THOUSANDS of children throughout Kenya were left orphans when their parents died of AIDS, leaving them to either live with struggling relatives or on the streets.
In an attempt to give some of these orphans a better life many ministers, including Christian minister John Cairns of Berwick, from various denominations got together to raise funds for the Siritanyi Children's Home in the Western Province of Kenya.
But the home in Bungoma village can only take about 25 children and another wing is desperately needed to take in many more orphans in and around the area.
"And tragically, by the time we manage to fulfil our dream of building another wing to accommodate those children waiting, there'll be more," Mr Cairns says.
One of the youngest children to be bought into the home two years ago was a one-week-old abandoned baby.
"We were told of this baby when we were there on one of our visits," Mr Cairns says.
"Baby Timothy was eight days old and left in a sugarcane field. We think the mum was about 15, but are not sure what happened to her.
"There are many teenage mums in Kenya and they are orphans themselves."
Timothy was legally adopted by the Siritanyi Children's Home and is now a healthy and happy twoyearold.
Many children at the Bungoma home are orphans because their parents have died of AIDS, Mr Cairns says.
"Kenya is rife with AIDS, and the Western province has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS infection and also the most infected water within Kenya."
Adding to a dire situation was last December's nationwide riots after national elections when Mwai Kibaki won the presidency over Opposition leader Raila Odinga.
The election was widely reported as rigged.
In recent weeks there has been hope of the civil unrest easing after President Kibaki and Mr Odinga signed a power-sharing agreement in an attempt to restore peace to the country.
Mr Cairns says although it seems Kenya's problems overall are insurmountable, he believes his ministry can still help ease some suffering.
He and his son Simon will be flying to Kenya today for two weeks to continue their efforts with the orphanage and speak at an annual minister's conference in Khulwanda, near Bungoma.
John and Simon will meet with hundreds of ministers and leaders from the Alliance International Ministers to build connections to help fund their missions.
"We desperately want to build another wing at the home," John says.
"We had just begun to put away small amounts from our fund-raising efforts and then the riots broke out - then we put it all into emergency needs for those who had been displaced."
Now John hopes to concentrate primarily on the children's home again.
The End Time Harvest Church in Kenya also directly supports the home.
The Kenyan church is connected with about 70 others, and is led by Bishop Fredrick Ogara, who in turn is closely linked with John Cairns Ministries and AIM.
When it comes to money raised by any of the AIM churches every dollar donated is accounted for, John says.
"Every pastor and leader attending conferences raises there own airfare and all money collected for the Children's home is accounted for.
"As part of an incorporated association there is a legal requirement to hand in accounts to the government."
Some of the items bought have been pushbikes for pastors, goats and dairy cows to help villagers become self-sufficient, supplies for the children at Siritanyi, firewood, clean water and medication for HIV orphans.
But, Mr Cairns is quick to add, the idea behind any project is to make the recipients self-sufficient.
"We understand people have to be able to make their own living. It's no good just feeding a child for two weeks and that's it."
He says he takes every opportunity to "unashamedly ask for help for projects from businesses and community leaders" at these gatherings.
"We have to help those less fortunate."
If anyone would like to support Siritanyi Children's Home mission, or any other relief effort being undertaken by John Cairns Ministries, email admin@johncairns.org or visit www.johncairns.org
Donations can be banked into the Westpac Bank, Berwick. Account Name of John Cairns Ministries Missions, Account 033609269158.
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