This past week we delivered blankets to 45 women in the Nyasumi area and we made home visits to 25 women in the village of Enchoro for the Water with Blessings program. We did a lot of walking up and down the mountains visiting the mamas and their families at their shambas. It was an eye-opening experience seeing where and how people live. The photo was taken while Kathy and Emma were walking along the road making home visits. The child's name is Abigail.

This week we kept busy with Water with Blessings trainings, making trips to the new shamba, collecting rain water, Mission Saturday and various other activities. The photo is of Steven who came with his mama to one of the WWB trainings this week. He was very scared of the wazungu (white people) and kept his distance though he was willing to take biscuits from the them! We received 7 inches of rain this past week which was most welcome - the cistern and borehole are filling with water...we are grateful.

This past week we held Water with Blessings follow ups, Mission Saturday, along with other projects that we are working on. We received 6 inches of needed rains this week and hopefully the rains continue so the crops grow and our cistern fills with water! The photo is of Fr. David visiting with little Mary Immaculate on Mission Saturday. Mary Immaculate is one of the newer orphans in the education program.

This week we got back into full swing doing the work of the Mission including taking an orphan for an eye appointment, Water with Blessings follow ups a couple of days, a trip to Kisii so an orphan could get new spectacles, and Mission Saturday. We continue to haul water from the well at the new shamba until the rains come to fill our cistern. Every day is truly an adventure. The photo is of Elyjoy, one of the children that came with her mama to a follow up. Elyjoy was the cover picture a few weeks ago but being she is so cute, had to put her on again!

We recently traveled to Italy to see our sons, Aaron and Nathan. We took in the many beautiful sites in Rome, Assisi and Sorrento. The photo is of St. Peter's at night.

This week we continued to hold Water with Blessings follow ups and had one training at Nyaborabu. The shamba continues to take shape with the work centered on the Mission house. Next week, concrete will be poured for the second level which will be the ceiling for the second level as well as the roof of the house. The photo of the mama and mtoto (mother and child) was taken at the WWB training at Nyaborabu. The little girl's name is Esther.

This past week we held several Water with Blessings trainings at two very remote churches, high up on the mountain. The views were spectacular and ones that many back in America would pay money to have though here when you live that far up the mountain, the task of obtaining water is difficult as well as other challenges. The photo is of Elyjoy who was with her mama at one of the Water with Blessings trainings.

This past week, in addition to Mission Saturday activities, we finished home visits and delivered blankets and 210 liter water drums to mamas in the Nyantarago and Biticha areas. The new school year has started and therefore, it was busy with the paying of school fees. The weather has been warm with no measurable precipitation since January 12th which makes for some very dusty roads. The photo is of a mama and her mtoto (child); it was taken on the day we delivered 34 water drums.

This past week we made a trip to Nairobi to visit the Immigration office again! Kathy's ID card was still not ready so we wait another two months. We held two Water with Blessings trainings at a church in the village of Emenyenche which was located at the top of a mountain where the views were spectacular with the lush green tea fields hugging the sides of the mountains. It was another interesting week. The photo of the little girl was taken at one of the WWB trainings.

This past week was another busy one with Water with Blessings, paying of school fees for all levels (primary, secondary and post-secondary), Mission Saturday as well as other activities. The photo is of Wes on Mission Saturday, chatting with Anthony, one of the orphans. Wes took the place of Fr. David since he (Fr. David) is currently back in North Dakota for one month.

This past week was a busy one here at the Mission. We held the Wellness Seminar on two different days for around 170 of the orphans enrolled in the Education Program. We also conducted 36 home visits for the Water with Blessings Program on two different days. The photo was taken on one of the days the Wellness Seminar was held - he's smiling even though he just had his finger poked for a blood sample!

Heri ya Mwaka Mpya (Happy New Year)! This past week we held Water with Blessings follow ups, delivered 34 water drums in the Kenyerere area, and awarded 36 blankets to the women in the Mosobeti area who have attended 5 or more of the follow ups once trained on the use of the water filter. We also spent time at the new shamba watching the men mix and pour the concrete for the second level floor using few machines. We also mourned the passing of a wonderful woman named Agrapina who we had come to know in our short time here at the Mission - she was taking care of her grandchildren who are enrolled in the Bismarck Mission's Education program. The photo is of a grandmother and he grandchild she takes care of - it was taken on the day we delivered water drums.

Heri ya Krismasi (Merry Christmas) to you and your loved ones as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. This past week was a busy one with having three separate Christmas gathering for 463 orphans as well as Water with Blessings visits and follow ups. The photo is of a small boy praying in front of the vary large creche here at the church and inside are the figurines which are made of soapstone. There is even an angel hanging upside down tied with a piece of ribbon! The photo album this week has many photos of the children collecting their gifts from the Mission and enjoying a warm bottle of soda and a loaf of bread as their treat! Krismasi njema!

This past week, we held two Water with Blessings trainings, made home visits to the mamas who received a water filter a year ago, and gave away mattresses on Mission Saturday to orphans at Manga and Gekano. The picture is of three young girls enrolled in the orphan education program who were having fun with one of their new mattresses. The children were happy to receive the mattresses as part of their Christmas gift.

This past week we made a trip to Kisumu, made home visits and held follow ups for the Water with Blessings program, finished up the awarding of heifer and housing applicants, gave away mattresses at Mission Saturday and made numerous trips to the new shamba to take in and take pictures of the progress being made. It was a busy week! The photo was taken on one of our home visits. The mama wanted to give us sugar cane but had to slice it into smaller pieces with her panga (machete) in order for it to fit into the car!

We continue to work with the women for the Water with Blessings program doing follow ups and this week gave 23 blankets to women who came to five of the six follow ups. The women were most grateful for the gift. We also received a truckload of 250 mattresses that will be given out as part of the Christmas gift to the orphans in the coming weeks. It was another interesting week here at the Mission! The photo is of a baby that was seen here on the clinic grounds during Mission Saturday.

Another busy week here at the Mission. We held two Water with Blessings trainings, we took another orphan to the daktari (doctor), did our weekly chores including laundry in between short rains, cleaned the weedy flowerbeds along with a few other projects. Work continues at the new shamba with the barn and caretaker house almost done. Construction on the Mission house continues as well with all of the work done by hand so far - no machines. Fr. David's favorite saying "everyday is an adventure here" is so true!

Another interesting week here at the Mission. We held two Water with Blessings trainings at a village called Mongorisi. We also had follow ups and delivered water drums to nine women. Kathy drove in Kisii on Market Day and was pulled over by a "county official" and it was quite the experience! And finally the new shamba is taking shape - the caretaker house is close to completion, the barn is almost finished and this week, the foundation for the Mission house was started. The photo is of Agatha which was taken on the day her grandmother attended a WWB training.