Jeff and Mary Lou Wallace

Jeff and Mary Lou Wallace arrived in Nairobi without difficulty. Michael picked them up and took them to a hotel/guest house to spend the night. They will travel to Kisumu on Thursday, stopping at Lake Nakuru National Park on the way.

At the airport

After a couple of hectic days of packing, making final arrangements for the trip and a ride to Atlanta with one daughter and four grandchildren, we are at the new International Terminal with less than two hours before departure. Thanks to all who are praying and all who have given support in many ways. Sent from my iPhone

Two days till liftoff

Today is Pentecost and our congregation received a rush of wind from the sermon delivered by the Rev. Keith Stewart. He likened the Holy Spirit rushing in on that first Pentecost to winds of God filling our sails and taking us to places never before imagined.
Mary Lou and I feel as though the Spirit is filling our sails. We have just about everything on our list and now just need to get everything in good order in suitcases and trunks. Just 48 hours until we are to take off from Atlanta.
We are feeling the prayers of those who are lifting up this mission and our part in it.

chiggers (jiggers) – not the southern redbug!!

“Chiggers” in Africa are not tiny redbugs that cause a red itchy bump for a week. They are tiny parasites that thrive in poor, unhygienic conditions that cause pain and suffering, reduce the ability to walk and function, is significantly detrimental to overall health and occasionally causes death. It is a major cause of absenteeism in schools.

Life for Children Ministry has partnered with St. John’s Community Centre Nairobi and the Ministry of Health Homa Bay to train community health workers in Wachara after realizing the pain and suffering inflicted to children due to chiggers infection, water borne diseases, and HIV/AIDS among others. Many of these community health workers are LCM guardians and are giving back to the community by volunteering their services.

While these community health workers are volunteering their services, the medicines to treat the chiggers and transportation to the various locations is not free. LCM has estimated that to buy the chigger kits and provide transportation for 10 health care workers for the next year will cost approximately $1600.

Blessings,

Frances

chiggers feet

chiggers hands

Wallace blog and pic

We are starting the packing process. Medicines have been refilled. Doctors have been visited. I have one more shot to get (oh joy!) and we have our ride to Atlanta lined up.
There have been lots of prayers prayed, and we are excited and nervous about what lies ahead. We got an email from Michael Agwanda yesterday, and he said he is looking forward to our time together.
Please be in prayer about his ability to recall and share his memories with us.

Getting ready

Just nine days until we depart for Kenya.
Mary Lou and I are excited about the opportunity to serve, but somewhat apprehensive about the task before us since we have never attempted anything like writing a book.
We were commissioned at all three church services this morning and feel the support of our congregation at St. John’s more than ever. Let’s pack!

a testimony from Joseph Sombe

This ministry changed my life for the better. I lost both my parents when I was still young. Me and my siblings were left under the care of my aunt who is also a widow in my home. Many people have died including all my uncles. I used to live a very sad life and I feared death was coming to get me just like it did with my parents and uncles. In 2006 my aunt came to know about Life for Children Ministry and I was lucky enough to be recruited. Since than I have been receiving great support including spiritual nourishment, each time we meet at the office for fellowship we always share the word of God together. This has always encouraged me and reminded me that even though I lost many members of my family I still have God who cares for me and loves me very much. I also met other orphans that encouraged me so much I told myself that I am not alone. This ministry caters for my education, food, clothes, shoes, spiritual guidance. We also receive guidance and counseling to help us know how to stay with our friends and family. I am now in 4th form at Onjiko boys high school. I promise to work hard and join a university. I am grateful and so happy to be part of this wonderful ministry.

I feel very blessed to have a sponsor. Not every orphan has one. That is why I count myself lucky and this is one of my many blessings. Each time I write to my sponsor I feel good. It’s like I am writing to my parents who went for a long journey and am just telling them how I have been doing. My sponsor is like a father and a mother to me. They are part of me and I pray for them every day. My school fees are always paid. I have received a lot from my sponsor. He is a God sent and sometimes I wonder what I would have done without my sponsor and without this ministry.

May God bless you all.

Joseph

 

a testimony from Esther

I joined Life for Children Ministry when I was in class 6, after I lost my parents and my 2 uncles. Life became so hard all the orphans in our home were left under the care of my old grandfather who does not have any income. I was very lucky to join LCM program and ever since my life has changed for the better. Many orphans from my village and other places have dropped out of school because there is no one to cater for their education. Some of my cousins dropped out too but for me God sent an angel named Life for Children Ministry to save me. They paid for my education through primary school. I did my final exams for primary in 2009 and managed to get 317 marks out of 500. I was lucky enough to join Nyakach Girls High School which is a provincial school located in Nyanza. Life for Children Ministry has been paying my school fees in full including my school uniforms and other basic needs. I am now in my 4th form this is my final year in secondary school. I promise to do my best and get good grades to join a public university.

At school many children are being sent back home to collect school fees but as for me I have never been sent home. In fact at my school nobody knows I am an orphan. Other children including my friends knows that I still have both parents because I am always happy. I am well taken care of and I have never been sent back home to collect school fees. I know God is the creator and I owe my life to him but again I owe my life to this ministry. God sent them to me and I give God all the glory and thanks, this ministry means so much to me.

I feel very loved and honored to have a sponsor who cares for me and loves me. I am always at peace even though I lost my mother and father. I am not sad anymore because I know somebody is out there praying for me and somebody cares for me so much and that is my sponsor. I always pray for her and her family. I don’t live in fear anymore. I always tell my friends that my other family lives abroad and they envy me a lot. I am so happy and I feel valued so much I want to thank my sponsor and let her know she means so much to me. May the good Lord protect her and her family. May she never lack. May she receive peace and blessings. May God give her good health and above all may God bless her.

Thank you all and may God bless this ministry.

Esther Opiyo

a testimony from Beatrice Amondi

I don’t even know where to start from each time I narrate my story tears drop from my eyes, God has brought me far after my parents death my brother and I were left hopeless our old grandmother could no longer provide for us, she too lost hope after losing all her children she felt sick and was not in her right senses. I was forced to beg for food in the street, every morning I was taking my younger brother (junior) to go and beg in the streets of Kisumu town we were getting little support from well-wishers the money I was getting was helping me feed my brother and my grandmother, many nights we went to bed with empty stomach, sometimes we were unlucky and got nothing from the street sometimes we were lucky to get food or small money from well-wishers. It was very risky for my brother and me exposing ourselves in the street where there is violence and lots of dirty activities.

One morning in 2007 a good Samaritan picked us from the street his name is Steve he use to work with street children and every morning he was visiting street children to pray and provide food for them, When Steve saw us I narrated our story to him he felt for us but since he was only dealing with street boys he offered to take us somewhere to get assistance, he introduced me to life for children ministry and I was lucky enough they took me in. I joined life for children ministry in 2007 I thank God so much for this blessing ever since I joined programme I have received nothing but blessings they paid for my primary fees and because of this I did so well in my final year exams they came to my rescue when I was at risk of dropping out of school. I did my class 8 exams in 2009 and managed to score 356 marks out of 700 I joined Ahero girls secondary in 2010 I am now in form 3, Life for children ministry is paying for my school fees, my school shopping, in short the they cater for all my needs. I now receive many supports like food which helps my brother and grandmother. I now have hope I am so happy to join boarding school this ministry has given me hope when I had lost it all I thank God so much for this wonderful opportunity.

To add to my many blessings I was lucky enough to be sponsored not all the orphans in this ministry have sponsors I am among the few lucky once I get a lot of support from my sponsor I write to her once in a while I receive lots of help like food, clothes, shoes and my school fees is paid I don’t owe the school any money my performance is excellent last term I was position 3 out of 234 with mean grade of B+ I promise to work even harder to join university, my prayer is to get a good job so that one day am able to assist this ministry too in any way I can. I also want to thank my sponsor Renee so much for having chosen me among many kids she is like a mother to me and I love her so much, I also want to thank LCW staffs, director Michael Agwanda and my fellow orphans for making a big different in my life and for the good work.

May God bless you,

Beatrice Amondi

Cleophas’ testimony

Cleophas Onyango has been on the heart of many supporters for many years. He has been fighting Osteomyelitis since he was a young boy. LCM supporters looked for doctors and hospitals in both Kenya and the U.S. but couldn’t find any that could successfully treat him. Finally, doctors at Kijabe Hospital have been able to stop the infection. Below is a testimony from Cleophas.

CLEOPHAS ONYANGO

I joined Life for Children Ministry in 2006 while in grade 4 and since that time I have received full support from them (Life for Children Ministry) to ensure that we get the best of support. I don’t feel like an orphan any more since they have given me hope and happiness and now they are my family. The ministry has provided me with much including food, education, medical care, spiritual guidance and more. I am so happy to be sponsored and I am so Blessed to be chosen among many kids. I now receive full support from the ministry. I have been unwell for years. I have a problem with my leg and have been hospitalized many times. Life for Children Ministry paid my bill for all the surgery I went through. The hospitals bills was such a big amount of money and most of the time I ask myself who else would have paid for my medication if not for Life for Children Ministry. Now I am well I no longer have pain. Now I use one stick to walk and I no longer use two crutches. My education is fully paid by Life for Children Ministry. I always receive school books, supplies, shoes and uniform from Life for Children Ministry.

Life for Children Ministry staff are so kind and they understand each and every orphan. They listen to us and try hard to solve all our problems. They understand and listen to us. I thank God for making me part of this ministry. It is the best thing God has given me. I thank him so much. I am humbled and blessed so much. Currently I am in Form Two at Onjiko Boys Secondary School where I am working very hard to get good grades to enabled me to join a public university.

I feel so happy and special to be sponsored. It’s a privilege and I want to make good use of this opportunity. My sponsor is Michelle Longman and I want to thank her so much from the bottom of my heart. May God bless her so much for the kind heart. I want to thank God almighty so much for giving me a sponsor and for making me part of this ministry.

May God bless you.