Pavilion Day 2008

On Saturday, April 19th, we had a Pavilion Day fundraising luncheon sponsored by Agape Fellowship Centre, headquartered in Nairobi. It was held at Ibis Hotel in Karatina. Bishop Steve Kabachia, who is Bishop over all Agape churches in Kenya, was guest speaker. Mr. Sammy Chepkwony was guest of honor. Mr Chepkwony is a business man who attends Bishop Kabachia's church and has helped with fundraising in the past. A short testimony from him gave evidence of his heart to be used of the Lord in this area of business/finances. The funds raised will to go towards projects for the orphanage.

Pavilion's children provided part of the programming with songs, dances, and original poems written by one of our own staff members, Patrick Mwai. Their dedication to constant practice ahead of time insured a fantastic program that everyone enjoyed immensely. We were so moved by the poems that we wanted you to see them in their original format (see attached). Their culture dictates the wording they use to express their feelings and attached is a quotation verbatim. The children and staff (including Debbie and Marge) wore the red Pavilion tee-shirts. Quite an impressive sight!

The children are thriving on love at Pavilion. Raising them in a family atmosphere with moral and spiritual teaching is obviously paying off. During our nightly devotionals led by staff members, the best times are when the children lead the praise and worship. They know Who they are singing about and do it with all their might! They accompany the praise with an African drum, the tambourine, and even dance.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who support us and make this dream possible.

Be blessed!
Debbie and Marge

WHEN GOD SAYS YES, NOBODY CAN SAY NO

Pavilion is our home,
Pavilion is our village,
It is our shelter,
It covers all our problems.
When God says yes, nobody can say no.

Far we have come from,
Forward we have gone,
Thirsty, dirty, unhealthy we were,
Parental love we lacked.
When God says yes, nobody can say no.

Pavilion was prepared by God,
We lived in a dark continent,
But now we are in light continent,
Learning atmosphere is present.
When God says yes, nobody can say no.

Thanks goes to Heavenly Father,
A land of honey and milk you give,
People of good heart you give,
You are always present when we call.
When God says yes, nobody can say no.

We were born like other kids,
We can do as others can do,
God gathered us in a special village,
Who knows for tomorrow.
When God says yes, nobody can say no.

We have seen the light of God,
We want to set a good example to world,
People of good heart, we need your support,
Who cares to orphans...only God,
As you support, God is with you.
When God says yes, nobody can say no.

Written by Patrick Mwai on April 4, 2008

Two New Girls

Two new girls were placed at Pavilion Village in January due to the post-election violence. They are Joyce Nyambura, five years old (date of birth July 7, 2002), and her sister, two-year-old Pauline Wambui, (date of birth September 23, 2005). Their brother, who is three months old, remained with his paternal grandmother.

The children’s mother was murdered by gangs while looking for food for her family. The father was in a different area at the time and by God’s grace was safe. He has been the sole supporter not only of his family of five, but also of his elderly mother. Therefore, he needed help desperately with the children in order to keep his job.

Five-year-old Joyce attends nursery school with some of our other children and will begin primary school in January 2009. Two-year-old Pauline has had a more difficult time adjusting to her surroundings. In the beginning, she attached herself to one of the women staff members, but would cry if anyone else even looked at her. After much love and patience, she seems more content and at home, and less afraid.

Even though, traditionally, children are sent to a type of nursery school at so young an age, it was the decided not to change Pauline’s surroundings yet again until she is able to cope better. Her school situation will be evaluated again in September.

Both Joyce and Pauline love to have their fingernails polished. Pauline has become potty-trained since her stay at Pavilion and is very proud of herself. Both girls love church, and Pauline seems to have a gift of dancing.

A Word from Marge

Dear Family and Friends,
Hello from Pavilion Village Orphanage at the beautiful foothills of Mt. Kenya!First, I want to say that I love and miss you all. But I am so satisfied in my soul to finally be in Kenya. Though, please know that there is always a place in my heart that longs to see you and be with you. I would like to bring you up-to-date on my trip to Kenya. It was long, but full of grace and favor. On the twolongest legs of the trip (Detroit to Amsterdam, and Amsterdam to Kenya), I was given a seat by thewindow, which I love, and NO ONE sat beside me either time. I was able to stretch out on the seats andsleep a while. Also, all my luggage arrived with me unharmed, a miracle in itself!
There was no violencewhen I arrived, so after spending the night in Nairobi we traveled to the orphanage in Karatina safely thenext day. God is so good....all the time!Since I have lived in Kenya before, I honestly am not experiencing culture shock. I love the people hereand have actually been able to communicate in Swahili a little (they also speak English). They aresurprised and pleased, and I am surprised and pleased that I have remembered as much of it as I have!
OK....not much culture shock. Some of the challenges that caught me off guard are: Since there is noelectricity at the orphanage, just solar power (which I knew), we do not have hot water. Bath water isheated on a fire outside where the cooking is done. I get a bucket full to bathe in, which is about twoinches of water at the deep end of the tub. You ought to see me wash my hair! The solar power workswell unless it is a cloudy day (and the rainy season starts in a couple of weeks). We are able to use lightsat night as long as the sun shines during the day. But one night the lights went out at 8:30 p.m., and I hadto bathe by flashlight. Interesting! (There were not enough kerosene lamps to go around, but you can betI went to town the next day and bought another one!!!) Another adjustment is the lack of privacy. Theorphanage is a 1,500 square foot house with 24 children and four adults (which includes a Kenyan familyof five with a baby)....28 people in one house (about 40 people total at the orphanage). I share a bedroomwith Debbie Gray (co-director), who has been here from the beginning. She is the sister of Kathy Watsonof Christ Chapel, and is a delight. We get along great and have much in common...we laugh a lot! OtherKenyan staff live on the grounds with their children in what we would describe in America as shacks. Butthey don't seem to notice. They have a job, food, and a place to live. From what I have observed, theyare uncomplaining and appreciative.
The children at the orphanage are precious, of course. Most of their ages run between 5-15 years, butjust before I arrived, a couple of younger children were brought to us because their mother had been killedin the recent post-election violence. The two-year-old is very shy and cries a lot because she doesn'tunderstand where her mother is. It's heartbreaking. The other children are well adjusted to the orphanageand are like children everywhere...fun and loud! There's always one to hang onto you if you stand stilllong enough. Most of them are in school during the day, with the exception of the little ones..Here is a brief rundown of some personal info:- I'm having difficulty getting email set up; hopefully it will be resolved soon. But I do have a cell phone thatworks great here.
Letters take about three weeks; packages, about 6 weeks (I have plenty of hair color!). You can write tome at: Marge Clark, P.O. Box 804, Karatina, Kenya, East Africa.I will write more about the ministry soon, but just wanted to let you know that I am well and happy. PavilionVillage is a wonderful ministry and I feel privileged to be serving here. Thank you so much for youremotional and financial support....but most of all for your prayers. I can truly feel them.
Much love and blessings to you all.
Mungu yu mwema! (God is good!)
Marge

Heading Home

Hello Everyone,

I am leaving for Kenya in the morning. I take with me all of your prayers and support that all have so generously contributed. I will keep all posted on current happenings at Pavilion. God bless you all . In Him, Debbie

Credits

It is amazing, isn't it? Pavilion Village is a reality as well as our web site and blog page. I am so blown away by Gods plans. These tools would be useless to me if my Husband Michael hadn't pursued pushing forward with starting the whole internet thing. Thanks Babe!! Thanks for supporting the whole Vision!!

I also want to thank Debbie Gray our resident missionary who consistently amazes me with her ability to adapt to another culture, and to changes with transportation issues. Thanks for being such a trooper.

I want to thank my family who allows us to go to Africa several times a year. I am so proud of our boys and their maturity in understanding why we have to go. We appreciate our church family who enable us to go every time. They keep everything going at church and at home including taking care of our family and pets. Thanks to the whole family !!

Thanks to the board of Pavilion Village. My favorite verse for all of us is Proverbs 11:14 " ...there is safety in a multitude of counselors " KJV

Elisa French,
President
Pavilion Village

Director's Blog Coming Soon

Updates from Debbie Grey, director of Pavilion Village, and Cecilia Sides, assistant director, and Elisa French, founder and president of Pavilion Village, will be posted here beginning soon.