New Blog

We are so excited to announce that Ava's adoption was granted today by the Kenyan High Court. As of today we will be using our new blog address:

www.fivekennys.blogspot.com

We have a few more pictures posted there from today and you can see them by clicking on the link above. Although we won't be posting on this four_kennys blog it will still be online and available for you to look back over our first three years with CBM.

Emma

Emma's swim team finished up for the year with a final meet at Rosslyn yesterday afternoon. Emma swam in free style, back stroke and breast stroke. She came in first in all three events! She has improved so much over the past year and will move up an age bracket when swim team resumes in August. Thanks to everyone who has been cheering for Emma!

In Prayer:

We are scheduled to go to court tomorrow. We will know for sure whether our name remains on the list later today. Pray especially for Sam Mutisya who is our guardian. He will travel in from Machacos today to be with us for the hearing tomorrow. Pray for his health and safety on the roads.

Brownies and Badges

Emma showing her new Brownie badges!

On Thursday, Emma took part in her Girl Guides brownie celebration where she was awarded badges and had fun with her friends. With only two weeks left in the school year at Rosslyn Academy, sports and programs are winding down. Emma has enjoyed a busy year of swimming and after school activities. Way to go Emma!

Chegay and Nelius registering Somali refugee

families for child sponsorship case studies

While programs are closing down for the summer break at Rosslyn, the opposite is happening at the Eastleigh Community Centre as classes, vocational training and community programs are filling up with new students. On Friday, we spoke with a group of 25 prospective refugee families about the importance of education and opportunities for child sponsorship.

The mother's identified several obstacles to education for their children: cost, corruption, and access were among the top problems that they face. Thanks to the generous help of individuals, churches and outside donors, the Community Centre is working to scholarship as many as 100 new Somali students for primary education. A prerequisite for scholarship is a case study carried out by the centre's social workers. The social workers access the needs and make up of each family, and along with helping the children attend school, the centre then works to assist the entire family through various support programs.

Wood pile

Ava helping to pile our firewood this afternoon

just before a big thunder storm rolled in.

It was a wet day here in Nairobi, but still no water inside the Kenny house. Our new plumbers will be making the repairs tomorrow afternoon. Meanwhile, we have been on the notorious River Road bargaining for jewelry supplies. Erica and James are finishing off the last phase of the jewelry training.

Both Henry and Reese took great interest

in this Ibis bird that was poking around the yard.

Although they stalked him, neither was brave enough

yet to move in too close.

Happy Birthday

Ava was up bright and early singing

"Happy Birthday" to mommy.

Erica's Birthday Brownies with Tristan and Emma

It was fun to share mommy's birthday evening in front of the fireplace. The kids came up with their own birthday song with party horns. It was a great celebration after a hard day.

Unfortunately, our water problems have not gotten any better. After nearly a week without water (because of city rationing), the city water returned on Mother's Day -- Erica spent most of the day catching up on laundry, until the pipes burst again (for the sixth time). We spent most of today working with plumbers to restore the water. Erica was glad to be able to finally finish our last load of wash tonight.