Godrick Kennedy Okello Adipo

Hello to our Friends and Family. 14 years ago we were at Sunday Mass and a visitor from a Kenyan Catholic Mission was a guest speaker. His empassioned homily motivated both of us to join a group called UNBOUND and we left that day with a picture of a 12 yr old boy named Godrick Kennedy Okello Adipo who we would sponsor.  


We kept this to ourselves mostly because we are taught not to boast about good works you are doing. It dilutes the charity.  With all humility we will break from that  for this cause.

We gave $35 a month to help Godrick go to school, eat, play and have a safe home in Kisumu, Kenya. Years rolled by and we shared many letters and pictures through the project. We became very connected with our far-away adopted friend. When we first met him he was a shallow faced, scared little boy. His life story is amazing and in many ways humbling to those of us who have been so blessed. His family was devastated by murder,  sickness and poverty.

Here, in his own words, is a brief description of his difficult life:

"Hello, my name is Godrick Kennedy Okello Adipo from Bondo, Kenya.  I lost my father to Malaria when my younger brother was 3 and I was 4.  He was refused care from the local hospital and passed away.  It's after the death of my father that my grandmother was murdered at home and my mother had to move with us to another place from home as she was under constant attacks. We moved to Bondo and it's after my mother's death that we had to return back home.  We were then placed into foster care and that is where I was sponsored by Bill and Fran LaFrankie.  I saw education as my only salvation from poverty with their support to work hard and to achieve my childhood dream of becoming a lawyer to defend the vulnerable... It's tough since being a lawyer is a profession left for the rich here. I believe with God's guidance and support I will manage this tough hurdle. BE BLESSED. And I thank you for your help.
All of my appreciation."
Godrick Kennedy Okello Adipo


Fast forward to today.
Godrick is 26 years old and he is going to graduate from Law School in April of 2017.  He will be traveling by bus (7-8 hours) to the capital city of Nairobi. There, he will have to have money to take and pass the Bar Exam. The money will be used to purchase all of the many needs to take and pass the Kenyan Bar. 

We want to help him make this last step towards his goal of becoming an attorney.  If each of our friends gave a few dollars we could easily send $3000.00 US dollars or 290,000 Kenyan Shillings so he can have the funding he needs to eat and live in the big city.  We sure would appreciate your help. He's a great young man who has taught us more about life and what it is all about than he will ever know.  Your help is greatly appreciated and as many of you know...I don't do things like this...but it would be so great if we can make this happen.  What a time of Thanksgiving to find a few dollars and help us help Godrick. Thanks to all of you in advance,
Bill


#GoBeyondGiving