Bob’s Story

April 18, 2025

Bob’s Story
by Sandy Schapper, Sponsor

After my first trip with Emanuel’s Mission Team to Kenya in 2011, I felt drawn to the cause of sponsoring a child to bring them a better life and to personally know their Savior.

Lorna Meeker assisted with the selection process. My recipient request was different from that of the others on the same trip; I wanted someone that would most likely be overlooked for sponsorship, possibly a teenager or older child, but someone who would greatly benefit if help were provided. My selection process was void of looking at pictures for someone with the cutest smile or brightest eyes; it was much deeper with a definite purpose and intent.

Lorna didn’t disappoint me! She proposed that I sponsor Bob. His mother had died of AIDS, his father abandoned him, and he was forced to fend for himself in the Kibera slums. Bob was only 15 years old when he was found. Lorna brought him out of the slums, and enrolled him in the Kisumu High School, since Point of Grace was in its infancy and the Primary School wasn’t yet built. Lorna was able to reconnect him with his paternal grandma, who was his stronghold and rock during these difficult years, and provided a meager monthly stipend of $1,000 Ks ($10 USD) for their sustenance in a nearby village. Not only did Bob graduate from high school, but he also continued his education by attending a local college to study Surveying, where he earned his diploma.

Bob worked for a short time as a surveyor of the Kenya highways as an apprentice. Currently he is partnered with a friend selling clothing in a small city near Kisumu. The clothing he sells is second-hand that was originally imported from another country and sold in bales. Most likely, these clothes came from the US and shipped overseas as a humanitarian effort; this is how the local markets obtain their supplies. Bob has aspirations of getting back into the surveying line of work, but the necessary equipment is very expensive to buy for operating his own surveying company. Landing a surveying job is very political and difficult to break the barrier.

Bob is currently 29 years old. He graduated from High School in 2012 and college in 2016. He is unmarried (without any children) and living in a one-room apartment. His rent is $5,000 Ks per month. He is attending church regularly in his community. He and I communicate frequently using Facebook/Messenger. He had some rough bouts with alcohol abuse after his grandmother passed in 2023, but is back on his feet again and has been dry since July 2024. He is a pleasure to be around as he is optimistic of his future and has a sweet demeanor.

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