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 31st. 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.
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
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