3-22-2012

Today we visited ACK Kamwaa Child Development Center where we learned about Complementary Interventions. These funds are used to support special needs within the center. What a different experience every day! The landscapes, the people - so diverse. The trip today was the bumpiest, most stressful ride in the van for me so far. We drove into the mountains. Red soil all around us. Lots of cactuses. The land was very dry, and dusty, humid and hot. People were walking all along the sides of the road. I love the hearts of the kids in these communities. They are always smiling, waving at us. Adults are not as willing to engage us. We wonder what they think of us coming to visit them. During this trip, the leaders of the community shared what they have accomplished so far through the help of Compassion and the presence of God, their future dreams for the center, and how these projects have changed the surrounding community. To be honest, at first I thought that these people at the center were all talk. They are so ambitious, but I didn't believe they could put these ideas into action... and then we took a tour of what they have already accomplished! I was absolutely amazed by what I saw. Not only was the vision for the center incredible, they also made a great deal of progress in the community, and that was evident in the lives of all of the people. It's awesome to see what God can do when you combine hard working people with a vision to change their circumstances and communities. They had a complete farm project equipped with an active watering system, large water tanks, and 2 green houses where they grew tomatoes, onions, and kale. They also grew papaya trees, or paw paw trees as they called them. This was definitely the hottest, most stressful day for me. The environment was very different from the other centers. They had a great vision and work ethic and were very much focused on the children. They also had several other IGA's or income generating activities. They had a fish farm, a honey factory, and a computer learning center. What an amazing experience. Here are some pictures of the farm project, the fish farm, and some of the other areas we visited today.