About us

Love Abides is a MN nonprofit charitable organization, tax exempt under section 501(c)(3), formed for the purpose of seeking out and providing sponsors for the deaf children at Kakuswi Special School for the Deaf in Tawa, Kenya. Our board of directors is made up of people who have a love for these children and their country. Most of us have visited the school on several occasions and have built relationships with the children. It is our goal to find sponsors for every child at Kakuswi.
We have a close relationship with Timothy Mukilya, headmaster of the school, as well as our good friend, Sarah Kikuvi, who serves on the Board of Management at the school. These relationships ensure that the sponsorship funds will be used for the intended purpose of benefiting the children. If at anytime you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at: LoveAbides1313@gmail.com

Love Abides Board of Directors

Nikki’s first trip to Kenya was to Kakuswi Special School for the Deaf in 2014. She went by herself not knowing anyone.  She loves the students and the environment of Tawa, Kenya. She went back for two more trips in 2016 and 2018. Because of the Caronavirus pandemic, her 2020 trip was canceled but she was able to complete the trip in June, 2022. Nikki has a heart for Kenya and their people. The students are so joyful and loving. They also take care of each other like family. 

Marsha Carlson first visited the Kakuswi Special School for the Deaf in the summer of 2014, at the urging of her sister-in-law, Carol. She was impressed with the joyful atmosphere of the school and its community, in spite of pronounced poverty. She later was part of groups that helped in 2016 and 2018; the last trip, in 2018, she was joined by several additional family members.

Carol always had a dream to go to Africa…she traveled to Kenya for the first time in 2014 on a mission trip with her sister-in-law, Marsha.  That was the first time she visited the Kakuswi Special School for the Deaf where she immediately fell in love with the children and their joyful spirits.  Excited to go back, she returned to Kenya in 2016 and 2018, serving with others on construction at Kakuswi.  With a heart for the children and feeling led to do more for the school, Carol established Love Abides to help provide ongoing financial assistance to the students. She most recently visited Kenya in June, 2022 on a mission trip that was delayed for 2 years because of the pandemic. She and the Love Abides team are beginning to make plans for a 2024 trip.

Alan traveled to Kakuswi for the first time in 2016 and again in 2018.  His daughter has also been to Kenya in 2016.  Alan saw the needs of the children and the good work being done through Timothy and the school at Kakuswi.  There is just something about Kenya that steals part of your heart and never gives it back. The joy seen in the faces and lives of the students is what he misses most.  Alan hopes to return to Kenya soon.