The Mbugua Family

There are now 9 Children in the Mbugua family. Manyashi(10), Esther(10), Mariam(6), Bianca(5), Pili(4), Michael(5), Aika(4), Helena(4) and Jonathan(3).

Manyashi goes to a boarding school in Mwanza, called Jellys. He is currently in the 4th grade. There he is able to get very good schooling. He is a very academic boy, and has a passion for learning. Esther is now in 1st grade. She goes to a school called JBFC. Her and her little sister, Mariam, leave at 7 for school. It’s about a 45 minute walk through Kitongo to get to their school. They get home at about 5 in the evening. Mariam is in Kindergarten and is a very bright little girl. Bianca, Pili, Michael, Aika, Helena and Jonathan all aren’t old enough to go to school, so they stay at home. At home they have their play time, and at about 10 their Mama, Milka, does schooling with them. She is an amazing teacher and mother. They practice writing their names, learning letters and numbers. At 11:30 four times a week the kids go to pre-school. After pre-school is lunch time, followed by nap time. In the evening the girls, Pili, Bianca and Aika have to responsibility of going to get the milk at the container yard. Usually by that time Esther and Mariam can meet them at the container yard and walk home with them. Sitting at the Tanners house we can usually hear them singing and playing all sorts of games on the front porch, or race around the soccer field in the evenings.

I have had to joy of watching them grow and develop under the love of their parents John and Milka. I have never seen such well behaved children! John and Milka have received 9 children in little over a year, and have room for 1 more. Pray that John and Milka continue doing an amazing job as they raise their family. Pray for the kids as they bond to each other, their parents and are nurtured by God’s love.

Pre- school

Kaylen Tanner and Danya Burke started a Pre-school with the missionary and Mbugua kids. The age ranges from 5 years old to 2 years old. We work on colors, shapes, numbers, and letters. On our fun days we play with play-dough, go mango picking, do some fun crafts, or visit the Mavuno Library. Every Friday is the kids favorite day because it’s Beach Day! We take some Frisbees, tools and buckets to dig with, a snack and have fun playing on the beach.

The Pre- school working on shapes and colors with blocks

Zeke and Reuben on face paint day!

Kaylen Tanner giving the kids rides on the beach!

Helena, Aika, Reuben, Michael and Zeke hiding their feet in the sand

Craft Day

The Pre-school picking mangos

Bible Club

Every Wednesday Mavuno puts on a Bible Club for the village kids of Kitongo. Milka Mbugua, our first Mama, teaches the lesson and leads the singing. Right now she is teaching in the book of Ruth. Afterwards the kids play games like soccer or bata, bata, cuckoo (which is Kiswahili for duck, duck, goose).

Bible Club posing for a picture

Michael, Esther, Jona, Zeke, Habe, Myanda and Carter listening to the lesson

Milka giving the lesson

Update

Last night one of Mavuno’s dairy cows, Coffee, gave birth to a little bull. Everybody is very excited. This will mean more milk available for Mavuno’s staff and our increasing number of children.

The newest addition to the Mavuno Dairy Program

Construction Update
The construction is moving along on Family House 3 and in the village plaster house. In Family House 3 the workers are pouring the final layer of cement floor. After the floor is completed the next step will be to start painting!

The village plaster house is in the “chicken cage stage” and ready to be plastered. The workers should begin plastering it next week.

Family House 3

The final cement floor layer being added in Family House 3

The "ckicken cage" in Kitongo waiting to be plastered

New Year Celebration

On Saturday, Mavuno threw a New Year’s Celebration. The Lord really helped us out. It was raining all day, but about an hour before the celebration started, it cleared up, and He gave us sunny skies; when it was over, He let it rain again. It was a good chance to get acquainted with the local villagers of Kitongo. Pop and Mandazis (an African doughnut) were served by the Mavuno staff. Dan, Marco, and Malucha got a chance to explain Mavuno, and what our purpose is. John Mbugua preached a short sermon of the gospel. Afterwards the Jesus film in Kisakuma was shown. Overall it was a great chance to get to know our neighbors, fellowship with each other, and share the gospel message!

Marco


Malucha



The Mavuno Staff serving pop and mandazis

Watching the Jesus Film

Praise:
Our water crisis is now over, thank- you so much for praying. Dan was able to buy a new pump, and yesterday filled all of the water tanks!

Pili

This week, God blessed Mavuno with a new on-campus child. Pili is a 4 year old little girl. We received her from a baby home in Mwanza called Forever Angels. The Mbugua family is now a family with 9 children. Please pray for Pili as she adjusts to her new family, and is introduced to God's love. Also continue praying for the Mbugua family as their family expands. John and Milka are doing an amazing job with their children. It's been a blessing to be able to watch the children change as the Mbuguas nurture them with God's love.

Pili
Pili and some of her new siblings

(Aika, Micheal, Pili and Bianca)

Pili

Pili with her new family (Manyashi is at school)

Pump Problems

Please pray for Mavuno’s current situation with our pump. An accident has left it out of service. We are starting to run low on water and we need to find a way to fill up the water tanks. Please pray that we will be able to find a new pump, or we can fix our pump soon.