This mission trip was totally different from all our previous ones as we did not have anything to build with our hands. 

Assessing and guiding children to select a career that would fit with their school grades rather than with their wild dreams is not an easy task as they all want to be pilots, lawyers or medical doctors!!! Unfortunately, most of the time, their ambitions far exceed the grades they achieve in school. 

We were extremely fortunate to have Kelli Dawkins join us and lead us in this task. Kelli works for York Technical College where she is a Dean of Students Affairs. Kelli spent many hours preparing for this trip and she and Bob Boekhout spent three days literally locked in with the high school children. 

Sharon Aoko, our Kenyan representative who is herself getting a degree in social science at Kenyatta University brought on board a Kenyan guidance counselor named Paul Wafula. Paul has a tremendous knowledge of the Kenyan system. He was able to explain to the kids how to get to their final goal even though they may not immediately attend a four year college after high school. 

The four of them assessed the children, made them express their dreams and ambitions, explained to them how to improve their grades, how to set goals, how to select a career that would be in the field they would like to be. 

It did open up the children’s horizon a lot as they realized that apprenticeship is an option, vocational college is an option, a part time job and a part time education is also an option. This was really our most important goal. 

During the mini camp at Wildebeest, when not busy with Kelli and team, Jenni Duncan assessed the younger children still in grade school. She also helped them to voice their dreams and better prepare them to select the elective courses once they get to high school.

Al Reinken was the Master of Activities and fun stuff with the kids, arts and craft, sports, team building, etc. Al works for the Y at Camp Thunderbird and has tons of experience with children. Al also led bible studies and devotions every day

Ramona Havas, when she was not helping another group, she held small group conversation and discussion about HIV/Aids prevention, abstinence and safe sex. We all cracked up when she announced she needed a banana for demonstration!!!.

Tim Klund did anything, from shopping for food to correcting assessments to playing with the children. He and Jenni also took the Lakeview Elementary children to the swimming pool at the Methodist guest house where we stayed.

Jim Stratakos took over 2,600 pictures and covered all activities going on. He also taught an art class to the children, making them design jewelry while learning the basics of colors.

As it is the tradition, the last evening, we had a birthday party for all the kids and for Sharon. We gave them small presents and ice cream and we quizzed them on various issues.

We spent time at the Ray of Hope Clinic and Community Center, located in the Kawangware slum. They operate a clinic, a laboratory and a small maternity ward. Ray of Hope has and continues to provide all the medical attention to our children.

We split our team to visit the eight schools attended by our 29 children. It was hard work and long hours were spent looking at the facilities and questioning Principals and Head teachers.

Later that week, we headed up to Migori and Bware, a six – seven hour road trip to the Western part of Kenya. We visited the St Joseph Hospital in Migori and also visited the Bware Medical Center, an outreach of Ray of Hope

We came back to Nairobi on Saturday night, exhausted but very impressed by what is being accomplished over there. On Sunday, we all went to different church services. After a last minute shopping trip and a late lunch, we loaded our vans one last time with much less weight than coming over, proceeded to the airport and boarded our plane for our journey back home.