Sandra (6) Page 2 of 3

Lodwar

uring my visit to Eldoret, I was lucky enough to be able to visit the orphanage at Lodwar. This was no mean feat, it involved taking two days out of the pastor's busy schedule, hiring a 4x4 vehicle (he didn’t fancy risking my welfare on the 10 hour journey by bus) and running the gauntlet of roads devastated by the rainy season which was in full swing. Lodwar is a huge region, consisting of miles upon miles of empty desert with the occasional village built alongside what used to be a road. We had a great journey up country, covering the miles in a shorter time than usual, the only heart-stopping moment was when the floods had carried away a road bridge and we had to edge over a broken bridge usually blocked off.



was protected from the usual 40-degree heat by thick cloud that promised rain. We visited the orphanage, and what a privilege that was. In the time since the pastor and his team first found the abandoned children, back in 2003, the compound has been developed to provide dormitories for the 50 children living on site, a school / dayroom used by all the children, a piped water supply (when the region has any water in the pipes), a generator for electricity, toilets and showers, and a good standard kitchen. The compound stands out as providing good care for the children. But here is the snag. The 7 year olds taken in four years ago are now 11. There is no schooling available beyond nursery level.