Day of Discovery: From Greenhouses to Heartfelt Connections

Written by: 
Jorgen and Ida Roos

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We arrived at 4:00 am, settled in, and by 5:00 am, most of us were already catching up on sleep. After a good 7:30 am breakfast at the Argyle Hotel, we jumped on a bus for a 40-minute ride to a greenhouse connection through our Dad (Arnold DeVry). The scenery was a lush mix of greenery and striking red soil, a sharp contrast to the busy city we’d just left behind. As we passed roadside markets and makeshift homes, the poverty was hard to ignore—it really put things into perspective.

From 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, we took a detour from our main mission and visited Lathyflora , a supplier to DeVry Greenhouses. It wasn’t directly related to our mission, but we got a fascinating tour and learned a lot about a crazy amount of plant varieties. After a Subway lunch, we hopped back on the bus to pick up KFC and sodas for the kids at Shiphrah Children’s Home.
Then, the bus decided it wasn’t in the mood to start. A few rocks used as tools and some sparks later, we were back on the road, heading to the centre. When we arrived, we were struck by how humble the conditions were at Shiphrah Children’s Home. Ava, Martha’s oldest daughter, shared how much things had improved over the last 10 years, but it was still a tough reality.

The kids greeted us with wide eyes and a sweet welcome song. After serving them KFC and sodas, we toured the orphanage, seeing everything from the girls’ new dorms to the tiny kitchen and laundry-strewn rooftop. Martha, the founder, shared her deeply emotional story through Ava. Despite all the hardships she’s faced, her unwavering faith in God has kept Shiphrah Children’s Home running.

At 3:45 pm, we took the kids on a safari adventure at Nairobi National Park and you could feel their excitement as we walked past lions, tigers, baboons, and more. The Polaroid camera Pauline brought was a huge hit—seeing the kids proudly show off their photos was priceless. Sadly, it was time to say goodbye, but not before giving the kids some rock candies as a sweet send-off.

By 6:30 pm, we were back at the hotel, tired but full of memories. We are off to a late dinner and most likely a few of us will call it an early night as tomorrow’s 9:00 am flight to Seja is just around the corner. It’s been a day packed with new experiences, meaningful connections, and moments we’ll carry with us forever!

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