Category Archives: Student Updates

Updates on the Students in Kenya

Trip 36 to Uganda…Entrepreneurship Training CRM Young Adults.

The endgame for Mission Servants Ministry’s (MSM) support of Children’s Homes and Schools is to raise up healthy, loving, God Loving, educated, motivated, and productive people to improve their society and communities. Helping some to start small businesses is a great leg up to someone. Greg and I will spend much of this trip teaching Christian Entrepreneurship principles and practical business methods. We have been working with a number of kids from the Child Redeemed Mission (CRM) Home system that are ready for this training and ready to start businesses such as Hair Dressing Salon, Clothing repair and sewing, Barbering, and Food Wholesaling. We hope to launch some of these ventures on this trip.

We have launched projects in Kenya over the last year with kids from the Lord’s Servants Home system to start a Piggery, Graphics Design and Printing Shop, and other small operations. Greg and I have 70 + years combined in business, most of them for ourselves and love to teach “people how to fish!” Praise God for this opportunity. Your financial support and prayers make this happen. More updates to follow….our trip is August 3-13th.

Here is Sarah and Godsend Graphics.

Update 2 about Kenyan and Ugandan Child Missions under Covid19.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers for the Children’s ministries in Kenya and Uganda supported by MSM.

Earlier this week the President of Uganda updated the Covid19 plan in effect.  The widespread shutdown of transportation, borders, churches, schools, and other gatherings is still in place.  The major change is for schools to open on a limited basis on June 2nd.  The limitation is lifted only for the last year of Primary (Elementary) and the last year of High School.  This affects some of the kids at Child Redeemed Mission Home.  The plan is to bring these kids back to residence at CRM and leave the balance yet with extended family.

The welfare of the kids that are staying outside of CRM is a matter of focus and concern for the staff.  In several cases, food supplies are given to the families hosting the kids.  All children are contacted regularly by the CRM social workers.  This period is a real struggle for the community.  Food is scarcer and more costly and the ability to obtain other goods and services are difficult.  The good news is that the number of confirmed Covid19 cases in Uganda are very low.

The kids at CRM are doing great.  They are able to study, read, make music, and garden. Many have learned and practiced crafts such as knitting and sewing…..

…and have helped in a recent project to build a new firewood storage shelter.

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Promise Primary School in Kamuli, Uganda, sponsored by MSM, has been taking advantage of the shutdown to work on the school grounds and buildings.  Repairing storm and termite damage for instance.   A major project to build a new kitchen has been moving forward and nearing completion to be available when school resumes.  I will have a separate post about this soon.

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Trip 26 – Uganda, Update 4…..Back to school.

This was back to school week for kids in Uganda and the ones at Child Redeemed Mission Home approach it with a lot of enthusiasm….Shopping, supplies accumulation, prayer meetings, head shaving, making of fried crispy dough called Daddies (their version of snack chips).  6 existing High Schoolers were joined by 7 first year students and 32 elementary school aged kids started school.

CRM kids know that their future is why they are going to school and value the opportunity.  Sadly, even as I walk the kids to school, I pass dozens and dozens of kids working in the family gardens or just hanging out…not going to school.  A life in early years without hope for future opportunities is so sad.  CRM kids have the opportunity to have dreams and goals.  Praise God.

We purposely plan our January trips to coincide with the end of their holiday vacation and to be part of the going back to school time.  One transition we celebrate is from Primary School to High School.  We took the 7 new high schoolers to town for a nice lunch, chat about the future, Fatherly advice, and prayer.  That was a real treat for them….and then shopping in town for shoes and remaining needs for going to boarding school.

 

 

 

 

Trip 24 – LSH Home Kenya

Greg and I returned recently from visiting the Lord’s Servants Home (LSH) in Kitale, Kenya.  It has been some time since our last visit.  Our goals on this trip were to assess the effectiveness of the management, condition of the home, school, and children, and to fortify communications and objectives for the education and future of the Children that MSM has sponsored over the years.  We found everyone doing well and preparing to start Term III of this school year.  I specifically enjoyed meeting with the older kids who have finished High School and was encouraged with their progress….many of them are in college courses like Kenny in Nursing School and some working jobs, including Brenda who is now a teacher at the school.  Others are in the planning stages of taking steps toward their future education and profession.

The Lord’s Ministries (TLM) is the Kenyan ministry that operates the LSH and school.  Since our last visit, TLM has changed staff, assumed responsibility for operation funding, and has refocused on ministry objectives.  This was all evident and positive.

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Ken and wife, Judith, Directors of LSH and school

The partnership status with TLM involves that MSM provide for school fees and school supplies while TLM provide all other support and funding such as salaries, food, medical, and utilities.  This trip was an unannounced visit and we verified that TLM has been acting in good faith to support the children in a healthy manner, operating the home and school as well as possible, and using the infrastructure in a responsible way.  MSM will continue with this partnership arrangement which focuses on…..

  • Assisting through funding the kids education in an accountable way.
  • Trips to assist with the repair of the buildings and assets used to care for the children.
  • Encourage and bless them in a Gospel way.

We supported these objectives on this trip by paying school fees, shopping for school supplies the older kids need, buying new mattresses and bedding, and making plans for an infrastructure and spiritual support trip in 2019.

Thank you for your support of MSM on behalf of these children.  It has made a difference in their lives.  Enjoy some current photos.