During my recent trip to Kenya, I had the privilege of reconnecting with Ann, a remarkable graduate of Rapha Secondary School. Ann's journey is a testament to the transformative power of our community. When she first arrived at Rapha, she was a young girl with big dreams but limited opportunities. Yet, through the support
I first met Sylvia last year, shortly after she had joined our community. Back then she was not the free-spirited girl you see in the pictures above. She barely spoke and didn't interact with many of the other children. She had been neglected by her mother and abused in unspeakable ways by other family members.
The water pump has been fixed! The children at Rapha Community Center have access to clean water again. Thank you to everyone who donated towards the pump replacement. Enough money was raised to cover the cost, which means we didn't need to use funds that were earmarked for other projects. Now that we are
I'd planned to share an update outlining all we have accomplished since I've been in Kenya, but instead, I need to share an unexpected challenge. Over the weekend our water pump stopped working. I'd hoped it would be a simple fix, but yesterday the pump, which sits at about 180 meters below ground, had
Return to Kenya On March 1st, I will travel to Kenya for the first time since last February. I can't wait to visit the children at Rapha Community Center. It is always amazing to see how much growth takes place between my trips. We have made a lot of progress in the past
The new school year is off to a great start at Rapha Community Center. Everywhere you look, there are signs of vibrant life. Steady rains have helped our flowers to bloom, and our crops to thrive. It is the first year since before the pandemic that we will have a good harvest of fruits
I took my first trip to Kenya 17 years ago. Since then, the course of my life has been fueled by the absolute determination to make a positive difference in the lives of orphans and vulnerable children. It hasn't been easy. There have been times when I wanted to walk away. In those difficult
I received a message from a graduate of Rapha Secondary School thanking me for all I've done to help her. She expressed her gratitude for the education she received and for the opportunities she had to improve her life and move toward a brighter future. I was so touched by Mary's message, and it
I shared Edward's story last year. He was finishing his final year of school at Rapha Secondary, ready to begin a new chapter in his life. His goal was to continue his arts education, and I'm thrilled to say that Edward has done just that since leaving Rapha. When I was in Kenya this
One night, Steven and Regina fell peacefully asleep in their beds. When they woke the next morning their world was completely different. Their house was empty; their mother was gone. Day turned to night, but she still did not return home. Regina did her best to take care of her younger brother. They survived
