On Thursday afternoon I was granted an opportunity to interview Leah Ngini. I had heard a lot about her and since they are naming the new AIU Community Center after her, I was looking forward to meeting her and hearing her story.
Leah grew up in Kenya but as a young child, she understood poverty. Even though her father was a teacher and farmer,they struggled to make a living and have enough money for food. Her mother was a great influence to Leah. She encouraged all of her daughters to get an education before they marry so they could be independent and not have to rely on a husband for an income. With her mother's encouragement she was able to get a college education eventually earning a Master's Degree and today owns the St. Christopher's School in Karen. She has successfully parlayed her love for education, especially for women, into a modern school campus that is located near the Karen Town Center.
After teaching in a structured government education environment she decided to start her own school because it gave her the freedom and flexibility to pursue her own innovative teaching methods. Even though she is an excellent educator, she is also an entrepreneur. When asked what words of advice she would give to students whom aim to venture into business she says with enthusiasm, "Believe in yourself. Go for it and trust God. By God's grace you can do all things though Him who strengthens me". You can transpose her philosophy on education, "Be Happy" into all areas of life. Even in the midst of dark circumstances, she commented that an "attitude of gratitude" makes any situation bearable.
Leah first got involved with NEGST/AIU in 1992 when as principal at the St. Francis Church she got to know the choir trainer that told her about NEGST. Eventually Dr. David Casalli, Vice Chancellor of NEGST invited her to serve on the Governing Council. What attracted her to serve was how this Christian organization (NEGST) attracted many refugees and provided an education even though many could not even pay their fees. And at Christmas time, many of these students had nothing and Dr. Casalli would recruit Leah to help provide Christmas presents. So she gave produce from her garden and helped purchase meat so they could provide the students a Christmas meal.
When asked how she felt about the new community center, she seemed embarrassed, but commented, "I was truly humbled. To be considered with the likes of Byong Kato, Tony Wellman, and others that have buildings named in their honor on the AIU campus, it is truly a great honor." Even though she has become a successful businesswoman, she shows her true humility when she states, "We are all workers together in God's vineyard." Her prayer is that many more will be called to serve at AIU as laborers for the Lord.
In conclusion, I asked Leah what advice can she give to people in the world today. She remarked, "Love One Another. Where there is love there is no discrimination and unity will abound." She also referenced in the Bible where it states, "We will be known as Christians by our love for one another..."
Leah Ngini is truly a gracious woman. As I rode back to the AIU campus, I thought to myself, "we need more women in leadership like Leah Ngini. She truly is an inspiration to all, an advocate for women, always looking for ways to encourage the downtrodden and disadvantaged". It is easy to see why God has blessed her in so many ways, because she has been a blessing to many.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Friday, July 13, 2012
AIU Governing Council Meets July 10-11th
The Maanzoni Conference Center was the site for the 105th Governing Council Meeting. Those in attendance included Chairperson Dr. Gideon Muriuki, Mrs. Rose Simani, Peter Waiyaki, Jim Rogers, Lee Karuri, Dr. Margaret Muthwii, Ken Wathome, Prof. Samuel Katia, Dr. Joe Mwangi, Rev. Aiah Foday-Khabenje, and Ed Fischer.
The Meeting was opened with Prayer and a Devotion from Mathew 19:25. The topic was "Donor Fatigue"-The lesson learned was, "We will gain one hundred times over what we have given up to follow Christ and serve in His Kingdom".
Highlights from the morning session included: Graduation Approvals (100), Admissions and Enrollment Summary 2011/2012, (426), New Programs (Listed Below), Faculty Recruitment and Appointments, and Academic Partnerships.
New Programs slated for September 2012 include:
Bachelor of Financial Management & Accounting
Bachelor of Human Resource Management
Bachelor of Entrepreneurship
Bachelor of Information Communication Technology
Bachelor of Community Development
Postgraduate or Short Courses offered at ISAR:
Law, Theology, and Leadership
Governance, Law, and Theology
Theology, Economic, and Politics
Leadership
Master of Arts in Child Development and Family
PhD in Theology
New Programs slated for 2013 include:
Bachelor of Linguistics and Translation
Bachelor of Social Work
Bachelor of Political Science, Governance, and Leadership
Bachelor of Laws
-Law and African Legal Systems
-Law and Public Policy
-Constitutional Law and Governance
-Commercial Law
The afternoon session was focused on Resource Mobilization which included finance reports on current financial performance, debt management, audited accounts, and the Budget for 2011/2012.
The third session and last of the day included a time of Praise and Prayer.
On Wednesday, we were joined by members of the Board of Trustees
After the opening prayer and devotion, Ed Fischer presented a report on CLA highlights from the last 6 months. This was followed by a report from Kavita Mouka on Institutional Development. The long term goal is to integrate the Institutional Development efforts of AIU and CLA into a single office. Kavita continued his presentation with the "Buy a Brick, Build a Leader Campaign".
Dr. Carew provided an update on the CLMC Property Purchase. He went on to discuss the Master Plan Implementation which includes the Leah Ngini Center and the Transforming Hope Capital Campaign.
The Afternoon session included: AIU Charter Amendments, Nomination and Election of Council Chair, (Lee Karuri) and Deputy Chair (Rose Simani), Council Membership and Review, Re-appointing Dr. Carew to another 4 year term, Salary Review, Graduation Announcements, and honoring outgoing Chairperson Dr. Gideon Muriuki.
The meeting was closed in prayer.
The Meeting was opened with Prayer and a Devotion from Mathew 19:25. The topic was "Donor Fatigue"-The lesson learned was, "We will gain one hundred times over what we have given up to follow Christ and serve in His Kingdom".
Highlights from the morning session included: Graduation Approvals (100), Admissions and Enrollment Summary 2011/2012, (426), New Programs (Listed Below), Faculty Recruitment and Appointments, and Academic Partnerships.
New Programs slated for September 2012 include:
Bachelor of Financial Management & Accounting
Bachelor of Human Resource Management
Bachelor of Entrepreneurship
Bachelor of Information Communication Technology
Bachelor of Community Development
Postgraduate or Short Courses offered at ISAR:
Law, Theology, and Leadership
Governance, Law, and Theology
Theology, Economic, and Politics
Leadership
Master of Arts in Child Development and Family
PhD in Theology
New Programs slated for 2013 include:
Bachelor of Linguistics and Translation
Bachelor of Social Work
Bachelor of Political Science, Governance, and Leadership
Bachelor of Laws
-Law and African Legal Systems
-Law and Public Policy
-Constitutional Law and Governance
-Commercial Law
The afternoon session was focused on Resource Mobilization which included finance reports on current financial performance, debt management, audited accounts, and the Budget for 2011/2012.
The third session and last of the day included a time of Praise and Prayer.
On Wednesday, we were joined by members of the Board of Trustees
After the opening prayer and devotion, Ed Fischer presented a report on CLA highlights from the last 6 months. This was followed by a report from Kavita Mouka on Institutional Development. The long term goal is to integrate the Institutional Development efforts of AIU and CLA into a single office. Kavita continued his presentation with the "Buy a Brick, Build a Leader Campaign".
Dr. Carew provided an update on the CLMC Property Purchase. He went on to discuss the Master Plan Implementation which includes the Leah Ngini Center and the Transforming Hope Capital Campaign.
The Afternoon session included: AIU Charter Amendments, Nomination and Election of Council Chair, (Lee Karuri) and Deputy Chair (Rose Simani), Council Membership and Review, Re-appointing Dr. Carew to another 4 year term, Salary Review, Graduation Announcements, and honoring outgoing Chairperson Dr. Gideon Muriuki.
The meeting was closed in prayer.
Monday, July 9, 2012
I arrived safely late Monday evening around 9:30 PM. My good friend Baraza was there to meet me at the airport. This was the fastest trip through Visa and Customs. I am traveling with several blankets for a Christian Orphanage in Bungoma about 45 minutes from Eldoret. I will be hosting 5 students and 2 adult chaperones when they are on the AIU campus on Thursday and Friday this week. I also brought 2 laptops, some jump drives, and a Wireless Power over Ethernet Switch for the IT Department.
I wanted to share with you the daily devotion from "Mornings with Tozer" as I found it very relevant to this trip.
Mornings with Tozer.
I wanted to share with you the daily devotion from "Mornings with Tozer" as I found it very relevant to this trip.
July
9.
Too Timid to Resist
Too Timid to Resist
Speak every man
truth with his neighbour; for we are members one of another. Ephesians 4:25
The clever
proponents of evil political ideologies are spending millions to make us
Americans ashamed to love our country. They use every means possible to
persuade our own people that there is little left worth defending and certainly
nothing worth dying for.
They are
building in the public mind a picture of an American as a generous, tolerant,
smiling chap who loves baseball and babies, and who subscribes wholly to the
doctrine of the brotherhood of man—so everything is going to be all right!
From our point
of view, these concepts are having their effects on the nation's religious
life, especially among Protestants.
Let a man rise
to declare the unique lordship of Jesus Christ and the absolute necessity of
obedience to Him, and he is at once branded as a hatemonger and a divider of
men.
The devil has
brainwashed large numbers of religious leaders so successfully that they are
now too timid to resist him! And he, being the kind of devil he is, takes swift
advantage of their cowardice, erecting altars to Baal everywhere!
Lord, I pray
that You will raise up a new generation of religious and political leaders who
are full of integrity and who are not ashamed to honor You before men.
Mornings with Tozer.
*********************************************************
We would not endorse Christians as political leaders.
It doesn’t fit.
We are citizens of the heavenly country.
We certainly do say Amen to declaring the unique lordship of Jesus
Christ and the necessity of obedience to Him!
Saturday, July 7, 2012
It has been a week of tests and trials as I prepare to return to AIU. Our electricity has been out of service since last Friday evening as a result of an unexpected but devastating storm that left 1.6 million homes without power in the Mid-Atlantic region. In many ways it seemed appropriate preparation for two weeks in Kenya as the power can be unreliable at best. Fortunately this evening it came back on while I was serving dinner to our guests. Carol came to the Inn all excited saying, "the power is back on". You never realize how important something like that is until you have to live without it for over a week. It was a real test of our faith, patience, and endurance.
I am very excited about the upcoming trip. My agenda is packed with Governing Council retreat, meetings with students, faculty, management team, friends, graduation, and time with Dr. and Mrs. Carew. Please pray for safe travel and that our meetings are productive.
It is very exciting to now be working halftime as Executive Director at CLA. We have many exciting plans for growth and development as we help AIU with the transition to a full fledged university. Our development efforts and strategies for realizing the goals of the "Transforming Hope" campaign will be the focus of our energies this summer.
I will be finalizing the plans for a short term trip to include the groundbreaking ceremony for the Leah Ngini Community Center on October 4th. We are planning meetings with faculty, students, area ministries, and a 3 day, 2 night safari at the Masa Mara.
It will be a busy 2 weeks so I much finish my packing and get to bed since I have been up since 4:00 this morning.
Check the blog daily as I plan to post regularly about my adventures at AIU.
I am very excited about the upcoming trip. My agenda is packed with Governing Council retreat, meetings with students, faculty, management team, friends, graduation, and time with Dr. and Mrs. Carew. Please pray for safe travel and that our meetings are productive.
It is very exciting to now be working halftime as Executive Director at CLA. We have many exciting plans for growth and development as we help AIU with the transition to a full fledged university. Our development efforts and strategies for realizing the goals of the "Transforming Hope" campaign will be the focus of our energies this summer.
I will be finalizing the plans for a short term trip to include the groundbreaking ceremony for the Leah Ngini Community Center on October 4th. We are planning meetings with faculty, students, area ministries, and a 3 day, 2 night safari at the Masa Mara.
It will be a busy 2 weeks so I much finish my packing and get to bed since I have been up since 4:00 this morning.
Check the blog daily as I plan to post regularly about my adventures at AIU.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
AIU Celebrates it's First Anniversary of the Charter
“Though He Be Dead, He Yet Speaks”: Dr Tokunboh Adeyemo Immortalized at Africa International University
by Babatomiwa Moses Owojaiye from his blog, "Christianity in Africa"
"It is exactly a year today, 4th March, 2012 that Africa International University (formerly Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology) was officially awarded a charter to be a fully fledged university in Kenya by the President of Kenya, Honorable Mwai Kibaki. A thanksgiving service was organized by the authorities of the university to conclude the one week-long maiden anniversary. During the thanksgiving service, the authorities of AIU led by its Chancellor, Professor Wilson Omolokoli and its Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Douglas Carew named and dedicated the university’s world-class academic building to the memory of late Dr. Tokunboh Adeyemo. Dr. Adeyemo went to be with the Lord on March 18, 2010. Until his death, Adeyemo was one of the Founding Fathers and the first Chancellor of Africa".
This special dedication concluded a week of festivities on the AIU campus. This special Sunday Service was a real celebration of it's International Flavor. It included special food presentations by students representing their local African cuisine.
AIU Vice Chancellor travels to USA to meet with donors
CLA Executive Director, Ed Fischer and AIU Vice Chancellor, Douglas Carew visit donors and strategic partners in the USA
May 15th Dinner with David Fraser-DAI-Philadelphia
May 16th Lunch meeting with Faith Ngunjiri and Josphat
Yego
May 16th Evening Dinner meeting with Dr. Douglas
Black, potential partnership and suggestion for a follow up meeting with Kent
Sparks, Eastern Provost.
May 17th Breakfast meeting with Jim Rogers,
Eastern Board, AIU GC
May 18th Radio interview with Steve Davis at WELD-Petersburg
May 18 to 20th Chief Servant at North Fork Mtn
Inn Wedding Weekend-Cabins
May 21st Travel with Dr. Katho to Grand Rapids,
MI Cornerstone Meetings with Jason
Ferenzi.
May 21st Dinner meeting with Frank Gorman, former
architect of Calvin College and EMI Associates, potential CLA Board Member.
May 22nd Breakfast with Cal and Karen Jen, Business Faculty
at Calvin College
May 22nd Theological Book Network, Matt Heymen, Nancy Arnison, new ED, and Wayne Bornholdt
May 22nd Lunch meeting with Joel Carpenter,
former Calvin Provost and Mark Fackler, Calvin College, Dept. of Communications
May 22nd Evening meeting with Carl and Joyce
Ives, Paul and Gwen Kato, and children
May 23rd
Lunch meeting in Chicago with Mary Kleine Yehling, Tyndale Foundation ED, and her
colleague responsible for the African distributors of NIV Bibles
May 23rd
Dinner meeting with Peg Huffman, Doug Long, Terra Seidel, and Becky Inman, and
evening meeting at Mike McDonald’s house including Charlie Kelly, Faith Missionary
Church, Terra Seidel, CLA Board Member, and Donald Cassell, Sagamore Institute
May 24th Breakfast meeting with Gary Reinwald, potential CLA Board Member
May 24th Late Morning meeting at Indiana Wesleyan University
for meeting arranged by Dwight Jessup to discuss distance learning best
practices-Met with Mark Alexander, Regional Dean for On-line services for IWU
with lunch afterwards with Dwight and Karin Jessup
May 24th Late afternoon meeting with Wayne and
Libby Bloomquist, (Chet Wood’s daughter and missionaries to Cambodia) “Women in
Leadership” Challenge Grant
May 24th 5:00 PM Meeting with College Park Pastors including
Outreach Pastor Nate Irwin, and Darcy Weaver, 6:00 PM Dinner Meeting with
College Park Missions Committee
May 24th travel to Paul and Priscilla Heidebrecht where
Douglas will spend the weekend. Paul and
Priscilla are moving the end of June to Calgary, Canada where they will pastor
an urban church there. This will create
opportunities for Paul to use his previous experience as Executive Director of
CLA to develop and expand Canada for AIU.
Paul was originally from Canada and is very excited and energized about
this new phase of ministry.
May 25th 11:00 AM meeting with Bruce Howard at
Wheaton Office-Business Program Curriculum and Partnerships
May 25-May 26th Douglas to prepare presentation
for upcoming Boston Conference
CLA Board Chair Lynn Cohick scheduled a dinner meeting on
May 26th at her house to include Wheaton Associate Dean, Jeff Greenman, and Dan Treirer, head of the Wheaton PhD
programs. She has also arranged to take
Douglas to a dinner party at Karen Jobes, Wheaton faculty and AIU PhD supervisor
on Sunday evening May 27th if Douglas is available.
May 27th Speak at Paul Heidebrecht’s church,
Immanuel Presbyterian…and spend the day with son and daughter.
May 28th Fly to Boston-Memorial Day
May 29th-30th Present at conference
and facilitate group discussion on partnerships
June 1st Fly to Atlanta to visit family
June 5th return to Kenya via London
Other CLA action items:
Created 3 committees and assigned board members for Academic
Affairs, Finance and Administration, and Development in addition to the current
Executive Committee. Plan to use Douglas
Carew, Joe Mwangi, and Kavita Mouka as the point person for committee engagement.
Developing a Board Policy Manual modeled on AIU Best
Practices to help existing and prospective board members understand their
responsibilities for board service and committee assignments.
Currently the board meets twice a year in person in Indianapolis. Plans include making the November meeting a
two day retreat encouraging deeper personal (family including spouses)
relationships. The other months
alternate between board conference calls and committee meetings.
After May meeting, sent each board member a copy of
StrengthFinder 2.0. It helps to identify
your top 5 strengths with the premise that it is easier to focus on maximizing
your strengths versus trying to compensate for weaknesses. This is used as a tool for matching board
assignments with the board member with spiritual gifting in that area.
Completed and shared with the CLA Board the Personal
Development Map for the Executive Director using it as a model for engaging the
board planning for its Top 3 Priorities (Strategic Planning) and alignment with
AIU strategic goals.
Ed continued working and training with JDLA on
grantsmanship, leadership development, and board training. Starting July 1, Ed will move from part time,
pro bono executive director to “half-time” paid position with a goal of moving
to full time once current government development projects underway are
completed and cash flow positive. CLA
will end it work with Rich Klopp and focus most of its time remaining in its
contract with Jamie Levy, especially in the area of grantsmanship, board
training, and leadership development.
In early June we sent out our summer request letter with a
focus on Transforming Hope as a theme.
We plan to follow this with a special emphasis /request in July with an
eye towards an October 4th groundbreaking ceremony for the Leah
Ngini Community Center. We would also
try to recruit church teams to visit to help commemorate the event and
celebrate their participation and commitment.
Since January 2012 we have sent out a bi-monthly newsletter
to 700 donors, stakeholders, and interested parties sharing the stories of AIU,
its graduates, and communicating what CLA is doing in the US and Africa. You can subscribe to this electronic
newsletter at www.clafrica.com.
We recently completed a donor survey that reflected the
following:
·
Donors are passionate about the church in Africa
and theological leadership training
·
Donors would like more communication with and
from CLA
·
Some donors would like more information about
giving to CLA including estate gifts
·
Most donors are satisfied with their relationship
with CLA
·
Most donors consider CLA a moderate to high
charitable priority to support
·
CLA could improve the way people understand the
organization in the USA
·
The economy has not affected giving
significantly; most donors’ giving has remained constant
We plan to use this feedback to draw donors closer to our
inner circle and respond to their suggestions of how we can be more responsive
to their needs. Increasing donor
intimacy is one of our top 3 priorities.
Please continue to remember Lois and Mark Shaw in your
prayers. She will be finishing up
radiation therapy soon and will not have to undergo chemotherapy. You can read about her progress on her blog
at http://shawsonsafari.blogspot.com.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Thank You to Donors and Sponsors
Since we returned from Africa, it has been on my heart to write to each of you and thank you for the generous donation that you allowed my family and I to take to Kenya for the Kenduiwo Children's Home. Although this was a mission trip from our church to work at Africa International University, we had felt that God was calling us to visit the orphange that Luke and Jacob's school has been supporting for several years. Prior to our visit we were in contact with Dr. Paul Jarrett who is serving at a mission hospital in Tenwek, Kenya. Dr. Jarrett is from Indianapolis and had a well established OBGYN practice here before God called him and his family to Kenya. Four orphanges in the Tenwek area were started with the help of him and his family.
Before leaving for our trip, thanks to many generous donations, we had just over $1,300 for the orphanage. Since we had five suitcases of items to deliver to the orphange and limited space in the vehicle, I was worried about how to best use the money as there was not enough room in the vehicle to take many more supplies. Rice, flour, sugar, maize and oil had been purchased already but that had only taken a small portion of the money. We had gotten two soccer balls and several pair of tennis shoes but how were we going to use the remaining $1,000? God is always faithful and I should learn to not worry as He is in charge. The following is an excerpt from Dr. Paul Jarrett's blog that I think you will enjoy reading as he has eloquently explains how God used you to provide funds for orphans in need.
Through last week we had received sufficient donations for starting our previously sponsored orphans in school along with the eight freshmen class children from Umoja and Kenduiwo Children’s Homes. The students must be enrolled by tomorrow. Pastor Killel and the directors from the homes have been purchasing things like dictionaries, other books, notebooks, mattresses, and soap and other hygiene needs that would enable a young man or woman at age 15 to live at school away from home for three months at a time.
We met on Thursday at David’s office discussing how much more expensive the items along with the cost of tuition have become since last year – about 20%. We knew about the tuition, but we had underestimated all the extra costs. We were short nearly $500 overall. I went to the bank machine to get 40,000 KSh which amounted to $482 in USD. A donation had just arrived this week to cover the amount.
On Friday, we found three more of our orphans had been accepted by local principals having missed the original “draft” which is pretty descriptive of how the scholars are accepted into various schools in the area based on their national examination. We did not know these undrafted three were qualified and weren’t alerted by one of our directors. We did not have any more money meaning they would have to stay out of school for an entire year. What should we do?
I thought of Hezekiah and spread out the lists of the name of the students and their bills; David Killel and I prayed over them and asked God what we should do. It then occurred to me to write some guests visiting in Nairobi who were coming tomorrow to visit the orphans; that in itself is unusual – we don’t get a lot of visitors other than for medical work. I had been in contact with them although hadn’t actually met them yet. I wrote to them of the unexpected specific need of the children whom they planned to visit.
It seemed that God knew ahead of this situation and the visitors had been given some money from their friends to use in their ministry to the orphans – just enough to cover the expenses for the year for the three students and their incidental expenses. Did God want us to realize our need and want us to ask Him making our will in line with His will?
That was the theme of the message of our pastor, Elijah Bii, at Tenwek this morning. His text on prayer was from 1 Samuel chapters 1-2, the story of Hanna. The story tells how she was barren and persecuted by her co-wife – certainly a familiar story here around Tenwek. Undoubtedly, she prayed for a long, long time. It was when her will came in line with God’s will that He answered her prayer. 1 Sam 1:11 And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” NIV. She became the mother of Samuel, the judge of Israel whom God desired – the one who later anointed David.
So it happened that our prayer had come in line with God’s plans. How much less would we have appreciated the money if we had not seen our need and prayed for it? It was God’s timing that made us recognize our need, our requirement to pray, and then give Him praise and glory when He answered – this time nearly immediately. Thank you, Lord, not only for your provision but also for Your teaching us.
Last week a friend sent me an excerpt from a devotional from an author named Young that I enjoyed. I was reminded again of it today.
“I am with you and for you. You face nothing alone-nothing! When youfeel anxious, know that you are focusing on the visible world andleaving Me out of the picture. The remedy is simple: Fix your eyes noton what is seen but on what is unseen. Verbalize your trust in Me, theLiving One who sees you always. I will get you safely through this dayand all your days. But you can find me only in the present. Each dayis a precious gift from My Father. How ridiculous to grasp for futuregifts when today’s is set before you! Receive today’s gift gratefully,unwrapping it tenderly and delving into the depths. As you savor thisgift, you will find me. Romans 8:31; 2Corintians 4:18; Genesis16:13-14
Please continue to pray for us in the months ahead as we will again need God’s timely provision to pay the next installment of tuition for our 50+ students in April. Rachel is staying a week at Rift Valley Academy with Amy. Pray for her time there and her trip back next Sunday. Please pray for Susanna’s delivery with her first child, Mara. She is due today in Cincinnati. Laura is at home with Yoshiki James Noguchi, who is gaining weight rapidly.
Thank you so much for your participation in our ministry in so many ways – primarily in prayer. I thank God for you.
In Christ,
Paul, for the Jarretts in Kenya
http://jarrettsministry.org/weblog/?m=201202
In conclusion - as I sit with tears again in my eyes and reflecting on our amazing trip, I am thankful that God gave us the opportunity to be a part of delivering donations to help meet the needs of suffering children. Our God is truly full of mercy and grace and knows our every need. You were part of God's plan and we only served as the instrument of delivery. Thank you so much for your donation!
Blessings,
Kathy McDonald
Before leaving for our trip, thanks to many generous donations, we had just over $1,300 for the orphanage. Since we had five suitcases of items to deliver to the orphange and limited space in the vehicle, I was worried about how to best use the money as there was not enough room in the vehicle to take many more supplies. Rice, flour, sugar, maize and oil had been purchased already but that had only taken a small portion of the money. We had gotten two soccer balls and several pair of tennis shoes but how were we going to use the remaining $1,000? God is always faithful and I should learn to not worry as He is in charge. The following is an excerpt from Dr. Paul Jarrett's blog that I think you will enjoy reading as he has eloquently explains how God used you to provide funds for orphans in need.
Through last week we had received sufficient donations for starting our previously sponsored orphans in school along with the eight freshmen class children from Umoja and Kenduiwo Children’s Homes. The students must be enrolled by tomorrow. Pastor Killel and the directors from the homes have been purchasing things like dictionaries, other books, notebooks, mattresses, and soap and other hygiene needs that would enable a young man or woman at age 15 to live at school away from home for three months at a time.
We met on Thursday at David’s office discussing how much more expensive the items along with the cost of tuition have become since last year – about 20%. We knew about the tuition, but we had underestimated all the extra costs. We were short nearly $500 overall. I went to the bank machine to get 40,000 KSh which amounted to $482 in USD. A donation had just arrived this week to cover the amount.
On Friday, we found three more of our orphans had been accepted by local principals having missed the original “draft” which is pretty descriptive of how the scholars are accepted into various schools in the area based on their national examination. We did not know these undrafted three were qualified and weren’t alerted by one of our directors. We did not have any more money meaning they would have to stay out of school for an entire year. What should we do?
I thought of Hezekiah and spread out the lists of the name of the students and their bills; David Killel and I prayed over them and asked God what we should do. It then occurred to me to write some guests visiting in Nairobi who were coming tomorrow to visit the orphans; that in itself is unusual – we don’t get a lot of visitors other than for medical work. I had been in contact with them although hadn’t actually met them yet. I wrote to them of the unexpected specific need of the children whom they planned to visit.
It seemed that God knew ahead of this situation and the visitors had been given some money from their friends to use in their ministry to the orphans – just enough to cover the expenses for the year for the three students and their incidental expenses. Did God want us to realize our need and want us to ask Him making our will in line with His will?
That was the theme of the message of our pastor, Elijah Bii, at Tenwek this morning. His text on prayer was from 1 Samuel chapters 1-2, the story of Hanna. The story tells how she was barren and persecuted by her co-wife – certainly a familiar story here around Tenwek. Undoubtedly, she prayed for a long, long time. It was when her will came in line with God’s will that He answered her prayer. 1 Sam 1:11 And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” NIV. She became the mother of Samuel, the judge of Israel whom God desired – the one who later anointed David.
So it happened that our prayer had come in line with God’s plans. How much less would we have appreciated the money if we had not seen our need and prayed for it? It was God’s timing that made us recognize our need, our requirement to pray, and then give Him praise and glory when He answered – this time nearly immediately. Thank you, Lord, not only for your provision but also for Your teaching us.
Last week a friend sent me an excerpt from a devotional from an author named Young that I enjoyed. I was reminded again of it today.
“I am with you and for you. You face nothing alone-nothing! When youfeel anxious, know that you are focusing on the visible world andleaving Me out of the picture. The remedy is simple: Fix your eyes noton what is seen but on what is unseen. Verbalize your trust in Me, theLiving One who sees you always. I will get you safely through this dayand all your days. But you can find me only in the present. Each dayis a precious gift from My Father. How ridiculous to grasp for futuregifts when today’s is set before you! Receive today’s gift gratefully,unwrapping it tenderly and delving into the depths. As you savor thisgift, you will find me. Romans 8:31; 2Corintians 4:18; Genesis16:13-14
Please continue to pray for us in the months ahead as we will again need God’s timely provision to pay the next installment of tuition for our 50+ students in April. Rachel is staying a week at Rift Valley Academy with Amy. Pray for her time there and her trip back next Sunday. Please pray for Susanna’s delivery with her first child, Mara. She is due today in Cincinnati. Laura is at home with Yoshiki James Noguchi, who is gaining weight rapidly.
Thank you so much for your participation in our ministry in so many ways – primarily in prayer. I thank God for you.
In Christ,
Paul, for the Jarretts in Kenya
http://jarrettsministry.org/weblog/?m=201202
In conclusion - as I sit with tears again in my eyes and reflecting on our amazing trip, I am thankful that God gave us the opportunity to be a part of delivering donations to help meet the needs of suffering children. Our God is truly full of mercy and grace and knows our every need. You were part of God's plan and we only served as the instrument of delivery. Thank you so much for your donation!
Blessings,
Kathy McDonald
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