AT HOME WITH THE RICHARDSONS

By Embukane Vincent Libosso

TRINITYSTARFAMILY@GMAIL.COM

D

eep in  Thika town’s Bulleys Estate; I walk into the home of Dave and Katie Richardson. On entering, I am welcomed by a jovial Dave- a missionary from the U.S.A.

Katie is deep in slumber land after the previous day jetting in from Egypt where she had visited her sister; who also happens to be a missionary there.

Both Dave and Katie’s persona is undoubtedly reflected in their choice of décor and what is around their estate compound. Dave is busy building the rain-gutters to store more water harvested I the rainy season. Sam; who is also part of the family; is busy building a dresser; his first, for the younger boys, out of recycled wood.

Her lounge walls are dark red and some colour I can’t comprehend. Being a musical family- Dave’s Band guitar and other instruments lay on the lounge.

On one side are caged “love birds” that Dave got for Katie as presents. Their insatiable appetite for all things arty and African is evident with her wall art paintings. There is also an exquisite drum and an African instrument on the fire place.

The lounge is quite a show-piece  Their green recycled sofa-cases match the room’s colour  The kids are busy home-schooling at this time; even as Will; the youngest steals me for  a sec to draw on his drawing book.

Outside; with their hearts completely sold to Kenya; they have built an amazing barn and play area for the kids; to be just kids from once.

Dave cracks a joke; “my dogs are racists. They don’t like Africans!” even as the dogs continue to loudly bark at me.

Both Dave and Katie are budding photographers, but also recently, they began a pizza-delivery business in Thika; from the back of their kitchen; making it the first and one of its kind. It is slowly picking up!

For them; the best way to spend a weekend at home is entertaining close friends, neighbors and strangers alike, and sharing in love, their faith and love for God; the abandoned kids and Africa.

Check out their website: WWW.HHMV.ORG or email them: HHMVKENYAINFO@HHMV.ORG

Pictures courtesy of: Katie and Dave Richardson.