Welcome to my new blog! Here you will find updates and photos of my work as a missionary here in Kenya, Africa, volunteering with Open Arms International. Since it has been a while since my last update, there is lots to see and read about the past few months. We now have 108 children in our care at the Open Arms Village (Orphanage) and are serving over 300 children in our Feeding Program at Kambi Teso slum area. When I consider where these children have come from...lives of hopelessness, abuse, abandonment and hunger...to where they are now...healthy, happy, safe and in loving homes...it gives my heart such joy and I want to share it with you. I hope that you will enjoy this look into the lives of the children I am here to serve. It is a privilege and an honour for me to be with them, and I hope you will join me on this journey as I cannot do it with out your prayers and support.
FOUR MORE BABIES RESCUED!
Baby David came to us at about 4 month old. He was abandoned at birth by a mother who is mentally challenged. He suffers from a slightly deviated septum which gives him a lot of
trouble when he has a cold, so please keep him in your prayers. Otherwise, David is a smiley delightful baby who is growing quickly and thriving in his new home with Open Arms.
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Baby Mike came into the care of Open Arms at age 5 months having been abandoned at birth by a mother who felt she could not care for him. Mike as a slight case of Cerebral Palsy, however the Caregivers in the Baby Home have been giving him in physical therapy everyday and he is now crawling well and doing so much better!
Baby Miriam arrived at only 1 month, given over to us by her mother who lives on the street and is addicted to drugs, glue and alcohol. She is a quiet baby who is now recovered from any addiction her mother passed on and is growing as a healthy and happy baby in here new home. Miriam also has 2 biological sisters Beatrice, 8 and Belinda, 4 who were rescued from the streets by Open Arms.
Baby Faiza arrived at the age of 9 months, along with her brother Gladwell, age 10. Their mother suffered from a severe viral infection which affected her brain, and unfortunately succumbed to her illness committing suicide and leaving her young children orphaned. In coordination with the District Children’s office, Open Arms worked to get the children into our care as soon as possible. Faiza and Gladwell are adjusting well and are enjoying having many brothers and sisters to play with.
The other Babies are doing great thriving in their home with Open Arms. There is plenty of playtime and activities and they love each other so much! We are so blessed by the donations and support that allow us to have toys and a great playroom for our babies. Here Danny and Kaghea are learning to ride the tricycle together.
TODDLERS ON THE MOVE!
With the Baby Home overflowing with new additions, some of our toddlers were moved into their new family homes. Daniel, age 3, Asha, age 2 ½, and Silas, age 2 ½, are now settled into their new family homes and are doing great with lots of siblings and activities to keep them busy! Some of our older toddlers have also started Nursery school! In Baby Class this year go Daniel, Leon, Lucy, Benson, Ann & Grace. They all absolutely love getting up in the morning to walk to school with their fellow sisters and brothers! In Baby Class they will be learning about colours, shapes, numbers, letters, animals, and so much more!
MOVING ON TO HIGH SCHOOL
Several of our children, Mercy, Winnie, Joseph, Kelvin, Caleb, and Gladys graduated Class 8 and began Form 1 (9th Grade – High School). Here in Kenya nearly all secondary education is done at boarding schools, and the boarding school you go to is selected based on your grades and choices. It was an emotional time for everyone to see our kids go, however, we will be seeing them again on holidays and breaks. They are all doing well, but miss their families here at Open Arms.
Kelvin, age 15, heading off to Boarding School in his new uniform.
ARTISTS ON THE RISE!
It’s no secret that our kids have talent, and a recent Art Project brought out some of their inner artist! Here is a sample of some of the work - this painting is by Patrick, age 7, and depicts a traditional African home. As you can see, it is rainy season!
We also have singing and dancing lessons, and the kids love to learn new moves.
Here Phyllis, age 13, gives it all she’s got as her group performs for our guests at one of our Community Days.
Recently, some of our children produced a music recording and video. During the session, rising star, Gladys, age 17, really showed her talent to all in her solo performance of “
Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion.
BRAND NEW NURSERY SCHOOL BUILT IN SLUM
In May, Open Arms officially opened a new Nursery School or ECD (Early Childhood Development) for the children in Kambi Teso where we do our Feeding Program Ministry.
Many of the children there are not able to join primary school when they come of age because their parents have not been able to afford send them to nursery school which is a requirement for entry to primary.
Over the past few months, final preparations and the hiring of new teachers have been ongoing, and now the new classrooms are open and running with 48 new little students age 3-6.
LIQUID SOAP, TREES and DONUTS!
Life skills training is always an important part of our
kids’ holiday time from school. During
the month of April, some of the girls and boys were taught how to make homemade liquid soap.
Using local ingredients, the kids had so much fun mixing and stirring
the concoction into what is now being used in all the homes to do the dishes
and cleaning around the house.
The kids also
participated in several other Life Skills activities including tree planting, gardening, baking, cooking, helping with the babies, working at the
dairy farm, manning the kiosk store, and more.
Here Danson, age 16 is making his famous Mandazis (African donuts), and Collins, age 15, is planting a tree.
Well, I hope this has giving you a better picture of the lives that are being transformed here at Open Arms in Kenya. As my journey continues here, I pray that you will come along with me and be a part of what God is doing here for these precious children.
Love from Africa with Open Arms,
Renee
*If you would like to send missionary support to help me stay working here in Kenya, please contact one of the following offices to send your donation - please remember to note: Missionary - Renee Scobel. Thank you for your prayers and support!
OPEN ARMS - USA
PO Box 343
Portland, OR 97207
OPEN ARMS - UK
Text House, Bawdlands, Clitheroe BB7 2LA
Owen & Edwin, two brothers, abandoned by their mother and neglected by their father, were left to fend for themselves on the streets of a small town about 15 miles from Open Arms. The boys, ages 4 & 3, were often found wandering down the highway alone more than 10 miles from the town. 
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