Humble Hearts will soon reopen!

In the past 10 days since my last update, emails have been flying back and forth between the US and Kenya. Beatrice and I have been working hard to not only get the word out about what happened at Humble Hearts, but to also find a solution so children can start school as soon as possible. Fortunately many possibilities have been presented to us and everything seems to be coming together so the children can start school again this week.

In the past 10 days we have learned that it wasn't the government at all how bulldozed HH and the surrounding homes and businesses, and this certainly wasn't a mistake. Instead it was the Kenya Railway and Kenya Pipeline Companies carried out these terrible acts. By the end of the month, they are planning to wipe out every church, business, school and home in their way between Western Kenya and Mombasa on the coast. They will be giving individuals and businesses little if any compensation. While meeting still are continuing with these companies and the Kenyan government offices, little help is expected.

However, a church very close to HH has agreed to let us use their building temporarily for the school. For only $205 a month, the building can be rented and children will be arriving to start school as early as Thursday. Tomorrow (the 12th), students from HH will return to the site of the school so Beatrice and the other teachers know how many children plan on continuing their education at HH and how many have moved. Additionally, the deaf children living at Angel Cottage have already started arriving and will begin school this week as well. We will be increasing the number of children to 40, including some hearing orphaned children.

Must still needs to be done this week. Lists of school supplies, books, and other needed materials will be made and thanks to so many generous donations, will be purchased right away. We will also be making lists of all of the kids who returned so we can notify sponsors if any have moved.

In the past 3 weeks since we learned of the HH demolition, more than $3,300 has been raised from individuals around the world. We were all heart-broken and overwhelmed. But through this tragedy it has become clear to me how important this school...not only to the children it serves, but to everyone who supports it. Humble Hearts is bringing hope to hundreds of children in the slums of Nairobi and even though the school is no longer standing, the children's dreams are alive and well.

Always grateful,

Kari