Tag Archives: Container

Only 147 Million Orphans. 1st Blog from Kenya

I am reading a book called Orphanology by Tony Merida and he states that there are 147 Million children in the world who awaken each day not knowing who will care for them.  As I close my 1st full day at the  Lord’s Servants Home today, I praise God that there could be 147 Million and 56.  The 56 kids at the LSH know that someone is caring for them, values them, and wants them to succeed.  I am blessed to be part of that and out of well over 100 people helping with this ministry, I get to be one of the fortunate few to give a real hug and smile to the kids.

Everything is going very well.  It’s beautiful here and the kids are well.  Greg, Tony, and Terri are doing great.  We have a great start on our projects and we have had a great time with the kids.  Tony and I focused on the playground projects and got two plastic slides, swings, and teatherballs installed.  Big hits.  Greg and Terri have been awesome servants today.  Our water project is moving forward and we have hope of drilling a well this coming week.  We have supplies on hand already for installing an elevated tank and for other projects.  We hooked up the TV and DVD that we sent in the container months ago and the kids are watching Jungle Book now.  Every now and then I hear them cheering for something.  This morning we gave then some “Saturday morning cartoons” just like we all had.

I’m blessed here in Kenya!

PS.  I’ll download some photos tomorrow.

January 2013 Trip Update

Update on our plans for our next trip to The Lord’s Servants Home….  Greg Perkins, Tony and Terri Yoder, and I will leave the US on 23 January and spend two weeks at the orphanage in Kitale, Kenya.  Greg and I will go on to a town north of Jinja, Uganda to visit a relatively new ministry and orphanage that is serving in that area. 

Besides loving on the kids and meeting the new ones, our trip outline in rough terms is as follows….

  1. Projects.
    1. The new well.  We have decided to drill a well and have completed a survey, indicating water at 120 meters.  We hope to have permitting completed and ideally the well drilled by the time we visit.  Our goal will be to complete installation of the well, pump, storage tank, piping, and chlorinator before we leave.
    2. Projects associated with the goods on the container such as playground slides, swings, and merry-go-round installation as well as TV installation in the dining hall.
    3. Implement mentorship projects for the older children.
    4. Review of all projects implemented previously and act as needed, upgrading some such as rain gutters, lighting, and electrical installation.
  2. Business and planning discussions.
    1. Budget review for 2012, new budget for 2013.
    2. Lord’s Servants Academy (new nursery school) vision, short-term plan, and long-term plan.  This will lead to decisions about building a classroom for future 1st through 4th grades classes.
    3. Farm future plan and use of the land.  How can we best honor God with that land.
    4. Discuss use of the old church building and initiate actions.
    5. Cooperation between The Lord’s Ministries, The Liyavo Bible Church, and The Lord’s Servants Home.
  3. Visit the Stream of Hope for the African Child ministry and orphanage in Uganda.
    1. Get to know Pastor Isabirye and the ministry goals and needs.
    2. Deliver some medicine, goods, gifts, and relief.

Please keep us in your prayers as we finalize our plans and work towards gathering provisions.

Container Shipment Update

We get to praise God for the arrival of the container and receipt of the goods but we also get to exercise faith that God is working through the situation.  Many of the items were removed and are lost.  All is not known about why but most of the commodity items such as toys, toilet paper, socks, candy, books, CDs, solar panels, and balls, were removed.  We can only trust that God will place them with someone in need.

The project items such as playground slides, swings, and merry-go-round arrived as did tools, electronics, some books, Bibles, and some clothing.  At least we can implement the playground improvements during our visit in January.

We are disappointed in the world but not in God….He is good, all the time.

Trip planned for January 2013

Our plans are beginning to take shape for our next trip to The Lord’s Servants Home.  At this point, Greg Perkins and I will leave the US on 23 January, spend two weeks at the orphanage in Kitale, Kenya then travel to a town north of Jinja, Uganda to visit a relatively new ministry and orphanage that is serving in that area.  Others may join us at The Lord’s Servants Home. 

The timing of this trip is such to allow us to A) catch the kids on their school break and get to know the 20 new ones that will have joined the home by then, B)  Complete the fresh water well project during the dry season, and C) travel by land to Uganda during the dry season.

Our trip outline in rough terms is as follows….

  1. Projects.
    1. The new well.  Our goal will be to prepare for this, decide what course of action, and complete installation of the well, pump, storage tank, piping, and chlorinator before we leave.
    2. Many small projects associated with the goods on the container.
    3. Implement some mentorship projects.
    4. Review of all projects implemented previously and act as needed. 
  2. Business discussions.
    1. Budget review for 2012, new budget for 2013.
    2. Current and long term issue review.
    3. Lord’s Servants Academy (new nursery school) vision, short term plan, and long term plan.
    4. Farm future plan and use of the land.
    5. Cooperation between The Lord’s Ministries, The Liyavo Bible Church, and The Lord’s Servants Home.
    6. Plan outline for the next visit.  How many, what kind of activities, how long, when?
  3. Visit the Stream of Hope for the African Child ministry and orphanage in Uganda.
    1. Get to know Pastor Isabirye and the ministry goals and needs.
    2. Deliver some medicine, goods, gifts, and relief.

Please keep us in your prayers as we finalize our plans and work towards gathering provisions to complete our purpose to serve and love the people in Africa and honor God with this.

Container of goods held up…

A few months ago we were able to include about 40 boxes of goods in a container bound for Kitale by another non-profit ministry, Water Missions.  It is currently on administrative hold by customs in Mombasa and has for nearly a month.  We are also applying for a tax waiver for the goods because it is to supply an orphanage.  There are books, clothes, tools, toys, playground equipment, and many other things that were donated and brought together to send to The Lord’s Servants Home.  Please pray that this shipment is protected, kept whole, and released for delivery.