Greetings from the heart of Kisumu, Kenya! My name is Natalia, and I serve with Mission Assistance in the slum of Dunga. Sending you warm blessings straight from the Equator!

I want to express my deepest gratitude for your financial support. Because of you, we can continue the incredible Happy Time project here in Kenya alongside our Mission Assistance team. This time, as we often do, we visited a special needs orphanage, and it was an unforgettable experience!

We organized a joyful program filled with games, crafts, and exciting competitions for those who could run and play. At the same time, we spent precious moments with children who are unable to move or have difficulty understanding the world around them. Beyond the activities, we also helped clean the area and simply spent time with the children, showing them love and care.

One of the most touching moments was with the older residents of the orphanage. While many teams focus on the little children, there are also adults—some as old as 40—who, due to their conditions, have the minds of young children. What they need most is not just food or medicine but love. Someone to sit beside them, sing a song, hold their hand, or simply give them a warm hug. One man, in particular, loves music. Every time we visit, he calls me over so we can “create” melodies together. These are the moments that stay in their hearts forever.

Another significant part of our visit was an evening gathering with older children who understand English. We are teaching them how to read the Bible, pray, and place their hope in God. This time, I shared how faith grows like a muscle—we need to “exercise” it through knowing God, listening to His voice, and spending personal time with Him.

One thing that stood out during this visit was how the children take care of each other. Despite having staff members, many of the children step in to help—carrying younger ones who cannot walk, feeding them, washing their faces, dressing them, and even changing their diapers. It’s truly humbling to witness their kindness despite their own struggles. At the same time, it reveals how much support they still need.

I am so thankful that we can visit this orphanage, bring joy, share the Happy Time program, teach them about God, pray for them, and show them the love of Jesus. We believe that God is touching their hearts. One of the older boys told us, “I still remember the song you sang under the tree during morning prayer. It really touched me.” That was such a powerful confirmation that we are doing exactly what we are called to do—bringing the light of Jesus Christ.

During this visit, we also performed a puppet show on a biblical theme, held a Bible lesson with visual storytelling and crafts to reinforce the message, and prayed that their hearts would be open to God’s word. At the end of the program, each child received a sweet gift 🎁.

Thank you, dear friends, for your continued financial support of Happy Time! Because of you, we can keep visiting these schools and orphanages, bringing the hope and love of Christ to those who need it most. May God bless you abundantly!