It’s almost been two months that I’ve been away from my home in Oliver, and time sure has flown. I’m busy working in Kenya at our orphanage, “Compassion House Orphanage Kenya”. Through the hard work of our whole team, we’ve accomplished so much!
My African adventures began in 1969 when I first went to Kenya as a missionary. I was there with my former husband and two small children for seven years, with our main project being a poly-technical school for young people. We formed some close working relationships with local families, including my best friends in Kenya, now our local agents at the orphanage, the Bushebi family. In fact, I have known the Director of our orphanage, Dalmas Bushebi, since he was two years old! It is very gratifying that the next generation of both our families is assuming a role in Compassion House.
I started the orphanage in 2005, after retiring from the South Okanagan General Hospital in 2000. I couldn’t do it on my own so I enlisted the help of my church, Living Way Christian Centre, and the support of friends and family. Compassion House currently provides a loving home and education for fifteen boys and nine girls between the ages of 6 months and 18. We also support five children and young adults in the community. One of these special young people is a single mother, Edinah, who is being sponsored through post-secondary training studying social work. She’s a lovely young woman who dreams of supporting her son Rij, while helping orphans like herself find a better life.
Compassion House grew out of a feeding program for street children. When I first went back to Kenya after my retirement, I was shocked to find that there were so many children living on the streets. This was a direct result of the AIDS crisis, which devastated many families. Given the deep-rooted Kenyan culture of caring for extended family, for a child to end up on the street meant that most of the adults in his extended family were either dead or severely ill. I felt that had found my calling.
Through the support of Living Way and the Oliver community we have been able to make a tremendous difference in the lives of a group of these children. Other than regular monthly donations, the main way that we fund the orphanage is through several fundraisers each year.
Our next fundraisers will be a Spaghetti Dinner at the Firehall Bistro, Monday, April 30, and a yard sale on Saturday, May 5 at Dr. Ng’s parking lot (8am-2pm across from Oliver Place Mall).
There are three seating times this year for the Spaghetti Dinner, so we’ll be organized to efficiently serve all of the hungry folks who want to support our orphanage: 4:30-6:15 pm, 6:30-8:15 pm and 8:30pm-9:15 pm.
Dinner includes Bill’s awesome spaghetti with meat sauce, Caesar salad, dessert, and coffee or pop. Tickets are on sale now at the Firehall, and cost $9 for adults and $6 for children 12 to 4 years old, (children three & under eat for free). All funds raised go toward the orphanage. We plan to use the funds raised to finish off the boys’ dorm that was started in December 2009. Our goal is $5000. We do still need a few volunteers to serve and clear tables, and quality items donated for the silent auction. To arrange for these, or for yard sale pick-ups, please contact my daughter Carmen at 250-498-0178. Thank you for your generous support over the years! We appreciate it.
By Bernice Balmes