Jamie, Eric, Cole and Case Ziehm will be traveling to Africa on February 17 to volunteer at Rapha Community Center, a children’s home and high school in rural Kenya. HEAL and Rapha was started by Jamie’s sister Jennifer in 2007. This will be the first time the Ziehm family will see it all in
Annual Giving Message Twelve years ago, I walked the land that would become Rapha Community Center for the first time. The property was overgrown and the only building in sight was a rundown wooden shed with no electricity or access to water. At first glance, it was hard to see
I remember Elias when he first joined our community. He was so tiny. He had been found in the streets, abandoned and unable to tell us anything about himself. It’s hard to believe nine years have passed since then. The scared and confused child I first met has grown into an intelligent and very
It’s powerful to witness the positive change our children experience after they join Rapha Community Center. There are many reasons for this transformation, but the main one is their change in diet. They go from a constant state of hunger to full and satisfied. This shift results in a remarkable difference in
We're Feeding 134 Children Our children know what it's like to be hungry. They know what it feels like to go to bed without food, unsure when their next meal will come. Hunger was a constant part of their lives before they came to Rapha. Now our children eat well. They
It's Been and Incredible Week The team has been in Kenya for almost a week. Usually our volunteers are over the age of 18. This time though, 7 out of the 9 in this group are under the age of 18. I was a senior in high school when I traveled
I Witnessed So Much Joy and Happiness On Sunday I gave gift bags to the children in our community. They haven't received many gifts in their lives. Most of their belongings fit inside a small metal trunk. When I've handed out items before, it's usually things like soccer balls and coloring
There Have Been So Many Beautiful Moments The last time I saw these girls they were in primary school. More than two years later, I arrived to find them in their second year of high school. I didn't expect time to stand still while I was away, but it still has been
In 2013 a volunteer group traveled to Kenya to help fund and construct a greenhouse at Rapha Community Center. For many years that greenhouse served our community well. It allowed us to grow tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables which are not easily grown in our area. The new variety of food helped us
