Today football teams contiue to play games as the tornaments moves to the finals . While the teams played, the large crowds watched, the streets boys and small children were led by Moses manager of CCRC. About 100 children stayed with Moses all day. There are some 25 "street boys who have been with us both days. They openly sniff their glue from the small bottles they carry in their pockets. They are dirty, hungry and some have sores on their faces and arms. They are all very thin. Some are intoxicated from the glue staggering as they follow us wanting to be close. The team has fed them breakfast of chapati and bananas and luch of sanwhiches, chips and biscuits. You can't avoid smelling the glue yourself as they sit by you. It is very hard to leave them each night as we all know they will be sleeping in the streets.
The two women teams showed up and suprised everyone including SN. Most were moms carrying their babies. Some of the women were in their 40's and we were told half are infected with HIV/AIDs.. They came to practice - in skirts and dresses and some in flip flops.. They do not have uniforms or shoes. They played hard, shouting when goals were made. And they brought with them about 50 women who watched them and their children while they played. They are scheduled to play tomorrow at 1:00. SN is buyiing them all track suits. For their prizes tomorrow.
Now it is dark and on a sheet used for a screen hung on the side of a building some 600 watch the Jesus of Nazareth film. Moses has led many to Christ tonight.
The team is tired but still they all do what they feel God calls them to do - win souls for the Lord.
Blessed to be in Kenya, Connie
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Friday, May 30
Connie's 3rd update from Kenya
Today the 16 team tournament started in Mukuru slum. Mukuru slum is home to some 200,00 people and is behind the Makuru c GOA hurch pastored by Pastor Murimi. He has a heart for the lost, the infected and affected in this slum.
Many of you know Moses from Christ Compassion Rehab Center (CCRC). . Moses, a former "street boy" is the manager of CCRC, home to 50 street boys and girls. Two weeks ago the sports team went to CCRC holding a 16 team football tournament. Moses was very appreciative of their work and asked if he could volunteer with the sports team so today he came to help in Mukuru slum He came with his big heart, big smile and a love for the street boys.
During the day a "street boy" called to Moses. When Moses first saw the young man he did not recognize him. He took him to get tea and the "stree boy" Daniel told Moses that when he was seven Moses was on the street with him and so was the other "street boy" who was with him Douglas. He said, "remember Moses you took us to the State House when President Moi invited all the "street boys" for tea and cake in 1998." After this feeding the street boys were sent back to the streets. Moses came off the street January 2005 when Christ Compassion Rehab Center was started. He was selected by John, founder of CCRC, to manage the "street boys" coming into CCRC. Moses has accepted Christ into his live, loves the Lord, is married with a baby and has a future that helps other "street boys". There was great joy in Moses to see these two boys. Daniel is 20 years old and has been on the streets 12 years, Douglas is 17 and has been on the streets 8 years. Both ask to rescued from the street, to have an uniform and be able to go to school. Moses will talk to CCRC board about them coming to CCRC. Both were high with the glue and could not even be tested because when intoxicated you cannot give consent or even understand your status.
So here stood three young men. One because of GOA's faithfulness to serve the "street boys" was safe, healthy, hopeful and was loving and serving the Lord. The other two were high on glue, hungry and not healthly.
What if all the "street boys" could be rescued. Would this not please God? It is possible to rescue even those addicted to glue who have lived on the street for a very long time - as witnessed by the miracle of Moses.
Blessed to be a part of sports evangelism, Connie
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Many of you know Moses from Christ Compassion Rehab Center (CCRC). . Moses, a former "street boy" is the manager of CCRC, home to 50 street boys and girls. Two weeks ago the sports team went to CCRC holding a 16 team football tournament. Moses was very appreciative of their work and asked if he could volunteer with the sports team so today he came to help in Mukuru slum He came with his big heart, big smile and a love for the street boys.
During the day a "street boy" called to Moses. When Moses first saw the young man he did not recognize him. He took him to get tea and the "stree boy" Daniel told Moses that when he was seven Moses was on the street with him and so was the other "street boy" who was with him Douglas. He said, "remember Moses you took us to the State House when President Moi invited all the "street boys" for tea and cake in 1998." After this feeding the street boys were sent back to the streets. Moses came off the street January 2005 when Christ Compassion Rehab Center was started. He was selected by John, founder of CCRC, to manage the "street boys" coming into CCRC. Moses has accepted Christ into his live, loves the Lord, is married with a baby and has a future that helps other "street boys". There was great joy in Moses to see these two boys. Daniel is 20 years old and has been on the streets 12 years, Douglas is 17 and has been on the streets 8 years. Both ask to rescued from the street, to have an uniform and be able to go to school. Moses will talk to CCRC board about them coming to CCRC. Both were high with the glue and could not even be tested because when intoxicated you cannot give consent or even understand your status.
So here stood three young men. One because of GOA's faithfulness to serve the "street boys" was safe, healthy, hopeful and was loving and serving the Lord. The other two were high on glue, hungry and not healthly.
What if all the "street boys" could be rescued. Would this not please God? It is possible to rescue even those addicted to glue who have lived on the street for a very long time - as witnessed by the miracle of Moses.
Blessed to be a part of sports evangelism, Connie
Sent via Cingular Xpress Mail with Blackberry
Daniel, Moses and Douglas.jpg
Read the story of Moses in the 3rd update. Connie
Sent via Cingular Xpress Mail with Blackberry
Sent via Cingular Xpress Mail with Blackberry
Wednesday, May 28
2nd update
Today was a day of hope and opportunity and a day that reminds me why it is so obvious the war against HIV/AIDS is not won.
I met with the 9 Field Officers of the National Aids Control Council. (NACC) Professor Orego, Director of NACC had convened them to assist in "mapping" what is currently being implemented for youth HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. They were a very impressive group of leaders and gave total support and will help gather the information. Professor has also appointed a women to assist us in gathering this information. They had invited represtives from the Ministry of Youth And Sports. They want to come see the Reach a Million program in Mukuru Slum this week God continues to put the right people in place. I give Him the glory for the meeting today and the favorable results.
Then we went to see Nick and Charles. Debbie Jones from Emory University is visiting their project on Tuesday so we wanted to explain to them what she will be doing and why she is coming. Four clients of Nick and. Charles' program died last week. One 30 year old woman they carried from the slum and took her in a cab to Kenyetta Hospital only to told to take her in the cab to the police station as she died enroute to the hosipital. Since Nick and Charles have started Community Transformers they have had 302 clients in their program and 70 of these clients have died - approximately 22 children. We also met with Matthew to discuss the planning of the next GOA children's conference scheduled August 21, 2008.
Blessungs from Kenya,
Connie
I met with the 9 Field Officers of the National Aids Control Council. (NACC) Professor Orego, Director of NACC had convened them to assist in "mapping" what is currently being implemented for youth HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. They were a very impressive group of leaders and gave total support and will help gather the information. Professor has also appointed a women to assist us in gathering this information. They had invited represtives from the Ministry of Youth And Sports. They want to come see the Reach a Million program in Mukuru Slum this week God continues to put the right people in place. I give Him the glory for the meeting today and the favorable results.
Then we went to see Nick and Charles. Debbie Jones from Emory University is visiting their project on Tuesday so we wanted to explain to them what she will be doing and why she is coming. Four clients of Nick and. Charles' program died last week. One 30 year old woman they carried from the slum and took her in a cab to Kenyetta Hospital only to told to take her in the cab to the police station as she died enroute to the hosipital. Since Nick and Charles have started Community Transformers they have had 302 clients in their program and 70 of these clients have died - approximately 22 children. We also met with Matthew to discuss the planning of the next GOA children's conference scheduled August 21, 2008.
Blessungs from Kenya,
Connie
Monday, May 26
Milele Concert
Milele is returning to Atlanta to do another concert for Partners for Care and our new partner Chance Afrika. This time the concert will be held at Pastor Karanja's church Christ Harvester's International Ministries on August 2, 2008. There will be a Kenyan meal at 6:00pm with the concert at 8:00pm. Funds will be used for work in Kenya including Pastor Karanja's trip to help Pastor Hirbo in Marsabit.
As Partners for Care/Chance Afrika through GOA organize soccer tournaments throughout Kenya in their new initiative Reach a Million with the message of HIV/AIDS, soccer teams in the US will Play with Africa. The first of these soccer tournaments will be held August 2. Christian will help award the winning team their trophy.
For tickets contact me or David Gruber. Tickets are $20.00 donation.
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As Partners for Care/Chance Afrika through GOA organize soccer tournaments throughout Kenya in their new initiative Reach a Million with the message of HIV/AIDS, soccer teams in the US will Play with Africa. The first of these soccer tournaments will be held August 2. Christian will help award the winning team their trophy.
For tickets contact me or David Gruber. Tickets are $20.00 donation.
Sent via Cingular Xpress Mail with Blackberry
1st Update
I am on the plane traveling to Kenya. So much has happened since I returned from Kenya just a month ago. SN has successfully led four sports tournaments reaching thousands with the message of HIV awareness and the gospel. From Eldoret to CCRC to Kiambiu slum the team has used music, drama and the Passion of Christ movie to bring young people to church and to the Lord. and to teac HIV/AIDS. Awareness.
Meantime in the US God brought together Partners for Care and Chance Afrika as partners to expand the ministry to assist GOA to Reach-a-Million with the message of HIV prevention - all to create an HIV-free generation.
Debbie Jones from the Inter-faith Office, Rollins Public Health, Emory University will be joining me this trip. Her purpose is to begin the "mapping" of youth-initiatives in Kenya and to explore working through Partners for Care and GOA to address community health issues - clean water, malaria, HIV/AIDS, nutrition and TB prevention.
I will also be visiting all five GOA children's home with Partners for Care staff - nurses, social workers, pastors, nutritionists and sports evangelist. The purpose of these visits is to assess each home in respect to nutrition, physical enviornment, health programs, spiritual programs, compliance with Kenya government regulations and health of the children. These assessments will be used by the Directors of the children's home to improve the care and services they provide the children. This is part of GOA's mission to go deeper in all of their ministries this year. The team will also identify best practices to share with the other children's homes.
I will also meet with Matthew and the GOA team that is planning the next GOA children's conference to be held August 18-22.
And lastly I will be assisting Pastor Karanja in his preparation for his August trip to preach in Nairobi and to go to Marsabit to help Pastor Hirbo. I am meeting with his ground team in Nairobi.
Blessed to be returning to Kenya,
Connie
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Meantime in the US God brought together Partners for Care and Chance Afrika as partners to expand the ministry to assist GOA to Reach-a-Million with the message of HIV prevention - all to create an HIV-free generation.
Debbie Jones from the Inter-faith Office, Rollins Public Health, Emory University will be joining me this trip. Her purpose is to begin the "mapping" of youth-initiatives in Kenya and to explore working through Partners for Care and GOA to address community health issues - clean water, malaria, HIV/AIDS, nutrition and TB prevention.
I will also be visiting all five GOA children's home with Partners for Care staff - nurses, social workers, pastors, nutritionists and sports evangelist. The purpose of these visits is to assess each home in respect to nutrition, physical enviornment, health programs, spiritual programs, compliance with Kenya government regulations and health of the children. These assessments will be used by the Directors of the children's home to improve the care and services they provide the children. This is part of GOA's mission to go deeper in all of their ministries this year. The team will also identify best practices to share with the other children's homes.
I will also meet with Matthew and the GOA team that is planning the next GOA children's conference to be held August 18-22.
And lastly I will be assisting Pastor Karanja in his preparation for his August trip to preach in Nairobi and to go to Marsabit to help Pastor Hirbo. I am meeting with his ground team in Nairobi.
Blessed to be returning to Kenya,
Connie
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Friday, May 9
GOA implementing Sunday School in 126 churches in 6 East African countries
Pastor Matthew is developing and implementing Sunday School for all of the GOA churches. I was privledged to help Matthew with the recent GOA Children's Conference for all of the children's homes. He is an awesome Christian leader - perfect for the task God has called him to do. He was the one that led the children through the four-day event.
Matthew asked me if I would review his strategic plan for Sunday School implementation. In reviewing this plan I found a "needs" list. He nor the Bishop has aked that we fulfil this "needs" list but I know it would be a boost to his work if we could gift him the items he has listed. If anyone wants to donate one of the following items or donate funds to purchase the items in Kenya please let me know. I will take donated items to Pastor Matthew from anyone on my next trip to Kenya. I leave May 25.
Needs include:
Children's bibles
A computer to create a Sunday School database and other records
A printer and photocopier to enable them to print Sunday school material and correspondence which includes brochures, newsletters and certicates for their staff
Digital camera to take photos and enable their reports to be documented by photos. Pictures speak more than words
Playing items such as toys, dolls, crayons, clay for modeling, mats/carpets where toddlers can sit, etc.
Please share these needs with others who want to impact the next generation of Christians in Kenyans. Perhaps your church would like to partner with GOA and Pastor Matthew as he implements Sunday School in 126 and growing GOA churches.
Blessings, Connie
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Matthew asked me if I would review his strategic plan for Sunday School implementation. In reviewing this plan I found a "needs" list. He nor the Bishop has aked that we fulfil this "needs" list but I know it would be a boost to his work if we could gift him the items he has listed. If anyone wants to donate one of the following items or donate funds to purchase the items in Kenya please let me know. I will take donated items to Pastor Matthew from anyone on my next trip to Kenya. I leave May 25.
Needs include:
Children's bibles
A computer to create a Sunday School database and other records
A printer and photocopier to enable them to print Sunday school material and correspondence which includes brochures, newsletters and certicates for their staff
Digital camera to take photos and enable their reports to be documented by photos. Pictures speak more than words
Playing items such as toys, dolls, crayons, clay for modeling, mats/carpets where toddlers can sit, etc.
Please share these needs with others who want to impact the next generation of Christians in Kenyans. Perhaps your church would like to partner with GOA and Pastor Matthew as he implements Sunday School in 126 and growing GOA churches.
Blessings, Connie
Sent via Cingular Xpress Mail with Blackberry
Monday, May 5
Request for a laptop computer
The response to the request for Blackberrys was great and we have been given Blackberrys to take to the pastors in Kenya and more are coming. Thanks! They will be a huge help to enhance communication across the 10,000 miles!
I thought I would try the same approach for a laptop. Does anyone have a laptop computer we could take to GOA. They really could use a laptop computer for their iniative to start a uniform Sunday School curriculum in all 126 GOA churches.
Maybe someone has gone Mac and not using their PC???
Blessings for your heart for Kenya, Connie
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I thought I would try the same approach for a laptop. Does anyone have a laptop computer we could take to GOA. They really could use a laptop computer for their iniative to start a uniform Sunday School curriculum in all 126 GOA churches.
Maybe someone has gone Mac and not using their PC???
Blessings for your heart for Kenya, Connie
Sent via Cingular Xpress Mail with Blackberry
Saturday, May 3
Maggie's School
From Bishop David Thagano
Thanks for sharing the vision of Akatuman school. I'm blessed to think of a school in Akatuman.
The Bishop has for a long time had a heart for the unreached tribe of the Turkana. It is very hard to believe but true that there exists no school in the Akatuman area. No school for children to even learn to read the bible. No adult literacy classes for those who accept Christ to learn to read His word.
Maggie's School will change that. Maggie is the beatuiful daughter of Connie's sister Wink Mcleod. God called Maggie home two years ago at the age of 19. Maggie was the love of our life, the happy one, the giving one, the one who made you feel special. God felt Maggie's work here on earth was complete and called her home - but we as humans will always miss her.
Wink wants to honor Maggie and her love for learning, for writing and her beautiful spirit by building a school in the Turkana region thus providing hope in this area.
It will be more than a school as Partners for Care will also use this facility as a community health center addressing the many health issues that are preventable - HIV/AIDS, malaria, diseases from unclean water, etc.
I will provide updates on Maggie's School on the blog. We are planning a trip to dedicate Maggie's School the end of July.
Current status
They are currently building a dividing wall in the existing GOA church (Pastor David's church) so they can begin teaching a baby school in May. They will then build a house for two teachers who will live there at the school. They are also starting the construction of the school building. They will be teaching adult literacy in the afternoon.
Andrew Partners for Care social worker in Turkana region is looking for an NGO that can help with providing food for a lunch program for the children as there is a severe lack of food in this area.
If you want to help with providing hope through educating these children and adults and saving people and children from preventable diseases you can support this project through prayer, financially or perhaps God is calling you to go to meet the Turkana people yourself. Contact Connie ccheren@aol.com
Sent via Cingular Xpress Mail with Blackberry
Thanks for sharing the vision of Akatuman school. I'm blessed to think of a school in Akatuman.
The Bishop has for a long time had a heart for the unreached tribe of the Turkana. It is very hard to believe but true that there exists no school in the Akatuman area. No school for children to even learn to read the bible. No adult literacy classes for those who accept Christ to learn to read His word.
Maggie's School will change that. Maggie is the beatuiful daughter of Connie's sister Wink Mcleod. God called Maggie home two years ago at the age of 19. Maggie was the love of our life, the happy one, the giving one, the one who made you feel special. God felt Maggie's work here on earth was complete and called her home - but we as humans will always miss her.
Wink wants to honor Maggie and her love for learning, for writing and her beautiful spirit by building a school in the Turkana region thus providing hope in this area.
It will be more than a school as Partners for Care will also use this facility as a community health center addressing the many health issues that are preventable - HIV/AIDS, malaria, diseases from unclean water, etc.
I will provide updates on Maggie's School on the blog. We are planning a trip to dedicate Maggie's School the end of July.
Current status
They are currently building a dividing wall in the existing GOA church (Pastor David's church) so they can begin teaching a baby school in May. They will then build a house for two teachers who will live there at the school. They are also starting the construction of the school building. They will be teaching adult literacy in the afternoon.
Andrew Partners for Care social worker in Turkana region is looking for an NGO that can help with providing food for a lunch program for the children as there is a severe lack of food in this area.
If you want to help with providing hope through educating these children and adults and saving people and children from preventable diseases you can support this project through prayer, financially or perhaps God is calling you to go to meet the Turkana people yourself. Contact Connie ccheren@aol.com
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From Jane - reflections on the Children's Conference
I wanted to share with you the reflections from Jane Chege about the Children's Conference. Jane is one of the Partners for Care social workers and the primary coordinator of the Children's Conference.
The valley of the dry bones...Ezekiel 37....God talked to his servant Ezekiel about the dry bones. In the valley the bones were too dry hence no life. Symbolically the bones represent the people who have no hope to continue in life. The scriptures explain prophetically that God gives hope to the hopeless. The children's conference was all about giving hope to the children who at one time had lost hope as a result of many difficulties that they have passed through. The objective was to help the children feel that they have a place in God's kingdom becoming Champions for Christ as...everybody is somebody and Jesus is Lord.
After dreaming about the conference for six months it became a reality. All the children from the six children's home at one time had no hope, they all faced rejection in one way or another some even hurt by their closest relatives. All of them were in the healing process. As I organized the conference questions kept lingering in my mind - would there be a positive outcome? How practical would it be to control all these children bearing in mind that some are just a few days, weeks or months in the rehabiltation centers? What seems impossible to man is quite possible before God. God kept them together in perfect harmony in a miraculous way.
The lives of all the participates were changed in one way or other spiritually, socially, psychlogically and physically.
SPIRITUALLY
Becoming champions for Christ was the theme for the conference. All participants got spiritual nourishment through very powerful sessions of praise, worship and bible studies children. who were once far from Christ got themselves in a deep mood of prayer, calling upon the name of the Lord, praising the Lord and fully dedicating their lives to him. By the strong move of the Holy Ghost children got courage to lead prayers, many of them gave testimony of their renewed strength and their desire to walk with Christ
The conference enhanced great integration between and among the children and the staff as well. Children and staffs from different homes had a chance to interact with one another. Through group work children got to know each other and hence learning from one another.
SOCIAL GROWTH
Complete healing starts from within. It is through psychological healing that manifest into physical healing. The children conference addressed this aspect through guiding and councelling sessions children in different categories of individuals received different talks as per their ages and gender.
PHYSICAL WELL BEING
Proper physical fitness was addressed in different angles.
NUTRITION
Proper quality and quantity of food was given to the children everyday
WEATHER
kinangop region is well known for its extreme cold weather conditions. All participants got all the necessary items to keep them warm especially at night. A temporary structure which acted as a temperature regulator was put in place to ensure that all the children especially the very young ones didn't suffer from the great weather variation experienced in the area
FATIGUE
Through sports participant the children and staff got a chance to refresh their minds, physical exercises enhanced the same greatly.
Apart from the four main aspects explained above, the conference enhanced most of the children to make use of the many different talents that God has given them; these include talents in sports, drama, poerty, dancing among other talents. Sports evangelism football teams from different homes competed among themselves to climax all vary powerful team was formed which will under training and compete even in other countries.
APPRECIATION
Different participants (staff and children) were appreciated by getting certificates in the learning sessions and field activities
Written by Jane Chege, Partners for Care Social Worker
If you are moved by what Jane wrote you can help with next GOA children's conference which is scheduled for August 21. Please contact Connie if you or your church want to help GOA provide this experience to hundreds of children. ccheren@aol.com
The valley of the dry bones...Ezekiel 37....God talked to his servant Ezekiel about the dry bones. In the valley the bones were too dry hence no life. Symbolically the bones represent the people who have no hope to continue in life. The scriptures explain prophetically that God gives hope to the hopeless. The children's conference was all about giving hope to the children who at one time had lost hope as a result of many difficulties that they have passed through. The objective was to help the children feel that they have a place in God's kingdom becoming Champions for Christ as...everybody is somebody and Jesus is Lord.
After dreaming about the conference for six months it became a reality. All the children from the six children's home at one time had no hope, they all faced rejection in one way or another some even hurt by their closest relatives. All of them were in the healing process. As I organized the conference questions kept lingering in my mind - would there be a positive outcome? How practical would it be to control all these children bearing in mind that some are just a few days, weeks or months in the rehabiltation centers? What seems impossible to man is quite possible before God. God kept them together in perfect harmony in a miraculous way.
The lives of all the participates were changed in one way or other spiritually, socially, psychlogically and physically.
SPIRITUALLY
Becoming champions for Christ was the theme for the conference. All participants got spiritual nourishment through very powerful sessions of praise, worship and bible studies children. who were once far from Christ got themselves in a deep mood of prayer, calling upon the name of the Lord, praising the Lord and fully dedicating their lives to him. By the strong move of the Holy Ghost children got courage to lead prayers, many of them gave testimony of their renewed strength and their desire to walk with Christ
The conference enhanced great integration between and among the children and the staff as well. Children and staffs from different homes had a chance to interact with one another. Through group work children got to know each other and hence learning from one another.
SOCIAL GROWTH
Complete healing starts from within. It is through psychological healing that manifest into physical healing. The children conference addressed this aspect through guiding and councelling sessions children in different categories of individuals received different talks as per their ages and gender.
PHYSICAL WELL BEING
Proper physical fitness was addressed in different angles.
NUTRITION
Proper quality and quantity of food was given to the children everyday
WEATHER
kinangop region is well known for its extreme cold weather conditions. All participants got all the necessary items to keep them warm especially at night. A temporary structure which acted as a temperature regulator was put in place to ensure that all the children especially the very young ones didn't suffer from the great weather variation experienced in the area
FATIGUE
Through sports participant the children and staff got a chance to refresh their minds, physical exercises enhanced the same greatly.
Apart from the four main aspects explained above, the conference enhanced most of the children to make use of the many different talents that God has given them; these include talents in sports, drama, poerty, dancing among other talents. Sports evangelism football teams from different homes competed among themselves to climax all vary powerful team was formed which will under training and compete even in other countries.
APPRECIATION
Different participants (staff and children) were appreciated by getting certificates in the learning sessions and field activities
Written by Jane Chege, Partners for Care Social Worker
If you are moved by what Jane wrote you can help with next GOA children's conference which is scheduled for August 21. Please contact Connie if you or your church want to help GOA provide this experience to hundreds of children. ccheren@aol.com
Sent via Cingular Xpress Mail with Blackberry
Tuesday, April 29
Fw: Check out this album!
Sent via Cingular Xpress Mail with Blackberry
Check out this album!
http://gallery.mac.com/partnersforcare/100029
GOA Children's Conference
You read the updates and saw the children's testimonies, now see the pictures! Enjoy these beautiful pictures of the children at the children's conference. Blessings, Connie
http://gallery.mac.com/partnersforcare/100029
Testimonies from the children
These are some of the testimonies from the children who attended the GOA children's conference:
"The food was good, I wish I would have such food everyday. I wish the conference would continue all the time. May the Lord bless all who contributed money for us to have delicious food."
"We had enough blankets to cover ourselves at night. Kinangop area is very cold but we were very comfortable"
"It is so wonderful to have my own journal. The cover page was so nice. I wish all my books were like my journal."
"I'm so glad to have my own gift bag. I have never had so many personal items like toothpast, toothbrush, soap, pens. May the Lord bless those who gave us our gift bags."
"I'm suprised that I could wash my hands with hand sanitizer."
"May the Lord bless those who gave us the money to build our tent for shelter - we didn't get rained on."
"Thank you for giving our teams balls and uniforms. We never imagined we would get uniforms."
"A 17 year old girl told us after she received a certificate that she had never been recognized for anything in her life."
Bless all those who prayed, funded and followed along with the conference through the updates, Connie
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"The food was good, I wish I would have such food everyday. I wish the conference would continue all the time. May the Lord bless all who contributed money for us to have delicious food."
"We had enough blankets to cover ourselves at night. Kinangop area is very cold but we were very comfortable"
"It is so wonderful to have my own journal. The cover page was so nice. I wish all my books were like my journal."
"I'm so glad to have my own gift bag. I have never had so many personal items like toothpast, toothbrush, soap, pens. May the Lord bless those who gave us our gift bags."
"I'm suprised that I could wash my hands with hand sanitizer."
"May the Lord bless those who gave us the money to build our tent for shelter - we didn't get rained on."
"Thank you for giving our teams balls and uniforms. We never imagined we would get uniforms."
"A 17 year old girl told us after she received a certificate that she had never been recognized for anything in her life."
Bless all those who prayed, funded and followed along with the conference through the updates, Connie
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Tuesday, April 22
Looking for Blackberrys
If you have or know anyone that has a Blackberry they aren't using we can use them in Kenya! Perhaps you or someone you know has switched to an IPhone and are not using your Blackbberry. We have found that we can pay to have the Blackberyy unlocked and then we can give them to the GOA pastors and leaders and they can use the Safaricom cards with the Blackberry. So far the Bishop and Pastor Muturi are using a Blackberry. If you have one or know someone who does we will cover the costs to unlock and then take it to GOA on our next trip. Blessings, Connie
Sent via Cingular Xpress Mail with Blackberry
Sent via Cingular Xpress Mail with Blackberry
Message from Connie
First I want to thank so many of you for reading all those Blackberry updates from me! It is really a blessing when I receive an email back from you and I know you are reading the updates.
Second I want to tell you I have changed this email group from Kenya Releif to Partners as Kenya is now moving to the next phase of their post-election crisis to resettlement. The ministries are now all sworn in (all 42 of them) and Kenyan goverment is starting to function again. There are still people in IDPs and we visited two of them this last trip but they now have food for the most part and are preparing to resettle somewhere. There are still needs including funds for school uniforms, sanitary pads, things for the children to do, etc.
I wanted to share with you some iniatives GOA/Partners for Care are beginning. If God leads you to be involved you are needed to partner with us to complete these iniatives!
First is mosquito net distribution. GOA/Partners for Care distributed 5,000 nets last year thanks to our partner HEART - Vickie Winkler. We distributed nets in areas where nets had never been distributed - Turkana and in Marsabit. This year we hope to distribute many more nets. 92 children a day die in Kenya from malaria and every year 6,000 babies are born below birth weight because of malaria creating a life-time of problems. Kenya goverment is distributing 3 million treated nets over the next year for children 5 and under and pregnant women. Distributing the net is only part of the issue - delivering the net to the far remote areas of Kenya and teaching the proper use of the net is necessary to ensure a reduction of the malaria. Partners for Care/GOA nurses and social workers will help with this process. If you want to "cast a net" and support the transporting of bed nets you can donate to Partners for Care at
ILI
PO Box 1005
Carrollton, GA 30112 or on-line
www.iliteam.org
and designate the funds for "cast a net".
Second is the Partners for Care/GOA Reach a Million/Test a Million youth HIV/AIDS iniative. Led by SN and partnering with Emory Faith-based office Partners for Care/GOA are targeting the youth as the chosen generation to create a HIV-free generation. Using sports, music and testing this team of counsellors, pastors and musicians will travel throughout Kenya leaving behind sports programs in churches throughout Kenya with the focus of HIV prevention. This iniative was launched this last trip in Mathare slum where 5,000 youth were reached with the message of HIV prevention and 400 tested for HIV. The team has its own van now and this week travels to Bungoma for three days of sports, music and testing. If you want to support this team you may send funds to Partners for Care and designate - Reach a Million. This team is committed to end both the ever increasing number of orphans and to stop children like Rebecca, Emanual, Faith and so many other children from being born infected with AIDS.
Last is GOA will be having another children's conference in August. This one is for children who attend GOA churches. So if you liked the updates from the conference and want to help with the next one please let me know. This time we are hoping for more more financial support early on so the conference can be held in a school with better accomodations for the children and the staff. Although I must admit Tumaini was really a wonderful place to hold the conference and nobody seemed to mind sleeping on mats on the floor! I don't think that conference could have been any more special than it was!
Also please let me know if you want to be off this update list! Also please pass this on to those you know who want to help widows, orphans and who have a heart to eliminate the diseases that rob children's lives or that infect them for a lifetime.
Blessed to be able to serve,
Connie
Sent via Cingular Xpress Mail with Blackberry
Saturday, April 19
12th Update
In Amsterdam now and am excited to share with you some of the highlights from the GOA/Partners for Care/Camp Highland Children's Conference. It is such a blessing to reflect back on the last five days of this conference. From Monday just receiving news that the children were on their buses all over Kenya heading for tumaini to the last evening watching the children receiving their awards. I want to share highlights, tell you about some champions for Christ and hopes and dreams for the next conference.
Highlights
*The first time we saw the tent! And Bishop David saying how it reminded him of the tents in the IDPs. And it really did but the fun was knowing that the children who would be under this tent were not one of the many displaced people in Kenya but children GOA has rescued from the streets.
*The first meal served and watching the cueing of 320 children being fed five times a day. Good nutrition is a challenge in any group living setting and it is a challenge for the children's homes. The children loved the food and asked the Bishop if they could eat like this everyday.
*The response from the children about the "group talks" for the teens. They really liked having the Bishop's wife talk with the girls and Francis talk with the boys. Remember these children don't have moms and dads to give the "talk" so providing that opportunity in a safe setting, with their peers and from a Christian leader was very appreciated by the children
*Learning of the boy Mathew (conference leader) found one night cleaning the toliets. When Mathew asked him why he was doing that he said so he could serve others.
*Watching what children can do with a half of a bandana!
*A young girl (name not given to protect her privacy) who SN met several years during sports evangelism. She was saved and prayed for. Later someone broke into her home and raped her. She gave birth to a child three years ago at age 14. Recently she was locked out of her house for lack of rent payment. She contacted SN who paid her rent so she could get her stuff from the home. She is a star soccer player. She helped SN with the sports tournaments at the conference. She has been told she can stay at Tumaini with her child and return to school. She received two award certificates at the conference. During the last evening meeting with the group leaders she told us how happy she was to receive two certificates - it was the first time she had ever received an award of any kind.
*Watching the order and discipline of the children! They were in their places under the tent and in small groups as scheduled. They cued for meals and helped the little ones.
*Watching each children's home perform what they had worked on for weeks. Tumaini choir sang, CCRC sang I Am and it was amazing!, Beat the Drum recited a poem telling the children never to give up hope in God their Father who would never leave them as others had. There is real talent in some of these children.
*Watching the Kenyan leaders organize 320 children for a group photo on the soccer field - all in their Camp Highland shirts.
*Probably the highlight of the conference was watching SN give out the sports awards! SN had asked me (well ask doesn't exactly explain what SN does when he wants something for the children) if we could give something to each children's home to promote the children's homes sports program. He said it would be $1,000 dollars. The conference was already struggling with having to use what we raised which was $10,400. They had cut costs everywhere they could. I said yes because God told me to not because we had the funds. Three days later David Gruber notified me that Courtney's school Milton High School had raised $750.00 to give to Partners for Care. You can't out give God! SN gave small balls to the little ones and uniforms and balls to all of the children's home and two Peace balls each! The children were estatic to receive uniforms! And the winner of the soccer tournament Tumaini received soccer shoes!
*The distribution of the t-shirts and the group photo of everyone in their shirts.
*Watching the confidence of the 32 group leaders grow over the week. In the beginning of the week they didn't share much but by the last night they shared and wanted to stay late into the night to talk!
Champions for Christ
*Bishop David Thagano is surely a Champion for Christ and for the children in the GOA children's homes. From being on the field, to passing out t-shirts, to holding a child the Bishop is in the game. The children know him not only as their Bishop but as their Dad.
*Jane PFC social worker who organized the conference. Many meetings moving up and down Kenya in a dress and heels on a mutato. She did a wonderful job of putting on this conference.
*Mathew who is GOA's children's minitry director. What a champion he is! From opening to closing he led the staff and children with clear directions, humor and fun! The children looked to him for what to do next. I was honoured to serve with him at this conference.
*The small but mighty US team - Cintia, Mindy Miller, Rachael and Bobby. they served as servants for the GOA leaders helping where ever they were needed - anything to support the GOA leaders. They held and loved children all week! And they never once complained about their accomodations. Please don't ask them how often they showered or how long they slept at night!
*The 32 group leaders who served their children so well all week! They were flexible, loving to their children and had long endurance as the days went from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm every night.
*Sammy, David and George who led praise and worship - as the Bishop said brought us to heaven with song and dancing.
*All the Partners for Care staff! 16 staff from Partners for Care who were at the conference including Njokie who led all the cooking, Paul, Daniel and Elizabeth the nurses who treated staff (one with malaria) and the children, Nick., Charles, Ann and Priscilla who tested 40 children for HIV (sadly one more child was found to be infected at Tumaini and will be moved to Beat the Drum), the social workers Moses, Mare from Marsabit and Andrew from Turkana, and the muscians Sammy, David and George and all the MsaMaria staff Agnas, Peter, and Veronica.
. *Of course all the funders for this conference!
What we learned
*The children want to know each other. They want to visit the other homes. They do think of GOA as a big family and they are part of the family. *Children and staff are happy even in difficult situations - hot under the tent, sleeping side by side on the floor, cuing with 300 others to eat.
*A ball and a uniform can transform a child.
Hopes for next time
*Better accomodations so the staff and children can sleep in beds.
*Walkie talkies so staff can communicate easier.
*Better plan for the little ones - a special curriculum for them.
I hope this update shares with you the joy and blessings from this Children's conference. God is indeed a good God. I have sent in a seperate email some photos for you to enjoy! They will also be on the blog - reliefforkenya.blogspot.com.
Thank you for all your encouraging responses from the updtes. It is really always a blessings to know people read these BlacKberry updates!
Blessed to be able to serve in Kenya, Connie
Sent via Cingular Xpress Mail with Blackberry
Highlights
*The first time we saw the tent! And Bishop David saying how it reminded him of the tents in the IDPs. And it really did but the fun was knowing that the children who would be under this tent were not one of the many displaced people in Kenya but children GOA has rescued from the streets.
*The first meal served and watching the cueing of 320 children being fed five times a day. Good nutrition is a challenge in any group living setting and it is a challenge for the children's homes. The children loved the food and asked the Bishop if they could eat like this everyday.
*The response from the children about the "group talks" for the teens. They really liked having the Bishop's wife talk with the girls and Francis talk with the boys. Remember these children don't have moms and dads to give the "talk" so providing that opportunity in a safe setting, with their peers and from a Christian leader was very appreciated by the children
*Learning of the boy Mathew (conference leader) found one night cleaning the toliets. When Mathew asked him why he was doing that he said so he could serve others.
*Watching what children can do with a half of a bandana!
*A young girl (name not given to protect her privacy) who SN met several years during sports evangelism. She was saved and prayed for. Later someone broke into her home and raped her. She gave birth to a child three years ago at age 14. Recently she was locked out of her house for lack of rent payment. She contacted SN who paid her rent so she could get her stuff from the home. She is a star soccer player. She helped SN with the sports tournaments at the conference. She has been told she can stay at Tumaini with her child and return to school. She received two award certificates at the conference. During the last evening meeting with the group leaders she told us how happy she was to receive two certificates - it was the first time she had ever received an award of any kind.
*Watching the order and discipline of the children! They were in their places under the tent and in small groups as scheduled. They cued for meals and helped the little ones.
*Watching each children's home perform what they had worked on for weeks. Tumaini choir sang, CCRC sang I Am and it was amazing!, Beat the Drum recited a poem telling the children never to give up hope in God their Father who would never leave them as others had. There is real talent in some of these children.
*Watching the Kenyan leaders organize 320 children for a group photo on the soccer field - all in their Camp Highland shirts.
*Probably the highlight of the conference was watching SN give out the sports awards! SN had asked me (well ask doesn't exactly explain what SN does when he wants something for the children) if we could give something to each children's home to promote the children's homes sports program. He said it would be $1,000 dollars. The conference was already struggling with having to use what we raised which was $10,400. They had cut costs everywhere they could. I said yes because God told me to not because we had the funds. Three days later David Gruber notified me that Courtney's school Milton High School had raised $750.00 to give to Partners for Care. You can't out give God! SN gave small balls to the little ones and uniforms and balls to all of the children's home and two Peace balls each! The children were estatic to receive uniforms! And the winner of the soccer tournament Tumaini received soccer shoes!
*The distribution of the t-shirts and the group photo of everyone in their shirts.
*Watching the confidence of the 32 group leaders grow over the week. In the beginning of the week they didn't share much but by the last night they shared and wanted to stay late into the night to talk!
Champions for Christ
*Bishop David Thagano is surely a Champion for Christ and for the children in the GOA children's homes. From being on the field, to passing out t-shirts, to holding a child the Bishop is in the game. The children know him not only as their Bishop but as their Dad.
*Jane PFC social worker who organized the conference. Many meetings moving up and down Kenya in a dress and heels on a mutato. She did a wonderful job of putting on this conference.
*Mathew who is GOA's children's minitry director. What a champion he is! From opening to closing he led the staff and children with clear directions, humor and fun! The children looked to him for what to do next. I was honoured to serve with him at this conference.
*The small but mighty US team - Cintia, Mindy Miller, Rachael and Bobby. they served as servants for the GOA leaders helping where ever they were needed - anything to support the GOA leaders. They held and loved children all week! And they never once complained about their accomodations. Please don't ask them how often they showered or how long they slept at night!
*The 32 group leaders who served their children so well all week! They were flexible, loving to their children and had long endurance as the days went from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm every night.
*Sammy, David and George who led praise and worship - as the Bishop said brought us to heaven with song and dancing.
*All the Partners for Care staff! 16 staff from Partners for Care who were at the conference including Njokie who led all the cooking, Paul, Daniel and Elizabeth the nurses who treated staff (one with malaria) and the children, Nick., Charles, Ann and Priscilla who tested 40 children for HIV (sadly one more child was found to be infected at Tumaini and will be moved to Beat the Drum), the social workers Moses, Mare from Marsabit and Andrew from Turkana, and the muscians Sammy, David and George and all the MsaMaria staff Agnas, Peter, and Veronica.
. *Of course all the funders for this conference!
What we learned
*The children want to know each other. They want to visit the other homes. They do think of GOA as a big family and they are part of the family. *Children and staff are happy even in difficult situations - hot under the tent, sleeping side by side on the floor, cuing with 300 others to eat.
*A ball and a uniform can transform a child.
Hopes for next time
*Better accomodations so the staff and children can sleep in beds.
*Walkie talkies so staff can communicate easier.
*Better plan for the little ones - a special curriculum for them.
I hope this update shares with you the joy and blessings from this Children's conference. God is indeed a good God. I have sent in a seperate email some photos for you to enjoy! They will also be on the blog - reliefforkenya.blogspot.com.
Thank you for all your encouraging responses from the updtes. It is really always a blessings to know people read these BlacKberry updates!
Blessed to be able to serve in Kenya, Connie
Sent via Cingular Xpress Mail with Blackberry
Fw: 8 great iPhotos from the Children's Conference
Little girl and her journal
Joyce Thagana speaking to the children.
Feeding the children lunch - almost always included ungali.
The whole group in their t-shirts saying thank you to Camp Highland.
Boys from Christ Compassion Rehabilitation Center singing "I am" (by
Casting Crowns).
Soccer team from Tumaini warming up - just before they won the
championship. Notice some have shoes...some not.
Our kitchen staff preparing the cabbage for dinner (again...and
again...).
The Tumaini soccer team is praying - giving thanks for their win -
surrounded by their fans.
Friday, April 18
11th Update
Anyone who knows and loves a child at either Tumaini, Merciful Redeemer, Good Shepard, Christ Compassion, Beat the Drum or has visited the children at Msa Maria should be very happy that the GOA Children's Conference was declared a success. The goals set in the beginning with the 32 group leaders were for the children to have fun, increase their self-esteem, have hope in Christ for the future and that no child would be injured!
These goals were met. Bishop David opened the conference and closed the conference. In his closing remarks he told the children he came on Monday night to open the conference and then planned to return to Nairobi for other work. But each day as he watched the children in worship and in small groups, , listened to the worship music, played on the field with 320 children he decided to leaving the next day. But he never left and he told the children he decided to join where God was working. He said he saw staff, teachers, leaders, and children leaving enlightened, free of stress and depression. He said he saw enough poured into these children during the week to turn the world upside for the world to make disciples out of all nations. He thanked Camp Highland for the t-shirts as it was an equalizer for all children making even the poorest child feel like everyone else He also thanked them for their help with the curriculum and sending Rachael to help them with structure and low ropes. She made a spider of rope for the children to transverse. Rachael was easy to find - she was the one with the huge smile and at least one, sometimes two or three children on her lap. You could also find her serving ugali out of a 50 pound container!
Bishop thanked all supporters and said that their support would continue to produce fruit!
Cathy Armors class wrote a song changing the song Pray for Peace in Kenya to We pray for Peace in Georgia Peace for Good Shepard, Merciful Redeemer, Msa Maria, CCRC, Tumaini, and Strong Tower. They recored a DVD with their song and greetings. Cathy's room is decorated with pictures of Kenya iand other items from Kenya ncluding a Kenya flag as a curtain! The children really enjoyed seeing Cathy's class.
Will write more in Amsterdam. Plane leaving Nairobi, Connie
Sent via Cingular Xpress Mail with Blackberry
These goals were met. Bishop David opened the conference and closed the conference. In his closing remarks he told the children he came on Monday night to open the conference and then planned to return to Nairobi for other work. But each day as he watched the children in worship and in small groups, , listened to the worship music, played on the field with 320 children he decided to leaving the next day. But he never left and he told the children he decided to join where God was working. He said he saw staff, teachers, leaders, and children leaving enlightened, free of stress and depression. He said he saw enough poured into these children during the week to turn the world upside for the world to make disciples out of all nations. He thanked Camp Highland for the t-shirts as it was an equalizer for all children making even the poorest child feel like everyone else He also thanked them for their help with the curriculum and sending Rachael to help them with structure and low ropes. She made a spider of rope for the children to transverse. Rachael was easy to find - she was the one with the huge smile and at least one, sometimes two or three children on her lap. You could also find her serving ugali out of a 50 pound container!
Bishop thanked all supporters and said that their support would continue to produce fruit!
Cathy Armors class wrote a song changing the song Pray for Peace in Kenya to We pray for Peace in Georgia Peace for Good Shepard, Merciful Redeemer, Msa Maria, CCRC, Tumaini, and Strong Tower. They recored a DVD with their song and greetings. Cathy's room is decorated with pictures of Kenya iand other items from Kenya ncluding a Kenya flag as a curtain! The children really enjoyed seeing Cathy's class.
Will write more in Amsterdam. Plane leaving Nairobi, Connie
Sent via Cingular Xpress Mail with Blackberry
Thursday, April 17
10th Update GOA/Partners for Care Children's Conference
There is so much to share about what has happened over the last three days with the Children's Conference. There were many challenges as each children's home prepared to travel to Tumaini. But once again God's mercies were on GOA and one by one the children's homes arrived. . Excited children jumped off the buses coming from Merciful Redeemer, Good Shepard, Msa Maria, Good Shepard and Christ Compassion. Rebecca, Eunice, Dennis, Julius and Abigal from Beat the Drum who previously lived at Merciful Redeemer ran to greet the children from Merciful Redeemer! It was just like a family reunion. They have all requested to visit each other at their respective children's homes. Faith from the Turkana region was happy to see her sister Aline who lives at Tumaini.
One of the most touching moments for me was when the boys arrived from Strong Tower. There is no one that would believe these boys have been off the streets for only two months!!! They were dressed "smartly" as they say in Kenya - had bags for their clothes and were so polite and organized! They have been noticed by everyone for their polite and discplined behavor. Having been at the opening of Strong Tower it is wonderful to see the fruits of this ministry.
To keep costs low GOA staff made the tent that has been used for the conference.. You really have to see pictures to appreciate this tent. The front is decorated with ribbons spelling out the theme of the conferecne - Becoming a Champion for Christ. Our tent is hot in the day and cold in the evening - but there have been no complaints from the children! Nor have they complained about sleeping 20+ in one room on mattresses on the floor! In fact the 320 children haven't complained about anything. They are having so much fun. The children from MsaMaria who are OVCs (orphans and vulnerable children) who live in the Kiambiu slum but not in a children's home said they wanted to stay here at Tumaini and not return to the slum.
The children are given 5 meals/snacks during the day to give good nutrition. That means 5 times 320 cue through the serving line! Have you seen ugali for 400 people? The children are loving the food!
There are 32 group leaders who each have 10 children. These leaders have been guiding, loving and growing leaders among these children. There is so much heart and passion among these group leaders. They have amazed me with their skills and knowlege of how to work with these children. I am learning much from them.
Each children's home prepared presentations - some reading poems, some skits, others dancing and many sang. We have been entertained by the children. We have laughed at their funny skits and sang along with them praising and worshiping. Haniel video taped throughout the name and last night showed their presentations on the screen. The children were amazed to see and hear themselves on the big screen!
Will write more later to share,
Enjoying being with all these orphan children here in Kenya, Connie
Sent via Cingular Xpress Mail with Blackberry
Wednesday, April 16
Fw: AJC Article
Sent via Cingular Xpress Mail with Blackberry
-----Original Message-----
From: david.gruber@comcast.net
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:10:44
To:CCheren@aol.com
Subject: AJC Article
-----Original Message-----
From: david.gruber@comcast.net
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:10:44
To:CCheren@aol.com
Subject: AJC Article
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/northfulton/stories/2008/04/04/gruber_0404.html
Kathi's House founder returning to Kenya
North Fulton resident working with orphans with AIDS and HIV
By RALPH ELLIS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/04/08
David Gruber is returning to Kenya.
The North Fulton resident first visited the African nation in November to dedicate Kathi's House, the first building constructed in a complex for orphans with AIDS and HIV.
RELATED LINKS:
• Photos: Earlier trip to Kenya
His emotional visit to Kenya was described in a story and photos that ran Dec. 5 in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and on ajc.com.
That simple cinderblock building was named after Gruber's wife, Kathi, who died of cancer last June.
Gruber wanted to honor his wife's memory and, through members of his church, became involved in mission work for Kenya. Though Kathi never visited Africa, she was an orphan herself and had a soft spot in her heart for displaced people.
This trip will be a little different.
After revisiting Kathi's House and the orphans who live there, Gruber and others from the Atlanta area will deliver supplies to camps serving Kenyans displaced by the political chaos that occurred recently in that country.
He'll also prepare for a conference on helping Kenyan children before leaving Kenya next Friday. David and Kathi's teenaged daughter, Courtney, also made the trip.
Gruber will post a running account of his trip and experiences. To read his postings, go to http://reliefforkenya.blogspot.com.
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