Little keys open big locks, simple words express great thoughts, a simple wish can give new life and we wish you joy, love, well being, vitality and a prosperous 2009.

I don’t know where to start because we have been doing a lot since the holidays started. I will try to organize my thoughts since am all hangovers from the holiday blues.

On the 20th of Dec 2008, we fundraised with Zablon for the Christmas Party all over Nakuru town centre and we managed to raise about $289. Kiamunyeki congregation also did a good job in finalizing our budget and organizing for the Christmas party which was on the 24th. We have also had so many visitors bringing in Christmas packages for the centre. It was fun seeing people responding positively in charity during Christmas.

On the 22nd and 23rd of Dec, 2008, Wanjiku, Mrs. Lucy Gathuri and I shopped for the clothes and shoes for the girls and their children. Zablon kept wondering how we could stand in one shop for two days! Ouch, dint sound that long then. But you know what, it was all worth it, we got the best clothes ever and the girls could not even believe that those were theirs. Thank to the owned that shop because she pushed herself to fit into our budget. At the same time we shopped for the things we needed at the party and organizing a program with the committee.

On the 24th of Dec, 2008, the cooks arrived early and the girls and children woke up early to get ready for the party. By the time I arrived, they were looking gorgeous! You know the nicest thing is the confidence, courage and pride that emerged through their smiles and bright face. We took a video which I don’t know how you can access. The party was wonderful and we were joined by the Kiamunyeki Parish elders. Zablon arrived later on and took the girls for a walk in the town centre. People were coming out of shops to see the girls; they congratulated them of how good they were looking. They couldn’t believe they were the same girls they used to chase away from their shops. After the walk we went back at centre satisfied that the girls were happy.

We rested on the 25th with our families and the girls stayed at the centre receiving guests and cooking nice things for themselves.

On the 26th through to 29th things went back to normal except that we were receiving very many guests. On the 30th there was the annual meeting with the committee. We arranged how the girls were going to visit Lake Bogoria the next day.

On the 31st we all woke up early for the trip and the girls were very excited since they totally love trips to places they never thought they could visit. One of the girls commented when we were on the way that when she was in the streets she used to wish that she would be the one in the van like most families going somewhere to have fun, I told her, “here you are now, your wish has come true!” And she asked if we could go around town so that their friends can see how important they are now. Which we did after the trip and she was satisfied. The trip was great, the food, the hot springs, wow! I’ve never been there just like shiku and some of the committee members who had joined us.

On another note, the committee agreed with your suggestion of starting the feeding program for some of the street families still in the town centre. It will go along way in building relationships with the fathers of the children we are already housing and also the other boys. The boys could be coming just for an hour for the food and counseling and prayers. And the gap that has been created between the girls and their husbands or boyfriends will be kind of closed.