Tag Archives: Presentation

Two more presentations

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Last Friday we spent the day at Heritage School (Tarrin, our eldest, teaches here) presenting the kids in Kenya to all her Language Arts classes.  They are going to begin a pen-pal project with the kids at Nice View Academy/Orphanage, so they had good questions – “what do they like to play?” (football, what we call soccer), “do they miss having things?” (they don’t miss what they don’t have, see around them or know is out there i.e. Wii, gameboys etc.) and one girl asked “what happens during ‘that time of the month’ for the girls?” (before we were able to supply pads some girls didn’t go to school during their period and most used strips of cloth washed and reused each month).

I loved the simplicity of some of their thoughts, one boy asked why, if they are hurting there, we can’t just bring them back here and help them.  I know it’s much more complicated than that, but he saw a need and wanted to fix it.  Maybe he’ll be the next generation of missionary to give hope to the hopeless!

Then yesterday we were invited to Voyage Into Our Heritage 2010 presented by Faith Celebration Ministries & Kingdom Dancers United.  We met Krystylle (co-founder of Kingdom Dancers) way back in July 2008 when Kingdom Dancers performed at our Experience Kenya event.  At last nights event we saw beautiful dances, singing and even mime all celebrating Psalm 133:1 (Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell in unity!”)  It was a wonderful evening of worship and praise together with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Creativity of kids!

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This past week we visited Sacred Heart Academy in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.  We visited them last year and found the kids just as inquisitive this time.  A few of the students from last year requested to come and hear this presentation, one student even asked about the school building he had seen in pictures and wanted to know how the progress was going.  We had to tell them there had been no progress on the building since then because of lack of funds. 

However it wasn’t all depressing news…the students asked about the types of food we ate, where we lived and other questions along this line.  They liked hearing Chuck’s stories and the different experiences we had – snakes, guards, bugs, and rhinos and so many more that I finally had to point at the clock to stop the stories!

After the stories were done the teacher, Lori (who organized this presentation), told us the kids had started an “Afri-Can” (a can to hold donated change) and had raised $260 which they presented to us with a nice note.  I have to admit I got tears in my eyes, thinking these kids came up with the idea, advertised it to the student body (although I heard the high school wanted to be involved and requested to be in on what happens in the future) and collected the change in the Afri-Can – which I thought was very creative.

Lori also told us they planned on appointing a “student representative” for each class to check the blog, keep up to date with what’s happening in Kenya (once we are on the ground in May) and report back to the classroom.  I look forward to more interaction with them in the future and maybe even having a couple of them visit us in Tala, Kenya!

THANKS STUDENTS OF SACRED HEART ACADEMY!

Expectations

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This past Thursday Chuck and I had two presentations at two different venues.  One was a fourth grade class and the other was with an after school Kids Club but before the presentations we prayed for the Lord to be at the center of it and for both of us to be open to God’s leading.  We tend to have an agenda set up and certain expectations for presentations, but after our first encounter we were reminded that God has His own agenda!

Vowles Elementary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vowles Elementary School was our first stop and the students were great!  They had all sorts of questions:  1)  why is their hair so short? 2)  why do you have a guard?  3)  what are the houses made out of?  4)  are you guys Christians? and after answering all their questions the kids got to sample some African food.  We told the kids, however, the food they were tasting had been really doctored up with spices so it had much more flavor! 

As we were packing up, a student approached Chuck and asked “what do I have to do to become a Christian?”  Chuck said to believe in Jesus but before he could continue the boy said he believed and had asked God for forgiveness for his sins.  So Chuck told him he was a Christian, but he said he wasn’t baptized and wanted to be!  Chuck called Carol over, she has a son in the class and helped organize this presentation, and told her the situation and she said she would help him in the process!

We were reminded then about God having a “big picture” outlook instead of our little window of what we see and how we think things should move along.

Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.  Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.  Romans 8:28 NLT

Kids Club

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After Vowles we immediately drove over to St. Vincent DePaul where kids gathered for an after school program that began over the summer during Vacation Bible School (VBS).  It was a much smaller group but still a great group!  Their world outlook is changing because they have been learning about poverty around the world and seeing how different it is than here.  One student had told the teacher during one of their meetings if he had to be poor anywhere in the world he would choose the United States, because they have seen poverty in other countries through presentations like ours, the Internet and videos and they are helping by having fundraisers.  They see a need and do what they can to fill it – “He [Jesus] called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 18:2-4  NIV

God works on me daily, even moment by moment by continually building up my faith with instances like these and letting me see how He is working not only in my life but others I come into contact with.

Farewell Fundraising Tour set to begin

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Chuck and I will be leaving later this week for our final tour for raising awareness and funds before leaving for Kenya in May 2010.

If you know of a group/church/club/family etc. who would like to hear about our kids in Kenya please contact us to be scheduled in.  We will be in New York City the weekend of January 14-17 so will be working around those dates.

If you are unable to host a presentation, please help us by telling your friends, coworkers, family etc. about our ministry and directing them to our website at http://www.savedbygodsgrace.org/. 

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.  Proverbs 16:9

We are praying for the Lord’s direction and guidance not only with this trip but into the future in Kenya.  Thank you for your support and continued help in telling others about Saved By God’s Grace.

Watching and doing

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Last night we watched a Rwanda presentation and were blessed to see how God is moving in others lives.  Watching how God moves people, arranges situations and works things out amazes me each time I see a glimpse of it!

There are so many opportunities (through organizations, clubs, ministries, churches etc.) to go out and help your fellow neighbor and we saw just one example of that last night.  Their focus is on an orphanage called Hope Village and a town called Taba, both in Rwanda.

Although we aren’t able to financially support Hope Village we were there to encourage them, pray with them and hear about what is being accomplished in Taba and Hope Village with God’s providence through His people.  Contacts were also made last night and who knows where those divine connections will lead in the future of His kingdom. 

If you are unsure of where to start, check with your friends, family or local church and see who they are working with to reach out to those less fortunate. 

I pray we can all open our hearts to how the Lord wants us to work and with who and through it all He can be given all the glory!

Seems we’re always saying goodbye…

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We left Greg and Joyce’s this morning from Indiana and made it to Illinois around 12:30 this afternoon. We had to keep reminding ourselves which state we were in! It’s always difficult saying goodbye to our new friends, but on this trip we know more new friends are just around the corner (or state in our travels!)

Jason and Stephanie are wonderful people and we had a great conversation before the presentation tonight. Thanks guys for opening up your home and allowing us to be a part of your family if even for just a few hours. Here is a picture of their beautiful daughter Grace! Yup, she’s a feisty one but love her compassion and passion for life.

Before we left their home she gave me 70¢ and said it was for the kids in Kenya. She listened to us talk about the kids’ needs and she gave what she had. I explained to her that what she gave was two days’ wages for some people in Tala, Kenya and it would help feed a child at the orphanage. And her attitude was – well I had it and they need it, no big deal, then she ran off to play. “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven.” (NIV Matthew 18:3)

You ask if that’s all it takes? How about 40¢/day which comes to $12/month? You can help Saved By God’s Grace continue to feed, educate and provide shelter for three orphanages in Kenya at The Change Campaign.

Jason’s church had graciously invited us to speak at their Sunday evening service. Most of the church was there and they had some good questions. We were able to continue answering questions and at dinner afterwards (along with a few stories about our travels to Kenya). Thank you to everyone involved with feeding us, the hospitality was great and we felt very much at home with our new brothers and sisters in Christ.

Many of the young people were very interested in coming to Kenya by themselves, but the parents said “I want to go too!” So maybe during our next trip to Kenya we’ll have a lot of visitors. I know that how ever many people come, God will be glorified in it!

Speaking to people about our kids in Kenya is our passion and calling. The situation there has not been good for quite awhile. The rains have not come and crops are continuing to fail. Here is a short excerpt from an email received today from Gideon (director at Nice View Academy/Orphanage)


“Things are not very good since the rains failed and the future does not look promising but we trust God who Has assured us of prenty even in times of famine. Our help comes from Him

My brother if the cost of food was reasonable things would be easy but its unfortunate food has became costly and our children use one bag of beans for 3 days , one bag of muthokoi for 3 days ,maize flour of 90kgs for 4 days and so food is taking everything but i thank God for He has been with us and He Has continued to provide

I wish to ensure you brother that despite the hard times i will remain faithful to the call of God knowing that He is there for us”

Please prayerfully consider becoming a monthly donor either through Saved By God’s Grace or The Change Campaign. Your support will help us show God’s love to them through providing for their basic needs.

Uneventful day – ha!

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Today was a slow day because we slept in and didn’t get to the Academy until around 2 this afternoon. It felt good to sleep in and relax a bit this morning. When we got breakfast around 11 I told Chuck that would be a good time for a juicy Wendy’s hamburger! But alas it was smokies, cabbage and chapatti. Which was good but it’s not a hamburger. Then at the Academy we had a small issue with one of the kids, he was acting strange and Catherine thought he might have malaria, but we couldn’t get any medical history from anyone to see if he has had issues with any type of disease in the past. We ended up calling the clinician to come and see him, which he did and then took the boy to his clinic to test for malaria – which he had. So he got some medicine and he should be fine. The thing that hit me about this story though was that Mulie was told to go to the clinic for testing but he thought he was being sent away. So he told Catherine that he didn’t want to go he wanted to stay at the school and learn. We reassured him that he was not being sent away but that we wanted him to get better. We told him that we loved him and wanted him to stay and that his bed, books and belongings would stay in his room until his return. We finally convinced him to go get tested. So keep him in your prayers for a quick recovery.

Before leaving for the day we took a walk around the compound and we saw the puppies so I walked over towards them but they just ran away (which is a good thing here they don’t want the dogs to like people they are used to guard the compound). So we went to say bye to the kids and I felt something on my stomach, I thought it was just a piece of fuzz but when I lifted up my shirt my stomach had about 20 or so fleas! And when I looked around my clothes they were covered – yuck!!! So I immediately went into the store and stripped and I had them all over me. Chuck got me a robe we had brought and I put that on while he picked my clothes clean! Needless to say Chuck, Ruth, Catherine, Pauline and Gideon were having a good laugh about my unfortunate situation! They were even saying how God allowed this to happen just so we would have a good laugh before leaving for the evening – thanks God! I was finally declared flea free but wanted to get home ASAP for a shower! After about a 20 minute shower I still felt creeped out but they are gone and our clothes are outside waiting for a good washing with Omo (I think it’s industrial strength washing soap!). I won’t be visiting those puppies again anytime soon!
Since we had a slow day (aside from the fleas) I decided to put in a couple of pictures from previous happenings. The first is while we were in Nakuru and having lunch with Johnny (guy with beard) and his friend James ( to Johnny’s right). The woman closest to the camera is Francisca – we are working with her in Eldama Ravine and the guy at the end of the table is Mutuku our driver who did a superb job of getting us where ever we needed to go. It was Ethiopian and I tried something new there. I was a little nervous but figured since we met the owner he wouldn’t want Johnny’s friends getting sick! The next picture is Robert when he went with Pauline to the school where she is principal. He got to speak to the class and I heard he did a fantastic job!
Hope everyone is doing well and you got to have a good laugh about my fleas! Please keep us in your prayers that we continue to be and walk in God’s will daily. Mungu akubariki (God bless!)

Evening in Tala was a success – thank you!

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What a great night it was! We had our first “Evening in Tala” presentation and it was a success. Thank you Father for guiding and watching over the proceedings that night. There were approximately 50 people in attendance and several children were sponsored from Nice View Academy through our sponsorship program. I will be working on updating the website so you can see the children who are in need of sponsorship, but in the meantime if you would like more information about the program please email us at info@SavedByGodsGrace.org or call us at 1.800.718.5877.

Visit the website often as more information and pictures are updated.

Here are a few pictures of our “Evening in Tala”. The first picture is items brought back from Kenya, many of which were given to us as gifts. The next is a picture board we displayed at the presentation (these were all taken during our time in Tala).
I would like to thank everyone involved, those who sponsored a child and those thinking of sponsoring a child. I know that God has this ministry in His caring and capable hands. He will lead us all on this journey if we only listen to the Holy Spirit and take that step in faith. May God bless you as you take that step!

T-shirts today!

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Bwana asifiwe! Praise God! What a great day today! The children had a program for us that I taped, so hopefully when I get back I will have some on the website. They were so wonderful and really had a great program for us! They sang, danced, recited poems and had skits. They are so great and whenever you smile at them they get shy, but smile back. They absolutely love the camera! It’s hard for me to get candid pictures because as soon as they see the camera they are right in front of me smiling. The best part they like though is being able to see themselves on the digital camera. Now that they know it they want to see it right away and come around by me and see the picture I took. It’s fun to watch them get so excited. Then in the afternoon we handed out t-shirts to all the students and boy were they happy! You can see by the pictures that they were very excited to get another gift. They will be using these for PE class so their uniforms won’t get sweaty. We hope to get the girls shorts so they can take off their dresses during PE. God provided for us today with the t-shirts! We had a count when we went to buy them, but when we got back to school and started handing them out it looked like we were short. But we were able, with God’s providence, to switch some of the sizes around so that everyone got a t-shirt that fit. The kids were smiling and dancing when they got their shirts. It was a blessing to see them today! All of you supporting these children can share in their joy! God bless you all!