Mtoto of Tumaini

So the team just got back from our visit at Tumaini and it was most definitely the greatest and most heart wrenching experience thus far since we have arrived in Kitale. Tumaini is a place in Kitale, that is a boys orphanage for street children and orphans that was started 10 years ago that provides for the physical, spiritual and educational needs to the boys of the orphanage. Upon our arrival, we hopped out of the vans and we were all completely swarmed with awesome children! The succession of the words, "Jambo! Habari? Jina Laku Nani?" were the key to meeting all of the kids. The boys were all very nice and loving. They immediately became stuck to the hips of all of our team members. Some of the things we got to do while we were hanging out in the area included, touring the dormatories where the boys sleep each night, we got to hang out in the church and sit with all of the kids, the boys performed for the teams, a song and dance performance they had prepared for, then they had our high school team get up there and perform for them, and at the end, we got the chance to go outside with a few kids per person and pray with the kids.

For me, it was amazing to see the kids completely have the courage to come up to me and want to shake my hand and talk. While we were all sitting down getting ready to get direction as to what we were doing, I was sitting on a bench with 4 boys that were all just staring at me trying to talk! The boys names were Lazarus (12), Nadah (9), Victor (13), and Brian(7). They were all precious little guys. One of the first questions that Laz asked me was, "Camera?" I gave him my camera and his face just lit up. He was so excited to put the strap around his neck, and start shooting away! He quickly figured out all the buttons and by the end of our time together, he had taken 200 pictures! They were all really great pictures! The pictures tell an awesome story, all through the eyes of an orphaned child named Lazarus. I could honestly go on forever about the memories I have made today. I continually now look back at the pictures on my camera that he took and they are 10 times as special because of the person who took them. Victor was an awesome boy as well! He walked around with me the whole time were in the church and he was a very quiet boy, but he definitely had an awesome story. He told me all about his brother and where he grew up. He has been at Tumaini for 4 years now and his brother is just two years old. When we were about to leave he came up to our van and gave me a huge hug. Such a memorable little boy today. Nadah was one of the kids there that didn't actually live there, but he hangs out with all of the boys during the day. He was precious. Brian was the smallest little boy in the world. He has such a powerful story as well for such a young little boy.

All in all, Tumaini was an eye opening experience. I will never forget the time we spent with the boys there. Unbelieveable what God has done for all of Tumaini. So awesome that He has provided graciously for food, comfort and love for all of them. God is working so much on this trip, and I could honestly go on forever talking about this trip within the past two days. This is just a synopsis. Cant wait to tell more when we get home!

Cory Tomlinson