Tag Archives: Ministry

Acronym happy

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C4KK is an official NGO, supported by SBGG in the US!

Let me define:

C4KK – Caring For Kenya’s Kids

NGO – Non-governmental Organization (Kenya’s equivalent to a non-profit in the US)

SBGG – Saved By God’s Grace

US – United States

Chuck nor I are citizens of Kenya so in order to purchase land we registered an NGO called Caring For Kenya’s Kids (C4KK) with the Kenyan government.  C4KK then purchased the land and began building C4KK Children’s Shelter – remember, now until October 31 all donations are matched up to $10,000!  So far we have approximately $4000 matched and it’s still early in the month!!!

(After reaching the donate page (by clicking the above button) simply choose “Children’s Shelter (C4KK) and Farm Project” from the allocation drop down box and your donation will be automatically matched!)

We’ve also set up C4KK website, please visit it (by clicking the button below) to see what projects are in process, future projects, sponsor a child and more.

You will still find the blog right here where you left it, Chuck’s newsletters will continue as before and photos will be posted in the Photo Gallery on SBGG website.  C4KK website will show you the specific projects (progress, needs, plans, etc.) which are on-going here in Kenya.

Thanks so much for all you continue to do for this ministry and the children we are called to help…your donations, prayers and  sacrifices are all greatly appreciated!

Water & Paint

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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.

 

 

 

Matching donation time!

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<perkiest cheerleader voice>

Give us a “G”

G

Give us an “O”

O

Give us a “D”

D

What does it spell?

GOD. ..Yeaaaaaah God!

Yes I’m excited about this bit of news.  We have someone who will be matching donations up to $10,000!!  This match will continue until October 31!  That in itself is exciting but let me tell you why it is for me.

It was a frustrating week or so (now that it’s past one can always look back and say “it wasn’t that bad” but going through it, it was frustrating).  Jobs not being completed, shoddy workmanship, bad attitudes (oopps, that one is me!) and wondering why am I here.   It seemed to be along the lines of “isn’t there anyone willing to help us with this project, someone who will take pride in their work, someone who will go the extra mile?”  And those thoughts led to “why am I here”.  As I was painting, a glitch came to our attention and I, at first, got a bit perturbed but then it came to me…”Commit thy works unto the LORD…”  Proverbs 16:3 (King James Version).  I’m here because this is where God has me and that means with the people who live here too.  I’m painting windows so God can look through them at His children.

That was a long explanation as to why I’m excited about the matching donation and I guess I really haven’t given an explanation yet!  Well, the frustrations were piling up when we got the call about the matching donation.  God’s timing is ALWAYS perfect and this came at a time when my spirit needed lifting.  And it’s not even the amount that excites me (ok I admit, it does!) but the fact God moved someones heart and they listened.  When will I ever learn that God will always come through to lift my spirit at the exact time I think it can’t be lifted instead of wondering “why”?

If you are considering a donation, now would be a good time :)   The funds will go towards the building, well and electrical for C4KK Children’s Shelter.  So come one everyone, let’s get this match matched!

More painting

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No photos today because I was painting all day!  I really like to paint and I have to say a big thank you to my daughter, Tarrin, for the wonderful iPod speakers…they were used all day to make the day a sing-song type of day :)   So far painting has just been white (interior window frames, window bars, picnic table legs and grills on the doors).  Saturday we’ll be putting the second coat on the white then starting on the green (doors and exterior window frames).  Then it will be onto the walls!  It’s so exciting to see it coming together.

Talked with Charles (the guy who made the tables) about making an “island” for the kitchen.  Ann and I will be meeting with a lady who will make the curtains.  Next week the glass should be put in the windows.  Ann has seen her bed being worked on (thank you donor!) and she said it’s very “smart”.  Negotiations will begin for the dressers for the kids’ rooms.  Water pump is being put together tomorrow (God-willing).  And the list continues as move in day draws closer.

Please prayerfully consider helping with any of the above mentioned items.  We only move ahead with an item when funding is available.  Thank you in advance for any help you can give.

Another day in pictures

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Hope you don’t mind, it’s late and I will be heading to bed shortly :)

The doors are now closing and opening…yeah!

I tried out one of the tables and got stuck to the varnish Chuck had put on it yesterday!  (and no comments on how large this area looks!)

But overall the tables look great.

The entrance way is looking nice too.

Roman and Bosco began sandpapering, chipping and hammering off pieces of cement on the windows to prepare them for painting.

Then Chuck and I began painting.

We also painted the clothesline poles.

C4KK Children’s Shelter is really coming together, thanks God!

Tomorrow is more painting!

Long day….

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Got up at 5:30am to have breakfast before leaving for C4KK at 7am

Arrived at C4kk approximately 7:45am

Tables arrived around 10am:

Charles & Charles (maker of the tables)

 

C4KK workers on the left, plus at the end on the right and Charles (table maker) along with his two workers

 

Looked around the property and watched Chuck do a bit of work:

Moving stone from one area to be used in another area

Saw the progress on the floors & doors which are being worked on (fundi who left the job “complete” apparently didn’t think doors actually needed to open or shut or cement was needed in the floor!)

bad sections of floor were pounded out and new cement was placed

 

the floor looks like an island map :)

The entrance way was worked on and actually finished (sorry I didn’t get a “completed” photo, perhaps tomorrow):

short walls were built on either side of the walkway and plastered then the soil was taken out and stone put in so no one has to bring in muddy shoes!

 

entrance

Left for Ruai around 12:30pm to get supplies and pick up Lewis, who was bringing the pump for the well (still in need of donors for pipes, water tank and water tank stand, if you are so inclined-you can do that here):

The well cistern was plasterd with water proof cement to stop contamination from the ground water.

First stop, Quickmart for a few items we can’t get in Tala (definitely not as supplied as Nairobi but it does in a pinch!)

Then waited in the truck for 3 hours while Lewis was stuck in traffic coming from Nairobi.  You wouldn’t want to see pictures of that!  It was hot and I was getting a bit cranky.

Once Lewis arrived at 4pm we went to get the plumbing and paint supplies which took another 2 hours.  Felt like home though (ok maybe just in name):

After stopping at 3 other hardware stores Midland had what we needed!

Arrived back at C4KK to offload items and left for home at 6:30pm.

Got home, thankfully with electricity, had a shower, made dinner (grilled pepperoni, ham and cheese sandwiches) watched a little Seinfeld then finished this post and went to bed.  Yeah, it was a long day but I guess I was taught a little patience today.  I’m not that great of a student though, but I get to try again tomorrow.

Angry much?

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This post is not meant to elicit any type of emotional response or tug on your heart strings, yet if it doesn’t….  It is simply what occurred and what seems to be “business as usual” around here.  Yesterday got me mad and I’m just going to tell you what happened.

Two children stopped by Ann’s apartment (Ann is the house mum for C4KK Children’s Shelter).  They live nearby in a children’s home whose owner doesn’t seem to care about the kids at all (from not providing food to a run down home to no medical attention).  They stopped by for 2 reasons:  1) they wanted Ann to call their guardians to see if anything could be done about them moving to C4KK Children’s Shelter and 2) they were hungry.

In regards to #1, Ann called one of the guardians (an aunt) and was told she couldn’t/wouldn’t do anything because she had “given” the children back to their grandfather and he has no phone so you can’t contact him about the children’s situation.  Lord if it be in Your will, please allow these children to come.

As for #2 that one was a bit simpler to remedy, if only temporarily.  They told Ann they hadn’t eaten since the night before, at the time it was 4:30pm.  These kids had went to bed hungry, school hungry and without the little Ann gave them (leftover spaghetti and corn bread) would continue to be hungry.  They said there was very little to look forward to for dinner that night and Ann said “they will eat very little, and not to satisfaction.”  Meaning, yes, they will go to bed hungry once again.

Why do I say “business as usual”?  We are finding many children are being left on their own, to find food to eat, a warm place to sleep, a safe place to lay their meager belongings, to have someone who will take care of them and not use them as slaves.  It makes me angry to see adults push kids from guardian to guardian (a guardian here is simply a person, normally a family member, who says they will take care of the child.  But in most cases is looking for the benefit in the arrangement not the care of the child), leave the child in an unsafe environment and once left never to visit or see that child again.

Yes that makes me angry and it should make you angry too.  Yet even in the midst of this anger I know there are parents and guardians willing and trying to give the best they can for their child.  We have worked with them and believe me, when we do it’s like God has reached down and touched the situation with an abundance of love, grace and mercy.  I’m thankful God is moving C4KK Children’s Shelter to completion and the children He brings can call it home.  They will “eat to satisfaction” and be shown love and concern over their lives.

Please prayerfully listen to where God is directing you to support (through finances, time or talents) because the Lord, God of all creation, has called each of us to be in His service.  I need to open my ears, listen and give my Heavenly Father this anger.

Cats, sand, digging….

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Don’t worry, I’m not going to show you a litter box!  It just happens to be a few of the things which were in my line of camera this past week!

It was a cat family gathering at our house recently…everyone enjoying a bit of milk!  Bella is the larger black/white cat (dad), Puss is the larger brown cat (mum), Patches is the smaller brown cat (son) and Bonita is the smaller black/white cat (daughter).

Our shipment of sand wasn’t going to be delivered until later in the day so a neighbor let us “borrow” some of their sand (replacing the amount when ours was delivered).  This allowed the workers to continue working and not sitting around waiting for the delivery.  Thanks neighbor!

Cotton soil needs to be dug out from construction areas as when it gets wet it’s like clay and things start to sink.  Here’s Chuck, Roman and Bosco digging out an area for the animal shelter, while Kevin keeps an eye on the workers!

More cotton soil being removed…at least we can use the soil for the shamba!

The new entrance is looking quite smart – a common way of saying something looks nice!

Unfortunately the kids are still out of school while teachers strike.  Update:  An agreement has been put up to a vote…should hear on Monday if it went through and teachers will return to school.

One last pile of sand…I thought it looked like a mountain.

Just a reminder, we hit water at C4KK Children’s Shelter.  You can see those photos here.