Posts Tagged ‘God’s Glory’

« Older Entries

Another aspect

January 22nd, 2012

You’ve read here before about Caring For Kenya’s Kids (C4KK) and C4KK Children’s Shelter.  Helping to supply basic needs for orphaned children, widows and employing workers so they in turn can afford their families needs.  Today I’m going to show you another aspect of C4KK’s ministry.  We work with a friend, Ben, a local Kenyan and Executive Director of My Brother’s Keeper, who works with HIV/AIDS victims and those living in the slums.  We help support Ben on a case by case basis in which Chuck gets more detail on the situation, prays about it, asks God’s guidance and then proceeds with support if called to do so.  Here are a few stories of recent situations C4KK has supported.  Photos and captions are Ben’s:

This family had no water to use because there money to buy the precious commodity. I bought them soap and enough water to cook with, drink, wash their clothes and utensils, and most importantly to bathe with. Water is life.

The widow could not believe her eyes. She later told me she never even dreamt of getting good things like the items and food we brought her.

Today during our daily home visits i came across this woman and her baby. She is floorridden, pregnant (5 months), hiv+, has TB, vomiting, with a relentless diarrhea. She told me she had not eaten for many days.

When we arrived at Petronilla's house this morning.

Ben’s team cleaned the one-room home, cleaned mother and child, prepared food for them and the doctor came to check on her.  They brought the love of Christ directly into this mom and baby’s life.  ”She was so hungry and desperately ill even to talk. She murmered something like petronilla or something as her name. Today i get to go bathe them, clean the house and buy them anti diarhea and anti vomit medicines.”

Then bathed her for she had not fellowshiped with water for a very long time and badly needed one.

Feeding baby Mike whom we found eating her mother's feaces as there was nothing to eat.

There is no handshake or pat on the back which can reward Ben this side of Heaven for his love, care and concern for the “least of these”  but you can help Ben continue this work by donating at our secure donation site, marking “other” in the Allocation drop-down box and writing “Ben” in the comment section.  Those donations will be used on a case by case basis for helping these precious children of God.

Chuck will keep you informed on the cases which are supported by reposting Ben’s updates through Facebook.  Thank you in advance for your prayerful consideration in helping bring the love of Christ to so many.

No comments »

Posted in Caring for Kenya's Kids, Ministry

Tags:

Kitchen cupboards…yeah!!

January 5th, 2012

Kitchen cupboards are beginning to be installed and it’s already looking like a real kitchen!  Ann is overjoyed with the amount of work space she’ll eventually have, not to mention the amount of storage space.  Watching the kids help prepare lunch is a joy….all the talking, working, bumping into each other and just plain family time!

You may think “they’re just kitchen cupboards”, but to these kids and Ann (me too) it’s a show of God’s love and provision for them.  He continues to shower us with His love.  May we continually give Him the praise and glory for not only the new kitchen cupboards, but every aspect of daily life here at C4KK.

No comments »

Posted in Caring for Kenya's Kids

Tags:

Goodbye, hello

December 31st, 2011

We are saying goodbye to 2011 and saying hello to 2012.  Thought I’d give you a photo recap of some of what occurred this past year.

 

 

That’s the year….now of course I couldn’t show everything but these are highlights.  C4KK Children’s Shelter is a bustling home for 17 kids (so far).  Everyone seems to be settled in quite nicely and loving their new home.  As with all households we have had issues, problems, ups and downs but God has continually given all of us strength to face and work through them all.

For 2012 I pray that our lives will be a shining example of Christ’s love, not only to the kids living here but everyone we come into contact with.  Thank you one and all for your continued support, prayerfully and finacially.

Our God is a great God and this very small photo montage shows me just how much He has allowed to be accomplished this past year.  May we all  follow His guidance into the new year.

No comments »

Posted in Caring for Kenya's Kids

Tags:

Butterflies abound

December 11th, 2011

The other day while checking on Fudge and Splash

I noticed a lot of butterflies and thought I’d try my hand at capturing a few on film.  Here’s what I got:

God sure does amazing work!

 

No comments »

Posted in Caring for Kenya's Kids

Tags:

Painting

November 29th, 2011

Thought this blog post would be dedicated to what’s been painted and what’s in the process of being painted.

The gate at the end of the property (this gate is not used to enter the main section of the property, but the section opposite the shelter) was painted with a base coat and now it’s waiting (yes for me) to paint the colors.

walls and gate base coat are finished....now to add some color!

The “main” gate of the property was first painted a nice green by Robert the painter.  I, however, missed a handle while painting but Chuck said “leave it!”  No problem, I can live with one green handle and one white handle!  Then I went on to paint C4KK at the top of the gate and finally Caring For Kenya’s Kids on the main section of the gate.

one more coat on the white...but looks pretty good, don't you think!?

The first day I painted the C4KK and neighbors were stopping by, standing in front of the gate (one for 1/2 hour!) trying to figure out what C4KK meant!

Bosco and Roman wanted a photo in front of the gate!

Here are a few photos of the shelter after all the painting was done.

 

May be painting something on this big, blank canvas!

That pretty much takes care of the painting (at least on the outside…the inside are white walls).  Next time…construction.

1 comment »

Posted in Caring for Kenya's Kids

Tags:

Life begins at C4KK!

November 1st, 2011

Monday began with much to be accomplished and excitement in the air.  The kids had spent the weekend in their new home and were loving it, so of course the next step is settling them in a bit more.  Chuck and I (with the help of so many of you!) went shopping….we purchased sheets, blankets, hot pots, toilet paper, dishes, utensils, rugs, mosquito nets and even a few toys for the younger boys.    Ann and I finished negotiations with the curtain lady….curtains should be completed and hung sometime next week, yeah!  The animal shelter is under construction, building on a wall, which will separate the Children’s Shelter, animal enclosure and shambas from the rest of the property, had started and the clothes line was put to good use.  Ann went with us to pick up her new bed (I surprised her with a set of pink, girly sheets!) and she was like a kid at Christmas seeing her bed being brought into her room along with a very nice mattress (something she has never had before).  I heard her several times, while she looked at her new bed, say “thank you Jesus.”  Yes, thank you Jesus for this blessing of watching these kids’ lives, along with Ann’s, being filled with hope and love.

(you can click on an individual photo to see a larger image)

 

I would just like to express my thanks to everyone who helped (and continue to help) make this a home for our kids.  Seeing them take off their shoes at the entrance, wipe their feet on the rug, walk into their spacious room to change out of their school uniform, come out to the tables to talk and rest a bit then have Ann cook them a wonderful meal in her new kitchen and everyone can eat together at the tables has been nothing short of a miracle.  God has shown His love to these kids in a big way and I pray they continue to see His love through our actions and the support shown by all of you.

No comments »

Posted in Caring for Kenya's Kids

Tags:

Here we go……

October 30th, 2011

Just to prepare you, this will be a pretty long blog post.  There is so much to show you and tell you about moving day yesterday.  At the end of the photos you’ll also have a chance to read some of the stories about moving day.

Without further delay, well no delay on your part…I think satan was trying to frustrate me.  It took me 2 hours to upload these photos (so PLEASE enjoy) and electricity went out during writing it.  But he can’t cover God’s light!

Before I get into the move stuff, let me give you a few miscellaneous photos:

 

The shamba is looking so good after all the rains...yeah God!

This is how we have to unlock the office door at C4KK....tricky!

A bit of maintenance is done on the latrines...a "digestive" mixture is poured into the latrines.

Now for moving….when we arrived at C4KK our first question to Ann was, “are we going to move you in today?”  She hesitated for just a moment then said “yes, the kids do not want to stay in the apartment one more night.”  So the move was on after lunch and she was packed.  First, though, Chuck and Bosco got the cooking gas refilled and hooked it up to the stove.  Unfortunately the guy selling the gas told us our regulator would work…but surprise it leaked.  When Chuck took it back the guy tried to tell Chuck it’s supposed to do that!!!  I feel sorry for the other people who buy gas from him and believe him.  We got our empty tank back and took it to Tala that night and got the correct tank and one that doesn’t leak!  That means Ann will us paraffin until Monday when we take the tank back up there and hook it up.

Chuck and Bosco working on the stove

While we were getting the cooking gas I saw this sign….is fencing legal!?

Once lunch was done and Ann was (partially) packed we began the move:

Goodbye muddy apartments!

 

Ann continues packing and setting stuff at the door to be put in the truck

Side note:  You are seeing James 1:27 lived out here…Ann is a widow, these kids have no parents (orphans) and Maria, also a widow, will be helping Ann with the daily duties and chores of washing clothes, feeding and taking care of the children.

Maria helps carry out items

Chuck and Kevin move furniture...Kevin was such a big helper!

Bosco (who can tie a knot better than anyone I know!) loads the truck, with Kevin's help of course!

One truckload unpacked, back for another

Bosco was so excited to have everything moved to C4KK that he didn't want to wait for the truck to take this last piece of furniture. He convinces Maria to help! She made it across the road then one of the guys helped.

this is the muddy road they had to cross carrying the furniture!

pulling in with the second truck load!

another truck load is packed

These two, one room apartments are now empty!

and the final load is taken HOME!!!

Now to give you a bit of perspective….

Ann went from this room (sharing a bunk bed with Jacinta and Doris sleeping on the couch)

Ann slept, cooked, ate and sat with friends all in this small room. In the corner at the end of the bed were her suitcases filled with her personal items and the hutch was filled with dishes.

To this….

Ann's new room is hers alone! We are picking up her new bed on Monday. She was overwhelmed by the space and that it was HERS!

The boys slept, studied, changed clothes and ate here (when it was raining and sometimes they ate in Ann’s room)

Bosco packs up the boys room

Now they have room to breathe!  They have a covered veranda where they can eat and tables to sit at to do homework.  Their bedroom is now spacious for everyone to move around without crawling over someone to get out of bed!

The boys got right to making their beds. The "stuff" here is everyone's personal items...that's everything for 7 kids and Ann!

The girls room is the same size as the boys and I told them they have enough room to dance in…that is until the rest of the bunk beds arrive on Monday to accommodate the rest of the girls coming!

Once the boys were gathered together Ann assigned beds.  No more sharing for Daniel and Isaac, they get their own bed!

Chuck hangs a clothes line…no more hanging clothes on barbed wire fences!

not only do they have real clothes lines but they don't have to walk through the mud anymore to hang up clothes!

After everything is brought into their new home, the kids take a rest in their new dining, study and gathering area!

Yeah!!!!

Final picture of the day…I told the kids I would be showing everyone their picture so I wanted them to express how happy they were to be in their new home

Our new home!!!

Now for a few stories….

As Ann and I were leaving the apartments (for the last time) -

Me:  well, Ann, you won’t have to deal with a landlord again.

Ann:  I know, we are going to our permanent home.

While Ann was moving from room to room to get various items Chuck asked her if she wanted to sleep at the apartment that night since things were unsettled.  She gave him a disbelieving look and said “no, no, we’ll stay here from now on!”

Once everything was at C4KK, I saw Ann standing in the kitchen just looking at her stove.  I approached her with a smile and she just said “I have no words” to which I just gave her a big hug.

C4KK has windows all along the building facing the road.  We will be putting up a fence so no one can walk near the windows and look in, but for now no one can seem to stay away from the windows.  So when the Class 8 kids (Jacinta, Doris, Erustus and Edward) were coming home from school they were walking along C4KK’s building looking into the windows.  I went to the door (on the same side of the building) with my “mom face” on and told them to not walk there.  Since they were looking in the windows I asked if they wanted others to walk there and look in the windows…to which they replied “no”.  And I also got to point to a fellow student following them and looking in the windows!  Once I gave them my little speech they began walking by, to the apartments.  I asked them where they were going.  They all looked at me like I was crazy or something…they were going home.  Then I pushed open C4KK’s door and said “karibu” and “welcome home”.  They all looked surprised and shocked but also extremely happy!  They were now home to stay.  A home where no one would kick them out, a home where family is treasured, a home where God’s love will penetrate the walls, windows, beds, floors…every aspect of this place.

I can’t describe the joy I felt as the kids’ belongings were unpacked into their new home or watching Daniel and Isaac exploring the open area of the veranda, going from room to room.  Knowing these kids have a comfortable living area now, a bedroom, a real kitchen, a place to sit to eat or study.  Like Ann I have no words except to thank God for His providence and faithfulness to give these kids a home.

1 comment »

Posted in Caring for Kenya's Kids

Tags:

Coming down to the end….

October 23rd, 2011

…or perhaps the beginning, however you want to look at it!

God willing the kids will get to move into their new home, C4KK Children’s Shelter, this weekend!  Much continues to get done this week (ok, much SHOULD get done this week, you never know with Kenyan timing, arrival of supplies, workers who show up to work or any number of circumstances).  Painting SHOULD continue this week once the paint is delivered…not really understanding this one.  We asked the store owner for the paint, he said he’d get it from Nairobi and now it’s been 3 days and still no paint.  He has the sale already, what’s the deal!?  The dressers for the kids’ rooms SHOULD be here Wednesday or Thursday.  The curtain lady SHOULD get us an estimate early this week.  The well diggers SHOULD finish the job this week.  A lot of should’s but I’m leaving it to the Lord to motivate workers, shop owners, etc. to get done what He wants done.

The fundi’s are also working on building a room under the tank stand for Roman and another small shelter for the night watchman (so he doesn’t have to stand in the rain).

One thing that is coming to an end is the matching donation time…October 31st is the last day for your donation to be matched.  So far we are at around $6,600 of the $10,000 which can be matched.  If you feel lead to assist please visit our secure donation partner here and choose “Children’s Shelter (C4KK) and Farm Project” under the allocation drop down box.

Please keep C4KK in your prayers….workers work, supplies are delivered, estimates are fair and God will bind satan in all he attempts to frustrate, sideline, stop or slow down.  May God’s glory be shown throughout this project and people say “wow, look what God has done for His children!”

No comments »

Posted in Caring for Kenya's Kids

Tags:

I’m back :)

October 5th, 2011

Well, I wasn’t exactly gone per se, just didn’t give you the blog post you deserved after the long day yesterday.  I’m home today so after checking out Facebook and Google+, changing a few things on the blog site (I added a Goggle+ button to the right…put me in your circle!!!) and basically staying in the cool house and out of the sun I will now update you…aren’t you thrilled!?

Guess I need to first tell you we had a great visit with our friend, Charlotte, last week.  She is one amazing lady and I am so blessed to know her and thankful she squeezed in a 2 day trip to Tala before heading back to the States.  One night as I was making dinner (fried chicken, potatoes and carrots) the gas went out of the stove, ok no problem I figured I’d just use the electric part of the stove (many stoves here are both gas & electric).  Once the burner was heated up and boiling the potatoes….you guessed it, electricity went out!  Luckily everything was close to being done and I was able to finish it with what heat was left on the burner!  Thankfully Charlotte is used to this type of event happening (as she was all over Africa the past 4 months or so and in much worse conditions!)  Charlotte you are certainly a trooper :)

She came to visit C4KK and helped do a bit of painting:

She met Ann:

 

And we got a photo together in front of the shelter:

 

During the week we were also given a gift of a lorry of sand…certainly a blessing since most steps in construction uses sand in some way or another!

that's C4KK Children's Shelter in the background

Think that brings me back to yesterday!  We began painting the rooms with the first coat of white paint:

before the first coat of paint

 

After 1 coat of paint - the stones you see won't be painted as eventually a ceiling will be installed.

 

Robert, the guy helping to paint, needed to express his creativity a bit rather than just white walls!

The new kitchen table was painted, the legs only, the builder put on the green veneer…this will be a great work surface and the bottom will definitely hold 90kg bags of beans, rice and flour!

The doors will get a second coat of green next week, but they already look great!

main entrance to the shelter

 

latrine doors - glass will be cleaned off next week too, we have to wait until the putty that was used to install the glass is dry.

 

The well was worked on some more…they are digging a “basin” to hold more water…I understand it but can’t really explain it, hope you understand or ask Chuck, he can explain it!

Roman is pulling up a bucket filled with dirt that is being dug from the well.

 

Then I spent the better part of the afternoon watering the shamba (garden)…thanking God for the gift of water and watching the soil soak in the refreshing, life-giving water to grow strong, healthy vegetables and fruits for the kids!

And I only did half the shamba! Whew!

 

Please keep in mind the matching donation until October 31st (up to $10,000)!  You can click here to donate (choose “Children’s Shelter (C4KK) and Farm Project” from the allocation drop down box and your donation will be automatically matched)

C4KK Children’s Shelter is becoming and will be a home for our kids very soon with your help!

C4KK Children's Shelter

No comments »

Posted in Caring for Kenya's Kids

Tags:

Water & Paint

September 24th, 2011

No we are not mixing our paint with water, even though we have our own water now!  Simply the two mediums we worked with today.

Must say the windows are looking very nice so far!

Proof that I am painting! Ok, Chuck painted my name but doesn't the window look nice?

The outside frame and doors will be a dark green color…can’t wait to show you that!

They have also pumped water and Ann says it tastes very good….so during the day water is pumped into jugs for the kids to use and drink!  Chuck says the water is pumping at 40-45 liters per minute!  The well digger is coming Monday to continue digging farther and expanding the area to have a “natural basin” for the water.

the pump is submersed in the well and you can see the pipe and hose used to bring water up from the well and fill the containers.

Yeah for water!

Please remember we have a matching donation going on right now until October 31st up to $10,000!  This will help with the water (tank, tank stand, etc.), building and electrical at C4KK Children’s Shelter!  Any help you can give is appreciated. Thanks and God bless.

 

 

 

No comments »

Posted in Caring for Kenya's Kids

Tags: