kc - kajjansi

It is always difficult explaining to the kids at the orphanage just how far away Kansas City is from Kajjansi. (There are a lucky few who have had the opportunity, thanks to Sister Schools of Seattle, to fly to the US themselves, but most have little idea how far we have traveled when we show up there.)

On Tuesday, I’ll be doing that traveling - about twenty-four hours of it door to door. Others from the team will begin joining me on Sunday night.

Click here to see just where we will be.

There is a lot our team hopes to accomplish on this trip. We will try to post everyday to keep you abreast of our adventures, our feelings, our frustrations and our successes.

Here are the goals we have set for ourselves while at St. Mary Kevin Orphanage:

-Paint the dormitories, purchase and install all new mattresses and bed covers.

-Purchase marching band instruments and get the band up and running.

-Start a small vegetable garden that the children will farm. Install a rainwater collection system so that the garden can be watered efficiently.

-Perform medical checkups on each child and determine treatment for those who need it. Tom Maddox, our good doctor, will work closely with the newly hired part time nurse (thanks to CTT), Nurse Jane, while we are there.

-Provide health and nutrition classes for the children.

-Provide computer lessons. (They have recently acquired three used computers.)

-Continue therapy with the children.

-Conduct art and sports projects.

-Take a look at the ten acres of land some distance from the orphanage that could be purchased and used for farming. Assess the pros and cons of this investment.

-Give the orphans a Christmas they will never forget!

I don’t particularly like flying, and I am definitely not fond of spending twenty-four hours doing so, but the rewards I’ll reap at my destination will more than make up for the all of that.

If you are just joining the blog readership and would like to learn about the volunteers that will make up Change the Truth Team 2, please scroll down and see posts about Lynne, Carol, Tom, Randy, Fred, Bobbi, Melissa, Max, Linda and Sarah.