We returned to Kenya this past week. It was a long journey but we are grateful for having arrived safely. We held a Water with Blessings training on Thursday and on Saturday we had Mission Saturday here at Gekano. The photo, taken at the WWB training, is of one of the mamas with her six month old twins. At this training there were two sets of twins (see photos in photo album).

We arrived home in early September and will be here a few more weeks (see story). The work of the Mission back in Kenya continues as well as progress made in the new house. The carpenters continue to build and install the cabinets and glass installed in all the windows. The photo taken is one of the many beautiful ND sunsets we have been able to see while we've been home.

This past week we made home visits for the Heifer and Water with Blessings programs. We delivered 50 water drums to women who qualified. We kept busy with work around the Mission including trips to the new shamba. This week we picked out the cabinetry (color) which will be built on site. On Thursday of this week, we leave for ND and are excited to be coming home for a month to spend time with family and friends. The photo was taken when delivering water drums.

This past week was another busy one from making home visits for the Water with Blessings Program, home visits for the Heifer Program, Mission Saturday at Manga and Gekano and on Friday we attended Emma and Vincent's wedding - Emma works for the Mission. It was our first wedding we've attended while in Kenya and a memorable one. The photo is of a young girl taken when doing home visits for Water with Blessings.

This past week was a busy one with taking orphans to doctor appointments, Water with Blessings follow ups and home visits, as well as Mission Saturday. The new house at the shamba is coming along and maybe by fall we will be starting to move in. The photo of the mtoto (child) sitting on his mama's lap was taken at one of the Water with Blessings follow ups.

The past two weeks have been busy ones with us going on a short road-trip to show Kaleb, the seminarian who has been with us for the past month, a little bit of Kenya and he then flying back to Rome to continue his studies. We continued our Water with Blessings visits and follow ups as well as other activities around the Mission. The photo is of Wes and Osongo - the teacher and the student! Wes was helping Osongo write his numbers and ABC's!

This past week we kept busy with Water with Blessings follow ups and delivered 210 liter water drums to 45 women at Mosobeti. We also took orphans on two different days to Kisii for medical appointments and Wes and Janet went out to visit and spray some of the heifers in the Heifer Program. The photo is of a mtoto (child) taken at one of the WWB follow ups.

This past week we held a Water with Blessing's training, made visits with the Heifer Program, held Mission Saturday, made a few trips to the new shamba to check on the progress of the house, took an orphan for physical therapy, and finally took a day trip to Tabaka to show Kaleb, the seminarian, a different part of the area and to purchase a few soapstone souvenirs. The photo is of Kaleb and some of the regulars that come to our porch for "sweeties".

This past week we were in Nairobi to pick up Kaleb, a seminarian from the Diocese of Helena, Montana. He will be staying with us here at the Mission for the month of July. We also went to Nairobi to pick out tiles for floors and walls for the new house. We had three Water with Blessings follow ups this past week, took a couple of orphans to the clinic for check ups and had Mission Saturday at Gekano and Ichuni. The photo is of a young girl and her brother at one of the follow ups. The little boy was so scared of the mzungu so he would not look though Kathy did catch him looking and got a photo!

This past week, we held Water with Blessings follow ups, made unsuccessful trips to the bank on two different days, made visits to the shamba to check on the progress, and cleaned house in preparation for Kaleb, a seminarian, who is staying with us at the Mission for the month of July. It was also an exciting week in that Blessings, one of the heifers the Mission awarded to a family in May, gave birth to a calf. The best part is she gave birth to a female calf which when old enough will be awarded to another family. The family named the new calf Jessie!

This past week we kept busy with Water with Blessings home visits and follow ups, visits to the families who are a part of the Heifer Program, Mission Saturday, as well as the household chores. The photo was taken last Sunday on Father's Day - some of our "adopted" children! Pictured with Wes are Brighton, Osongo (pink hat) and Jasmine. They brighten up your day no matter when you see them - they always have a smile for you!

This past week we kept busy with Water with Blessings trainings, Mission Saturday, working with the Heifer Program and on Friday, we finally became signatories on the checking account - it has taken only 1 1/2 years to become signatories...things do take time in Kenya! The photo is of a school aged girl at one of the Water with Blessings trainings - she drank four cups of the filtered water!

This past week we kept busy with Water with Blessings follow ups, took an orphan for medical care, had Mission Saturday, visited the bank to become signatories on the checking account, as well as a few other weekly chores. The photo is of Esther and was taken at a WWB follow up. No one had the key to unlock the church so the women decided to just have it outside. Esther sat under the umbrella to shield her from the sun while her mama colored in her workbook.

It was another busy week at the Mission with different activities from Water with Blessings to taking orphans for medical appointments. We also traveled to Nairobi to visit Immigration and finally, Kathy has her National ID card. We also picked up Fr. David who had been on vacation in Germany the past two weeks. The photo is of three of our favorite little ones who come to the Mission house for "sweets" with Angie in the back and Osongo and Brighton in the front.

This past week was busy again especially with people coming to our front door to ask for help in the way of medical and/or school fees - some we can help and others we cannot. We conducted several Water with Blessings follow ups, delivered blankets to 48 women in the program who qualified because they came to five and/or all six follow ups and we made home visits. The photo is of an adorable mtoto (child) we encountered when making visits.

This past week we held Water with Blessings trainings along with the usual activities of the Mission including Mission Saturday. The house at the shamba is coming along and hopefully we will be in it later this summer. The photo is of Angela which was taken at one of the WWB trainings. Angela carried her stuffed n'gombe (cow) wherever she went!

Faraha Siku ya Mama (Happy Mother's Day)! Another busy week at the Mission with a variety of activities in addition to our weekly outings with Water with Blessings doing follow ups and home visits. The photo is of Osongo and Alecia - two of the regulars who come to the Mission house seeking "sweets"!

Another busy week at the Mission with Water with Blessings follow ups and other tasks around the Mission. We also were able to watch the delivery of two heifers to two different orphan families as part of the Heifer Program. Every day is an adventure! The photo is of one of the families that received a heifer.

This past week we spent two days walking up and down the mountains to make home visits for the Water with Blessings program. We distributed 36 blankets to those women who qualified as well as cleaning the flower beds, working on the policy manual, and taking an orphan for a medical appointment...another busy and interesting week here at the Mission. The photo is of a little girl at the blanket give-away in Nyantaro. She was just given a lollipop to eat and couldn't wait to taste it!

This past week we made a trip to Nairobi to see if Kathy's National ID card was ready after almost one year and it wasn't! We also held Water with Blessings follow ups, took children to the doctor, and helped with Mission Saturday...it was another busy week at the Mission. The photo was taken at a WWB follow up at Mongorisi.