04/09/2026
Sharing the latest newsletter from the AGC Baby Centre. CovMissions is deeply honored to have contributed to the creation of the new special needs home - Khisa Haven. Come with us October 1-15, 2026 to visit the AGC Baby Centre and Khisa Haven! We are certain that a piece of your heart will remain in Kenya even after this mission trip ends. Email [email protected] for more information.
The Beauty of Going Home
The first day the children arrived at the AGC Baby Centre, there were questions in their eyes. Uncertainty. Adjustment. A quiet courage as they learned new faces, routines, and rhythms of life. We held their hands as they learned to belong. But the day they went home…felt different. It was not loud or dramatic. It wasn’t filled with the same kind of anticipation as that first arrival. It was softer, deeper, and fuller. Many times, they had watched other children stand in that same space as we sang them goodbye songs. They clapped, smiled, waved, and each time they listened carefully, storing the melody in their hearts, wondering when their turn would come.
Their day had finally arrived, and it was time for their going home party. As they proceeded to the hall, there was a song on their lips that could not have been more true. Haijawa rahisi kufika hapa. (It has not been easy to get where I am.) Ni mkono wa Mungu umenibeba. (It is the hand of God that has carried me.) Ready to welcome them were the staff, holding “bling bling” (garlands) to adorn their necks as a sign of honor and usher them into the celebration. In true Baby Centre fashion, we shared stories, a special meal, and prayer. As each child was handed over to the house parents Richard and Sarah, there were tears, but they were the kind that come from witnessing God’s goodness. The celebration ended with the song our children had heard many times before, symbolizing that their time to go home had come.
The children entered the car, and as we drove down the road, there was excited chatter and laughter as we pulled up to the gate. The parents were there to welcome them home with open arms.
As we entered the home with the children, they spoke about mom and dad with wide eyes and unstoppable excitement. Over the span of 24 hours, the words mom and dad would be spoken what felt like a million times. The children wanted to be near them so much that a three-seater couch would end up with eight people on it, and others would be trying to find a space. They just wanted to share every moment with them. They had the kind of joy that you want to store in a jar and keep it for the rest of your life.
Life at home is different. They have a front-row seat to what goes on in a home. For example, food being cooked in the kitchen from start to finish. They are able to imagine themselves in the kitchen helping to prepare food as they make unforgettable memories.
The day of going home was not just a transition of address; it was the fulfillment of quiet prayers. It was dignity restored in the simplest of ways. It was watching children walk – in their own, beautiful, unique way – into family life. Their excitement reminded us of something profound: home is not about grandeur. It is about presence, being seen, warmth, security, and belonging.
It has been a few months since the children moved home. It has been fun watching how being at home has affected them and all of the new experiences they are having. Manu loves being in the kitchen, helping cook, while wearing a hairnet and an apron like a chef. On Sunday afternoons, they have a little picnic time outside for tea and snacks. In the evenings, they all sit together while Mom or Dad tells a Bible story, and then the children share memory verses, sing songs, and pray together before going to bed. They love being tucked in at night, though they often ask questions or ask for water, so they can spend more time with those caring for them. The children are looking out for and caring for one another even more so than before. You can tell the children cherish every special moment they share with their Mom and Dad and each other. The bond between everyone continues to grow stronger, and it is a beautiful thing to witness.
Update from House Parents Richard and Sarah
“Since it was the children’s desire to go home, it took them some few days to adjust to the new environment. As parents at the home, God has given us too the grace to adjust to the new home and to be able to bond with the children. We have noticed that the children are happy to have Mum and Dad at their new home. This sense of having parents seem to be starting to show in the ways respond to issues of daily living. Whenever they have questions or facing any problems, they run to us for answers and solutions. As parents we’re happy to see this positive change.”
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21
Prayer Requests
We are so grateful for your partnership in prayer. Here are a few requests for the children and ministry:
Praise for the successful transition of the children to Khisa Haven.
Praise for Sella’s complete recovery after being unwell.
Pray for the children and staff to have good health.
Praise for the love that is evident in the home.
