Tag Archives: LSA

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.

 

 

Trip 17, Update 5, LSH Kenya

3 different waves of 11 of us arrived well in Kenya almost 2 weeks ago.  I haven’t been able to post much but I’ll catch up on the great things that have been going on.

Today we completed a major project….playground for the Lord’s Servants Academy.  We brought some metal bending equipment with us and after a week of welding, concrete, and assembly, we opened the playground to an eager crowd.  The approval rating was high.  This is the only playground for miles…and the best I have seen.  It is for the LSA kids but is open to all kids in the community after school.

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New Lord’s Servants Academy #2….Finished!

After breaking ground in August and only 3 months of work, the building is finished and ready for a January opening of the school year and new 6th grade class.

The first use of this building however, in mid January, prior to school opening, will be as community medical clinic as part of a 3 day outreach to love the Lyavo, Kenya community with screenings, general treatments, and medicine.  This is a primary project of our team of 8 people leaving the US in early January.

Thank you for your prayers and help and join us in praising God.  In broad terms, a miracle is…God acting.  This community would never be able to raise up a school.  God acted and we got to be part of it.  I love it!

LSA kids playing in the foreground of the new building.

LSA kids playing in the foreground of the new building.

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas! and Happy New Year! are greetings and blessings of peace and hope.  I feel that the true blessing that we can give and receive is when you do more than say words but instead work toward making them true.  It is arguably true that after decades of international effort and trillions of dollars spent trying to bring peace and end hunger and disease in Africa, the situation is relatively unchanged and remains a tragedy of daunting proportions.  It is clear to me that A) the only true hope and peace is found in Jesus Christ and B) the people who are going to make the biggest changes in Africa are going to be Africans.  It is a necessity that we all work on both short-term needs and long-term solutions.

Thank you for working in general for peace and hope in the world through your faith and compassion in anything you do and specifically with us at The Lord’s Servants Home in Kitale, Kenya to raise up Godly, loving, future leaders that we currently know as our Kids.  We have spent 100% of the over $100,000 provided in 2012 for support, clothing, schooling, health, and new and upgraded facilities for soon to be 60 children.  A similar amount will be spent in 2013 and will accomplish the same goals including a new water well and classroom building for The Lord’s Servants Academy, both of which will serve the community around the orphanage in the same way, providing a practical means toward peace and hope, investing in sharing the love of Christ and in children.

It pulls at my heart when our children thank me for paying their school fees, and when they get excited about new clothes or a book.  I’m impressed how they work hard at chores and schoolwork and play even harder.  I love how they care for each other and how they sing to the top of their lungs praising God.  Lastly I’m humbled by the intensity of the prayers that come out of their little mouths in unison like a beehive.  I know they pray for us way more that we pray for them.  This all has to be very joyful to our Father.

So….May the Peace, Joy, Love, and Hope that God gave to the world through Jesus Christ reside and manifest in you and your family this season and always!

Thank you again and God bless you,

Bob and Kathy Hillebrand, Pastor Moses and the staff at the LSH, volunteers and helpers around the world, and the children.

Here is a great Christmas Song making me think about Africa…from 1984.

Another version…from 1989

And again….from 2004

Lyrics to Do They Know It’s Christmas :

(B. Geldof)
It’s Christmastime,
there’s no need to be afraid
At Christmastime,
we let in light and we banish shade
And in our world of plenty
we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world
at Christmastime.
But say a prayer,
pray for the other ones
At Christmastime it’s hard,
but when you’re having fun
There’s a world outside your window,
and it’s a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing
is the bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that ring there
are the clanging chimes of doom
Well tonight thank God it’s them
instead of you.
And there won’t be snow in Africa this Christmastime
The greatest gift they’ll get this year is life (Oooh)
Where nothing ever grows
No rain or rivers flow
Do they know it’s Christmastime at all?
Here’s to you raise a glass for everyone
Here’s to them underneath that burning sun
Do they know it’s Christmastime at all?
Feed the world
Feed the world
Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmastime again