Our first day at Obaga

Well, yesterday we took an 8 hour car rider from Nairobi to Obaga. Along the way we visited another ministry that has really captures the essence of self-sustainability.  It is www.ctcinternational.org.  The make bags, shirts, bracelets, and such and sell them locally as well as in Whole Foods in the US.  100% o the proceeds from the sale of items at Whole Foods goes right back to this organization.  The end goal is to help with the special needs kids and their mothers in their town.  It was quite impressive.

While we are working in Obaga, we are staying at a Baptist camp in Asembo Bay, which overlooks Lake Victoria.

In Obaga today, we dedicated 2 homes that were built by the team from Durango, Colorado.  I can't tell you how appreciative the widows of Obaga are to be receiving new homes.  They have formed an organization called the Jewels of Obaga and they decide, based on need, who is to receive the next home.  It is really the way to do it.

Tomorrow we will be building a home for Victor and his family.  Victor was the oldest of 4 when both his mom and dad died. He was in 7th grade and had to drop out of school to take care and try to provide for him and his siblings.  Did I mention he did this in the 7th grade (I think he said he was 12). So he was orphaned, stepped up to take care of his siblings, and now is being blessed with a new home tomorrow.  The home will be built in 1 day.  How's that for an Extreme Makeover.  The home won't have all of the wall layers completed tomorrow, but the family will stop sleeping in their old home and start in their new home tomorrow.  It's pretty cool.

So, after we were done dedicating a new home today, Korbin saw some animals running around and made a comment about one of the chickens.  THEY GAVE HIM THE CHICKEN!!!!!!!!  It was such an honor for them to do this and I believe it impacted Korbin quite a bit.  We decided to leave it here with our friend Thomas who will have a lady take care of it.  They know that it must be in good health if Korbin returns, because that is the first thing he will want to do is see his chicken.  Needless to say, he named in "Obaga" after the village.

Tomorrow will be quite an experience as we are planning on mudding the walls of the home.  We've got our gloves and mud boots.  I think we're ready.