John was hit by a car when he was a child. His injuries were never treated and as he has grown, the bones in his right leg haven't developed properly. The doctor said he needed to have a corrective procedure within the next two years or the damage would be permanent. I shared his
I met Steven and Regina for the first time on my recent trip to Kenya. They are siblings who had just joined our community during the prior month. Their father had died and their mother had abandoned them. They are about 4 and 5 years old, but since their birth certificates could not be
We've tried to plant maize three times at Rapha Community Center in the past year. Each time it seemed like the rains were on the way, we'd plant, but the rains never came. All of our attempts ended in failure. This is the same experience so many farmers are experiencing across Kenya. The
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
