John Stanko

I have two updates from my recent visit to the Each One Touch One Orphanage in Kenya. The first is of the children singing me a song.  The words can be a bit hard to understand, so here they are:

"Be welcome, be welcome our visitors (2x).
Our faces are bright when we come to you now (2x).
We wish you, our visitors, a very happy day (2x).
Visitors, visitors, don't forget our troubles (2x)"

The second video is of Alice Kwendo, thanking Margaret Oketch, our contact in Kenya, for her help through The Sophia Fund to feed the children.  Thanks to you, we are able to provide $250 per month for the children there and other funds to help other orphanages.

Effective immediately, I am launching a Christmas promotion to begin what I am calling The Deborah Foundation that will help establish learning centers at this orphanage and two others in Kenya -- those two being in Tenwek and Bushianala-Shisende.  These learning centers will have one purpose:  Instill a love for books and learning in the minds of these young orphans. 

So what can you do to help?  You can do a lot.

When you do your Christmas shopping this year, I am asking that you buy an educational toy or book for the kids in Kenya, ages 8 and under.  I am asking that you be creative, so don't be limited by my list below, but here are some ideas of what you can send to me and we will figure out how to get it over to the Kenya in February on my next trip (no baby dolls, please):

• Balls - soccer or small rubber
• Wall hangings of any kind that will decorate or educate
• Games
• Puzzles
• Kid's books of any kind (in English)
• Children's Bibles
• Shoes of any size, boys or girls
• Jump ropes
• Bubbles
• Pencils
• Crayons
• Coloring books
• Pens
• Chalk, white or colored

And do you know what else they asked me for, and I'm not even sure they make them any more?  The founders asked me for an abacus to help teach the children how to count!  You can send used toys and books but please don't send junk!

Of course, we will also need cash for The Deborah Foundation and ongoing monies for The Sophia Fund to feed the children and widows.  You can give to PurposeQuest either through my website via PayPal or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA  15221. Just let me know to which of the two projects, Sophia or Deborah, you are giving and I will make sure it is used for that purpose. You can send all donations of toys and books to my attention at 12 Morningtide Court, Monroeville, PA 15146, USA.

Kenya needs our help now more than ever and the orphan problem isn't getting any easier with the impending famine and drought.  Please remember the orphans and widows this Christmas and write me if you have any suggestions or questions. I thank you in advance for your help. 

You can see more pictures of my recent visit here.