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.

This past week we put on a lot of miles. At the beginning of the week we made our first trip alone to Nairobi to go to Immigration for our National ID cards. We also delivered water barrels to the women in the Water with Blessings program and attended seven follow-ups. The photo was taken on one of our home visits. The woman's name is Rose and she is sitting in her nyumba (house) talking to us as she was peeling a potato.

Life at the Mission has been good and we keep busy with various projects and activities. The photo was taken on one of the visits made to the mama maji (water woman) where we check to see that the filter is still being used and cared for properly. The mtoto (child) is a one month old baby girl named Elvin.

We have had another busy week with something different everyday. We made visits for the Water with Blessings program giving away 210 liter water drums, conducting WWB follow-ups, taking orphan to the doctor and inspecting shambas for the Heifer and Housing Programs. The photos is of a little boy that came to a WWB follow-up with his grandmother, his guardian.

Another busy week with every day being an adventure! We held several Water with Blessings trainings and follow-ups this week. The new shamba is coming along nicely and we received almost six inches of rain this week. The photo is of a little girl from one of the WWB trainings at Nyantaro.

Another busy and interesting week here at the Mission! The new shamba is taking shape and the regular work of the Mission continues. The photo of the little girl was taken at a WWB training in Nyantaro on Wednesday. Her name is Janet and she is with her grandmother who is taking care of her and three other children.

Another busy week with various Mission activities including Water with Blessings, Mission Saturday and attending a matanga (funeral). The photo was taken at Nyanturago during a Water with Blessings follow-up. Her name is Agrapina and she takes care of five orphans - her grandchildren. She is a very cheerful and faith-filled woman.