This week has been harder and better than the week before. I'll try to explain. As I have gotten to know the area better, the kids more, the locals and village in more depth more things have come to light.

There are a few main problems in the area and those are food insecurities, lack of jobs, and single mothers. I see and talk to hundreds of kids a day and the amount of times I have been asked if I could give them food, or a snack, or really anything. They also ask how often I eat, and then they'll tell me how often they are eating. So, over the last week I have come to find that most kids who are either to young to go to school or who's parents don't have the money to pay school fees will eat 3-4 times per week. If they are old enough to go to school typically they will eat Monday through Friday for lunch, but when they go home they wont get dinner because their parents know they got to eat food at school. Another part of it all is that if I give say an orange to a kid who I am talking to at the center where I am living, later 5 more will show up, then more later if I give them something simple like a snack. Then the whole neighborhood of kids know and if I were to continue the pattern of giving food then there would be way to many kids there and the cost for me would be too great to provide enough. So now I am learning how to give, and when to give, and what to give. I also do not want to just leave them with food and nothing else. So, I will make sure to have a conversation with them about who Jesus is, if they know Him, ask them who He is, ask them if they will go to Heaven and how do they know they will, and talk to them about Jesus being the Bread of Life. Because this message is what will truly get them through, and fill them, even at a really young age the Lord can make an impact with His message. So, it is a conundrum but I am trying to do the best I can. Seeing the need so up front is really hard, but the things I are doing are good and very helpful even if it feels like I am not doing enough. It can drive me crazy that I am not helping at the root of the problem but that problem is way to big for me to while I am here for 40 days. So, I will continue to trust God, and help and serve the full-time missionaries who are here and the local people the best I can.

The other two areas of lack of job and there being so many single mothers just make the problems even bigger of being able to provide, have a healthy home, have food on the table, and money for necessities. All of these problems are going on at the same time and just makes a big mess. The Dream Center I am working with and living at does boys and girls Bible Studies every week, has a program to help single mothers, and on Saturdays they feed over 500 kids, and give food for 1/4 of the kids to take home to have for the week. There is a lot of good going on and I am very glad to be part of it. I got to help lead the boys Bible study this week which was really funny because I showed up and was told I was leading having no time to prepare haha. But it went great, and I was grateful to be part of it.

Working at the school continues to go well. I have taught english, math, environmental science, music, have tutored reading, and have done home visits. During the home visits we see what the living situation is like for the child, parents and family as a whole, we check on the parents/family and how they are doing emotionally, spiritually, financially, and see how the kids are doing at home. It has put me at the front line of what the local families are going through and has shown me how they live. The people here are incredibly joyful, happy to talk with anyone, and are very kind. Even though most of these people have nothing they are so happy in spirit and in life. It is very cool to see!

As a team we are going to purchase around 600 shoes for the kids that come to the center on Saturday's. The school need more plates and utensils, so I am going to purchase those things to give to the school. There are so many ways I feel I should give, and am able to because of you guys, my supports, and for that I am very thankful!

FUNDRAISING UPDATE:

I am fully funded! My goal of $22,500 has been reached! I am so thankful for everyone who gave financially, and who are giving through prayer. It has been a crazy journey and one that I have learned a lot through and have seen the faithfulness of God through. If you are still wanting to give to me DO NOT give through my fundraising page because the money will just go to the organization and not to me. You can give to me by giving directly to my Venmo: @Drew-Polsgrove-1. I will use this money to give in many ways back to the community as in shoes, food, and help at the school while in Kenya. My current bills at home are my phone bill, car insurance, student loans starting in November. Thankfully you guys have given to me to be able to cover those things, and cover extra money for while I am away to purchase necessities like toiletries, clothes, other things I may need and the adventure day we have every Thursday.