Last week I arrived in Arusha, Tanzania and began working at an orphanage called "Aston's Vision Orphanage."  Just over the last week the people that I have met at this orphanage have become a huge and unforgetttable part of my life.  

The founder of this orphanage is Aston Simon who was born 33 years ago into a Maasai tribe family. Aston was the eldest child of the first wife of his father, who ended up having six different wives and many children.  Ason had a very rough childhood, his father was an alcoholic who would come home and beat him, angry with him that he wanted to go to school instead of tend to the tribes cattle. 

Aston finally had enough of this life and as a young boy decided to run away to the city of Arusha. While he was living on the streets a soldier took him in and welcomed him into his own family, giving him a home and an education. At the age of 23, Aston left the soldier's family and went to  work in the mines. In the mines he learned english and met a Christian pastor who converted him to christianity. The church that  Aston attended ended up sending him to university.

8 years ago Aston bought a plot of land in the village Ambreni Moivaro. He built himslef and his parents a house on his 5 hectares and ended up becoming chairman of the village.  During one of Astons 30 minute walks to collect springwater he found a box laying on the ground, it had a baby inside. Aston took the baby to the neighbors and people of the village but no one would claim her or take her in. Aston decided to take care of the child himself and has since taken on close to 50 other children. 

The orphanage is extremely poor, with only one classroom and not enough school supplies to go around. There isn't nearly enough classroom space to provide an effective learning environment for the children.  It will cost approximately $5500 to build an entirely new classroom building and sponsor a teacher for an entire year.  I know that this is a lofty goal but even if we fall short of the new classroom these kids can use all of the help they can get. $200 can buy them enough pencils and notebooks to last several months. $500 can sponser a child for an entire year. $1500 can feed the entire orphanage for several months. 

Thank you!