Tim and I are so honored that we are able to do some projects while in Maua, Kenya in association with the Maua Methodist Hospital.

Montavilla United Methodist Church in Portland, Oregon raised enough money to build a house after hearing about the needs of the Maua population from Jim and Sue. Since the members were not able to travel to Maua to build the house and I have a long history with them through my Mom, Ann; Tim and I asked if we could build the house on their behalf. They obliged!

The funds that Montavilla raised will allow us to build a house for a family orphaned due to the AIDS epidemic. Sue sent us pictures of the family. The family is headed by Moses, a 16 year old who is learning the trade of “carpenter” through the Zoe project at Maua Methodist Hospital (will learn more later on our travels!). He is caring for his three younger sisters.

Along with a new home to house Moses and his sisters, they will also receive uniforms for school and medical care until the age 18. With the help from the United Methodist Women at Montavilla and our families, we were able to also supply the children with new bedding. In addition, we also raised enough money from my amazing coworkers and family to provide a water cistern. This will allow the family to collect water from a cistern outside of their home rather than walk miles to collect the water.

Luckily we have the support of the hospital staff and Jim and Sue who will help us build the home. My stepbrother sent us money which will helped us buy some work gloves (as well as helped pay for paper for an area school) and we will work our fingers to the bone! New homes take approximately one week to build.

I have seen pictures like this before from the hospital website and from Dad and Sue’s travels. I still can’t grasp what we will see and experience. Once the home is built, there will be a celebration with the neighboring people and the presentation of the keys to Moses and his sisters. This is my “before” impression- what will we feel in two weeks from now when we see their new home and know Moses and family as friends?