Tag Archives: Kenyan People

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.

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.

Mama Pauline and God’s Timing

Mama Pauline at Kitale Kenya orphanage

Mama Pauline, the matriarch of the Mudenyo family, founders of The Lord’s Ministries, and benefactor of the land that the Lord’s Servants orphanage sits on, went to be with the Lord last week.  I will not be able to do her justice with a brief blog entry but evidence of the influence her life had on others in a good way is plentiful. 

The orphanage and Liyavo Bible Church are on land donated by her family over 30 years ago.  Several of her sons became Pastors and many family members are active in ministry.  She was buried on her family’s land with her husband George, the founder of The Lord’s Ministries, and her celebration was attended by nearly 1500 people.  Mama was involved with and followed the lives of the orphans and often spoke encouragement to me to continue doing what God leads me with them.  She was loved by the community and will be missed.

Mama fought cancer and other health issues much longer than she was expected to and God called her home in His perfect timing.  I had just left Kenya unfortunately when she passed but Greg and his team was still there.  They had just finished the new dorm building but had not moved the children into it yet.  Most of the projects including water collection, grounds clean-up, electrical improvements, and new beds and furniture were also completed.  Everything looked great.  Approximately 100 people who traveled from out-of-town were able to sleep in the new dorm building (although many on the floor) and many others received hospitality.  All the guests passed through the orphanage and they all saw the work that God has been doing in a complete and impressive way.  This included many important people in local government and ministry as well as much of the community.  What great timing…A few weeks earlier or later and things would not have been perfect like it was for the orphanage to be able to serve Mama in her celebration.

Praise God for His blessings on us in the life of Mama Pauline and the work He gives us for the orphans and community.  I pray that many lives were touched and changed by God’s work in Mama’s life and celebration.  I pray that peace and purpose continue in her family and friends.