Jambo Friends!

It has been a week that I am back in the States. I think my heart followed eventually and I am getting adjusted to living here in Pittsburgh again. I am looking back on some very rich weeks in Kenya.

When I left in the beginning of February I had a strong sense of God's presences and provision for the children and for myself. I had goals and desires on my heart I wanted to accomplish. Some were “God-sized-goals”; knowing to reach them would involve God's sovereign intervention and grace. It was an adventure to trust and depend on God but also a privilege to be part of an unfolding story of His mercy.

There was overwhelming joy on both sides, the kids and me when I visited the orphanage. “Mama Margret” cried and the kids danced for joy and screamed loud. Some of them jumped on me that I almost fell to the ground. What a welcome! Can you picture it?

Some of the goals I had was

• to enroll all eligible children in school. To pay all the necessary school fee for one year, including the extra expenses like, school uniforms, pencils, exercise books and 3 rolls of toilet paper per child :) 10 children who never went to school are now getting an education, some of them are 10 & 11 years old. Isn't that fantastic?!
• Teaching a class in the Bible school in Nairobi. It was a big challenge to prepare for. I was scheduled for 30 hours teaching “practical Christian living”. I ended up adding three more days to the schedule. Two of the days were “practicing Christian living” by ministering to the children of the orphanage. That was fun for all of us, the kids and the students really enjoyed it. Many of the crafts I brought from America came in handy for that project.
• Woman Seminars! This is were my heart beats faster, I just love it! I could conduct three different Seminars, one in Nairobi and two in Diani Beach. To connect with women, teaching scripture and applying it into our lives makes me become alive. This was very precious to me and I hope that it will be able to do that in the future.
• I met with many friends from our church. It felt like I never left (or only for a short time) reconnecting and continuing our friendship without any problems. I have a real sense of belonging and it is mutual. Revisiting some of the places were Gil and I went was at times hard but also healing.
• There were opportunities to coach with several people. 

The “God-size goal” was to find a new home for the children. They received notice that they had to be out of the current house by March 31^st. How do you find a home for 24 children? Mama Margret was so overwhelmed, her blood pressure sky-rocketed. The current house has only three bedroom and it is way too small. To trust and to pray were our only options. It sounded almost impossible to find a good house with a willing landlord to let a woman and 24 children move in. There was one home near by but it was way too expensive to be a real option. This is where God came in! He brought me “just in time” to Kenya! But not just me, but with me the generous gift of my friends that made the impossible possible. I had enough funds to cover the rent for a whole year!

The new home has actually two unites with three bedrooms each. Now they have a girls and a boys home, which is really necessary as some of the kids hit their teens. It is a brand new home with showers and flushing toilets, an indoor kitchen and a separate living and dinning room area. God provided more then they could have ever asked for! Last Sunday they moved in and the kids love the new home! Thank you to all who gave so generously, what a difference your gift made in the life of the children.

But that is not even all! Another house mother could be hired. She helps with the kids, cooks and clean. Additional twice a week a woman comes to do the laundry for the children. (No machines, all is done by hand) This is a huge help to Mama Margret! We could buy extra beds, now only two children sleep in one bed; what an improvement from 4 or 6 children in a bed just one year ago!

Of course there is so much more to write. The personal stories of the children are very touching, like Moses's story. He was brought by a pack of street dogs to the orphanage, with the umbilical cord still attached. If you don't know the story, go to my blog and read about it. http://lifecoachmaria.blogspot.com

When I say good bye to the children they gave me a message for my friends and church: “Tell them that we love them, your friends are our friends and your church is our church!” So here I pass this on to you and add: “ My children are your children!”

Would you like to hear more about little Chellah, or Angel, Jessica or Dennis...I am more then happy to share with you personally. Invite me over for a cup of tea or coffee and I will show you pictures and tell you about the children and how God meets their needs.

Can you get the sense of how amazing God has answered prayer. It is humbling and exciting to be part of God's Kingdom. I look back and see how incredible God has moved in the short 6 weeks. The richness of His grace is evident.

Thank you so much for sending me to Kenya, your gifts made it possible. I am profoundly grateful for the experience and privileged to be involved with the orphans and people of Kenya.

Please feel free if you want to hear more about my trip to contact me. I love to come to your family, small group of church to share more. What is next and when I will go back to Kenya?!. Thank you for your prayers, our Father in heaven has answered them above and beyond.

For His glory,

Maria

I am back in the States, right now in the airport of Washington DC. It is good to be back home! Here some more pictures from my today's flight out of Switzerland. It is just amazing!

Dear Friends

By now I should have made it to the US, but my flight got canceled yesterday. So the airline booked all passengers into hotel's around the airport. To see the Alps is always fun and I had a stroll along a small river. It is beautiful here. Today I hope to reach "home", it is good to have some more transition time. Hope to see many of you soon. Blessings, Maria

It is my last day here in Kenya. The time has gone by so fast and I can't believe that I will board the plane tonight. Many last minute things need  still  to be taken care of before I pack my bags and leave later today. I visited the school again today to check on the kids, I got very good reports. Here are some of the pictures I took. I come just in time for the lunch break. The kids are served ugali, greens and potato!

Thank you for traveling with me to Kenya. It is an adventure to be on the road for Jesus. I can't express how grateful I am for all your prayers, finical support and encouragement along the way.

It is a privilege to be involved with the orphanage and to make a real life difference. I could achieve all the goals I ope to accomplish. God in His kindness has answered many prayers and opened doors. If you would like to have a first hand report, please contact me and I would be very happy to tell you more about my time here and how you could be involved if you so desire. There is a common phrase often used here in Kenya: "God is good all the time and all the time God is good!"




Here are some more pictures of my time here in Kenya!

Very good news to report!!!
Finally we signed the contract for a new home for the orphanage.They have outgrown the current home with only three bedrooms for the 25 children. We found a really nice home with two parts, one for the girls and one for the boys. It is better then what I could have imagined for the children. Six bedrooms, that is amazing! There is even a extra room for a second "housemother" which is very much needed as well a "good size African kitchen" and a room for the children to do their homework. God has provided abundantly! We had enough funds to pay the rent for the year and money for some additional beds, shoe racks, tables and the moving expenses. The kids and of course Mama Margret are very excited to move this coming weekend. God has shown Himself as faithful Father who provides. I wish you could have been here to see the happy faces of the children. Just amazing. See the attached pictures of the home.

Jambo
Today I am going back to Nairobi. The time here in Diani Beach was very rich. On Saturday there was another workshop which I enjoyed so much. Yesterday the church fellowship was filled with many mixed emotions. Saying good bye to my friends here was hard.

In the morning I went for a early walk on the beach to see the sun rise and in the evening the moon. You can get a glimpse how beautiful Kenya is.

Jambo
Almost every day Anjela and BJ, the children of Dennis and Allison, are haging out with me to listen to the song of the Lion King movie, "Hakuna Matata". We know all the words and moves of it now and have a great time acting them out. BJ tells me that my name is" Maria Allewelt Omondi!"

Jambo

Today we had the woman's seminar. How sweet it is to connect with "old" friends and make new friends. The seminar was well attended, interacting with the women was great fun.

I hope I can find out how to upload a video from the singing, listen and enjoy it. During the seminar I forgot to have someone taking pictures, so here are some snap shots from hanging out after the seminar. It is good to be back in Diani Beach!

 

Jambo from hot and humid Kenya. The rain that fell last night and early this morning made the day sweltering. If possible at all you stay near a fan, at least you try it!

My days are filled with visiting friends. It is so good to connect and catch up with them. To hear how God has worked in their lives Today I went to see three friends and heard some incredible stories of how good and faithful our Father in heaven is. Here are some  picture of Cathrine, one of my friends I visited. It will give you a glimpse into her life.

Jambo Friends!

I made my way to Diani Beach, the place where Gil and I lived. The plan was rather small, even I couldn't stand up in it!

Here I visit many friends. Our Pastor Dennis and his family are graciously hosting me. To connect with many friends at church was a great joy for me today. To worship with my Kenyan friends gives me a little taste of heaven.
On Saturday the church hosts a Women's Seminar were I will speak about the "Father's love".

Jacintha is one of my best friends here in Kenya. I am looking forward to connecting with her and James her husband this week to spend some time with them.


After church the Omondi's and I went out for lunch. As Allison and I were finishing up our coffee a monkey jumped on the table and stole the sugar bowl form us. Africa holds surprises in the most mundane things in life.

 

I "graduated" from Mama Maria to"Grandma",  BJ calls me that affectionately!