Although I have been imperfect in getting out timely updates I’m thankful our God continues to work and bless and save!
This year is coming quickly to a close and normally I don’t feel real rushed but this year Chuck and I are heading to Phoenix at the end of the month to visit our kids. We’ll be celebrating a late Thanksgiving/early Christmas with them, my mom and my sister will also be traveling to Phoenix to make it a family affair. It’s been a couple years since we’ve seen our kids and needless to say I’m pretty excited. Your prayers for safe travels are appreciated.
Saved By God’s Grace was blessed to be able to get all the kids back into school. It’s been a rough year with Covid and the school schedule but God willing they are getting back into a somewhat normal routine and your assistance has helped get them all back into school. This included all our sponsored kids, non-sponsored kids and even those attending university, trade or vocational school! This tells me God moves His people to help where help is needed…THANK YOU!!
Now that Christmas is fast approaching we do have a few special projects we are seeking help with.
We have been asked to put down a well at a deaf and blind school in Maseno, Kenya (near Luanda where our friend Joseck lives). This project will cost around $5,000. Saved By God’s Grace has contacted a local church for assistance and thanks be to God Kenyans have volunteered to supply all the labor!
Currently the students use this existing cistern but the water is easily contaminated and the students get sick quite often. With a new well they will not only have access to safe drinking water but they can also sell the water to the local community, thus helping the school buy food.
Our grandmothers program is one that is dear to my heart. These grandmothers, and a few grandfathers, are individuals who have been left with their grandkids because the moms and dads of these kids have died from AIDS. Our friend, Faith, meets with them once a month and offers fellowship, presents the Gospel, and they share a meal. We send them home with maize, rice, flour and cooking oil…not enough to last the month, but something for the days when they have nothing. The grandmothers range from 70 to 105 and come from all around the area (some walking for 10 miles) to have this fellowship. During the month of December we try and get them warm clothing to replace the sets which have worn out over the years….as much as we receive determines the amount we can get to serve the 120 grandmothers in our group.
(photo from a previous years Christmas celebration)
Chapati, a type of flat bread, is a traditional meal in Kenya but many can not afford to purchase the necessary ingredients. It is normally served with beans and rice or some skuma (a spinach like vegetable) and is a local celebration meal. We attempt to buy the required items for the individuals in the slum of Kwa Rhonda where our friend Ben works. This area contends with many who are living with AIDS where most moms are infected and most dads have succumbed to the disease. The children live in abject poverty and we attempt to give their lives a little normalcy during this time and serve the traditional Christmas meal of chapati. Again, the amount we receive determines how many families we can serve, but we have attempted to serve 250 in past years and have come close in most years.
Some of you know our friend Johnny Brooks. We met Johnny several years ago when we first arrived in Kenya. Johnny still lives there and we will be working with him and his efforts in Nakuru. He’s looking to purchase toys for kids in single parent (normally mom’s) homes and supporting those mom’s with extra assistance to help pay rent and receive medical attention.
Whew! A lot going on but by God’s Grace many will be blessed this Christmas season. Please know that ANY dollar amount is appreciated and will be used to bring love to widows, orphans and elderly in Kenya.
If God is moving you to be a blessing to someone in need please prayerfully consider Saved By God’s Grace and our ministry to Kenya. You can contribute to any of these projects by going to our Donate Page and simply writing in the comment section which project you are donating towards.
Plus don’t forget our Gifts of Hope page. There are listed several needs with various dollar amounts if you’d like to give a gift which hasn’t been mentioned in this post.
May God bless you this holiday season with a deep knowledge of His love for you and His gift of eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ.