2nd Update from Bridgette - Exciting News in Kenya

For those who have been in Kenya with us and have met our van you will especially enjoy this update from Bridgette! We have been blessed, Connie

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As I write today, I continue to be moved by all I see...some positive, some negative and some things just incredibly sad. We went to the outdoor food market yesterday to get groceries - what an experience to be surrounded by hundreds of Kenyans selling their fruits and vegetables. The stench of rotting food compounded by hundreds of street kids high on their "glue" definitely put me out of my comfort zone. Babies cried when they saw me because of my skin color and small ones ran up to pinch my skin and run! It was an eye opening experience!
When I last wrote, I told of a big surprise yet to come. Last night, we had arranged to travel all night by bus to Mombasa in order to purchase a new van for the Partners For Care Kenyan teams. Keep in mind that in the 3 short days here, the only means of transport we have has broken down 3 times already. Just envision us standing in the pouring rain keen deep in mud trying to push this van out of the road -the village road which we were causing to be impassable due to our situation!!! Get the picture?  On the way to catch the bus to Mombasa that same van gets a flat tire!  The icing on the cake. But, there is a silver lining at the end of this story - and your generosity is the pot of gold at the end of a very long journey. We arrived early at the port in Mombasa this morning and because of YOU Partners for Care will get a new refurbished 2004 van. I cannot put into words the humble, overwhelming gratitude that has been show by the team as a result of this. You have now enabled this incredible team to effectively do their work here - spreading the gospel and the message of hope for an HIV-free generation, to transporting the orphans in the slum to school, doctors and orphans. Because of you they now have renewed hope to accomplish their mission.
As a " missionary" coming here, I am constantly reminded that my role in all of this is to simply empower, engage, enable and engage our partners over here to achieve their deepest desires for an orphan free, AIDS free society. It is a life-long commitment - a relationship built on mutual respect and adoration.  We will now travel up the coast to visit several "Temples of Worship" guys homes and tomorrow we will begin the long ride home to Nairobi. Please continue to pray for our safety, our courage and that my presence will do more good that harm as we begin to work in the slum this week.
In closing, I am reminded of Romans 1;14-15:
"How then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?"
 And, how can they go if they have no transportation,,,you have provided that transportation so they can go, they can preach, they will hear and they will be believe. As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!"

Serving in Kenya,

Bridgette

1st Update from Bridgett

Following is the first update of Bridgette who has travelled with me. I will share with you her journey as she serves with me here in Kenya. Connie

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Same story - different characters

In December I wrote about one of Nick's Uncle dying from HiV/Aids. As the wife had already died their child is became an orphan. Another child for Nick to care for. Nick said at the time - "I don't know why all my relatives are dying from Aids." Today I called Nick to see when I should come to see him and the children. He told me he was at his village - burying another uncle who has died of Aids. This is the fourth uncle of Nick's since Dec. to die from Aids - leaving a total of 7 orphaned children. The uncle they were burying today left a 6 year child. Nick tested her on Wed. and she is infected. One more child for Nick and Charles to care for. Not only here, but all over the world the story repeats itself - same story, different characters.

Pray for this little 6 year old girl who today burys her father and then learns to live with the disease she did not ask for and did not want. A disease that stole her parents, a disease that threatens her life, a disease that must be stopped.

Thank you for caring,

Connie
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Returning to Kenya

I am on the flight to Nairobi returning after what has seemed like a long absence. Bridgette Boylan is traveling with me and we will be joined later with Leslee and Elaine. Many things are planned for this trip! The cyber has grown beyond what we thought possible in such a short period of time and we have brought equipment that will help them and more computers from C. Ron. We will of course reconnect with the children and the people we love. We are blessed that we can travel and serve God in a country we have grown to love and with people that it is joy to equip, empower, engage and encourage as they help their nation.

Soon in Kenya,

Connie
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Raffle for Partners for Care

David Gruber's work has organized a raffle to raise funds for Partners for Care. Below is the information if you want to buy a ticket. The prizes are great and I have heard they hope to sell all the tickets so buy early if you want to participate:

Raffle tickets are being sold for a drawing to be held during the Potluck Lunch on April 16, 2010. The prizes include (others may be added) a 50 inch HD flat screen television, an iPod Touch, and an iPod. Raffle tickets are $5.00 each, or 5 for $20.00. For anyone remote who desires to purchase raffle tickets and pay for them online, they may go to http://incomm.partnersforcare.org and make the purchase. The online donation form allows credit and debit cards to be used for purchase. For anyone purchasing online, a follow up email must be sent to:

Tracy Abbott (tabbott@incomm.com) with the following information which will be entered on their raffle tickets on their behalf:

Name
Phone number
Best time to call
Email address 

Winners need not be present to win. However, if shipping will be required for delivery of prize, the winner is responsible for associated shipping charges. 
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Partner Profile - Bridgette

As the ministry of Partners for Care expands, God brings people to help us.  We plan to feature these people through our Partner Profiles. You will hear from them how they have a heart for those God calls them to serve. The first Partner Profile features Bridgette Boylan. I have known Bridgette only for a short time but it seems like she has always been a part of our ministry.  She is passionate and compassionate. She is energetic and enthusiastic. She has become a real partner to me personally and to the ministry... AND, she is raising funds to buy the team in Kenya a van. Those of you who have been in Kenya with us know we need a van to reach the people of Kenya with the messages of HIV/Aids prevention and salvation.  Some of you have even pushed the PFC van more than once to get it to start! Please see her profile below and help if you can. If you have a small group Bridgette would love to come and speak to them about how God interrupted her life when she went to Kenya.

Thanking God for Bridgette - our partner in reaching the lost and helping the hurting,

Connie

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Who will go to Marsabit? He asked, whom shall I send?

We received Mare's report from Marsabit. As Ryan and I sat yesterday in our weekly planning meeting we read her words together, out loud. We wanted to be sure we were understanding her words. Mare's report is more like a prayer than a report. First, as in prayer she remembers to praise and give thanks
to God because of the recent rains the cattle have grass to eat. Mare who is first born was sent to Nairobi to be educated as a social worker. Then she returned to Marsabit as she is now responsible to help her 10 siblings. Family dynamics make her role even more pressing. Now she writes in her report she has "adopted" five orphans - the hurting and the homeless Mare describes them. And, she prays for God to help her adopt 5 more orphans this year - children living positively. Translated the children are infected with HIV/AIDS. Mare's report goes on to say many don't want to come to Marsabit as the conditions are harsh and people tire riding on top of the lory. She concludes her report reminding Ryan and I least we have forgotten to find
partners to help with all the orphans in Marsabit. We haven't forgotten. One doesn't ever forget Mare or Marsabit once meeting her and being in the harsh conditions she lives and serves in. We are returning to Marsabit in August. (We will take a bus from Nairobi though - we will not ride top of the lorry). For Ryan and I that seems a long time from now as we both want to be there to help Mare. Anyone wishing to join us should pray for God's directions. And, if you want Ryan just finished a video showing Mare's work in Marsabit. We will send you one at your request. Watch it and see if you can forget what you see. Watch it and see if God is calling you to Marsabit.

Praying with and for Mare and the orphans she cares for,

Connie
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Ryan's message to the PFC team in Kenya

As you know from my past updates we have opened the what if? Life Changing Center offering cyber services, Christian movies, music lessons and a Christian reading room. This center is in the village near our house and serves a slum where many young girls report "selling" their bodies for a loaf of bread. The PFC team hopes through this Christian center to help lift these young girls out of the poverty and despair they find themselves in. The team is also working through the churches in this area to impact on the disease causing much of this despair - HIV/Aids. The center is beautiful and it is so encouraging to see young people come in and work on writing a resume. The PFC team works out of the center everyday doing outreach in the village. Their goal is to make the center self-supporting. Below is the message Ryan sent them:

To the Partners for Care team in Kenya, I hope all of you guys are doing well!  I just got an email from Connie updating me on the "what if?" cyber progression, and I have to say I am very impressed! You guys brought in almost 80 American dollars this past week.  I cannot tell you how proud I am of all of you.  I know it must take a lot of work everyday to make that cyber successful--and all of you are certainly doing just that!  I look forward to seeing this great ministry grow and expand beyond all of our expectations.Sammy, you are doing a great job leading the team--you are growing into quite the leader.  Sam, I know it has got to be a hard job keeping all the "cyber" stuff working correctly, keeping track of the money, and going to school!  Well done.  George, David, Franco, and Justus:  Connie tells me everyday how well all of you are coming together as a team and working towards one goal.  I know you guys have what it takes to truly make a difference in your community, and your nation. Congratulations on a job well done.  But I believe the best is yet to come.  Keep working hard, keep following God, and I know there will be doors opened that cannot be imagined.  Connie and the rest of the Partners for Care family here continue to do our best in this mission; knowing one day we can all be victorious in the fight for a better future for you, your families, and your nation.  Speaking on the behalf of all of those who love you here in the U.S:  I can say that we want to encourage you and congratulate you in being steadfast to the mission at hand. I can't wait to get back to Kenya, and see all of you guys. With Love and Blessings, Ryan
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Announcing PFC Director in Kenya

We are pleased to announce Samuel "Sammy" Wanjau has accepted the position as Partners for Care "on the ground" Director. Sammy has worked with Partners for Care for over two years. He is the leader of the Temples of Worship music group and plays the keyboard. He is a gifted musician and is passionate about worshipping the Lord through his songs. Sammy has a wide range of ministry experience with work history in several different church ministries across Kenya. He is respected by the Partners for Care team in Kenya-- all appreciate his leadership and guidance to them. He first began his work with Partners for Care during the post-election violence, in which he traveled throughout Kenya on the Peace Bus delivering food and other supplies to people living in the Internally Displaced Camps. He was instrumental in the successful launching of the "what if?" campaign as the team reached thousands from Eldoret to Mombasa with the message of HIV prevention. Recently, he has overseen the successful building and opening of the PFC what if? Life Changing cyber and music center. We are confident Sammy will lead the PFC team as they continue to help transform the next generation and save lives for the kingdom.


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The power of equipping

Partners for Care believes in equipping young indigenous Christian leaders to help them do God's work in transforming their villages and their nation. Recently, through the inspiration of a team member of the Sisters Go to Kenya team - Virginia in memory of her beloved son Alain - the PFC team opened a cyber and a music center in the slum near the PFC house. C. Ron, a reporter in South Florida and President of the Del Ray Beach Rotary donated all the computers for the cyber. We carried all the computers to Kenya in our luggages! C. Ron works with at-risk minority youth. He understands how important it is to work with youth.

Yesterday I received the following report from the PFC Kenyan team. They are making a difference there in their village.

We held our first children ministry today in the music centre. The  agenda was about impacting the kids in this village. There were 60 children - 50 of them were from the children's home which is close to the centre in the village. We started with some fun dancing to make them feel a sense of belonging. Charles gave them a talk on how to belong to the community and how love has made everybody acceptable. He told the children how Jesus gave up all for loving us and by this he died on the cross for everybody to believe and have eternal life. This seemed to be quite amazing to children for they knew that there is love. They knew that we loved them unconditionally. Then we showed them a movie. This kept their mind awake as they gazed on how wonderful and hopeful they should be for there is a lot still awaiting for them.   As the on the ground team we found a need of naming every Saturday children super Saturday. This is when we will restore hope to these beloved ones who have lost their hope cause of a thief disease known as HIV/AIDs. No one deserves to live such kind of life that is full of sorrow and hopelessness. As Partners for Care members we desire that one day God will make this happen and the whole country will be able to learn from this small village. not to  forget the children. The children told us "this is where we belong and thank you guys for thinking about us". They continued to say "we had fun that has made our minds grow" yours faithfully George...      a point to remember,,,, we are called to save lives for the kingdom... thanks again.. 

Blessed to help equip George and the other PFC staff in Kenya,

Connie
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Announcing 2010 Partners for Care mission trips

The link below is our mission trip brochure for 2010. Ryan Morrison will be helping with all of the trips. Please contact him or me if interested in going to equip, encourage, engage and empower the Kenyan Partners for Care staff. See what God is doing through these young leaders who care about making a difference for the children God's loves. They are changing their nation. Join them as they serve in some of the most desperate places in Kenya.

Blessings,

Connie

http://www.partnersforcare.org/docs/2010_mission_trips.pdf

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Pray for Justus

Late last night our time I spoke with Justus one of the Partners for Care staff in Kenya. It was early in the morning Kenya time and he was on his way to school. That might surprise some of you as Justus is 25 years old. But, it is true Justus has gone back to school - not college - high school. Because of extreme poverty growing up in the Mombasa coastal region Justus never had what we take for granted here in America - a chance to go to high school. Due to a lack of funds, he had to quit school at the end of primary school. So in full school uniform Justus has started his first year of high school. He told me this morning he LOVES being back in school. He loves his teachers and his favorite subject is chemistry! Justus supports his mother and his three siblings with the small salary we give him. If Justus works hard in school he will graduate before his sister does.

Now for the prayer part - Justus injured himself today playing football (soccer) at school. He is in pain and I tried to give guidance when he and Sammy called for help. Of course, I told them to use the ice packs we have in the house, elevate his leg, don't walk on it and give him Advil through the night for the pain. They will take him to the hospital in the morning for x-rays. I pray his leg isn't broken and that this will not interupt his schooling.

Praying for Justus,

Connie
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Photos on the blog

If you want to see the Partners for Care team go to www.partnersforcare.blogspot. I think you will enjoy seeing both the new music center and the Life Changing Center with the new cyber.

Connie
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Eric and I return from Kenya and update on status of PFC

We are now flying home to the US. Eric is anxious to see his family and friends. He has really done an excellent job! He has been an asset to Partners for Care and we really appreciate him coming to Kenya. You have seen some of his photos on the blog and we will post more later.

I wanted to give an update about what the Partners for Care are doing in Kenya. They have three main projects. The first is the newly opened cyber and music center they opened in the village near the PFC house. They call the center Life Changing Center. Their focus is the youth in the slum near the center. They are giving music lessons including guitar, vocal and keyboard.

The Temples of Worship in front of the music center

They also are teaching churches in this area creative worship. Each night they show a motivational film to the youth. The cyber is dedicated to the memory of Alain - son of Virginia a friend of mine. Alain died when struck by lighting last spring. He was 32 years old and a very, very special young man. It is through Alain that we received the computers for the cyber. We thank our partners in the US - C. Ron Allen for the computers.

The Temples of Worship and Connie in front of the Cyber

The second project the team is their church impact program. They are working with the 22 churches in this slum area helping the churches do the 7 things Dr. Rick Warren says needs to be done to wipe out HIV/Aids. These include testing publicly, preaching pure, non-discrimatory policy for those infected, an outreach to the orphans and vulnerable children, an outreach to those persons living with Aids and a youth program teaching waiting until marriage.

The third is their what if? campaigns. They will continue to do out reaches giving the message of HIV prevention and bringing people to Christ.

The following make-up the Partners for Care staff:
Sammy, George, David, Franko, Justus and Sam. And, we continue to support Mare in Marsabit.

People we are working with in Kenya include:

Dr. PLO Lumumba who is our what if? spokesperson
The Kolozo Foundation (Vice President of Kenya)
Hope for the Next Generation

The team is good and the work is there to do. I left the team working hard to transform and save lives. I am truly blessed to work with this team in Kenya.

Connie
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Update on Nick and Charles and Community Transformers

Partners for Care continues our partnership with Nick and Charles and Community Transformers. I spent time at the rescue center and making a home visit in Mathare. All the children continue to be happy, to grow in their faith and the school-age children are in school. There were five children with malaria this time but all have been treated and doing well. Nick plans to move the children to their new home after this 3 month school term as there wasn't room in their new school until next term. Please pray for the safety of the children staying in Mathare and for their health. Nick and Charles still struggle with having enough money for food and health care but they use their own salaries and do without themselves to help these children and others in Mathare. And, they are very grateful for those of you who do send them support through Partners for Care. I can personally tell you all the funds go to help the children. I see that for myself. Your funds are making a difference in the lives of these children. They will never forget and neither will God.

Thank you for helping the least of these,

Connie
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PFC leaves for mission

We almost called off this mission due to a lack of funds and sickness. George was sick, funds were gone and the team felt we just couldn't go. But, yesterday George got better after we changed his malaria medicine. The first medicine he took the malaria was resistant. The team wanted to keep their commitment they had made to do a what if? event at the celebration of Obama being President for one year. And we are designating Mama Sara (Obama's grandmother) as the Voice of the 473 children who die everyday in Kenya. It isn't easy to go on mission with a music team. Where ever we go we need to take the speakers, instruments, etc. We take bibles for new believers, commitment cards and eight of us are traveling. Eric is with us and hopes to get some good photos of Mama Sara. The team was up at 4:30 am and we left the Partners for Care house before 6:00 am. after prayer. Our prayer today included prayers for the Beat the Drum children.

On mission in Kenya,

Connie
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More photos posted

We have posted more of Eric's photos. There is a very good one of Justus and you will also see a couple photos of the Temples of Worship that we will be using for a calendar.

The Temples of Worship

The Rift Valley

The Temples of Worship

Justus


Connie with Dika

Enjoying very much Eric being here with us in Kenya,

Connie
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God does remember just one little girl

God did remember the little girl, Daisy, from the Rescue Center. Nick called me yesterday and asked me if I could send 4,000 shillings (approx. $60.00) through the phone so he could bring Daisy home from the hospital. In Kenya you cannot be released from the hospital unless you clear your bill. Even though having enough funds to even care for the Partners for Care staff is an issue, I sent it without hesitation. I couldn't think at the moment of a better use of $60.00. How I wish I had back all the $60.00s I have spent on something I could have lived without. Just more stuff I thought I needed. Now what I needed more than anything was to help a young man - Nick - who takes care of 32 children even when it means taking children to the hospital in a matatu. He has been caring for 4 children this last week who have malaria. One of the children Lucas wasn't better today so I suggested Nick try a different malaria medication. If he isn't better tomorrow Nick will take him to the hospital. For those who read the last blog update both Daisy's parents have died from Aids And, they believe Daisy got malaria when she went to the village to bury her Mom. Nick will have Daisy tested for HIV/Aids. Pray she is not infected with the same disease that took both her parents.

Grateful to God for remembering just one little girl,

Connie
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Just one little girl

It might seem insignificance to tell the story of one small, little girl in the face of thousands of lives lost in the devastating disaster in Haiti. But, I remember Ryans's blog about how he serves a God of distraction who remembers even the smallest person in need. Nick and Charles came close to losing another one of their children in the rescue center. Daisy is five years old. Her mother (Nick's cousin) died of Aids last month. Her father had already died so she is now a double orphan. She has malaria. The doctors told Nick when he took her to the hospital if he had waited much longer to bring her in she could have died. She was admitted to Kenyetta hospital. This is the fourth child in the rescue center with malaria in the last week. They are expecting many more cases of malaria in the coming weeks due to the rains. Nick and Charles are so grateful for those of you who support them in prayer and financial support. I really don't know sometimes how they keep going day after day with so much ilnesses much Aids and so little money to provide for the children.

Praying for those in Haiti and little Daisy,

Connie
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Eric takes Temples of Worship photos on location

Eric spent the day taking photos of the Temples of Worship giving him a chance to see their work and go deep into the heart of Kenya. Eric followed the team as they walked through the slum near our house. He saw up close slum life. He said sasa to the many children standing in the doorways of the shacks they call home. Eric takes everything in stride. When I told him what the many little plastic bags were (flying toliets) he just said "oh" and started stepping over them and not on them. All the time he was taking photos of the Temples of Worship. And, you will see when we post some of today's pictures on the blog Sam was photograhing Eric.

Tonight we went to Limuru to meet with the street children. I still wonder when the words "street" and "children" started to be used together. It doesn't seem like those words should ever be used together. It also gave us a chance to eat at Ryan's favorite restaurant - where the goat meat hangs in the window and they cut it up for you right in front of you with big, sharp knives.

Sammy and Franko had gone earler to meet with the street children to tell them we wanted to take a photo with them. Street children are very hesitate of allowing people to take pictures of them. They say people come, take photos and nothing changes for them. We told them we know that. And, we didn't lie to them. We told them while we won't be back there with them again we told them Partners for Care through the what if?, campaign is working to wipe out HIV/Aids so the Nation can use the funds spent treating HIV/Aids to develop their Nation. They allowed us to take the photos of them with the Temples of Worship.

Their are different groups of street children in Kenya. There are the young children like the three we were able to take from the streets of Nairobi two years ago Steven. Jimmie and Brian who are now with Nick and Charles. They were young and were not sniffing glue or using alcohol. As the children living in the streets get older they get more "hardened" and there is more use of glue and alcohol and even other drugs. It is much more difficult to help them. Obviously, the best solution is the children never have to go to the streets.

Eric went today where most people have never gone - even Kenyans. He went from the slum to the streets to see where people live. 60% of the people in Kenya live in a slum. Eric was brave to go there. He is 18 years old and has seen a lot here in Kenya in a short time. I never feel we are in danger as the Partners for Care staff always protects us. And of course, I know God has our rear quard "and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard." Isasiah 58:8. Someone recently reminded me of this.

From Kenya,

Connie
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