Visit of John and Vera Packard from Vision Africa

At our evening meeting in Sibsey on July 5, 2009 we were blesed with the company of Vera and John Packard from the charity Vision Africa - Give a Child a Future.

Vera talked to us about their work in Africa using many of their wonderful personal experiences to illustrate the work. Then John brought us a message from the scriptures as to how it was the ‘Inclusive Love of Jesus’ which inspired them, took them to Kenya and sustains them in their mission there today.

Vision Africa - Give a Child a Future (abbreviated to Vision Africa) is a UK based children's charity working with orphaned and destitute children in Kenya. They support and operate schools in the Kibera slum and in other deprived areas of the country, providing food, clothing and educational resources. Their programme extends to various building projects, including building school classrooms and whole facilities, such as special needs schools and children's homes.

The Charity was conceived by Rev'd John and Vera Packard in September 2001. Vera and John served Nazarene pastorates in both Scotland and England. John also served as District Superintendent of the UK South District. Vera's profession was nursing. After 'retiring', they worked on a two-year assignment as Chief Administrators at Thomas Barnardo House orphanage in Nairobi. When they completed that assignment, it was clear to them that the need was just overwhelming. So, they then committed themselves to staying in Kenya to do whatever they could to meet these needs.

Now Field Directors of Vision Africa, they work on an entirely unpaid, voluntary basis, with the poorest and neediest children in the most dreadful conditions in the slums of Kibera and other areas of want in Kenya.

Vera brought with her a collection of jewellery, clothing and ornaments made by the young people in Kenya. Many of the children go on to start their own businesses selling the items they have made in the towns and villages. After the meeting, while we shared refreshments and conversation with each other, there was an opportunity to acquire some of the items Vera had brought with her, by means of a donation towards the work of Vision Africa.