Do you remember Rodgers? We sure do. He is one of the most beloved young men at Hope Children’s Home and he has been deep in our hearts for over 5 years. Over this time we have watched him grow and become a young man (he is now 20). He has a great heart for service and is always thankful to be part of what is going on at Hope Children’s Home. Here is a photo from December 2012 when he was helping Pastor Fred to collect fish from one of the fish ponds that were being prepared for commercial fish farming.
As he has approached adulthood there have been challenges and our partners, Fred and Alice, have dedicated their hearts to mentoring Rodgers through this difficult transition. Here you can see Rodgers and Fred working side-by-side to beautify the new dining hall.
During our visits and through letter writing with his sponsor we have encouraged Rodgers to make the best of his life. Here he is pictured with Jacquie, who has sponsored, mentored and visited Rodgers for over three years.
Despite all of our best efforts, Rodgers was not transitioning well into adulthood with the opportunities available to him at Hope Children’s Home. He was struggling to complete his secondary education to receive his high school certificate, despite his determination that this is an achievement he would like to have for his future. After much counseling, prayer, and dialog alongside Rodgers it was decided that the next best step for him into adulthood was to be reunited with his birth family.
Pastor Fred drove Rodgers to the western Kenya village of Kakamega where his mother and father have a home. It will be a new stage of life for the family to be reunited, but his father has asked to take on the burden of providing a home and encouraging Rodgers to complete his education. Light Up Hope will continue to financially support his education. In the meantime there is an open door to Rodgers to return to Light Up Hope to seek further aide for his future. Please join us in prayer for this wonderful young man, that he will find peace, feel love, and believe in his potential.
inaweza bwana akubariki! (May the Lord bless you Rodgers!)
Rodgers wrote a wonderful letter to my mother, Betty Harwell, a couple of years ago. She would be so happy to know that people are helping him with his future plans.
Anna Watson
Lake Junaluska, NC