Vicki: the strongest woman i know

Vicki is one of the most incredible people you will ever meet. Seriously.

She’s been a long-time family friend that we met through a Kenyan pastor that visits the U.S. every few years to help fund his mission work there. Vicki has continued to come visit the U.S. every year to help raise funds for her mission work in Kakamega, Kenya– Victorious Children’s Home- an orphanage that she started many years ago. The orphanage has grown and grown as God continues to supply resources for these children. Now, there are 50+ children- some of which she’s raised from their childhood and is now being able to help fund to go to college and learn a trade to become self-sufficient and a vital part of their community.

This amazing woman has been through so much- famine, seeing her children die of HIV and malaria, having to say no to accepting more children b/c of lack of resources, seeking out street children to visit them and bring them food, her orphanage being invaded by a mob to steal food with the intent to rape had God not intervened,…and I’m sure much much more that I haven’t heard.

When Vicki came to visit churches this summer, she stayed with my parents. Andy and I love hanging out with Vicki- such a kind-hearted, warm, and faitful spirit. And I find it so amazing that someone coming from such hardships has the grace in their heart to not be angry or bitter at how unfair this world is. Somehow she looks past our ‘American values’ of caring about our renovated houses, the latest fashion, our retirement, feasts at every meal…and she loves us for who we are…and I mean really loves you. So when my mom said she was visiting, I just knew I had to capture Vicki on film- create portraits that showed Vicki as I see her. I hope these do her some justice to her beauty inside and out. 🙂

Sidenote- we were quite a show in the countryside of Millstadt! We drove out a little ways and I saw this field and told Andy to stop there at the side of the road. When we got out, we were greated by two excited dogs and several children pouring out of a nearby small house. I guess this was quite exciting to have visitors! It became a production- mom yelling at kids to back off and get off of the road, kids chasing dogs, one dog peed on my leg, the dad getting off the lawn mower to see what the commotion was about…hilarious. Then the dad asked where Vicki is from- she said Kenya, and he said “yeah…ain’t that in South Americuh or somethin’?”

Here’s a little excerpt I found online from Jennifer who visited Vicki in Africa. I think her words help describe just how amazing Vicki is:

“You know how sometimes a friend can just make you feel inadequate? Not on purpose, at least not if they are a real friend, but just because, well they do something so much better than you. Well I have a friend named Vicki who makes me feel that way, but at the same time she makes me feel all warm and fuzzy too. I don’t think you could ever meet a person like her and forget about it. She is all smiles and kind words. She is all patience and kindness. She is one of the best examples of Christ-likeness that I have ever experienced. Of course I saw a lot of God when I went to Kenya which is where I met Vicki. Did I tell you that she has 51 kids?
Therein lies the inadequate part, I have five and I feel like there are days I barely hang on. Lots of her kids are pre-teens and teenagers, and I have trouble with my three.
Vicki runs an orphanage, or more a home, in Kakamega, Kenya called Victorious Children’s Home. I hesitate to call it an orphanage because they are really a big family. And while Vicki will kindly tell you that she knows her kids could have better, I am not sure what they would do without her. To top it off, Vicki won a goat for being mother of the year!! Yeah there are lots of days I certainly do NOT feel like mother of the year!
I don’t want to tell Vicki’s story for her, but let me just tell you how she started her “home”.
It started out with a simple call from God and a heart for kids. She would spend what money she had giving the street kids in Kakamega soda and bread on special days like Christmas and Easter. One Christmas she asked a nine year old boy if he could have anything in the world for Christmas what would it be? He said a bath with soap. I don’t care who you are, you have to drop your jaw over that. Tell me any child you know would give that answer. She knew she had to provide more for them and now she does for 51 of the hundreds of kids who live on the streets. She still does what she can for the kids who don’t actually live in her home. Needless to say, I will be packing as many little bars of soap as I can in my suitcase.
I tell you this story, not to make you feel inadequate, but to just point out, that on your worst day, some have it worse….and on your best day, some are doing better than you”


Here are the faces of the lives she has touched and the work that’s being done at Victorious Children’s Home

If you want to contribute to the amazing work Vicki is doing for these children and help her bring in more children off the street, please send a check to the address below:
Victorious Children’s Home
19772 Wabash 18 Ave.
Allendale, IL 62410