day 8 ❤️ thursday

first view and last view of the day

now, picture stephen and i leaning against this stack of mattresses and having a conversation. it is late june 2025. 

i had met him briefly in june 2024 on trip 1 and got to know him somewhat better on quick trip 2 in march 2025. 

it was in march that i committed to putting in a well in his village after seeing the (thirsty... or i thought he was 🫣) goat. 

early june on trip 3, God gave a vision of a community center there too.

late june 2025, standing right there on lydia and i's last day in kisii, stephen said, "mom, i want to give you an acre of land in my village and build you a home there."

(if you want to fully appreciate the speed of the miracle of the last year, go back and read the posts dated november 9, 2025 and march 12, 2026).

exactly one year from that offer and eight months from establishing the centerstone for my homabay home 🩷, booyah!!!

thursday was AMAZING! and HUMBLING! and BREATHTAKINGLY PERFECT!!! i honestly cannot believe this is happening 🥹

photos!!!

baby chicks came inside which was so fittingly sweet for me. babies!!!

and now community center photos!!! so much will happen in the next two weeks, please please make sure to keep reading this blog until july 11 😁

this is future coffee shop! meet george the carpenter. he will be building the work areas, shelving, and island out of cypress wood for both the coffee shop and library. whatcha looking at, sweet bella?!

and a library that will blow you away ☺️, 

you just wait!

this is the main section of the community center. so many activities will happen here. 

in addition to the community center and my home, there is a small building at the front which has the well operations, an office, and a living quarters for the live-in property caretaker. in the back of the property is a public restroom. and a chicken 🐔 coop. meet employee #1 -- stephen #2 ☺️. poor kid was so nervous communicating his hard work and high moral standards to me. plus i am white 🙂

and a picture from the same spot where i have twice taken photos using lipstick to draw a ❤️ on my bedroom wall. esther threatened me if i used it to mark on my freshly painted bedroom wall 😜

i am really thankful that God worked in the way He did. i wanted so badly this trip to bring a team both here and to kisii. but it isn't time yet, and He knew that. this month will be primarily doing all the legwork to finish construction and become operational by august. 

this is all so unbelievable. so much done, and so much to do 😌

and esther's face says it all about how stinking cold the pool is at the hotel. she did it though 👏