Faces of Kenya is from a visit to the Dominion Children's Home in Eldoret, Kenya with founder Ann Fyall. We brought our children gifts and saw how they were doing. We were also able to visit with local ministries to break bread and share the Word of God.
This photo essay is an entry in the Leadership Network photo essay contest. For more information visithttp://leadnet.org//blog/post/leadership_network_photo_essay_contest
2. City of Eldoret
In April 2011 I was able to travel with my friend and co-laborer Ann Fyall to Eldoret, Kenya.
Just a few months earlier the news broke that 4 Americans who were distributing Bibles from
their yacht, The Quest, had been killed by pirates off of the coast of Somalia. Kenya, as it turns out,
shares it's northern border with Somalia. This might have deterred me or been grounds for deep
fear except I knew that the Lord was sending me and I had complete peace.
3. Dominion Children's Home
In early 2007 several acres of land were acquired in Eldoret to care for orphaned children in Kenya and
later that year the doors were opened. This is the home's mission: Advancing the Kingdom of God by
building Kenyan orphans to recognize their sonship, to effectively advance their Father's Kingdom and to
breakthrough their surrounding barriers with valor.
4. Ann Fyall, founder of Dominion Children’s Home
Ann came prepared with candy and balloons. As much as the kids enjoyed the goodies, they loved
being loved on by Ann, who showered them with affection and affirmation. You could see her
actions pulling greatness to the surface so they could see it for themselves.
5. Wrapped in love
We came right before the rainy season and a sister from our local church back home had made each of
the children a special fleece blanket with their own individual pattern. Each blanket had their name in it
and a scripture just for them. Not only were they wrapped up in something that would physically keep
them warm, they were being wrapped up in the prayers of a people.
6. Here are all the kids, they were all giggling and excited. I noticed right away how different
they are from American children who are used to posing for the camera, pouted lips and
'selfies'. I loved their innocence and even their photographic awkwardness at times.
7. ‘Teach a man to fish’
Abraham and Ann, the home's house parents, took us for a tour of the land. Their goal is
to be self-sustaining and showed us areas where different things were being harvested.
This space was being prepared for a pond to raise fish to eat and sell.
8. Let the games begin
After a few days we returned to the children's home with some more goodies and even
hoola hoops. The younger ones didn't know what to make of it and the adults were easily
convinced to show them how. They quickly became popular toys and then the
competitions started!
9. At the time I worked at Martin Gifted and Talented Magnet Middle School located in Raleigh,
NC. I asked a few of the students I worked with if they could surprise the children with their
art. Once in Eldoret, my roommate Mercy and I went on the hunt for colorful paper to mount
the art and display it by their beds.
10. ‘Watoto’ is the Swahili word for children.
Here are all the children gathered with
their house parents, their son and also
the home's helper. Except for the adults
who are more bilingual, they are still
learning English. We quickly learned that
smiles are universal!
11. Pictured here is the Dominion Children's Home board of directors. I saw first hand the
care and planning that it takes to make sure things run smoothly. Diane Grey, on the front
row seated in the middle, was our gracious host.
12. This is an unfinished painting by Jesse, Diane's husband. His artwork hangs all around her
home. His passing was several years before and she chose to return to Kenya, where they call
her “mom”. After having invested over 20 years of their life in Africa, this was home for them.
13. E.E.R.C. is the Eldoret Education Resource Centre. It is a private Christian school in the
community whose purpose is to teach Kingdom principles and change a generation for
life. They hosted a children’s conference open to the community for the weekend of
Easter Sunday.
14. E.E.R.C. partners with S.I.L.A. (Serve in Love Africa) a cutting edge ministry called
to equip people and share God’s love in practical ways. The school’s land sustains
the school with farming and the animals on the land.
15. For the children’s conference, Mercy my roommate, created a scavenger hunt using Bible
verses and a search for things like vinegar, spices, coins and perfume. The children stayed
overnight and had a blast!
16. Around noon time one of the teachers pointed out a rainbow that was appearing
full circle around the sun. I had never seen anything like it!
17. This is Mercy, she was raised in the Grand Canyon, spoke Spanish and taught me Swahili.
Her sense of adventure and creativity are contagious! We got to visit a church in the
mountains and we sang a song together that she taught me.
18. Let the little ones come
Ann, Diane and I were invited to
minister at a local friend’s church called
Precious Faith Ministries. We were able
to pray for many and this was a special
moment for me.
19. Jesus, tell Diane we said thanks
About six months after this picture was taken, Diane stepped in to the other side of eternity.
Both she and Jesse sowed their lives into the good ground of Kenya for the sake of the
Kingdom. In 2014, Ann will be returning for the first time since this trip. We had an
unforgettable time, lots of sharing. Sharing of food, laughs, songs, wisdom, chai tea and God
stories, lots of God stories.
