PERSEVERANCE PAYS OFF - CHRISTMAS PARTY IN NAKURU

 

Today, we had the joy of celebrating Christmas with our Nakuru family. The kids had an incredible time, even though we couldn’t spend as much time as we had hoped. By the time we arrived—just before 2 p.m.—the kids had already enjoyed their delicious meal. I can vouch for how good it was because the meal we had afterward was exceptional.

We had planned to leave Kijabe at 9 a.m. and reach Nakuru by 11 a.m., but our plans were derailed by the worst traffic I’ve ever seen on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway. Lydia, who lives in Uplands near Kimende, couldn’t even access Kijabe via the main road and had to take a bike along the back paths to reach us. (continued below)

The highway traffic had been at a standstill all morning, and the alternative Mai Mahiu route was in terrible condition due to last night’s heavy rains. Despite the challenges, we were determined not to miss the celebration, so we chose the Mai Mahiu route.

It wasn’t smooth sailing there either. Vehicles got stuck in the muddy patches, causing more delays. Thankfully, a group of young men stepped in to push cars through—for a small fee. Their help was invaluable, but it meant we arrived in Nakuru much later than planned.

Despite the late start, we’re grateful for the time we had with the kids. They entertained us with songs, poems, dances, and memory verses. Local guests joined us, sharing words of encouragement with the kids, staff, and caregivers. Board members also had a moment to speak. As is tradition, we celebrated with cakes and sodas. December babies, including Blasto and me, had the honor of cutting the cake.

The event ended on a high note with caregivers receiving food bags as a gesture of appreciation, and many of them gave heartfelt votes of thanks.

We left Nakuru at 5:45 p.m., and though the traffic was just as bad as in the morning, it was at least moving—slowly. We finally made it home at 11:15 p.m., and I wanted to share this update with you before turning in.

The kids, staff, and caregivers send their deepest gratitude to everyone who made this celebration possible.