A Story of Hope

After traveling 30 minutes down a bumpy red dirt road with ruts and pot holes ranging from 6 inches to 2 feet deep, we made a sharp right turn and arrived at a bright blue gate.  A few small boys opened the gate after a friendly beep and stood ready to close them after we passed.  Once inside, the children flocked to the white van and even before we could get out, they crowded the door and began introducing themselves and shaking our hands.  The handshakes quickly became hugs and children linked arms with us and held our hands as we embarked on our tour.  We had arrived to the first of two orphanages that comprised the Hope Home orphanages, Gathiga, home to 73 children with smiling faces and beautiful hearts.

Gathiga, actually began by accident.  Back in the mid ninties, Lucy, a Christian woman began to feel that she needed to do something for the poor in her country, so she began to pray for a solution to this need she felt.  She prayed for a while and then she began to feel fear, afraid that she might not be able to handle the answer she was given.  She decided to stop praying about this issue and go about her usually business.  One day while traveling by matatu to visit her mother, she had to pass to the Nairobi city center.  On this journey she could see the poor and slums around her and she began to cry.  She tried to hold the tears back but could not keep her feelings inside.  Finally feeling overwhelmed, she got off the matatu and  began to talk to the street children in the slums.  That first day she purchased some food and shared a meal with the children.  Then she promised them she would come back next week.

For several weeks, Lucy traveled to the slums to meet with the children, talking with them and often sharing a meal.  One day she decided to invite them to her house, so they could see how she lived.  They were very curious and excited to come, so the next week using the money Lucy provided for transportation the boys arrived at her house.  They had a wonderful afternoon sharing a meal and meeting Lucy’s family.  However when it came time to leave, the boys refused to go.  They pleaded with Lucy that they did not need much space and they could sleep on the floor.  She argued with them, stating that this was not the deal they made.   The agreement was for the day, not forever.  But the boys were adamant that they were not leaving.   Lucy spoke with her husband, Duncan, who reminded her that she started something and she had to finish it.  So they stayed, and Gathiga Hope Home was born.

In the early days, Lucy and Duncan’s home served as the orphanage, but now they have two separate locations, Gathiga Hope Home with 73 children and Ebenzer  Hope Home with 30 children.  Most of the children have come from the streets and all the orphans at Ebenzer have a connection with HIV, either they have it or some relative has had it.  I will be working with both during my stay in Kenya.  They already have my heart.