The Well!

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We are EXCITED to share this story with you!

Last December, as we were preparing to return to Kenya, the Oasis board asked Rick to do two things - to find land for the next Oasis project and, if possible, to find an existing children’s home, with a school, near a city to step into. God provided both!

We returned to Kenya in January and began a journey seeking where to grow Oasis and where to land personally.  We thought we’d be moving west, so we put Julia and Caleb in boarding school and started our search. 

The first several months were exploratory, taking us to areas primarily in southwest Kenya. Property listings are not a ‘thing’ here, so we relied on word of mouth. We drove over 6300 km on paved and unpaved paths, met with government officials, made new friends, waited in land offices, routed around riots and earthquakes, and became buddies with Google Earth.  

We gained clarity on what Oasis needed and honed in on the ‘Big Five’ – road access, water, electricity, buildable surface, and community need. It has been exciting to find space for Oasis expansion! Oasis in the process of taking steps forward on a beautiful piece of land in a needy area of the Trans Mara.

Through all our searching, nothing materialized as a personal landing place and every day our hearts ached to be with our kids.  The weight of boarding school sat heavily on us after only a few days. We prayed for peace and comfort, but as the weeks wore on, instead of easing, it became increasingly difficult for all of us. On our worst night, Ann was sobbing and we both lay down on our faces with our palms outstretched and asked God, “Do You have a solution for us?"

THE. NEXT. MORNING. Rick received a phone call from some friends and fellow orphan advocates.  This couple has been assisting with a Kenyan owned and run children’s home over the last 12 years. They are leaving Kenya to work in another country. The Kenyan director of the home wants to retire and move into other work and is looking to sell the entire project. Our friends woke up that morning feeling overwhelmed by God to call us. They asked outright if Oasis might consider buying the children’s home and taking on the care of the children there.  God brought this unexpected situation into our path the next day. We were intrigued.

We visited the following day and realized the children’s home is a 35-minute drive from Julia and Caleb’s school. This would allow us to remain together as a family AND for us to increase our reach, caring for more orphaned children.  The site itself is also exactly what the Oasis board had prayed for and requested Rick to find, an existing children’s home, with a school, near a city.  Isn’t God amazing?!

Oasis is calling the site, The Well.  We love the name for multiple reasons but the story in John 4 of Jesus reaching into the life of the Samaritan woman and offering living water for her needy soul amid her brokenness sits in our minds. May The Well be such an Oasis for needy children.

The Big Kids at Oasis

Last month we spent a week reconnecting with the high school, college, and vocational students.  Many of these students, we’ve known, loved and poured into for more than 10 years!  As with our own children, each walks a unique journey, making both good and bad choices along the way, ultimately growing and learning with each decision. We want to share some of the things we’re thankful for about their journeys.  

We personally asked James* to lead the group discussion time for the Freshman and Sophomore boys.  The fact it was possible to make this request, much less to be enthusiastic about it, demonstrates dramatic life change. James has a history of self-indulgence and hedonism.  He has been deeply hurt and turned to deeply hurting himself and others to try to mitigate his pain.  Over the last year, amidst a ‘tough-love’ environment, he has faced his struggles head on.  He has apologized and found restitution with others. He has forgiven himself. He’s found an intimate connection with God as his Father and found grace and mercy. He’s on a path to growing wholeness.  His joy and new found freedom is contagious.  I was so thankful for his vulnerability with the younger boys and the positive discussions that ensued.

Betty has been consistently faithful since she was a small girl.  She’s still is. She loves others so well and it’s encouraging to be a part of seeing her mature.  She wants to be a teacher.  I think she’ll have a profound influence on the next generation. Her future impact is why we’re presently here.  She, and others like her, are the solution.

Mercy and Grace are really struggling.  They’ve made some poor choice and it is heartrending to see them suffer the consequences. Their futures feel bleak right now. We cried together and put our arms around them and reminded them they are always, ALWAYS loved. Loving a broken someone, when someone has loved broken you, is gift.

We're thankful for everyone who makes it possible to do what we do in Kenya.  Blessings to you.

*Names changed to value privacy