Looking Forward

 A  curious  bushbaby  in  Kwale,  Kenya

Over the weekend, our family travelled to Kwale in Kenya's southern coastal region to visit with leaders that will be hosting the 2017 Kamp Tumaini. 

In the evenings, we were treated to the antics of bush babies. These little acrobats would leap through the rafters of the dining room and do their best to snatch fruit from the tables. When one would grab something, a band of others would chase after him in a cartoonish dance. It was dinner and a show every night.

Bushbabies are extremely cute. Their great saucer eyes are always on the look out, always looking forward. I think that is something that we have appreciated in our work with groups like the Guardians of Hope. It is the wide-eyed hope and expectation of faith, things are going to change. Life is getting better!

 Erica and Andrew working on details for Kamp Tumaini 2017

In the region of Kwale County, HIV infection has remained at a high prevalence rate of 6% of the population. In schools like the Mivumoni Secondary School, practically everyone knows of someone how has been affected by HIV/AIDS.

In 2017, Kamp Tumaini will be moving into the Mivumoni Secondary School to work with GOH kids and their classmates on awareness and prevention of HIV and AIDS. More than this, we are excited to have the opportunity each day to meet with the entire student body for rallies that will promote what it means to be an inclusive community of love and support.

 Mivumoni Secondary School -- site of Kamp Tumaini 2017

Classrooms on the Mivumoni Campus

During our time in the village of Mivumoni, the students were preparing for exams and excited for the new Kenyan school break that will give them the months of November and December off. The shifts in the Kenyan school calendar has certainly impacted the way that we are able to hold camps for the Guardians of Hope children. We are very thankful for the openness of the school administration to host Kamp Tumaini during next July. The principal and his deputy have been very encouraging and accommodating for the Kamp Tumaini program. Together we are anticipating a great experience for the students and community.

 Preparing for Kamp

 Aaron and Andrew in front of an HIV Awareness wall created by the Africa Brotherhood Church for the students in Mivumoni Secondary

As we prepare for next year's camp program, we are very thankful for the commitment of the local Africa Brotherhood Church (ABC) that has been working with families infected and affected by HIV and AIDS for over ten years. The ABC is currently facilitating Guardians of Hope groups throughout Kenya. This local group has demonstrated the love and compassion of Christ in word and deed as they have helped orphans and vulnerable children complete school and live positively. Kamp Tumaini is really one way to build upon their great work.

Life abounding in Mivumoni

Please join us and our Canadian Baptist Ministries partners as we prepare for next year's camping ministry. We continue to pray for the participants from Spring Forth (a ministry of the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada) who will be coming as counselors for next summer's program. 

We also pray for the students, faculty, and administration at Mivumoni. Changes by the government's ministry of education have created a lot of confusion and tension throughout Kenya. We pray for patience and understanding throughout Kenya.

We continue to pray for the wider ministry of the Guardians of Hope that is working with thousands of families in India, Rwanda and Kenya. You can learn more about this program and the work of CBM in Africa and around the world by visiting our website at www.cbmin.org