Project 3 Sustain an Orphanage
(continued)
... church even though they don't live
in the orphanage.
Another example of how this works was
explained to me by Bishop Walter Obare, the head of the ELCK. My
wife and I had the opportunity to take Bishop Obare and his wife,
Eunice, to dinner while they recenlty visited St. Louis (July 11,
2007). Bishop Obare said t
hat
there are so many children in need and have no parents, so they
wander the streets and the fields. As a result, many homes,
with one or two parents still alive, serve as "small unofficial
orphanages."
hat
there are so many children in need and have no parents, so they
wander the streets and the fields. As a result, many homes,
with one or two parents still alive, serve as "small unofficial
orphanages."Bishop Obare and his wife are typical of
the Kenyan countryside. He and his bride raised ten children of
their own. However, they explained how there are always, at any one
time, at least 10 orphans that they
care for in their home in western
Kenya. The children don't always sleep in their home. Sometimes
they go to other relatives. Still, the Obares do a lot to feed,
clothe, and care for them.
"The greatest part of caring for the
children," said Bishop Obare, "is that they receive God's
blessings for the body and the soul."
The ELCK is almost finished (as of 7\07)
building an orphanage next to the bishop's church in his village.
Next to the Obare home is the church. As you can see from the photo
on the right, the foundation of the orphanage was in at the time of
our visit in Oct, 06. According to Obare, they are now finishing
the second story of the building.