{"id":693,"date":"2014-07-09T18:48:03","date_gmt":"2014-07-09T18:48:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maishaproject.org\/christmas\/?p=693"},"modified":"2018-03-05T18:49:24","modified_gmt":"2018-03-05T18:49:24","slug":"big-news-live-from-kenya-special-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maishaproject.org\/christmas\/big-news-live-from-kenya-special-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"BIG NEWS… LIVE from Kenya– SPECIAL Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"
WE HAVE SOME BIG NEWS…..<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the afternoon, a sweet new sound fills up the Maisha Center, the music of the Light the Future Choir.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0Maisha\u2019s annual gala, Light the Future, will be held October 18th<\/sup>.\u00a0 It is gearing up to be our best event yet.\u00a0 To top last year, we have an idea that will be a game changer in the history of Maisha events. Drum roll\u2026BRING MAISHA KIDS TO THE USA!\u00a0 That\u2019s right; we are hoping to bring 15 kids and 6 chaperones from Kisumu, Kenya all the way to Oklahoma to perform at the gala and local churches throughout the month of October. You\u2019ll be amazed as they share their Luo culture through traditional and modern song and dance. They\u2019ll also participate in cross-cultural activities with our partner schools and their pen pal friends.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

As you can imagine, there are over 600 kids that step into Maisha every day, so picking only 15 was not easy.\u00a0 Naturally, all of them wanted to go, so we held our own \u201cMaisha Idol\u201d to narrow down the competition.\u00a0 After a whole week of auditions we chose the finalists based on talent and merit.\u00a0 Each student had to be more than just a talented singer. We required: 1) Good attendance and grades at school 2) A respectful and obedient attitude 3) Permission from their schools to take a small vacation and 4) Good attendance at choir practices.<\/p>\n

While we prepare the students, there are still many steps to be taken to allow them to make the trip.\u00a0 The first one being acquiring passports and visas for everyone, (and if you have had any experience with trying to get those, you will know it\u2019s not easy!)\u00a0 So please begin to pray that we will have no trouble getting those.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The second step is one that requires your assistance.\u00a0 All 21 people coming to the US must be funded. $2,500 is the amount needed per traveler for plane tickets, shots, documents, and all other expenses.\u00a0\u00a0If you are interested in helping fundraise via a microsite webpage or in getting more information on how to help, please contact Jennifer Whitener at jennifer@maishaproject.org.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

As we begin to fundraise and prepare for the trip, I have had the joy of sitting down with all members of the choir and some of the chaperones to learn a little bit about them.\u00a0 I would like to introduce for the first time our fabulous Maisha Light the Future Choir! *Please note, list of members is liable to change at any moment for various reasons*<\/p>\n


\nfrom left to right, top row: Erick, Alice, Linda, Maisha Founder Beatrice Williamson, Felix, David, Collins, John, Evans
\nbottom row: Rose, Diana S., Emily, Norren, Diana O., Sharlyne, Vivian, Ann, Terezer, Faith\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n

Alice Akinyi Wanjira ***<\/b>
\nAge: 16
\nClass: 10
\nSchool: St. Alloys Mayenya
\nBio: Alice loves working with kids.\u00a0 In her free time she enjoys singing and dancing.\u00a0 She is great with kids and hopes to be a teacher someday.<\/p>\n


\nAnn Akinyi Otita<\/b>
\nAge: 10
\nClass: 4
\nSchool: Maisha Academy
\nBio: Ann enjoys playing netball and football in her free time. She also likes the colors red and purple. She has a dog named Hashili. She cannot wait to drive and fly to get there. She has never done that before!<\/p>\n


\n<\/b>Collins Ouma Omondi
\n<\/b>Age: 14
\nClass: 7
\nSchool: Omungi Primary School
\nBio:\u00a0 Collins likes to play football in his free time. He wants to be a pilot when he grows up. His favorite color is orange.\u00a0 When he goes to America he wants to meet a lot of American friends.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(David) Alaton Tunya Odhiambo
\n<\/b>Age: 13
\nClass: 6
\nSchool: Mayenya Primary School
\nBio: David likes to do funny things, like make jokes in class or make funny faces.\u00a0 He really enjoys running around his village.\u00a0 His favorite color is green.\u00a0 He thinks it will be \u201cSo cool\u201d to be out of Kenya.\u00a0 He\u2019s looking forward to going to the US to see things that he has never seen.\u00a0 Plus he\u2019s really excited to see his sponsor Cody.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Diana Amondi Odiwuor
\n<\/b>Age: 10
\nClass: 4
\nSchool: Maisha Academy
\nBio: When Diana grows up she aspires to be a journalist.\u00a0 She likes to play volleyball in her free time. Her favorite colors are red and purple. Her favorite animal is a cat. She has one brother and one sister.\u00a0 When she gets to America she wants to greet those who are there.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Diana Amondi Sammy
\n<\/b>Age: 10
\nClass: 4
\nSchool: Maisha Academy
\nBio: Diana loves to sing in her free time.\u00a0 She loves sharing her gift of music with all of her friends.\u00a0 Diana is ready to go to America to share her gift with the world.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Emily Atieno Nyumba
\n<\/b>Age: 9
\nClass: 4
\nSchool: Maisha Academy
\nBio: When she has time to herself, Emily likes to play netball. She likes the colors green and purple. When she grows up she wants to be a lawyer. She has two sisters. She will meet American friends when she gets to America and also visit her Maisha friends.<\/p>\n


\nErick Onyango Okumu ***
\n<\/b>Age: 21
\nClass: 11
\nSchool: Dr. Aloo Gumbi
\nBio: Erick likes to read books when he has free time.\u00a0 He also really enjoys reading his bible.\u00a0 He is so thankful to be part of the choir because he enjoys singing songs.\u00a0 He wants to go to America to share the gospel in the form of a song.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Evans Otieno Owango ***
\n<\/b>Age: 17
\nClass: 11
\nSchool: Otieno Oyoo Boys High School
\nBio: Evans loves all sorts of science, chemistry, and physics classes.\u00a0 He finds martial arts very interesting.\u00a0 His favorite color is blue.\u00a0 He knows that he has a talent for singing so he\u2019s very thankful for the opportunity to sing in the choir.\u00a0 He\u2019s excited to see all of his friends that have visited him at Maisha.\u00a0 He\u2019s also interested to contrast the environment of Oklahoma to Kenya.\u00a0 He hopes to learn lots of new things while he is there.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Faith Atieno Onyango
\n<\/b>Age: 9
\nClass: 3
\nSchool: Maisha Academy
\nBio: Faith enjoys reading storybooks at home.\u00a0 She loves cats and the color pink. She likes singing in the choir here at Maisha. She wants to play football in America when she gets there.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Felix Odiwuor Agolla
\n<\/b>Age: 14
\nClass: 7
\nSchool: Omungi Primary
\nBio: Felix likes to do homework when he is home and when he is outside he likes to play football. He likes dogs. He also wants to meet new friends when he gets to the USA. He says he just loves being in the choir.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n


\nJohn Onyango Okal
\n<\/b>Age: 14
\nClass: 6
\nSchool: Omungi Primary School
\nBio: John likes being in the choir because he likes to sing and to drum. When he has free time he likes to play and to cook. He has one sister and he lives at Maisha. When John grows up he wants to be an Engineer. His favorite color is yellow.\u00a0 He wants to teach people in America African drumming. He is also looking forward to flying on an airplane and eating American food when he gets there.<\/p>\n

Linda Awuor Wanjira ***
\n<\/b>Age: 16
\nClass: 11
\nSchool: Migingo Girls
\nBio: Linda loves to sing, dance, and tell jokes.\u00a0 Her favorite color is pink.\u00a0 She loves to play soccer and study math and English.\u00a0 She is excited to be in the choir and get exposure to a country other than her own.\u00a0 She is also very excited to get the opportunity to share her passion and talent of singing with many new people.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Norren Anyango
\n<\/b>Age: 14
\nClass: 6
\nSchool: Omungi Primary School
\nBio: Norren enjoys washing clothes and playing football. Her favorite colors are red and green. She would like to be a teacher when she grows up. She wants to meet friends in America and be very happy there.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Patrick Omondi Ogutu ***\u00a0<\/b>(Not Pictured)
\nAge: 19
\nClass: 11
\nSchool: Maliera Boys
\nBio: Patrick is very excited to be one of the leaders of this choir.\u00a0 His favorite color is blue.\u00a0 He likes to play soccer and to watch movies.\u00a0 His favorite movie is \u2018The Legend.\u2019\u00a0 He\u2019s very proud to be in the choir and he\u2019s very thankful for this opportunity.\u00a0 He hopes their performance will be a thank you to all the hard work we have done for them.\u00a0 Also he\u2019s excited to see all his friends in their homeland, since they have been coming to see him in Kisumu for so long.\u00a0 He is very interested about American culture verses Kenyan culture, and to tell all his new friends he will make about Maisha.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rose Achieng Amollo
\n<\/b>Age: 12
\nClass: 4
\nSchool: Maisha Academy
\nBio: Rose likes to play football, washing clothes and cooking. Her favorite animals are cats and dogs. She also likes to read storybooks. She is very excited to fly on an airplane to get to America and enjoys the choir immensely.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Sharlyne Margarett Awuor
\n<\/b>Age: 11
\nClass: 5
\nSchool: Mayenya Primary School
\nBio: Sharlyne likes to read storybooks in her freetime. She would like to be a surgeon when she grows up. Her favorite animal is a cat. She is so excited to see a movie when she gets to America.<\/p>\n

Terezer Akinyi Ouma
\n<\/b>Age: 9
\nClass: 3
\nSchool: Maisha Academy
\nBio:\u00a0 Trezer likes to read.\u00a0 When she has free time, she enjoys playing with her friends.\u00a0 After attending university, she hopes to become a nurse.\u00a0 She is very ready to get to the US and try a lot of new foods that she has never had.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Vivian Achieng Odhiambo
\n<\/b>Age: 8-9
\nClass: 1
\nSchool: Maisha Academy
\nBio: Vivian likes to read her bible in her free time.\u00a0 Her favorite color is red.\u00a0 She is very excited to be in the choir and to travel to America.\u00a0 She is most excited about riding on a plane for the first time. She can\u2019t wait to tell her classmates about all her adventures she has while she is away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Teacher Caroline ***\u00a0<\/b>(Not Pictured)
\nChoir Director ***<\/b>\u00a0(Not Pictured)\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

*** Stars indicate older choir member chaperones<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

As well as preforming for the Gala, Maisha’s Light the Future Choir would be happy to visit YOUR church or school to share about Maisha and put on an amazing show. \u00a0Please note, Maisha’s Light the Future Choir will have a short amount of time in the US, so times will fill up fast!\u00a0For more information about having Maisha’s Light the Future Choir at YOUR\u00a0school or church, please contact me, Lauren Hatfield at lauren@maishaproject.org. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thank you all in advance for the support! Please continue to pray as we embark on this journey. \u00a0We would appreciate if you shared this post, to spread the word about this exciting news. \u00a0See you soon!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WE HAVE SOME BIG NEWS…..   In the afternoon, a sweet new sound fills up the Maisha Center, the music of the Light the Future Choir. \u00a0Maisha\u2019s annual gala, Light the Future, will be held October 18th.\u00a0 It is gearing up to be our best event yet.\u00a0 To top last year, we have an idea […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-693","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/maishaproject.org\/christmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/693","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/maishaproject.org\/christmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/maishaproject.org\/christmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maishaproject.org\/christmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maishaproject.org\/christmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=693"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/maishaproject.org\/christmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/693\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/maishaproject.org\/christmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=693"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maishaproject.org\/christmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=693"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maishaproject.org\/christmas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}