August 2018 Newsletter

August 2018

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Living in Kenya has never presented a feeling or a thought, such as, “the days are all the same or monotonous”, it is rather the opposite, I often beg for a continuous presence of routine and normal life sprinkled with injections of conflict, joy, love and resolve.  Kenya offers more a daily feeling of surprise, shock, angst, delight, peace or apprehension.  In the past year, Seeds has had legal committals of new children to the home, re-integrated children, and exits of what are now adults but who came in as infants or children.

There have been battles of government issues, including an adjustment to changes in immigration and work permits. We had to raise serious concerns at schools about the level of education and physical treatment of children. There has been an injection of positive and negative dynamics of visitors and volunteers as well as development of multiple teenagers and attitudes. There have been illnesses, deaths, and unusual conflicts that often do not have resolve. Staff issues as well as our own personal family dynamics that are of concern are daily stressors. We still hold on to gratitude for the opportunity to make a small difference amidst endless abyss of challenges.

Building had been a focus, but God had other plans, the weather.  It has been a very wet year, and what should have been a season of rain turned to half a year.  Therefore, building on black cotton is unsafe until you have dry ground and can hit rock safely. The land is cleared for building and the thorn tree taken out, and the cold weather will subside so we will be patient.

The picture of Morgan, a little girl of one month weighing in at six and half pounds is replaced by a beautiful girl, and although she will always battle HIV she is now on a path of recovery from starvation and neglect. We are thankful that we are able to make a difference for her life.

Kevin and Shadrack are living independently (for the most part) down the road and at nineteen and eighteen years are learning that life gets a bit more difficult when you must clean, cook, work and pay bills.

Susan and Marvin are still at United States International University in their final year and second year respectfully.

There are many stories that can never be fully expressed, but when we see a life begin to take shape and transform it confirms that we ALL are making a difference amidst the conflicts and challenges.

It has been one of the most emotionally painful years for both Linda and I as we seek to keep personal issues at the gate.  For Linda it has been a difficult family year with the discovery of advanced cancer in her father and a challenging period for her sister and her children. Being far from home has never been easy but we give things up to gain other things. Some have said we are selfless, but it is quite the opposite, we are selfish in maintaining a quality of life for others where there were no other quality options.

Illness here at home has taken a hold of all of us. I have been battling with pneumonia for weeks along with every child taking their turns with high fevers and colds. Some staff on sick leave and some hospitalized.  It has been one of our hardest hit years of sicknesses and deaths.  We are thankful that we have a hope for tomorrow that things will be better and it is part of a bigger plan that we may not be aware of.

My gratitude extends to each and every person who prays, or may send encouraging words, that may send gifts, or funds to support our efforts.  We can never do what we do or when it is needed without the faithful support of everyone outside of these gates.  It is our hope that as the challenges come your way, and the emotions become overwhelming, that you find solace that we care about you too, and understand.  Our comfort is believing that there is a purpose for all things and answers to our prayers and wishes are around a corner for us all.

Sincerely,

Becky Adams