Here in Nakuru, Africa, after a season of prolongued hot weather and drought, the rain has finally arrived. Many parts of the country have been flooded, even parts that are normally very dry!
The track leading up to our home and the main Beehive house has become like a river. However, we have taken advantage of the rains and planted our shamba (vegetable garden) with spinach and kale (sukuma wiki) which is a staple of the Kenyan diet.
News from the Beehive
At the end of April, Jane and four staff members undertook the Trauma Competent Caregiving Training to be able to support the girls in the best way possible. It was an intensive three day course run by Trauma Free World, a Christian programme in the USA. Two staff members also completed this training in Nairobi in March. They all found it to be very informative and extremely helpful. We hope to be able to train the remaining staff in the coming months.
We were blessed with a visit from the Tindal family at the end of May. They spent time with girls and the little ones, and enjoyed a whole host of activites and fun aswhell as devotions and worship, as always.
During April, we had a wonderful time with friends who were visiting from Australia. We also a visit from a friend in London. We had a wonderful trip to the Masaj Mara by way of early celebration of a special birthday coming up for Jane. It was a precious time for us all to be together since before the pandemic.
News on the girls
The past few months have been busy and challenging. *Georgia* gave birth by Caesarean section at the end of April, to a beautiful baby girl. For now, we will support *Georgia* in early motherhood and give her baby the best start in life. We are hoping they will both be able to return home before too long.
We recently welcomed two new girls into The Beehive family: 14 year old *Hannah*, and 16 year old *Emily*. *Hannah* gave birth to a precious little boy, just three days after we welcomed *Georgia’s* beautiful girl into the world. Thus, we have two newborn babies in the main house. Everyone was very delighted!
*Rachel*, who arrived with her 4 day old daughter, unfortunately only stayed a week. Sadly we said goodbye as it was a compromise of her safety and protection by the senior officer responsible for her case.
*Sandra*, who came to us last July with baby girl, ran away in the middle of the night. It was all very distressing and stressful. But her little one has continued to thrive. *Sandra’s* parents have expressed a willingness to take her little one back into the family. We are now working with the relevant departments to see if this can be a real possibility.
*Marie*, not long after *Sandra’s* abrupt departure, has expressed wishes to return home. Sadly we cannot say that she and little J have returned home ‘safely and appropriately’ due to circumstances we cannot say. But they have returned home to her grandmother.
The girls’ education
*Mercy* completed her KCPE (end of primary exam) back in November. She struggled alot at school so we have been struggling to know the right way forward. We are delighted that she has found a local sewing school where she will spend six months. On completion, hopefully she will have a set of skills to help her move into adulthood and support little Annie.
Three of our girls are sitting their KCSE this year (end of High School exam, equivalent to A-Levela in the UK) along with two girls who have left our care but whom we still support. We have four girls sitting their KCPE (equivalent to year 9 SATS in the UK). All these exmas take place in November.
It is a very important and pivotal part of their journeys, so please keep each one of these girls in your thoughts and prayers.
In other news
Two of our little chaps have just joined nursery school. Whilst here in Kenya it is called play-school, it aligns more to what we are familiar with in the UK as nursery school. There is some basic learning along with play and other activities.
They will be four in June and July and are very ready for this. Both are so excited to be going off each day!
Please note names and pictures have been changed for anonymity reasons, and to protect the girls.
We will be in the UK through June and returning to Kenya towards the end of July.
we have a busy schedule of church talks, some small group talks and awareness meetings. If you would like to attend and find out more about the valuable work we do, please do not hesitate to contact us here.
If you would like to donate or learn more about donating, we would be extremely grateful, as it is the reason we are able to do what we do!
