Hekima Place

I've been having a lovely email friendship with a woman named Kate Fletcher over the past 9 months. Neither of us can quite remember how we first connected, but I have been so curious about what she does, and she has been completely open and welcoming to me. I had the honor and privilege to visit Kate yesterday afternoon:

10 years ago, Kate's husband died - and she decided to move to Kenya and start a home for orphaned or street girls. She started with $30,000 and 10 little girls off the streets. Today, she is the founder and director of Hekima Place, a home and boarding school for 58 precious girls. Kate says, "Anything more than 60 girls, and we start to lose the family atmosphere." The ages range from 2 months old (abandoned on somebody's doorstep) to 22 (a Junior at the University). Each girl gets a sponsor and a buddy from overseas - the sponsor pays for school fees, and the buddy writes letters and sends a birthday present. Kate theorizes that it's better to spend $10 a day for one child than $1 a day for 10 children. You give them a better quality of life that way.

Mum Kate took me throughout the four houses - split up by age group - each house has 2 'House Mums' responsible for the care and upkeep of the girls in that house. The land where they live now is about 5 acres, and they have a little farm to grow beans, corn, lettuce, kale - lots of great things. Kate wants the place to be self sufficient - and knowing her, someday they will be!

Hekima is run by a board of directors - and they have 9 churches that now sponsor them (they started out with just 2). They just purchased 10 acres of land in order to build their own place, and Kate showed me the plans for their new home. It's very exciting! She figures each house on the property will cost about $20,000.

I know I've been mostly talking about the brains & muscle behind Hekima - rather than the girls. Kate says, "I get to live with my blessings every single day." The girls are so happy and so sweet - they love visitors, and welcomed me with very open hearts. They held my hands as we walked throughout the property, and then we played some sort of schoolbus-driver game on a fallen tree trunk.

These girls have been homeless, abused, orphaned, without food, begging, often HIV+. If you think about it - they are the most vulnerable population. After such conditions, they all think that Hekima Place is heaven. And I'm inclined to agree with them. You walk through the green green grounds, and you think that there is no place more peaceful and more full of hope. Kate wants these girls to grow up with an education and positive self-esteem. She wants them to save their bodies not just for any man on the street. Many of the girls have goals to become lawyers, doctors, journalists, actors - and they will do it.

I could have stayed for days and years - you feel like time stands still in a place like that. I'm starting to brainstorm about ways to help Kate raise money for the next few houses on the property. She is coming home in April and then August to do more fundraising - so I have to think fast. Any ideas?

Hekima means courteous or wise in kiswahili - this is 'a place of wisdom' for 58 girls who would otherwise have little opportunity in life. They are well fed, and boy are they loved!!! Kate knows each one by name - and the staff cares for each one like family.

How would you conclude a post like this? The gospel is at work in Hekima Place. When all around I feel like the world is working against development and progress, what an encouragement to see these happy girls who have a chance thanks to God's provision in their lives. Truly, the Lord moves in mysterious ways.