551Xj4DheRjZ05K3Y8n5dkoKvZIfyB_fyQmj94PyNImG60F0QilCPmcqHyLi08qlVtiNLuumuqZrFeTxxH0/s1600-h/IMG_1297.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" > </span></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VQExfNor2LS65vrfvRItCSS9vm6L0pS5TXQ3HeDOlWRqI7tCp8Xx1Na1551Xj4DheRjZ05K3Y8n5dkoKvZIfyB_fyQmj94PyNImG60F0QilCPmcqHyLi08qlVtiNLuumuqZrFeTxxH0/s1600-h/IMG_1297.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254432071641575842" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VQExfNor2LS65vrfvRItCSS9vm6L0pS5TXQ3HeDOlWRqI7tCp8Xx1Na1551Xj4DheRjZ05K3Y8n5dkoKvZIfyB_fyQmj94PyNImG60F0QilCPmcqHyLi08qlVtiNLuumuqZrFeTxxH0/s400/IMG_1297.JPG" border="0" /> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvAzfHZLX4WhxG2jf0rm7YocxiCsBlHap5JVmk8mnbgeBeliV37h5AlaUw3IFb2LZTMyfHdszHSJrOAoRZeEqNyG8tkgZ5ceXy5evIT2q1UpM6L0Agiv8Dk-TudWyxXNrpL-jl0QMMds/s1600-h/DSCF0108.JPG"></a></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" >Johnstone in January 2006 and now (thriving in 7th grade!)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NwltFqIbWlK1GzQTEgDAlNEIZ9_UJlrCNPpIikEaJ62GR_kdP45nactKYsb5ftVtliY5yxHqBKzoOex8_Vkkzw3HyL4O_UhMwy5y9wkEbu0pJVt7Ok1wflTI12HZyW9KJTuwNO-cYfo/s1600-h/Johnstone+Ekalale.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254805633721913122" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NwltFqIbWlK1GzQTEgDAlNEIZ9_UJlrCNPpIikEaJ62GR_kdP45nactKYsb5ftVtliY5yxHqBKzoOex8_Vkkzw3HyL4O_UhMwy5y9wkEbu0pJVt7Ok1wflTI12HZyW9KJTuwNO-cYfo/s400/Johnstone+Ekalale.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ln_7QXtJWk6O3AoFIfHNvlf6N2VJTGfcN3MNbeDJOlSch5CGkhynZpRVxICjWoG3zJ1Xp7eP35vGdQzB82HqUso1jIAKGnz4nrMYm9EGP7GIbDbasvEUgn318FrJm5l_-uxhowLD9R4/s1600-h/oasis+of+hope+trip+734.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" > </span></span></a></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqqOgSQHw-qH3JOpaQF7adGaFGYiNETaZZMlwuAsS358ulAvihxu-0mky8pNc4ntr7AsrTCGUBOQISSM6YuEu9a-ILhxE_bjd9yJqv5-41mXKYDuN3i21OwCkxS_iZwM_vCVUHMzDoa0/s1600-h/IMG_4364.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254815815940656098" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqqOgSQHw-qH3JOpaQF7adGaFGYiNETaZZMlwuAsS358ulAvihxu-0mky8pNc4ntr7AsrTCGUBOQISSM6YuEu9a-ILhxE_bjd9yJqv5-41mXKYDuN3i21OwCkxS_iZwM_vCVUHMzDoa0/s400/IMG_4364.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" >Ann, Nancy and Sheila in January of 2005 and Nancy, Ann and Sheila now (all doing well in school!)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVCCqJmxtWF1syF_PZYk7ivjctRr64bqxo6OGgs81ZFhK7QQIorBNK7ATNG3qxzedToczGpPWM2jr8P5Kb7H6NRG0CjNvptNT5o0zvForFGVmfq9zPCg9dBr9MjP4yfU69-nfLXLw3Mk/s1600-h/oasis+of+hope+trip+944.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254815804501933874" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVCCqJmxtWF1syF_PZYk7ivjctRr64bqxo6OGgs81ZFhK7QQIorBNK7ATNG3qxzedToczGpPWM2jr8P5Kb7H6NRG0CjNvptNT5o0zvForFGVmfq9zPCg9dBr9MjP4yfU69-nfLXLw3Mk/s400/oasis+of+hope+trip+944.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLtdsBWCawRnxNPAD0v0XOYZmlDQDu325Trz6goxU_WbpW5eYGoqdCewc1NWltrCVNHN24rgMlV0DnPXVmLI9tQKrKOdk_DRCOte9DBM1A171iC0W3T3kkRNUl_xwrw8UCu_GtLKZqQU/s1600-h/oasis+of+hope+trip+722.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" > </span></span></a></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-M6DCXqhqOPSHKhhg9adLDZsXDYMwlDvksmmTHNW3oJbLQJAz7zgPtUdZdzytmYLlrja2rHK2p4cJPK_U0mHewTEf_nWbCeeKCXX7ESk_lDxkOIfbBPQYP09fjfi8ck7HNoq5atOV7k/s1600-h/IMG_5541.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254813113363705378" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-M6DCXqhqOPSHKhhg9adLDZsXDYMwlDvksmmTHNW3oJbLQJAz7zgPtUdZdzytmYLlrja2rHK2p4cJPK_U0mHewTEf_nWbCeeKCXX7ESk_lDxkOIfbBPQYP09fjfi8ck7HNoq5atOV7k/s400/IMG_5541.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjCLB6lxDe_6tdz-w5QuULQOni05YMcMyZk-jZKoECjswBu4FlSMhMUBBhSeyxga3SV4NnJrFKyICd7SPNJ6SJ6CsGAzJkzLzl7VGKC37kPpCFPzyju-3j35QwBCsLaqzt2sfLuhKBEs/s1600-h/IMG_4078.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254815812357274322" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjCLB6lxDe_6tdz-w5QuULQOni05YMcMyZk-jZKoECjswBu4FlSMhMUBBhSeyxga3SV4NnJrFKyICd7SPNJ6SJ6CsGAzJkzLzl7VGKC37kPpCFPzyju-3j35QwBCsLaqzt2sfLuhKBEs/s400/IMG_4078.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" > </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" >Joseph...in March of 2006 and now (an active 6th grader!)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDw0ChU9Z4PhrACEs65HwOFCmc9M0QAus13H-jLpe70t4giAbIwVc737JIAMi1Lvgarc8paxzhs6Tcw_r4kX0aWTG_2VJlEm0X15NNrKt4sLPG7dYoj3n0mBH3sV7jLRO9X37v4bOJ0xY/s1600-h/Joseph+Ekai.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254423919055446898" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDw0ChU9Z4PhrACEs65HwOFCmc9M0QAus13H-jLpe70t4giAbIwVc737JIAMi1Lvgarc8paxzhs6Tcw_r4kX0aWTG_2VJlEm0X15NNrKt4sLPG7dYoj3n0mBH3sV7jLRO9X37v4bOJ0xY/s400/Joseph+Ekai.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2jG8Nk2Hr25S2Gh5FqtqanJejqB6K0WnQ9WwXsk74vwxXbzQHib4xTmCT9-Q-gT7ZDnGXJ0an8AnnXN3dI0O1ttqYjb7vRSyW9GFcRhGuBbY20Ejaq5iwypS2wGKRkvZ_3uaOEnZnOg/s1600-h/IMG_0827.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254815803015815186" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2jG8Nk2Hr25S2Gh5FqtqanJejqB6K0WnQ9WwXsk74vwxXbzQHib4xTmCT9-Q-gT7ZDnGXJ0an8AnnXN3dI0O1ttqYjb7vRSyW9GFcRhGuBbY20Ejaq5iwypS2wGKRkvZ_3uaOEnZnOg/s400/IMG_0827.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" >Bramwel: January 2005 and now (6'2" in the 6th grade and still growing!)</span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aDUGBKXdp85E2GNsapJe0z_6i2GnwOJs8wDhJ21NeRS4pFOQv8YoSkOkTbB5iatleKTo1Uf7TV5mbibCsZ5sHrvX-vT4QvL9WTzuLmqNYNQF2M2YintC0-e2WwY-7R1yVUrYvdr0_wc/s1600-h/IMG_1296.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254424827441305042" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLtdsBWCawRnxNPAD0v0XOYZmlDQDu325Trz6goxU_WbpW5eYGoqdCewc1NWltrCVNHN24rgMlV0DnPXVmLI9tQKrKOdk_DRCOte9DBM1A171iC0W3T3kkRNUl_xwrw8UCu_GtLKZqQU/s400/oasis+of+hope+trip+722.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254432068110271842" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aDUGBKXdp85E2GNsapJe0z_6i2GnwOJs8wDhJ21NeRS4pFOQv8YoSkOkTbB5iatleKTo1Uf7TV5mbibCsZ5sHrvX-vT4QvL9WTzuLmqNYNQF2M2YintC0-e2WwY-7R1yVUrYvdr0_wc/s400/IMG_1296.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" >"Little" Evans in January of 2005 and now (doing awesome in 3rd grade!)</span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ln_7QXtJWk6O3AoFIfHNvlf6N2VJTGfcN3MNbeDJOlSch5CGkhynZpRVxICjWoG3zJ1Xp7eP35vGdQzB82HqUso1jIAKGnz4nrMYm9EGP7GIbDbasvEUgn318FrJm5l_-uxhowLD9R4/s1600-h/oasis+of+hope+trip+734.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254424832758886034" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ln_7QXtJWk6O3AoFIfHNvlf6N2VJTGfcN3MNbeDJOlSch5CGkhynZpRVxICjWoG3zJ1Xp7eP35vGdQzB82HqUso1jIAKGnz4nrMYm9EGP7GIbDbasvEUgn318FrJm5l_-uxhowLD9R4/s400/oasis+of+hope+trip+734.jpg" border="0" /> </span></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CeVRyahu4bUyu7vYZ8GDymFS-7frBY1mPidDozbkRcZgQv1VOEYj7g0b13GchtPL1lCFWsW74FH8PT4pEVK_5t27ffGe0U-AKR44opyadALHrEJVrBxlYEAItizkpQ7Kke2ht1iWw1M/s1600-h/IMG_0339.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254432074007555554" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CeVRyahu4bUyu7vYZ8GDymFS-7frBY1mPidDozbkRcZgQv1VOEYj7g0b13GchtPL1lCFWsW74FH8PT4pEVK_5t27ffGe0U-AKR44opyadALHrEJVrBxlYEAItizkpQ7Kke2ht1iWw1M/s400/IMG_0339.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div></div>Mama Oasishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032004716161828008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092771351850513031.post-26755328898834780832008-10-05T09:47:00.000-07:002008-10-17T14:31:16.990-07:00Remembering my brother Tim<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Today is a little bit off-topic. But, it is my blog...so I get to do that sometimes.<br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">A year ago tomorrow (October 6), my brother Tim died. He was 45 years old. A sudden heart attack stole his life way too soon. This year has passed in a blur...sometimes it seems like it was yesterday and then other days it feels like a decade ago that I last spoke to my brother... even though in reality it was just a few weeks before his death.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNB5ToHK2UXw9SBQszQFGliDEVfOXJDgnw9ksB7S6of_IlDu72zHIU3gGWAvIAKmPXUSkXOiOuijH1oui262MtukhcaLx4GkFBkY0rMmO3rkpniPqCB_Gi49W85ptNV6In0JoMIpteao/s1600-h/LYDIA'S+BDAY+2003+008.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253747470553508498" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNB5ToHK2UXw9SBQszQFGliDEVfOXJDgnw9ksB7S6of_IlDu72zHIU3gGWAvIAKmPXUSkXOiOuijH1oui262MtukhcaLx4GkFBkY0rMmO3rkpniPqCB_Gi49W85ptNV6In0JoMIpteao/s400/LYDIA'S+BDAY+2003+008.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:verdana;" ></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">my birthday 2003 <br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: normal;font-family:Georgia;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253760709581153026" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh42upjk3aWntWDCnYif-ptYOlmA3bmxqmCELjq9zA4PoPfdhLo0y0LSwWtiRyTaKzw1LzL958RQPe2XtXTYjh71EctnkwfDNklJfApnx2WaCJTx0ZPFjD8KzV2EgqJDznjCjcU0f9t4M/s400/l_34c289b8a163329524ab56e65e0336c2-1.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Fourth of July 2001</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLaC2zklseULTBzdcyqj6flWbEhAGsKzxupifFcvvlRRNPrI00I0QHMdRsF4pPeq7Yw9Zc3YYHCf4cm9H7J6oa4Uf-pvWVIP2PZRbvvn8DSjIirMux9ywY06uQxW0Qu1DC7mlfviaxXU/s1600-h/12-02-2002++17.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253769629674984834" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLaC2zklseULTBzdcyqj6flWbEhAGsKzxupifFcvvlRRNPrI00I0QHMdRsF4pPeq7Yw9Zc3YYHCf4cm9H7J6oa4Uf-pvWVIP2PZRbvvn8DSjIirMux9ywY06uQxW0Qu1DC7mlfviaxXU/s400/12-02-2002++17.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Thanksgiving 2003</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I was in Kitale for 3 weeks in the summer of 2007... from the end of August until the early part of September. I remember because I flew home on September 11. By the way... September 11 is a good day to fly because the planes are all pretty empty and security is really high. Anyway, I had been home only a few weeks when my world changed completely with the loss of my only sibling.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(85,26,139); TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gYV1FcMuDnDRtLJpYo4R9-7xHnp0SAG2FwITd3w07pXChBIwOgWjuttCXUs5ZJF3lu1COwqR4gb_qj4wk8NAszKGVZ7iJTb8lAZ7LK0ge6hg9YD9krD1baIyRB-KEdkU0wOpS-RK6eo/s1600-h/brother+dear.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253742162305277938" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gYV1FcMuDnDRtLJpYo4R9-7xHnp0SAG2FwITd3w07pXChBIwOgWjuttCXUs5ZJF3lu1COwqR4gb_qj4wk8NAszKGVZ7iJTb8lAZ7LK0ge6hg9YD9krD1baIyRB-KEdkU0wOpS-RK6eo/s400/brother+dear.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">2007</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">It is difficult to describe my relationship with my brother. In a word, it was unpredictable. Honestly, Tim could make me laugh more than anybody on the planet... </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpFIpCZzvda_63Hs0fXEzs1mqov_suHCBKwhCDFWCW_us05fyxblkqoZPtp5hyphenhyphen2zw46VG6XEouQibRf3Nbta_PG2CXRcNpUnWLuNdkB4ZrNbf1x8vZOE4EBFhh-Cn8Gyc59t4qFRA6Hg/s1600-h/l_28964909408e64f64216bc2ed59abcfc.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253760739863277362" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpFIpCZzvda_63Hs0fXEzs1mqov_suHCBKwhCDFWCW_us05fyxblkqoZPtp5hyphenhyphen2zw46VG6XEouQibRf3Nbta_PG2CXRcNpUnWLuNdkB4ZrNbf1x8vZOE4EBFhh-Cn8Gyc59t4qFRA6Hg/s400/l_28964909408e64f64216bc2ed59abcfc.jpg" border="0" /> </a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2EfRGo7SIcs_EqE5BxjlRvYToqpIUK293aLRy3d6LDsk7n_sZk4rqNOqcvR0w1Ar_OsvcsthXA0PsZQZAUBuTyDX791DX5BzoTMdkOyGNNqzGkvqdPj0J06r17RdLeOpEJXc1WXgJw8/s1600-h/l_d29445e0c6640191be9ebae8c715eb15.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253760737655118114" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2EfRGo7SIcs_EqE5BxjlRvYToqpIUK293aLRy3d6LDsk7n_sZk4rqNOqcvR0w1Ar_OsvcsthXA0PsZQZAUBuTyDX791DX5BzoTMdkOyGNNqzGkvqdPj0J06r17RdLeOpEJXc1WXgJw8/s400/l_d29445e0c6640191be9ebae8c715eb15.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">...and he could also make me madder than anybody, if he chose to. But, no matter how furious I was at him...I loved him with all of my heart. He was my little brother - all 6+ feet of him. He called me Lyd, one of the few people that was allowed to use that silly nickname. He was almost 5 years younger than me and when we were kids, he adored me and followed me everywhere calling me "sister dear"- so, so, so long ago. I can still hear his voice saying "I love you, Lyd." and I pray that I will always be able to remember that.</span><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAP0DknCVGEv_qAxtrvbD0ZTVmKlnjJUEIcaQZdKgLdxDIEtnSQP5fZnvuepYiJWBRvPAXgowL_kn-yxld_114HzPOpYrQhCfTr_ow9gZX7Mh_QglhrCzhk9GxRNpZQTFSjGL7dUPf4o/s1600-h/m_3a372b42ac452f62143e5e59184dac29.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253759627964242402" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAP0DknCVGEv_qAxtrvbD0ZTVmKlnjJUEIcaQZdKgLdxDIEtnSQP5fZnvuepYiJWBRvPAXgowL_kn-yxld_114HzPOpYrQhCfTr_ow9gZX7Mh_QglhrCzhk9GxRNpZQTFSjGL7dUPf4o/s400/m_3a372b42ac452f62143e5e59184dac29.jpg" border="0" /> </span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN69NoMGF6rt7qZvr4mJnnQOQJ5T_FbLjwr-dm5GZx5hTX4FQnULDzbOYxgjrhNQr8AksRpxvxJivIsEcH-k7SCz6y4zBx8cTUH7SZ36tF3bLrqtOxxEYDAmpBrFKxEAlJ_jS13U54arY/s1600-h/Tim+062.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253744697933020706" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN69NoMGF6rt7qZvr4mJnnQOQJ5T_FbLjwr-dm5GZx5hTX4FQnULDzbOYxgjrhNQr8AksRpxvxJivIsEcH-k7SCz6y4zBx8cTUH7SZ36tF3bLrqtOxxEYDAmpBrFKxEAlJ_jS13U54arY/s400/Tim+062.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyF_Fi5Age08-y2OQvlgGdxzmGDuI3TbObQtLhyezrHJceDeIqOQWzB-E8QYwY2KXfWuGE-umVyjwjRkmQVYJcMa4CB_crxsLWezMMZX9LG43deaXlx_JuZol8POW3u3cO8t4aGIkQIi8/s1600-h/Tim+072.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253744701467987170" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyF_Fi5Age08-y2OQvlgGdxzmGDuI3TbObQtLhyezrHJceDeIqOQWzB-E8QYwY2KXfWuGE-umVyjwjRkmQVYJcMa4CB_crxsLWezMMZX9LG43deaXlx_JuZol8POW3u3cO8t4aGIkQIi8/s400/Tim+072.jpg" border="0" /> </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:verdana;" ></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">sister and brother</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The past 3 years has been a time of devastating loss in my family - first my wonderful stepdad, Lew in July of 2005, then my mom's mom - my 'Gaga', at the beginning of 2007 and finally Tim last October. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfd_n-S5vVujC8jfCy2CxtXmM_cAB24UWdVZ2y_dchgpEZOpJ4OW1YQcueNJhEUgqxYH_xmb2B7c32fGXQ7hXF7oBx7Jt6utd6IPnoualCB3veLdMpMTpHGvQ5aBF-brm5rB78aiyDgUc/s1600-h/DSC00312MA8873518-0004.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253755395164601954" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfd_n-S5vVujC8jfCy2CxtXmM_cAB24UWdVZ2y_dchgpEZOpJ4OW1YQcueNJhEUgqxYH_xmb2B7c32fGXQ7hXF7oBx7Jt6utd6IPnoualCB3veLdMpMTpHGvQ5aBF-brm5rB78aiyDgUc/s400/DSC00312MA8873518-0004.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljD-Xnns6zpiWLg69rnna_-DWJ9P_PZIRVnAZMAvoVochIHdfB20NmUUCtC2jwJakuV_JdVBdWrO-V7rdIjLtBewwf6Cy3F8Xc8v6sELgbS9RtZay8j-GAiVdhnapKIoCZYGZLu7ymzA/s1600-h/unknown.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253755397667706722" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljD-Xnns6zpiWLg69rnna_-DWJ9P_PZIRVnAZMAvoVochIHdfB20NmUUCtC2jwJakuV_JdVBdWrO-V7rdIjLtBewwf6Cy3F8Xc8v6sELgbS9RtZay8j-GAiVdhnapKIoCZYGZLu7ymzA/s400/unknown.jpg" border="0" /> </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Lew</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"> and </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Gag</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">a</span></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">All that is left of my immediate family is mom and I. Yes, there is some extended family here and there, but the years have moved everybody to different places in life and geography and sadly, many have died as well. I remember the huge family gatherings when we were kids. Holidays are a time for family, but mom and I are pretty much alone now and these supposed-to-be festive times of year are pretty difficult to get through.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZOpTYN7MsXzCD5MEXzuPsq1TDj53frr5McV2A4Eyyj2eYFXsmVYs2j_Lm_KQMxXYwmxOPV1i337fdhYpG-9cNDVOCG5UWqM76sMXvGoai1q0TxeECbjVp7TvdpzUVu7scnBMzYthlRE/s1600-h/Thanksgiving+2004+008.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253763675265857778" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZOpTYN7MsXzCD5MEXzuPsq1TDj53frr5McV2A4Eyyj2eYFXsmVYs2j_Lm_KQMxXYwmxOPV1i337fdhYpG-9cNDVOCG5UWqM76sMXvGoai1q0TxeECbjVp7TvdpzUVu7scnBMzYthlRE/s400/Thanksgiving+2004+008.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">me and mom</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I guess that is part of the reason that I love being in Kenya so much .... being surrounded by my kids is like having the giant family that I always wanted, but never had here in the states.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYw0QWkcNA4wb_d5a1czH9yDIPv626565Pe_t2emf1aQ2bhYPF5uAG1085Lz9WEz7Qm0baKX6gZe2oqhXGd_FI-ZVXZ0KHNaeeqXsqkeqZArKg_rc1dkG66eW4bZhoD62X-jR7L5F44Q0/s1600-h/IMG_0459.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253771575133752146" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYw0QWkcNA4wb_d5a1czH9yDIPv626565Pe_t2emf1aQ2bhYPF5uAG1085Lz9WEz7Qm0baKX6gZe2oqhXGd_FI-ZVXZ0KHNaeeqXsqkeqZArKg_rc1dkG66eW4bZhoD62X-jR7L5F44Q0/s400/IMG_0459.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">with a few of my Kenyan "sons" in July</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">So, today as every day, I remember my brother. I wish you had known him. He was smart and funny. He loved animals - so much that he couldn't bear to hear a sad story about one. When he was a little boy, he couldn't watch Lassie without crying. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGEdxLMOUSiUh7RtrJdzmmihDl1SyzLMESuHkRoaZd0DE4ennyetrNYtKhu-iF-7WPKP7opyj0UwlMp_olFOiZTqfrvV5niO8-JbD5wcOqhywIBeMCTnxNPk794e_OShuWpu6xRVab4Y/s1600-h/l_be43d541153c432892c0e381d504aeb3.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253759628799528082" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGEdxLMOUSiUh7RtrJdzmmihDl1SyzLMESuHkRoaZd0DE4ennyetrNYtKhu-iF-7WPKP7opyj0UwlMp_olFOiZTqfrvV5niO8-JbD5wcOqhywIBeMCTnxNPk794e_OShuWpu6xRVab4Y/s400/l_be43d541153c432892c0e381d504aeb3.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEzjjF1fJaoRA_tam9XLjATtbxj9RmTIQph5TP8TUtfNJrJRkYtB9ypTHJy67HejF08FF7I781zKZyywuDJTJ_-6oZc3OtZGl2wvks1HWIRDx0Czj5dBaTIE8B2QAVBiWpPkyQG1A3NA/s1600-h/l_62de7c0e0cd11157aa3af59a387817b1.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253760739687578802" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEzjjF1fJaoRA_tam9XLjATtbxj9RmTIQph5TP8TUtfNJrJRkYtB9ypTHJy67HejF08FF7I781zKZyywuDJTJ_-6oZc3OtZGl2wvks1HWIRDx0Czj5dBaTIE8B2QAVBiWpPkyQG1A3NA/s400/l_62de7c0e0cd11157aa3af59a387817b1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC4701HtWQ_UM1-KVUp5-7kzi04QKGp7rUp3NLd5B9XAdVkO2bT-O_XnGxukxEF8XU7Mrda1_Ms_RWQjUR8o17BT395_LtEzbi3Ohyphenhypheno3xfUxghwAkm5ewnMdXe2K1YQtUQC51xCka5Ma4/s1600-h/Tim+027.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253747477313636946" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC4701HtWQ_UM1-KVUp5-7kzi04QKGp7rUp3NLd5B9XAdVkO2bT-O_XnGxukxEF8XU7Mrda1_Ms_RWQjUR8o17BT395_LtEzbi3Ohyphenhypheno3xfUxghwAkm5ewnMdXe2K1YQtUQC51xCka5Ma4/s400/Tim+027.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDk7x_Fe2w0D_O9HZf3wBjQt1NI_viooBSg5la4HLwQHLAXyilR-oOf0HE7AiRQWdtOGZ0Zl-TmEfbLPZQPaZtg7aXYk6I94Ars7I8uH1OHh5UodMDNF9C9BnTYeNB76WXzauIYs6rujU/s1600-h/Christmas+2003+175.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253750948548990530" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDk7x_Fe2w0D_O9HZf3wBjQt1NI_viooBSg5la4HLwQHLAXyilR-oOf0HE7AiRQWdtOGZ0Zl-TmEfbLPZQPaZtg7aXYk6I94Ars7I8uH1OHh5UodMDNF9C9BnTYeNB76WXzauIYs6rujU/s400/Christmas+2003+175.jpg" border="0" /> </span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">He loved nature and being out in it. He was a surfer and a skateboarder from the time that skateboards were invented. He was always traveling off to some outdoor destination or another....and loved the ocean, the mountains and the desert equally.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnz0xkOaoQS9UyrZ5kw0CJlLSkhX-41uY13GkjvxeLZR38sFfaBj90gPMI3_VI8MY0Iu9SV5XVd_g_y3deySLEyOOMK5zDwT-zVHLhflRo08YM8GngFR2VjbY4m1Jn7UrsstqLguuTv0s/s1600-h/l_9867b5ee4e2d4d3c881695e5fc32595b.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253759626582866770" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnz0xkOaoQS9UyrZ5kw0CJlLSkhX-41uY13GkjvxeLZR38sFfaBj90gPMI3_VI8MY0Iu9SV5XVd_g_y3deySLEyOOMK5zDwT-zVHLhflRo08YM8GngFR2VjbY4m1Jn7UrsstqLguuTv0s/s400/l_9867b5ee4e2d4d3c881695e5fc32595b.jpg" border="0" /> </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:verdana;" ></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Tim (yellow shirt) circa 1977</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAQa7Yilhzy_mZJhtcIs0dB-UTS2ohkEKspYZxKnWLYzJWGdc6nlGwSD56f7gMQbLcIN5bS7LCXThSf0ZDvq5Ax_JqXGeaqMPtsjkPeBpvlS285A04B3PDFjYeck8fVRlO4JWKlh_TpY/s1600-h/elephant+man.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253742161696835378" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAQa7Yilhzy_mZJhtcIs0dB-UTS2ohkEKspYZxKnWLYzJWGdc6nlGwSD56f7gMQbLcIN5bS7LCXThSf0ZDvq5Ax_JqXGeaqMPtsjkPeBpvlS285A04B3PDFjYeck8fVRlO4JWKlh_TpY/s400/elephant+man.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mH2ONwvnFMgAXP3IokAjRn_UR6_QNUBO2ZCP-4YAjWMYBe-wEJbVVa2QahQKiTOj-D3OfFSwuxuJcSQbUgD8gA5tIeU6QkCKFzYjAT8FHKIeREP-hgmbW3_8EXXbWCYq7yg3AdOk5CI/s1600-h/Tim+021.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></a></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mH2ONwvnFMgAXP3IokAjRn_UR6_QNUBO2ZCP-4YAjWMYBe-wEJbVVa2QahQKiTOj-D3OfFSwuxuJcSQbUgD8gA5tIeU6QkCKFzYjAT8FHKIeREP-hgmbW3_8EXXbWCYq7yg3AdOk5CI/s1600-h/Tim+021.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253744687284669554" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mH2ONwvnFMgAXP3IokAjRn_UR6_QNUBO2ZCP-4YAjWMYBe-wEJbVVa2QahQKiTOj-D3OfFSwuxuJcSQbUgD8gA5tIeU6QkCKFzYjAT8FHKIeREP-hgmbW3_8EXXbWCYq7yg3AdOk5CI/s400/Tim+021.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvv6iDwdYfC88jZVQHBN2wn5yP2WRk1aKiKTb52dynDah-h7d8ba2aqC9NtBh5fcvRKysT118ZyYz06GcJz0Y1G4qsKC32yUwum8ezVyVBaaxuxl8q88LVGm57V3Dx6lJTCvdbpKsunU/s1600-h/Tim+048.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253753118093968498" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvv6iDwdYfC88jZVQHBN2wn5yP2WRk1aKiKTb52dynDah-h7d8ba2aqC9NtBh5fcvRKysT118ZyYz06GcJz0Y1G4qsKC32yUwum8ezVyVBaaxuxl8q88LVGm57V3Dx6lJTCvdbpKsunU/s400/Tim+048.jpg" border="0" /> </span></a></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">He was a sculptor and a painter and the art that he created the last few years of his life is powerful with the raw emotion that it portrays.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUsZoWqiJs8KuK8bDyjtEuVUUqEssu4PrAG5rb5Ii4fAnV3x9hvQTjFgKbT5wRocXZwXu0eBjCMxTbig10eiiu1ry7on0chUDb5DiKKwjBEDvkeF9IdKHU93iCLIh9PAJboPPORR4rSk/s1600-h/l_420dec1859c7df1db6bbac9f7de06eb8.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253759622026895154" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUsZoWqiJs8KuK8bDyjtEuVUUqEssu4PrAG5rb5Ii4fAnV3x9hvQTjFgKbT5wRocXZwXu0eBjCMxTbig10eiiu1ry7on0chUDb5DiKKwjBEDvkeF9IdKHU93iCLIh9PAJboPPORR4rSk/s400/l_420dec1859c7df1db6bbac9f7de06eb8.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiON-_5DRmNk1e4aEd-BovXUfC59Mzif9o8jNBKtaVt3J6Uhcbb-IKsdrP4TOhte_uw0hgzJb10qVjkmyFsnd6o7IFsttLedtbtiXbPMi2b7CbA46xTYZfCPUpqeDbh68cMZiNGmg42OOE/s1600-h/l_327686d67b8d5f7eca9c011e44b5160c.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253760730709721250" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiON-_5DRmNk1e4aEd-BovXUfC59Mzif9o8jNBKtaVt3J6Uhcbb-IKsdrP4TOhte_uw0hgzJb10qVjkmyFsnd6o7IFsttLedtbtiXbPMi2b7CbA46xTYZfCPUpqeDbh68cMZiNGmg42OOE/s400/l_327686d67b8d5f7eca9c011e44b5160c.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqdS4tbeqPYo8t-AAUQN576beQ3oCtasKZXbw3GB2bDOlxGsGlCKmv2VXh4_zIYBOOlRHrx2DAQbYZqm7zI6g8LyvMOzXRaVF7y_RnJ_9lhrjcquS_YgM53fnYZPxaHnCymO_XGLMmHI/s1600-h/l_053ebd87ac1d95a75eb057705e84ab4c.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253759618379699170" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqdS4tbeqPYo8t-AAUQN576beQ3oCtasKZXbw3GB2bDOlxGsGlCKmv2VXh4_zIYBOOlRHrx2DAQbYZqm7zI6g8LyvMOzXRaVF7y_RnJ_9lhrjcquS_YgM53fnYZPxaHnCymO_XGLMmHI/s400/l_053ebd87ac1d95a75eb057705e84ab4c.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">art by Tim</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">He was an expert on a vast array of things that most people know little about - art pottery, native plants of California, vintage neckties. We often remarked that he was born after his time. He was a renaissance man and was more comfortable with things that were from bygone eras...clothes, furnishings, music.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wPjVy2vgFeS2S9uG-ozDad9Y4fHOsXMjoHc16F6_qbZyhCz1cA58k15hrBAKry_5qIsoZlCkMleyqv9bTQ2JMH7RuFE1Q_FVXqxFAqJKWz5YE1UUe_9UugQbrnUSyOYQ8oRH7OCB85A/s1600-h/Tim+001.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253752082339662146" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wPjVy2vgFeS2S9uG-ozDad9Y4fHOsXMjoHc16F6_qbZyhCz1cA58k15hrBAKry_5qIsoZlCkMleyqv9bTQ2JMH7RuFE1Q_FVXqxFAqJKWz5YE1UUe_9UugQbrnUSyOYQ8oRH7OCB85A/s400/Tim+001.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" >2007</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">And he was handsome...so very handsome. His eyes were the most startling shade of blue and his jaw was strong and square. He could have been a movie star if he had wanted to....combining those looks with his flair for the dramatic.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IOrs4Eq3yQEr3J_i-QFiY3oTU1oupWcFIzJhfcrrX2KhnQTYZT-_ed87wHpzebx0Tp0vOd5PW9IJAu2mZVKIU2XGIq__oUAm1LzlW7FkJcgIvBxeHLxI8UW2am6ND5AQH_Vo5dwUbhA/s1600-h/Picture001-2.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253742167428738962" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IOrs4Eq3yQEr3J_i-QFiY3oTU1oupWcFIzJhfcrrX2KhnQTYZT-_ed87wHpzebx0Tp0vOd5PW9IJAu2mZVKIU2XGIq__oUAm1LzlW7FkJcgIvBxeHLxI8UW2am6ND5AQH_Vo5dwUbhA/s400/Picture001-2.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">2007</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">We shared a love of words and he expressed his deepest feelings through poetry. In the last few years of his life, he would occasionally pick up the phone (usually late at night) and call me to ask how to spell a certain word or to help him think of a synonym or to just read me a snippet of the latest poem he was working on. I think it was just an easy way to reach out to me which was something he wasn't all that comfortable doing. I often sensed that he felt that we were in some kind of competition. I never really will understand that.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">He was a locksmith by trade, having taken over the family business from our dad. He didn't ever want to be a lockmith but somehow, he wound up being one and he was very skilled at it. He inherited our father's strong work ethic and was an amazingly hard worker when he put his mind to something. He was singlehandedly rebuilding his house bit by bit and sadly was only half finished when he died.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWrRUyQp_23DmA9yW2FoCRPWW0XAbQXm9Q9HpIu9cmR1uf9i3JMKu17OxTJ5ekY5guBTnYJD5zZYzRGB1Kl5AHV7-BbtZ5Q793ZPB955hN1jP1afqKDv37BkTfbVd-ipF-gTzRzQKxfw/s1600-h/Tim+032.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253754808309151394" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWrRUyQp_23DmA9yW2FoCRPWW0XAbQXm9Q9HpIu9cmR1uf9i3JMKu17OxTJ5ekY5guBTnYJD5zZYzRGB1Kl5AHV7-BbtZ5Q793ZPB955hN1jP1afqKDv37BkTfbVd-ipF-gTzRzQKxfw/s400/Tim+032.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">2007</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Tim had a vast circle of friends and acquaintances that were passionate about their relationship with him. He kept all of his friends, even those from when he was a kid and all of his old girlfriends. Well over a hundred people came to his memorial last year. They came from all over the country with only a few days notice. They wanted to talk about their love for him and share their memories and remember his smile and his goofy humor.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtU0VXfFwW1leqz-YXN6d5VNHuVWfUKY1uD8yBDkmrGZFrJVhFp40wbj4WPAIBykEr7PiPfBEQzdwgqgpNJGUg1sYho5djyK1MST9ahkkZ8HJaVVdnQ9k7MfNjfMyxWE_5L8-uYtuG3aY/s1600-h/Tim+011.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253747483485574994" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtU0VXfFwW1leqz-YXN6d5VNHuVWfUKY1uD8yBDkmrGZFrJVhFp40wbj4WPAIBykEr7PiPfBEQzdwgqgpNJGUg1sYho5djyK1MST9ahkkZ8HJaVVdnQ9k7MfNjfMyxWE_5L8-uYtuG3aY/s400/Tim+011.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsbW6iSRY9BXKbj9F8A1t8E041US04WxOt6ZWOIXKsuAW00S_73oEXwJiz9EnH3YJLZCtfxckPKsIbWKwLqtV4vcwKl8jyxqVI1zSe63_nxQh7woko4Dt0C_gH3Zpg9hjUrBa8SPXO8M/s1600-h/Easter+2003+004.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253772992646427282" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsbW6iSRY9BXKbj9F8A1t8E041US04WxOt6ZWOIXKsuAW00S_73oEXwJiz9EnH3YJLZCtfxckPKsIbWKwLqtV4vcwKl8jyxqVI1zSe63_nxQh7woko4Dt0C_gH3Zpg9hjUrBa8SPXO8M/s400/Easter+2003+004.jpg" border="0" /> </span></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Even now, a year later, as the administrator of his estate....I often speak with the customers of his business who have just found out about his death and they tell me stories about kind deeds Tim did for them. One elderly Romanian lady told me that when she called Tim out to work on her locks once a year or so, that he would sit with her for hours - drinking her strong coffee and listening to her stories. She wept when she heard the news of his death. I have heard countless stories like this over the past year and they revealed a lot to me about the man that my brother was. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Honestly though, he wasn't a saint. He suffered from depression and was often a loner. During the dark times, he would try to push people away. They rarely stayed away, though.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">He could be too loud and he loved to say things just for the shock value. That was Tim.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfn1Nwxs-Ui3NIpUclNcTggHmZSDVBOGn824tkNlVjqbrx28rsKlHXK2NSgGE81VAQ5NwFZXy24Fd2qtsNu45PE1GQYAaos_YL8q_oRcQQAWzBjKBoWVW9pFwjV7_y06M45uIbBwf3vFI/s1600-h/P1040521.JPG_Thumbnail1%5B1%5D.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253744677427473874" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfn1Nwxs-Ui3NIpUclNcTggHmZSDVBOGn824tkNlVjqbrx28rsKlHXK2NSgGE81VAQ5NwFZXy24Fd2qtsNu45PE1GQYAaos_YL8q_oRcQQAWzBjKBoWVW9pFwjV7_y06M45uIbBwf3vFI/s400/P1040521.JPG_Thumbnail1%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">2007</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">He didn't spend a lot of time with our family during the last decade or so of his life. When our father passed away on September 1, 1998; Tim was the one who discovered him dead in his bed. He never really recovered from that and I think that event caused him to pull away, not wanting to get too close to any of us - in case he lost us too. I was often mad at him for not spending more time with Mom. She understood. I didn't and I used up a lot of time that I could have spent with Tim being angry at him instead.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrlmX-3lXiI2EHlCuIQ0r13XIHxbj7UAN6PuGoAjlfv2TWT7YpfTxc2twERJPGOyWYOJDAYmvaL7TZfwKqurV_mV5jh0Q3_XshIxxtlmafN2q2VjdFGq-p9tza0okpgydK9w2bwUDLLE/s1600-h/2003+Birthday+Shopping+Spree+001.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253750952286074834" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrlmX-3lXiI2EHlCuIQ0r13XIHxbj7UAN6PuGoAjlfv2TWT7YpfTxc2twERJPGOyWYOJDAYmvaL7TZfwKqurV_mV5jh0Q3_XshIxxtlmafN2q2VjdFGq-p9tza0okpgydK9w2bwUDLLE/s400/2003+Birthday+Shopping+Spree+001.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mwWEnwgmEd7ZsrsRCGWz1JCMGV_Gzl5e6SV55tqtopwASrAjvRMr2lBRFmozSkHUrA3NNbmIfdsHXMuKcpeDxBHBSIWNsfypHXAt54C928zMZ3cS-M2wBO06MsDrPQQBa72Pka_5zgQ/s1600-h/l_b28dd9e352836b8207c9cd0b2f8e07a4.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253765381956881234" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mwWEnwgmEd7ZsrsRCGWz1JCMGV_Gzl5e6SV55tqtopwASrAjvRMr2lBRFmozSkHUrA3NNbmIfdsHXMuKcpeDxBHBSIWNsfypHXAt54C928zMZ3cS-M2wBO06MsDrPQQBa72Pka_5zgQ/s400/l_b28dd9e352836b8207c9cd0b2f8e07a4.jpg" border="0" /> </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:verdana;" ></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">mom and Tim</span></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I regret that we weren't closer as adults. I don't even have any photos of the two of us together after 2003. Life has a way of making you think that there will always be more time. We never really know how long we have with the people we love. I know you have heard this before - but don't waste time- take the time every day to show the people in your life that you love them. Make an effort to reach out to them when they are difficult and irritating and love them anyway. I wish I had done that with my brother and hopefully he knows that and forgives me for not being there for him.</span><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Every few days I see or hear something that makes me think, "Oh Tim would love this!" and then I remember that I can't just pick up the phone and share it with him. Then I cry a bit. That part doesn't seem to be getting any better. I wonder if it ever will.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I love you and miss you Tim but I know that one day we will be together again. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253742165699915394" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YpVyQTYnzqCIwq_zYIUF94pN9czYex4c5VSEKDCErswuulouzH2aVYCxbbTy_wBR4XYPuHUpTYfEVyVuQ6aln1IuMpNT3LAjASh6N0RcdctOlEcTcKFOCiANACb6UIvWajizoZa80mw/s400/Tim+018.jpg" border="0" /> <br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">2007</span></span></span></div>Mama Oasishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032004716161828008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092771351850513031.post-2629243199216648742008-09-23T07:16:00.000-07:002008-10-17T14:31:53.667-07:00A Day in My Life: Morning<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><a href="https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=29937"><img alt="DonateNow" src="http://www.groundspring.org/button/blue_med.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><!-- End Cut-and-paste Code - DonateNow Button --></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span">People often ask me what a day in Kenya is like. When I say that I "live" in Africa for part of the year, it conjures up so many different mental images in peoples' minds and many people instantly assume (incorrectly!) that I live in a mud hut and that I have to watch out for lions attacking at night. </span><br /><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249230256639605202" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXkleNGs2416RDTe0D_TAp9ZD3B1SJqFluYuknDQPEO_LTGtZVYtiZL96Dq1mxHrDuX3EEd_FW0EqgtKl0nzUf817f1zqEoWsKPEgQw4jRw6dZ7EMOJGkN2qY1tW3rBCnzT9AUGw2lWw/s320/kenya_8080.JPG" border="0" /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102)"><a href="http://photobucket.com/group/image/lion/8A2JMCCO7V/Lion.jpg?o=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://gi61.photobucket.com/groups/h45/8A2JMCCO7V/Lion.jpg" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">But the confusion is understandable. Despite the fact that over the past few years, Africa has become the "hip" place for celebrity humanitarians like Brad Pitt, Madonna and Bono; what most people perceive Africa to be comes largely from movies like "Hotel Rwanda","Lion King" and "Blood Diamond" .</span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102)"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102)"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/hotel%20rwanda/beita78/5104BYCHE5L__AA240_.jpg?o=55" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img src="http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u135/beita78/5104BYCHE5L__AA240_.jpg" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102)"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/lion%20king/boyrex/The-Lion-King.jpg?o=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b76/boyrex/The-Lion-King.jpg" /></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102);font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/blood%20diamond/kvnballer123/BloodDiamond.jpg?o=174" target="_blank"><img src="http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p151/kvnballer123/BloodDiamond.jpg" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The truth is that Africa...well, Kenya and more specifically, Kitale...is a place where the modern world sits side by side with the ancient world. Kitale is a busy little "town"...and that is the word that people use when saying, "I think I will go into town today." I still am not completely sure of the population. I have heard numbers ranging from 20 to 50 thousand...but, it is difficult to pinpoint the geographical area that is covered in this estimate. Like Los Angeles...there is the actual town itself and the area immediat<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">ely around it..but, the "suburbs" of Kenya (I have to laugh as I apply that term!) spread out and encompass many densely populated slum areas like Mitume, Matisi, Namanjalala, Tuani, Kipsongo, and Shimo La Tewa. So, it is diffic<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">ult to give an actual number.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Suffice it to say that Kitale is a bustling little town. During the day and into the evening hours; the streets are full of people: selling vegetables piled on a piece of fabric by the roadside, walking to the shops, stopping to greet a friend every few feet, hailing a boda-boda (bicycle "taxi") or, in the case of the street kids, begging each passer-by for a few shillings or some "bread and milk". Businessmen in suits and ties and smartly dressed women walk side-by-side with people in more traditional clothing. The barefoot, raggedly dressed street kids mingle with them all. But, the modern world has crept in too. "Supermarkets" like Transmattress, Blue House and the Gigamart are the Keny<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">an equivalents to Walmart...selling food, clothing, electronics (including flatscreen televisions!) furniture, bicycles and hardware.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249970898438101330" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkilK7iFWwoJ1vB32Bp05fM5timb-Wj4B3HilWzhc7LuhDpXEDMG3J90llul40jGx0kwDSfBRue2pphrinL_osd6MpJAoC7mK6dlJp7qp_wAZwbt77NxMBbuyIp6aXCC9njZR0urs3-4/s320/oasis+of+hope+trip+1042.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">shops and cars in town</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249972058317168482" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQBdNGEO5UATmPRs478BLBNW3vBGbML3gf2r3NKOxpx4R7dTv2jmenLecNKSATTZ6VN7d68rtXqtHbFGaSPji0ZzZ0JmaR0GKWiHNgaCWmeMprJXTSIZV09YqQ39MEwpODCQ2W-APoLA/s320/DSCF1459.JPG" border="0" /><br /></span></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >The Gigamart (from the 2nd floor)</span></span></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249979259698736082" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqZTofBDv9tFxSrXh1ts3hmTR2bMDoTtbjRFZaAILmFyiusrAhIU4wrzjkecWchMtjlwEg9IRcAdayX-USFN91XME-lxbvC4izCj1znPCk-a5ZfaObAzjpmRpHxRJpyuLCSGvOOcEPro/s320/DSCF0517_2.JPG" border="0" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >the "fresh" market</span></span></div></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249978499214620674" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauX4Hrd7dSEcAIEklG6y_5g92Ci2R0y0P9HKob0Ib18D8q5lfFKrlPhVoDb_AvSFweAaDZnYOfN8OXhyTJonx7aEhox2TVS-2ZYIr4xXU5M-MlC_QBwkrfEHqi4_vnIlorO_i19gy8dI/s320/IMG_2578.JPG" border="0" /><br /></span></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >walking through town with Martin and Joseph</span></span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">So, for me, a day in Kitale starts early. Being on the equator, the days and nights are pretty much equal in length. The sun comes up between 6 and 6:30 all year long and goes down about the same time in the evening. There is no need for an alarm clock...the calls of the tropical birds combine with the roosters crowing and the mooing of my cow, Maua....waiting impatiently for the morning milking.</span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">As I get out of bed...my sweet little dog Sky gets up from his bed on the floor and wags his tail in a morning greeting. Sky may be the only dog in Kitale that sleeps inside the house. People think I am quite crazy for having a dog in the house....but, to me it isn't really home without a dog sleeping nearby. I let Sky outside and I go to the kitchen to boil some milk for the morning "tea". </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I learned that the term "tea" really refers to any hot beverage (tea, coffee, cocoa) and when one is referring to real tea...there are two variations: "Milk tea" made with 2/3 milk, 1/3 water, tea leaves and LOTS of sugar. The other option (preferred by nobody except the lactose intolerant it seems) is Strong tea which is made the same...but, with no milk. My beverage of choice is coffee. Most people think that Kenya is the land of excellent coffee and I guess it is....there is sure alot of Kenyan coffee at Starbucks, after all. But, Kenyans typically drink instant Nefcafe (prounounced Nes-Kaf)....to my mind, a horrible instant coffee drink. So, I bring my own ground coffee from the US and prepare my coffee in a stainless steel french press. I froth my milk with a little battery operated hand mixer.....and end up with the perfect Cafe Latte. Indulgent, yeah....but, one of the few luxuries that I give myself while in Kenya.</span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249232403263437090" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8jPJecAtEU2nhWS53kSnw0SgsoQh7oZOreviBprZRjipE0bI6sQMECJ0aSvndQfVtlDjrjvI6vdexzHq8C4NdWvxzUhNW4-XIYpXvw8gACWdVlKfFyBKVyfw-G0byh0Jwd3S4xo1Lq4/s320/IMG_0668.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">my "caretaker" Onesmus milking Maua</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"> </span></span></span></span></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249232406276589106" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mKZBuryxnS4LUpSJjqy4c2wewP7rt5RK2vkNOw94H8gmuUpfWGeiaW73HA-Eg2wb9f_nltI07yzeYW06ri8zozKzR5MfKPwyeOx2wJqwFG8DlI34jgFupSDsNNEnzZc1tDNWlQHdpGc/s320/IMG_5299.JPG" border="0" /> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Good Morning, Sky!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div></span><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I love spending my morning at home ....doing little projects around the house like hanging photos, organizing the kitchen, or just sitting and chatting with Onesmus or Phoebe (my housekeeper) or one of the kids that has dropped by. So, before I know it...the morning has gotten away from me and invariably, I am rushing around trying to shower and get dressed before it is time to leave for work at Oasis.</span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">So, then the choices are: walk or ride into town. The walk is about 2 miles or so to Oasis. On a nice day...with the company of some of the kids...I love the walk. It is the perfect time to really talk to the kids about what is going on in their lives and there is something so wonderful to me about walking down a red dirt road...greeting people along the way. It is the perfect embodiment of the sentiment that life should be more about the journey than the destination!</span></div><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwFE-NlfKJBdT5DnZWLlDGfVvgaFwNIM4LC4JfCI7QLko1hIXa1_onpPr3h3eykAfNiv2dYwE513IDYujHTZA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><em>a little video taken by Martin (Boy's House 2) as he, Johnstone, Ajix, Janet, Onesmus (not seen) and I walk down the dirt road in front of my house...on our way to town and Oasis of Hope one morning in August.</em></span></p><p><em></em></p>Mama Oasishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032004716161828008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092771351850513031.post-44395387177811367502008-09-14T09:32:00.000-07:002008-10-17T14:35:29.153-07:00If Home's where my heart is...Then I'm out of place<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(64,64,64); LINE-HEIGHT: 15pxfont-family:'lucida grande';" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(64,64,64); LINE-HEIGHT: 15pxfont-family:'lucida grande';" ><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Hello again...I've been back in California for a week and a half now. After only 6 weeks...why does Kenya feel more like home than does my little house in Costa Mesa where I have lived for over 26 years?</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span">It is such a strange phenomenon. I have been telling people it is like the Narnia movie ....I walk through the wardrobe (well....not so much a walk as a 30 hour trip to get through!) out of one life into another every time I go back and forth to Kenya. People here often innocently ask me "How was your</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> "vaca</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-STYLE: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">tion</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">?" and I struggle to explain that when I go to Kitale...it is not a vacation...but a </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">LIFE</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">.</span></span></span></span></span><br /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I have come to realize that I have two complete lives....on opposite sides of the globe. Each of those lives is full of people that I love and that love me. Each life has important work. I have big responsibilities and a lot of people depending on me in both of my worlds. I have dogs and a house and flower gardens in each place. I get up in the morning...go to the kitchen and make my coffee and get ready for work in both Costa </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Mesa and Kenya.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246069453366971954" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcDvTvYoQMZukOS9Ur8xQqjxL4tR_NYa0R0VVLVqdTa-07N2yIKbf_yeyCiNTvk4tHXN1pnkcuwzJ46_UUFm7dbL7ZjxfKxsc_qYmnCHwXbDfB13gxnXRIJG6GUghTrCLyaoo2tyL6cA/s320/IMG_1726.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">My house in Kitale, Kenya</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ></span> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246069447701393106" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqlE8Hntt8x60CoR7sSPcKRUF1YRTwW8tOZSO9jySo1bxGGfEZQiLDEMFOJz10Cm_neRnBWmDgSemBVcTK-GFGTQbnOsWAxbhchhJ8bjQcKYeUE_bhPnMBU1XnOz7XKMX3sfTQdt2fmI/s320/my+house+013.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">My house in Costa Mesa, California</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246069443596459890" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQl7057z-S-oB6AD5mHMd0u7eknjuZYg0S2tLgH9UNOF5VrVDa_zuthax_YRy8eZI56H0yMGssALc7o0ucqceuTmehoX16pJx3iA-Du6Bfiy1UOGZcqEyqj8COCFEm_wU6N6MAqdZfis/s320/IMG_1397.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">My Kenyan dog, Sky</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246069450026759954" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgKB-pGB5CKX2ppAAiQE9PSWXj8GSmWHX2e6ZfyemHT9oyn6ijKMcrMIke5U-X_ZL2xYeMCoA2iZIs_VVu7Wqs_zBo4Ke8SKAoOxHzi8Tz7_2g9vTJz38MXpJHiJi8xjrwT5ji03kKvI/s320/DSCF0109.JPG" border="0" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"> </span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">My American dogs....Lola and Rico</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The hard part is that I am the only one that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">COMPLETELY</span></span> understands both of my worlds. The people in each life that love/need/depend on me.... really want me to stay in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">THEIR</span></span> world and are pretty vocal about that sentiment.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">So, you might ask: "Which world do YOU want to be in, Lydia?" Well, that is a question with no simple answer. To be honest, it is heartbreaking to leave Kenya...to leave my kids behind. The night before I leave is always a big cry-fest with the kids...especially the boys in our Group Homes. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246092503309495266" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLcYjt6CyXa1v2kRwkbVIdayhacfXQW-cE5C1ARFFa5OtFuG3l2NnW59UIYTyRNOX3GEne2MN11709aHmNRE_t5u8Srl61yL1Y6HuKmVSTouiwHUA2QjLnS7HAAXcVwtV5DBZrYKr1TA/s400/IMG_6115.JPG" border="0" /><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >The last night in Kenya...at the boy's house...stalling over good-byes</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">There is a little "joke" that I have with the boys in our House 2. A recent popular pop song in Kenya has the title "Hakuna Michozi" which means "There will be no crying". The song is about when we go to heaven. But, about a week before I have to leave Kenya...the boys look at me and say "Hakuna michozi, mom". </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">They are already anticipating how sad we will all be when I fly away yet again. Geoffrey (my Kenyan partner who runs all the Oasis programs) actually tried to make a bet with me the last day and jokingly offered me a small sum of money if I could say goodbye to the boys in House 2 without crying. I'm no fool....I turned down that bet right away!</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I told Johnstone (my most emotional "son") about the bet and he replied "Mom....michozi (crying) is a MUST!" And of course...it was!</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246092510682809170" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwaR-yGIcwu-8BzR7l0JHCUhdfMsuktVmGioqtL6nte1xvDIxD9kQYVJdQFjPJNOySUHG2QbfQwrSyMjFYwKsbu06QGvGE9IvLZkyPEbUPPcu_TsJF5lndNfW_kk7QmoMGDVsYp0DlA8/s400/IMG_6171.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Crying in the hallway with Johnstone, Martin and Timothy</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">So, I am back through the wardrobe...doing my best to adjust to life in the states again...traffic, concrete, the rush rush rush of it all. But, also back to the creature comforts that we take for granted here: constant electricity and warm water, high speed internet connections and Starbuck's coffee! Nonetheless, I hope to be back in Kenya in a few months. Until then...I am going to use this blog as therapy to tell the stories of the kids and my trip. Hopefully, these stories will give you at least a small inkling of why I love Kenya so much. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I know that I will adjust to life in California again soon. But right now...one of the songs that I have been listening to a lot is Homesick by Mercy Me. It is a perfect expression of how I am feeling right now. I picture the faces of each of the children I love so much whenever I hear it...because in the end....the reason that I love Kenya is them. Here are just a few....if you knew them, you would understand.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246089203678750754" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsTsgogFxt_f4daUfrgqfx7NReNApJ6eYxzm02ccao3v2X6huNm08v9TBW36yNwtA9iwI6yUmpWCgmlAQKIdqkvenPkH3a5f9B57J_aYDPRe9VwPB1awF35fc2yHzNzZwD-xLWLt57ZY/s200/IMG_4101.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246045904100905250" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4XPFxxk6c9we9Vsd2MYehTqlFUToHWfyNZ7EkML-jxHpqoqAMWS9FNhRehbwzyzxbbVnfscF2sUzUfndp4ERG4-q27AqPRu766Nxt8P4DsrM1QnrDlj13vYj_MXiEL0EaqV6C0Tb120/s200/IMG_4092.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Ann<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"> </span> Elvis</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246049680386336834" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvZlanZVffxmYv4oN2hMjRQwAPIxpUbm-rd-r0aJpbxiplxdB8tr03ENhI7yBni-k7uSWYGWwKt2668hsEg_oZwEyvZMQP3sW_I1i_CTSiHJC-EFEa3JrG93CZw2PTEXkEkYBV6CGgFY/s200/IMG_4107.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246088235238781970" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBkBBzzr02z5HG_KDL03VPPrWpZ2WP9tfsyQ3ZJnJiIhFTLxoJ2FLas2sobsDCtMWyhn1TC1Qnw2zt7VUbs20X9m6tYldZpZx3zfi0d8XfMiA4Ij80URKpEI0qPGNZ0ZjrSIuny5gqAg/s200/IMG_4097.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Janet<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"> </span> Evans</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246049690011020130" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmu7vWT9r6ikKwqXo4LWTFznjBSFh4YJhQiVPgQJ3RG01bvqR943hJyLvZR_yfCV5dRDPImMktiYslhoiHCLlXJJX1ub2VV9OePiEaM8p5k1YOL4hTV3CwBsB5QjJj_iiSnkwqG02B3AI/s200/IMG_4053.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246049690518802226" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fVxQOnUDiiT4B0magaLYwVMENOgDSek3GfbCOwrpU8yWgZlnozvcIbvz9z8KgWiYSq-TfAqW8zPDUSR_hCxo66CT2WZvhXYI55lxGcYFgtMl7yxZsrENKn2qiuaE0R-dQNo6alumN_4/s200/IMG_4105.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Joseph<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"> </span> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"> </span>Dorcas</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246055681606058418" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0x5A-3CfwU_ZF3U4xtetBBgNtHOlf6C5AnEujeS402sxCbQ0rtvvBSv8H_z4XD-zVO_BiqrguRmpFu2W_VICdK-OFjgXUAgBW08bLi3dpeyDiUmo_0aQaA8pOfNeWUjxHhcVceOFbb4/s200/IMG_4060.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246049684571263874" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmjMfdgmscQ6t2W02yAQICtFaRSgRMXqC9P4GGabLoL7j_v3QkRviGTXvR89tgFPQdC2w2-ZfFe0vYk3xCuVHZhKN4-ltXfdsa3oC7hYeGX6DMDNU6xKO1D54XhvCIDhLZA5qO8b_72Q/s200/IMG_4057.JPG" border="0" /> </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Martin<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"> </span> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"> </span>Timothy</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246039713944946594" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_1riX076VMNPVCp7UsGlPiyyqppAEnE7EKnx-tEjTIlqKEQKVcsZyPJry2Hgk9888byYSftwsM5x-oHlSPUkKuQPDiGFABVG3rChsUMlrsWd8MxIcP790MMd5NFFefiCfzdr5gKGSGg/s200/IMG_4210.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246085370686215778" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcaaJJgx59W8R1yiyO-Ln5mQd9QLUWhWdqUTQfgtUeDOPGOD47NaD-NHTHlf4uI-mjP31f6Ll24OCMoPMoj-lHTpPMs7OresLwoMnME9Mkx_e4vhkmB0GoIYIcORULgUbUcKennEsCaJg/s200/IMG_2301.JPG" border="0" /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Sheila<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"> </span> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"> </span>Jonah</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246039705523674930" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdy1_tiYCnsqFZ-h1CNs7HiJs6w6xbmknVvfAuTPbO4iPINXxId-CkxCaCrVqMUG84L9gNjKC7sOLuU_Xhyphenhyphenw73Utb4QV2Dy8iq00WBTo3_sxtLUT05mvAjHYoZsuL_5Mf7EdFWUnPHiDM/s200/IMG_4064.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246060795046185122" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncwNk2z46O-OpjxfuAM4B8nmki2G6XcUcS27QjiAxZBWANyifU2Q3zHNMgQELXNj-f0PrRj_-fvNyJOpeeAoS83xpDDMvyE0ddrhr7sKkbKZfiqjS8RO8BIm7GiOI80VY7nafMbtmxxA/s200/IMG_4086.JPG" border="0" /> </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Bramwel<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"> </span> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"> </span>Donald</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246045899534426562" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMX1b54YTMe5lzwejPs4LalB9fQ3aV-1zXQz2-8LbP6OOPcFqEvFi2JzcmgjuC4zgJVy1Yzkn-O_4W5y7UPOdA54Z3aYU-E8vN9Htnl-96DUbMZELdEsMUS2ksJnC2caZEJlGfyvrdoM/s200/IMG_4112.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246039703858021154" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo950r5YIji7I-8Gopeos6cGirRwMiCUXIh0UehjMzO0PvKHIYmRrEp4u2nxrgKv50nYWxdqiFCjvWNcygwp6efvoopKawSjAD-4RZr387L6oJEZcLYN3rR631TUAAqF57OOMubR4hK8Q/s200/IMG_4054.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Ajix<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"> </span> Paul</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246063210245760818" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW00GZ63wNvfgRBr6MMIE2bTJlls1S6TAtyPXi7pysBayR9BgvjOiPVhGO1WILsQOoZElOHNc-4kJKgH5w3tE6SELU6OWwgjsPwxFaRBPaYBOoIo9XRzF6KrvblXB-9Nk8QgaVp4wf4Tg/s200/IMG_4051.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246055692872088194" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyjX2jVyRBkbZ_ykYTIBaBzDPH-jRV4Zt3EEcReIg9k-MSsBwON632zNnL91glvcHRWbmJ7YevvVX_R7mab-ibJACwUEM4JqXuuqf-F-OeBf6Uo7awSRYPtieF-cEZL_RU6WVjaeRHEw/s200/IMG_4211.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Edwin<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"> </span> Irene</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246063212596851826" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAugxKIxLdXM1JM4Fpu2LW8uM_ZmnuQraPFEtL2Nli7o-mnVwLq4WUx5tIJolG_Zs0gjwe8LNVbwlVnx8hLMxolUcPS4jXpbdPqMwbDE4oD3yChMflZH73dunxaVo0Xk1cStWt3mM1Il0/s200/IMG_4075.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246055696791113618" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFC-tYRi7pTDQsjIrY6-_NhLDWrfmd67BXPDIZ0BJ7lkTyGaMW3-iii1Lg02HinbsTzE3uPBw7RjVdRfHEFZjzKMTbG_5wOI4CbX143wfbd_ZQlJ4_VEZMcB_1u-NeIJ0iVQKtR2M3R0/s200/IMG_4058.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">John<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"> </span> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"> </span>Johnstone</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246063218233747154" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-ckgRYk93pLFfYZI9zn0siJNBlk5QBf59U_nT7bF276-dyzo_A7ZQ6bWYmeoaxFoKI7MBFq2Q8vP2GORAh1hLxDsD2RBN_8dNJp0PhvwCalTyMucuCdroQi2oqsjM-I-xinelSdfdzU/s200/IMG_4099.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246036675294182946" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXECyVqZK3O15XijP08e5ZWurPp4HG6Faby_tfA2Ol_4hvzl5Z_Y9z4ghu3NCP903wtHPrT7OhyphenhyphenAnHx259T5d8XDb0TpdasVc6TBE8eNIUa5YOyyd1oXGxAlP9Bg7XpXcGhBV25eXnXM/s200/IMG_4199.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Centrine<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"> </span> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"> </span>Steward</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246060790118152434" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8dOQk2iiSxlbikNPZ4vG0D1eI65ecpkaB_ZhPLSH9TvveF4naq_wPsTpDNIDpUDm6c3oA61B5ZV4i_DLeWVVQ7PTDfCWSbCb2UHH5VkJPkIDk7li5XyYxOPUxNHLIqS9q430bn5ogKw/s200/david.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246098887388061650" style="CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSjNdwUKLvaGuH0jfAHX3LZnUqe5zx-leVahogX2lqMSKblwuzhQYGnv8QhI2tseAex2fS8sJU1p_SnGikQKiBMihNVNByXnCbtocuw_6Z2MIhNtrfD2bcJl91v0xSJ3-RLLN5WfJ69Q/s200/IMG_4073.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> David<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"> </span> Joseph</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNAZoL99uI8d5XRjT4FZM9wep_ntqeBsLOgoQSGLtsEhWRrVMxNbF_iRvD9dvBiuoDpAQSz-fD_baFpmTolrYASHq0nHuG_D4wMfVCMerPZuyRcMQzUP7ul-jIzKSR03fRigKIMhkOds/s1600-h/IMG_4048.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Homesick </span></span></span></span></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNAZoL99uI8d5XRjT4FZM9wep_ntqeBsLOgoQSGLtsEhWRrVMxNbF_iRvD9dvBiuoDpAQSz-fD_baFpmTolrYASHq0nHuG_D4wMfVCMerPZuyRcMQzUP7ul-jIzKSR03fRigKIMhkOds/s1600-h/IMG_4048.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">(by: Mercy Me)</span></span></span></span></a></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNAZoL99uI8d5XRjT4FZM9wep_ntqeBsLOgoQSGLtsEhWRrVMxNbF_iRvD9dvBiuoDpAQSz-fD_baFpmTolrYASHq0nHuG_D4wMfVCMerPZuyRcMQzUP7ul-jIzKSR03fRigKIMhkOds/s1600-h/IMG_4048.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">You're in a better place, I've heard a thousand times<br />And at least a thousand times I've rejoiced for you<br />But the reason why I'm broken, the reason why I cry<br />is, How long must I wait to be with you?<br /><br />I close my eyes and I see your face<br />If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place<br />Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow<br />I've never been more homesick than now<br /><br />Help me Lord cause I don't understand your ways<br />The reason why I wonder if I'll ever know<br />But, even if you showed me, the hurt would be the same<br />Cause I'm still here so far away from home<br /><br />I close my eyes and I see your face<br />If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place<br />Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow<br />I've never been more homesick than now<br /></span></span></span></span><div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">In Christ, there are no goodbyes<br />And in Christ, there is no end<br />So I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I have<br />To see you again</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br />To see you again<br /><br />And I close my eyes and I see your face<br />If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place<br />Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow?<br />Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow?<br />Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow?<br /><br />I've never been more homesick than now......</span></span></span></span></div>Mama Oasishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032004716161828008noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092771351850513031.post-34124505134806943252008-06-29T07:18:00.000-07:002008-06-29T08:44:05.763-07:003 weeks and counting...<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzspb-2Hzse9xL3bzY6bdzV18jAgFieoKSCC9g7p_JxFg_wV29CT_skBDTXWTxFjYTpAeQcQ9s8XqZ91RUHOms41kpxbJ21yhKXda50FiFQWT-5WlNQKzyrm861PnMG0BvUDA9sQqTnw/s1600-h/KENYAAUG07004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217327738015811266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzspb-2Hzse9xL3bzY6bdzV18jAgFieoKSCC9g7p_JxFg_wV29CT_skBDTXWTxFjYTpAeQcQ9s8XqZ91RUHOms41kpxbJ21yhKXda50FiFQWT-5WlNQKzyrm861PnMG0BvUDA9sQqTnw/s320/KENYAAUG07004.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:times new roman;"><strong>Johnstone rolls out chapati for supper<br /></strong></span><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It has been almost a year since I last visited Kenya. Much...much...much too long. I was speaking on the phone a few weeks ago (as I try to do at least once a month) with the boys in House 2 ...<br /><br />As always, we started the conversation with the most important sentiments, " I miss you and I love you so much." I told them one by one as they passed around their house Dad Robert's mobile phone..."I will be there in only six weeks." Each of them in turn told me that was "sooooo long." ....even as I reminded them that we had survived almost nine months of being apart and that we certainly could survive six more weeks. I said, "Before you know it...I will be standing by your side saying, 'See, I am here NOW!' " ...and they laughed. Their laughter...echoing across the phone lines from halfway around the globe are food for my soul.<br /><br />The last day we were together was September 10th, 2007.....After having spent my last day with the kids at the children's centre and hugging each of the 80 or so kids, I got my good friend, Taxi Dan to take me over to each of the group homes to say my farewells. I ended, as I always do, with Boy's House Two. This is the home of Martin, Johnstone, Moses, Timothy, Steward and brothers Joseph and John. I love all of the kids...but, for some reason, I have an extra soft spot in my heart for these boys.<br /><br />It was supper time. Martin and Johnstone were in the little kitchen alcove making Chapati. There were about 50 perfectly round balls of dough rolled out. It was amazing to see these former street boys rolling dough as competently as any seasoned pastry chef.<br /><br />Steward and Moses were draped over chairs in the sitting room, reading from schoolbooks as they 'revised' for the next day. John lay sprawed out on the sofa rolling a matchbox car that I had given him across his chest....all the while making that vrooming noise that boys all over the world are seemingly born knowing how to make.<br /><br />Timothy and Joseph were out in the yard...kicking a soccer ball back and forth. Their Dad Robert...all of 22 years old...moved between rooms, keeping an eye on his "sons".<br /><br />I couldn't help but say a silent prayer of thanks. These boys, some complete orphans, all of them missing at least one parent, none of them strangers to extreme poverty.....now living in a sturdy home with plenty of food and more importantly...as a family.<br /><br />Suddenly, they all gathered together in the sitting room and said, "Mom, we have a song that we want to sing for you." And in the hauntingly beautiful harmonies that Kenyan's share...they gave me a precious gift. They sang a song that thanked me for heeding God's call to help them off of the streets. Their song detailed the hardships that they lived....and their love for me.<br /><br />Halfway through, I looked at Johnstone...my most emotional 'son' and he was looking at me...singing, but with eyes full of tears. My eyes were brimming as well. Soon, we would have to be content with the telephone in order to hear eachother's voice.<br /><br />The day ended with hugs and kisses and more than a few tears. I promised them that I would be back in mid-January. Of course, that promise was not fulfilled because the terrible, post-election violence that swept Kenya in January caused me to postpone my trip.<br /><br />So, it is with much joy that I ready myself to go back to Kenya...to the green hills and sudden afternoon storms. To sugary milk-tea and steaming bowls of corn and bean "githeri" for lunch. But, mostly...to the people of Kenya...to my friends and colleagues and to my children. It has been too long...and the six weeks will go by too fast. But, I will revel in each and every minute.</span></div></div>Mama Oasishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032004716161828008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092771351850513031.post-91994307831201258022008-01-31T12:04:00.001-08:002008-01-31T12:04:15.827-08:00Photos from Oasis of Hope<div style="border-right: 2px solid #999999; border-bottom: 2px solid #999999; width: 350px;"><div style="border-right: 2px solid #666666; border-bottom: 2px solid #666666; margin-right: 1px;"><div style="border: 1px solid #333333; margin-right: 1px; text-align: center; padding: 5px 10px 10px 10px; background-color: #FFFFFF;"><div style="margin-bottom: 2px; text-align: left; font-weight: bold;">Photobucket Album</div><a href="http://s70.photobucket.com/albums/i105/oasisofhope/"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://w70.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w70.photobucket.com/albums/i105/oasisofhope/a419d20a.pbw" height="360" width="480"></a></div></div></div>Mama Oasishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032004716161828008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092771351850513031.post-64702967455869637522008-01-29T07:55:00.000-08:002008-01-29T08:11:20.936-08:00Pastor Steve is in Kitale<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwJHoU6dx-tXIUFSuRgTOD-LmA9OzPwnLljns05j7pc0uI_woTDiHhePzfKwVcT1Xqy9_LDGUrc7iMYMB77dSeJF1d8gDSZ9LQbD-rjK4p5YRkoSpbQBXnwqnRnKcd5B0NZGE1GWdkBU/s1600-h/africa+450.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160930936316851506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwJHoU6dx-tXIUFSuRgTOD-LmA9OzPwnLljns05j7pc0uI_woTDiHhePzfKwVcT1Xqy9_LDGUrc7iMYMB77dSeJF1d8gDSZ9LQbD-rjK4p5YRkoSpbQBXnwqnRnKcd5B0NZGE1GWdkBU/s320/africa+450.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">Pastor Steve in Kitale (2004) with a street boy on his lap</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My first visit to Kenya was with an "awakening" team from Saddleback Church in the summer of 2004. That team was led by the most amazing man...Pastor Steve Rutenbar. </span></div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><div align="justify"><br />Steve is a giant of a man...6'7" tall with a heart to match. He has been leading teams to Kenya for over 10 years and is kind of like a "rock star" in Kitale...in fact, all over Kenya. Where ever he goes...he is recognized and usually trailed by a mob of kids chanting "Pastor Steve...Pastor Steve..." or more often..."Big Steve...". To see this huge man kneel down and put a little kid on his lap and quietly ask "What is your name?" is to get a small glimpse of what it must have looked like when Jesus did the same.</div><br /><div align="justify"><br />God has given Steve the gift of being able to reconcile people. He is one of the wisest men I know. I have seen him bring healing and peace to situations between people where there was seemingly no solution. </div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="center">Steve is in Kenya right now.</div><br /><div align="justify">Now, I am not saying that I think that Steve can single-handedly heal what is happening in Kenya right now. But, I believe that God will use him to touch hearts and to restore some hope to what many feel is a hopeless situation. And that is a good thing.</div><div align="justify"><br />Steve is posting a daily blog during his trip. It paints an amazing picture of what it is like in Kenya right now.</div><div align="justify"><br />Check it out at :</div><div align="justify"><br /></span><a href="http://kenyarelief.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://kenyarelief.blogspot.com/</span></a></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And while you are at it...take a moment to say a little prayer for Steve and for Kenya.</span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div align="justify"><br />Thanks...I love you guys. </div><div align="justify"><br />Lydia (mama O)</span></div></div>Mama Oasishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032004716161828008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092771351850513031.post-28759005387736882862008-01-26T23:07:00.000-08:002008-01-26T23:57:03.917-08:00....two weeks in Africa<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcH7n-sXsc4itC1zQjTsvJfXGnQn5lxKmxzM-BJuV5Z0fBd2fJ6eX8GDBW8IkfZ4P1Rv9AlYd1kET8XGQi4pMn9SqgwWeo2lyNsfugrFIV4m8NGZ4OGNB5IFU1_nnPcwjfew2fQTzhCGQ/s1600-h/kenya+july+2440+138.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160057541832308002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcH7n-sXsc4itC1zQjTsvJfXGnQn5lxKmxzM-BJuV5Z0fBd2fJ6eX8GDBW8IkfZ4P1Rv9AlYd1kET8XGQi4pMn9SqgwWeo2lyNsfugrFIV4m8NGZ4OGNB5IFU1_nnPcwjfew2fQTzhCGQ/s320/kenya+july+2440+138.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;">July 2004: That's me at Deliverance Church in Kitale, Kenya...bathing a little street child </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">....the day my life was forever changed.</span><span style="font-size:78%;"> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /> </div></span><div align="center"><div align="left">I listen to alot of contemporary Christian music. There was a time not too many years ago when I used to think that people who listened to Christian music were a little weird....but, funnily enough...that is mostly what I listen to now.<br /><br />I love a band called Caedmon's Call. Their newest album has a song called "Two Weeks in Africa". When I heard it a month or so ago...I started to cry. It reminded me of how I went to Kenya in the summer of 2004....for just a two week trip. The difference between me and the girl in the song is that I didn't wait 7 years to go back. ....I knew right away that Kenya was going to be a big part of my life and I was back 5 months later and have been going back on a regular basis ever since. Specifically, what I knew on that first trip was that the <strong>children</strong> of Kenya would be a big part of my life. I'm going to write alot about those kids....but first...here's the song:<br /><br /><em><strong><span style="color:#993300;">Two Weeks In Africa </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#993300;">Artist: Caedmon's Call </span></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /></em><em><span style="color:#993300;">Johannesburg to Capetown, the plane had barely touched down.<br />She was taking photos for the friends back home.<br />This was always where she felt her heart belonged.<br />She was finally here,the sky was bright and clear.<br /><br />(Two weeks....)And we all can feel the calling,<br />(Two weeks....)to make the world a little smaller.<br />And so a girl got on a plane,for two weeks in Africa. </span><br /><br /></em><em><span style="color:#993300;">Johannesburg to Houston,<br />she came home on a mountain.<br />But school was starting, things kept moving on.<br />Before you knew it, seven years had gone.<br /><br />She found a picture of her,standing, smiling,<br />arms around the starving kids.<br />She swore not to forget,she swore not to forget...<br /><br />(Two weeks....)And we all can feel the calling,<br />(Two weeks....)to make the world a little smaller.<br />And so a girl got on a plane,for two weeks in Africa.<br /><br />And if we follow our dear sun to where the stars are not familiar.<br />Faces turn to numbers,numbers fall like manna from the sky.<br />Why, oh why? Oh Father, why?<br /><br />One village in Malawi now has water running pure and clean.<br />One church alive in Kenya's full of truth and love and medicine.<br /></span><br /></em><em><span style="color:#993300;">We put the walls up, but Jesus keeps them standing.<br />He doesn't need us, but He lets us put our hands in.<br />So we can see,<br />His love is bigger than you and me.<br /><br />(Two weeks....)And we all can feel the calling, </span><br /></em><span style="color:#993300;"><em>(Two weeks....)to make the world a little smaller.<br />And so a girl got on a plane,for two weeks in Africa</em>.<br /></span><br />You can hear a little clip of the song at: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B000TJ6AJC001008">http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B000TJ6AJC001008</a> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />You know...I just love the part that says: "<strong><em>We put the walls up, but Jesus keeps them standing.He doesn't need us, but He lets us put our hands in. <u>So we can see, His love is bigger than you and me</u></em><u>. "<br /></u></strong><br />When you get right down to it....I guess that is why I go to Kenya...it's hard to describe to someone who has never been to Africa...but God's presence is so apparent and real. When I am there I feel like I am doing the work that I was born to do and it's pretty great. If everybody could find a similar "calling", I have to believe that this world would feel a lot different....a lot better.<br /><br />Hey...check out the album <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Overdressed-Caedmons-Call/dp/B000TJ6AJC/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1201419089&sr=1-1">http://www.amazon.com/Overdressed-Caedmons-Call/dp/B000TJ6AJC/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1201419089&sr=1-1</a><br /><br />Even if you aren't a big fan of Christian music... I think you'll like it. And if it makes you want to go to Africa...let me know.<br />God Bless...<br />Mama O</div></div>Mama Oasishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032004716161828008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092771351850513031.post-76194756544510073282008-01-26T20:11:00.000-08:002008-01-26T21:18:26.227-08:00Refugee Camp in the Cherangany Hills of Kenya<div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663300;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk18vgDgWO1vBzJqBY2HwAT9UbclzJAdwgBvzFDRFRuJMk6v6iDvk9SMVFqwGjimwQbuGzkh1_jB4zciC9AJmc8cJhQ8G4vtvr1uWuayWdmEhygHunUhLwv-4p4qKgFVRLmQR_vW6pwdk/s1600-h/DSCF1765.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160016593614107906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk18vgDgWO1vBzJqBY2HwAT9UbclzJAdwgBvzFDRFRuJMk6v6iDvk9SMVFqwGjimwQbuGzkh1_jB4zciC9AJmc8cJhQ8G4vtvr1uWuayWdmEhygHunUhLwv-4p4qKgFVRLmQR_vW6pwdk/s320/DSCF1765.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">Me and Geoffrey</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#003300;">This is my first blog on this site. But, rather than write my own thoughts this time...I am going to insert a letter that came yesterday from the Director of Oasis of Hope in Kitale, Kenya...my partner in this project and my dear friend; Geoffrey Okumu.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#003300;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#003300;">Oasis of Hope is overseen by the District Children's Office in Kitale (similar to Child Protective Services in America). A committee was formed from members of several organizations that work with children in Kitale and Geoffrey was appointed as Secretary of the committee. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#003300;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#003300;">They made a trip yesterday out to the Cherangany Hills (a trip of a few hours from Kitale) to assess the situation at a refugee camp that has just formed to assist people who have been displaced as a result of the recent post-election violence in Kitale. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#003300;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#003300;">His words paint a heartbreaking picture....please pray for Kenya.....</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#003300;">Also, if you feel moved to help us to help these kids...write to me and I will let you know how you can provide a tax deductible donation.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#003300;">Lydia (Mama Oasis)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663300;">Dear friends...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;">I am dying to let you know of our mission to the Cherangany refugee camp today (January 25).</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">We left Kitale this morning with a group of 12 members (3 from the District Children’s office, three pastors and 6 people from the Charitable Children institutions within Kitale).We also had 4 journalists and 2 members of the Kenya Red Cross Society with us. It was a rough and dusty trip up the Cherangany Hills and thank God we had the off-road Land cruisers.<br /><br />We arrived at the camp at around noon and went straight to register our presence with the Chairman of the refugee camp and also with the District officer in charge of Cherangany Division. Because so many humanitarian bodies like the Red Cross and other groups had mostly donated foodstuffs; as the custodians of Children in the District, we decided to assist the Children with Social and Psychological needs. We had contributed some money and Oasis of Hope also being an active member gave Ksh.500 so that we could buy some recreational items. We bought balls, jumping ropes, toys and other playing items. We also bought over 2000 ready to drink juice boxes among other things. Some of the pastors who came with us brought some Bibles and other children's Bible stories.<br /><br />On arriving at the camp...Oh my God! We couldn’t believe what we saw. I tell you, it is one thing watching all this things happen on TV and it is a whole different thing seeing it live. We had thought of coming and just getting kids out of the the camp to play with them as we administered to them but believe me, I don’t know what you can figure out seeing 21,000 people in tents spread out in just less than an acre of land for their camp.<br /><br />Before we arrived there, I was thinking that we would see maybe a few thousand people spread over a huge area but NO..this was a mass of people: men, women, teenagers (boys/ girls) and so many young children ALL in these little tents and in such a small area. You can just imagine the situation with the young girls and women……………it is terrible. </span></span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;">We took a tour of the place and interviewed many people including children and their stories are nothing that you would even want to watch in a horror movie……….it was awful. Many were telling of how they saw their husbands, wives, children or parents being killed as they watched helplessly. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;">We talked to an 8 year old girl who was carrying a not more than 9 month old baby sister of hers and I was really shocked to learn from the little girl (who had so much trouble explaining to me as she was crying the whole time) that her mother and father were killed and she has been left to care for her baby sister. The little girl has been surviving courtesy of their neighbor who also has 9 kids of her own to take of. I didn't know what do with the little girl. I talked to the Children's officer and my team was there ready to help kids who had no parents by bringing them back with us to Kitale. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;">But you know what? And this is really stupid ……….the guys in charge said they could only release someone from the camp after a proper procedure was followed…………you know those cumbersome, stupid and time costing procedures here. How could we wait for procedures to be followed at such a difficult time for the kids? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;">It was also surprising that the camp officials wanted us to hand over the little bit of juice we had brought with us to their store so that they could distribute it later; but thank God the Children's officer was really hard on them and demanded that they allow us to distribute everything we had brought with us right then because we feared these things were not going to reach the kids.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;"></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;">This is one of the major problems there and I fear that little is reaching down to the child refugees. We decided that if any group wanted to present anything; we shall be going there as a team and make sure we have given out what we brought, otherwise….there are people taking advantage of this situation.<br /><br />Another problem is that there is no water at the camp and you could see long queues. So we had a long of mothers and children waiting for water to be brought from Kitale.We arrived there at noon and people were waiting for the water in the line and they were still there when we left at 5 pm and they were still hopeful to get some water although none arrived the entire time we were there.</span> </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Sanitation is another huge problem; there are not nearly enough toilets, no proper cooking zones and all the tents are lined together……not even an inch apart from one tent to the other.<br /><br />I fear for disease outbreak if things go as they are. There is no adequate medical attention. Many people are psychologically affected and they really need some counseling but it doesn't seem that anyone is caring about that. Everybody is looking at the general problems, like the need for sufficient food, but nobody is taking care of special cases in special groups like women and children. These two groups need more than food to survive and there should be somebody addressing that. I really sympathize with this group.<br /><br />There is a school next to the refugee camp and the government gave a directive for all kids to attend the nearest schools to their camp ………but now, how do kids go to school without books, no place to sit (no desks), no uniform, not even their home clothes? Most people just left their homes with the clothes on their bodies and now that is all that they own in this world. Men were walking with their chests showing with rags hanging on their shoulders in the name of shirts.<br /><br />At least we had some time to put smiles on the kid’s faces by playing with them and talking to them all that time we were there. I wish we could get a huge group of people who would volunteer to go there during the day and keep those kids busy. They need to break away from the fatigue and bad memories in their minds. I believe that is really important because even if you eat plates and plates of Ugali, Githeri or rice with a disturbed mind, I don’t think it would even look appetizing in the first place.<br /><br />I can talk and talk about all this but I won’t even give you half the story of what I saw. We were supposed to come back to Kitale in the afternoon and visit another refugee camp that has formed at the showgrounds but we arrived too late to do anything more that day. There is also a third refugee camp that is developing really fast in Endebess about 15 miles north of Kitale town. There is a population of approximately 12,000 refugees there as well and we might be going there too.<br /><br />We had expected to bring a few orphaned, sick and other kids who had lost track of their parents back with us at the end of the day; but we were unable to do that until the Area Chiefs, Camp Chairman and the School head teacher finish the work of identifying the group of children who are most in need. They say that they will bring the list to the Children's office in Kitale so that the Children's homes in Kitale (like Oasis of Hope) can distribute those children among themselves. Our team is also considering helping those kids with books and desks so that they can attend school. We made this step of faith though we are not sure how we are going to get the money to fund this project. We are having a meeting at the District Children’s office on Monday to discuss the trip and what the way forward should be.<br /><br />Given the way things are unfolding, I can see that Oasis of Hope, as a member of the District Charitable Institution, will automatically be part of the homes that will have to shoulder extra responsibility of caring for these needy children. I would therefore kindly send my plea to all our friends to stand with us so that we can support this noble cause.<br /><br />Our budgets are overstretched already with the increasing prices of commodities in the market as a result of the post-election violence in the country, and I fear if we are taking this task as expected by the District Children Committee, then we might come to a stand still as far as the running of the organization is concerned. So I am sending my request to all of you, please support us at this time of great need.<br /><br />Otherwise things are still tense in the country even with the arrival of the former UN Secretary. He had closed door meetings yesterday with President Kibaki and Raila and even after they came out shaking hands for the first time, people are still killing each other. Today at least 30 people have been killed in Nakuru and Molo with new fights sprouting around the country. Many people are running away from their homes. I hope the talks will bear fruit.<br /><br />Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.We need that so much. I love you all and be blessed.<br /><br />Geoffrey.<br /></p></span></span>Mama Oasishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032004716161828008noreply@blogger.com1