Dr. PLO Lumumba's mother died

I was notified yesterday that Dr. PLO Lumumba's mother died. Some of you have met Dr. Lumumba. If you want to send your regards please send to me and I will comply them for him. I spoke with him yesterday through text. Sammy will go to the burial representing PFC. He will carry friends and staff of Dr. Lumumba to the burial. Dr. Lumumba is a great friend of PFC and of the people of Kenya...we remember him and his family in prayer, Connie
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Today Anastasia has her surgery

Today we pray for Anastasia and her surgeon and nurses as she under goes surgery to remove the brain tumor that has caused her to lose her sight. Anastasia has many struggles in her life....living in one room with her husband and children in a slum in kenya. Losing her sight made life even harder. The PFC staff and her church organized to raise all the funds necessary for her surgery. May God be glorified whatever the outcome....

Connie
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The mission begins...

June 12 I leave for Kenya with representatives from the Jr. Partners for Care volunteers and Bridgette Boylan. We go to support and serve the Partners for Care team on the ground in Kenya. The PFC team led by Sammy Wanjau have been preparing for the medical camp and sports tournaments we will help with. The team have been organizing partners including the Ministry of Health, the chief, local physicians and healthcare professionals. The Gates Foundation will also be partnering with us for the medical camp in Maururi. The team is buying the medications, soccer and volleyball balls, trophies, prizes, etc. They have organized to rent a stage for the what if? events - one in Maururi and one in Mai Mahui. The soccer tournament in Mai Maui started three weeks ago and the one in Maururi kicked off today with hundreds of people from the village watching.

Our team is going to help...to serve. By raising the money for this mission, the Kenyan team is able to reach thousands with the message of salvation. We will go to encourage the team as the battle is tough on the ground. And, we go to witness God working through these young Christian leaders in Kenya and then to tell others the story - to help change our hearts and others for those who serve and for those who are served.

Thank you to all who have donated to make this mission possible....


Connie


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Saving a life....

Partners for Care uses the tag line....saving lives for the kingdom. To Anastasia, a woman living in Maruri Slums it is more than a tag line. Partners for Care (PFC) staff are working to save her life. The staff met Anastasia through her daughter who is a team player on the PFC volleyball team. Justus knew Anastasia's daughter was sad and when he asked her why she shared with Justus that her mother was blind and had to stop working in the coffee plantation. Anastasia lives in the slum with her husband in one room - with all their children. Her husband continues his work in the coffee plantation while caring for Anastasia and the children.

 

Anastasia's husband feeding their children

Several years ago Anastasia started suffering from severe headaches. Eventually, it was determined she has a tumor that is causing the blindness. Anastasia touched the heart of the PFC staff. As Dr. Vincent told me, "It is now 2 years 9 months since Anastasia had a privilege to enjoy the golden opportunity of sight".

Anastasia needed 200,000 KSH ($2,500) for the surgery - costs not possible for a family working in the coffee plantations. PFC physician Dr. Vincent knew the tumor could grow causing more health problems and eventually she could die from this tumor. The PFC staff contacted a TV station who came and did a story about Anastasia and PFC's desire to help her. Funds starting coming in for her surgery...and the TV kept running the story. Her church helped as well as a bible college.

 

Anastasia with Justus

 

Anastasia and her daughter, Agnes
 

Tomorrow Anastasia goes for the preliminary work-up to the Kijabe Mission Hospital. She needs blood....the PFC team will be going to the hospital early in the money to donate blood for her.

What Anastasia couldn't do alone - God did. He used a young girl playing on a newly formed volleyball team and someone willing to listen to her story. He then used others like Sam, Sammy, etc. to dare to get involved. He used a TV crew to tell Anastasia's story and, He used people who cared enough to decide to share what little funds they may have to save Anastasia''s life. And, He will use the doctors and nurses at the Kijabe Mission Hospital to skillfully remove the tumor that has caused Anastasia to lose her sight.

For me, I am touched by the Partners for Care staff who are working everyday to save lives for the kingdom....

Praying for Anastasia and her family,
Connie

Re: There is more to the story....

Dear Connie:

What an amazing story!

God blesss you in your work in the name of Jesus.

Joe Beasley
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There is more to the story....

On Easter Sunday I shared the victory of the what if? soccer team in the first what if? tournament held in the village of Marurui. While that victory is exciting, the story behind the victory is even more exciting. The work of the Partners for Care team in Kenya is to "save lives for the Kingdom" by spreading the message of salvation and HIV/AIDS prevention and doing whatever they can to reduce the deaths of children from preventable diseases. They do this work throughout the Nation of Kenya and someday they will take their message to other Nations in Africa.
Last year, they told me that when they were not traveling to other villages throughout Kenya they felt called to work in their own village - their Jerusalem. In this village is a small slum - home to approx. 10,000 people. The HIV//AIDS rate is high, most children have only one parent, there is little work for the people, the youth are idle and overall there is a feeling of hopelessness. Over the year PFC staff have:

• Began a program of hanging a bed net in every home
• Opened a cyber with an IT school and a free music school
• Began a 2nd chance program providing tutoring for those who want to complete their elementary and high school degrees 
• Organized 5 sports teams

This last weekend they held the first soccer tournament. Once I read if you set yourself on fire others will notice. You could say this tournament had this same effect with everyone noticing - the people of the village, the churches, the government officials.

The response to the two-day tournament was amazing! The entire village showed up to watch from morning til night - the bars closed, the churches left church services to watch, people lined the field to watch. And remember this is really a field - not even a true soccer field. It was as if the village took two-days off to watch.

The story of the what if? soccer team is truly the story of David and Goliath. The boys are just young guys and have only been a team since December. It was expected they would be eliminated the first game...but they won. Then they won again and excitement grew. They are known in the village as the "good boys" meaning they have made a pledge to follow the teachings of Jesus. Some of the other teams have boys who are using drugs, alcohol, etc. They are bigger in size and have been teams longer than the what if? Superstars.

The what if? team

The University of Nairobi had sent a team to play. The team was organized by university students who volunteer with Partners for Care. They played the what if? team for the championship. When the what if? boys scored the first goal the crowd cheered and when they scored the second goal and won the game the community shouted "our boys" have won. They went from "those boys" to "our boys". It reminded me of when the South African rugby team became the team of all the people in South Africa when they won the World Cup. Sports have a powerful way of bringing a community together.
The community leaders told Sammy and Sam nothing like this has ever happened in the village of Murarui. You can see the what if! team in church before the game on Sunday as the pastor prayed for them.

 

The team being prayed for in church

See the smiles on their faces as they raise John (IT teacher who helps coach them).

The team raising John after a victory

PFC staff are using this opportunity to further their reach into the churches in Murarui. They are now planning a community wide youth rally involving all the churches.

 

The victory

I would like to dedicate this victory to Kevin Cross and Rob Wendt who sent the funds to buy the uniforms and soccer shoes for the what if? team. They for helping these young boys 10,000 miles away!

Amazed at His grace,
Connie
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Why Do We Go?

I was asked to guest blog for the Medical Mission blog. If interested you can link before on "Why Do we Go?".

Connie
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Click the link below to read the latest from Medical Missions Why Do We Go?

I can't say any better than Sam...

Here is the message I just received from Sam. This team of boys from the Maruri Slum who came together just 4 months ago as the what if? Superstars as a ministry outreach of Partners for Care has won the first Partners for Care Tournament! Enjoy the excitement of the Partners for Care as you read Sam's message.

Victory and success

Our what if? Team won!!!!! They beat 5 other teams including the team from the University which they played with during the finals and took the cup. Wish you were here, everyone chanting 'what if?' from the field to the market place.. PHENOMENAL!!!@ Just coming from the field..
More later.......

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My sheep is actually a goat

During my last visit to Kenya one of the Partners for Care staff's mother gave me an appreciation gift. I wrote about the gift in the February 15 blog post. Well I thought the gift was a sheep - turns out David the sheep (named for my last born son) is actually a goat! David has been moved from the Partners for Care house to the country home of Kathi's House of Restoration. Yesterday Sam sent me a photo of David.

David

They tell me David likes it in the beautiful area of the Rift Valley but is lonely....the team suggest I buy a female goat for David. I plan to see David when I go to Kenya June 12. The team traveling with me will be doing a medical what if? outreach in Mahi Mahui. And, they will meet David the goat...
Preparing to serve the Kenyan PFC team,
Connie
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Meet the Kenya Partners for Care Team

Go to www.partnersforcare.org and click on Kenyan Team. See the people you read about in the updates and read their stories.

Enjoy,

Connie
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It is never too late for a 2nd Chance

Her name is Virginia. She lives in a slum in Kenya - Marurui slum. The Partners for Care team met her when they were hanging bednets in their Stop Malaria outreach. She caught their attention as she could not speak a word of English which in Kenya usually means someone as never been to school. Virginia is a mother, a widow and is infected with HIV/AIDS. The disease the Partners For Care staff are fighting. Virginia told the team she had never been to school, never been in a classroom, never even held a pencil. She desired to learn...but didn't know where to begin. The team invited her to visit the Partners for Care what if? Life Changing Center...a short walk from her small home in the slum. Virginia enrolled in our 2nd Chance Program. A program that helps people prepare to complete their elementary or high school education. Someone sponsored Virginia and paid the $12.00 monthly tuition fee for her to learn English. Now everyday after she cares for her children and does her house chores Virginia runs to center for her lessons. She can now write her name and is learning to read.

Virginia

Virginia and her tutor Sam, Head of the 2nd Change Program

Virginia reminds of it is never too late for a 2nd chance.

Grateful for the team on the ground who are transforming their Nation...one Virginia at a time,

Connie
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Newest and smallest member of Partners for Care

The newest and smallest member of the Partners for Care staff is adorable! Dr. Vincent and his wife are the blessed parents of Ethan.

As Dr. Vincent was in the field when his wife went into early labor the Partners for Care did their part. George drove her to the hospital along with Justus. All the staff helped to make sure baby arrived safely and Mom was well cared for. They say in Africa it takes a village to raise a child...this time it took a team to deliver one.

Ethan

Glad for a miracle of a healthy baby,

Connie

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And, He will bring the right people to the ministry

I remember when someone told me that if we would be faithful in serving Him, and if we would wait, He would bring the right people to the ministry.
So, we waited...and He has brought a true servant to the ministry of Partners for Care. When we were doing medical camps in August with PLO Lumumba Foundation we met a young doctor. This doctor was different than most doctors we had worked with before. He was so PASSIONATE about serving the people. He wouldn't stop seeing patients until everyone who had come to be treated was seen. This young doctor is Dr. Vincent Mutugi. And, to our surprise when I was there this last trip he asked if he could join our ministry. He said, he didn't care about money - he just wanted to serve the poor people.

I credit the Partner for Care staff in Kenya as to the reason he wanted to join our ministry. He said he sees Partners for Care staff in Kenya as servants working to transform their village and their Nation. Dr. Vincent wants to be a part of transforming his Nation he wants to serve the poor.

I think the best way to share his heart with you is to share what he wrote me after being with us for two weeks. He said "I have visited the Mararui slum many times these last two weeks and my heart has been left soaked in pity. I can't sit down and plan anymore. I have to get on my feet and get to Samaria. God give me strength."

His Samaria

Assessing a patient

Dr. Vincent will be the team doctor keeping the Partners for Care staff healthy and the doctor for the Nick and Charles' precious children. He also wants to set up a health clinic in Mararui that will serve the people from the slum. He will be the doctor on our medical missions organizing medications, drugs and supplies and work with the US doctors and nurses who come to participate in our medical missions.

Helping children

We welcome Dr. Vincent to the Partners for Care team! Pray with me for God to give him strength as he serves the sick, and the poor,

Connie
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Partners for Care featured in World Magazine

When Linda Grosskopf, Partners for Care board member, returned from her trip to Marsabit she sent photos and a story about the people she met in this remote part of Kenya to World Magazine. She hoped the magazine would put in one of their editions a picture or two. To Linda surprise the magazine editor called her and said they wanted to write a story about the people in Marsabit. I have attached a PDF of the article. World Magazine gave us permission to make copies of the article. We have included some additional photos and more information about the work of Partners for Care. We are grateful to Linda who shared her story and to Robert Morris who took the photos in the article.

Hoping to return to Marsabit soon,
Connie.

An unusual gift

When I first started the work in Kenya a wise person told me to visit the homes of each of the team members and meet their families - especially their Moms. While I had met Sam's Mom I had not been to his birthplace. Sam's was the last of the core team's birthplace to visit. These visits have taken me south, north and west. This weekend Sam's prayers were answered as our mission took us to Meru - his home. We were blessed as the entire team went to see his Mom.

The PFC team with Sam's mom at his home

Sam's Mom is humble and a true servant of the Lord. She told me she gave her two boys (Sam and his brother Moses) to the Lord when they were little and has prayed daily for them. After greetings, introductions and of course photos Sam said "my Mom has a gift for you". They took me outside and presented me with a sheep. Sammy was excited as this adds to our rapidly growing "farm". It is a great honor to receive such a gift.

A photo with Sam's Mom, David the sheep and Sammy

A photo with Sam and his mom

I felt blessed and appreciated by Sam, his Mom and their family. Seeing Sam's Mom and receiving such a gift made me more determined do try to do no harm to Sam or any of the other Partners for Care staff members. All the staff are someone's child - a child they have prayed for, had hopes for and sacrificed more than we could ever know for. I pray and pledge to do my best to support these young people in ways that honor and respect their Moms.

Proud owner of a sheep who I named David after my last born,

Connie
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Kaaga Boys School - 71 say yes to Jesus

This weekend the Partners for Care team did what they do so well - spread the message of what if? their HIV/AIDS prevention message and bring people to Christ. With the 71 boys saying yes to Jesus this small team has now brought 1,902 to Christ.


This mission was at the Kaaga Boys School in Meru, Kenya. This school is the second oldest school in Kenya. Pastor Martin who traveled with us to do the preaching graduated from this school.

The Temples of Worship

The Partners for Care staff performed and the boys kept hollering "sing one more". We organized the boys into small groups so they could ask the difficult questions and learn from each other. The boys didn't want the small group time to end.

Franco conducting a group session with the students

As we had a lawyer, 2 doctors, a mass media person, and musicians on the team, they met with the senior boys so they could ask career questions - when over they followed the team to ask more questions. Sam gave his personal testimony which really impacted the boys. When he finished ALL the boys wanted to sign the commitment cars - to commit to wait until marriage, know their status and be faithful to one partner.

Sam talking to the students

Students signing commitment cards

Pastor Martin preached and told them why he had made a decision to be pure and told them why God calls them to be pure. When he made the call for Christ 71 boys said yes to Jesus. The school has a mentoring boys for the new believers so these young men will be discipled.

Pastor Martin praying for the new converts

The new converts

Grateful for the PFC team who is working to transform lives to transform a Nation,
Connie
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A great birthday

I wasn't going to tell anyone today was my birthday...but my daughter Mindy had the idea to tell everyone I know in the US and in Kenya! I have received birthday greeting from many of you. Thank you for messages, e-cards and prayers. Not only was I encouraged by all the birthday wishes, but tonight the first night of the team's weekend challenge at a boys high school 42 young men accepted Christ. That was a great birthday present!

Blessings, Connie
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Partners for Care conducts malaria reduction outreach

Yesterday the Partners for Care team conducted a malaria reduction outreach. My role was "consultant" so I was an observer. What I observed:

1. Ground prepared
The team had selected the area they wanted to help - Marurui slum which is what the PFC team considers their Jerusalem. They met with the Area Chief to keep him informed of the plan. They identified three women who are considered leaders in this slum to lead the teams. Two of these women are part of a women's support group who are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, while the other was their leader.

The team praying for the battle ahead

Women lead the way

2. Need identified
The team found there were 500 "homes" in this slum. There are 30 orphans and 830 children under the age of 5. This information they obtained from the Area Chief. They also visited the 24-hour clinic in Marurui. They found 5 out of every 15 children under five who come to the clinic have malaria.

3. Developed plan
They would deliver and hang 250 nets working in groups of three. They had organized for 7 volunteers from the University of Nairobi to join them. They would teach on malaria prevention, early detection and appropriate treatment. They would write the child's name on the nets which has shown to ensure better compliance with net use.

Volunteer from University happy to serve

4. Implemented the plan
All the volunteers were trained by PFC staff on how and what to teach about malaria. They were shown how to hang the nets and how to record and track by name, age, HIV/AIDS status and pregnancy. The team prayed together and left the what if? Changing Center with 20 nets per team, in groups of 3.

Teaching prevention

5. Results
By 1:00 pm the team had hung 49 nets. The response from the people was very touching. The pictures tell it best and can be seen on www.partnersforcare.blogspot.com. One mother told them I have lived for 7 years in this slum and you are the first to ever visit me. One 10 month baby had never slept under a net even though in the back of their house is a swamp bringing many mosquitoes. The baby had been bitten many times. The team came back together, debriefed and planned to start again today at 10:00am. They will continue their work over the next several days until they have hung 250 nets.

Hanging the nets

Putting babies under nets

6. Follow-up
The team will visit the homes where they have hung nets in about a month to check compliance with net use. They will also visit the 24 hour clinic again to see if there has been a reduction in the number of children with malaria from this slum.

Last night 49 children slept under a net preventing them from getting bit by a mosquito that could have been carrying malaria.

Family "smiles again"

This and other work happens because of the financial support of many of you for the PFC team to do the work on the ground - to help them save lives for the kingdom. It doesn't cost a lot to keep this team working - they have the passion and they are equipped.

Just a hand..

We just need to keep putting the tools in their hands to do the work - nets, computers for teaching those in the slum to better themselves, music equipment they use to both draw the people to hear the message of HIV prevention and to teach the youth to play an instrument, soccer balls, jerseys and soccer shoes to engage the youth in sports instead of idleness.

Examples of costs:

Soccer ball $12.00
Soccer shoes $20.00
Mosquito net $1.50
Rent at the what if? Life Changing Center $250.00 month
A PFC staff member $200 a month

Thankful for your support for the team on the ground and to HEART for the bednets,

Connie

PS Update - 169 nets have now been hung in Marurui slum
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Kathi's House of Restoration

Today the PFC staff have come to Maai Mahui to help Pastor John and his wife, Mary, complete Kathi's house of Restoration. It is very exciting to be here to watch all the team helping.

Please allow me this opportunity to explain what Partners for Care is doing. Pastor John as most of you probably know has resigned from Glory Outreach Assembly. That is his choice and he has his own personal reasons for that decision which we should all respect. He still loves the children at BTD and will assist whenever requested to help with the children. Some have been asking me why PFC purchased a house across the street from BTD. As Pastor John has been hired to manage Kathi's House of Restoration this allows him and Mary to be close to the children at BTD. It takes a village to raise a child as the African saying goes. Pastor John and Mary are in the village of the children at BTD. It is good Pastor John's four children will also be neighbors to the children at BTD as they have grown together for so many years. They will be attending their same school. Moving to this location provides the least disruption for Pastor John's family. Also, Pastor John's church is in Maai Mahui. And, the HIV/AIDS infected and affected are so many here in this town. World Visio0n calls the highway that runs through here the AIDS highway as so many trucks pass through here and the truck drivers have infected the women.

Please join Pastor John and Mary in prayer and support as they reach back to continue to love the children God entrusted to them for the last 3 1/2 years and as they reach forward to help many more orphans God will bring to them.

Praying for a smooth transition for Pastor John, his wife Mary, their children and all the children at BTD,

Connie
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Using God's resources to do God's work

If we believe all our money and resources belong to God and we believe He is the father to the fatherless, then how do you think He wants us to use our money? As I have been involved in serving in developing Nations for many years now I have some observations.

I have observed we sometimes will spend a lot of money on doing missions and not bring about a lot of change "on the ground" but we don't spend a little amount of money when it could bring a big change "on the ground". Sometimes teams will cost $50,000 to come to Kenya but starting and supporting a girls volleyball team or a boys soccer team in a slum costs very little yet can literally change the lives of these young people.

I always wonder why so many of the world's children die from malaria when a $5.00 net can prevent malaria. I also believe if we can go to the moon, we could figure out how to put a net over every baby in the world. Covering every baby in the world with a net isn't easy to do...but how hard was it to go to the moon?

I am constantly making decisions how to use the resources God allows us to have from our donors. Feed children? Start poultry projects? Buy medicine? I take very seriously these decisions and make them with God's guidance and the guidance of the Kenyan Partners for Care staff. I am glad we in the US work as volunteers as I could not take money from the ministry. God has given me food (in fact too much food!), shelter, clothes and everything I need and much of what I thought I wanted.

This morning I was humbled when George gave me a little piece of paper with a request. He said "it is urgent". The paper read:

1 volleyball net - 3,500 KSH ($50.00)
2 volleyballs - 5,000 KSH ($75.00)

So little money but these purchases could impact 20 girls from a slum. The what if? girls volleyball team does more than play the game. They are connected to the what if? Life Changing Center where they can enroll in the Second Change Program to get their primary or secondary education, learn computers or music. They are also witnessed to and taught how to prevent HIV/AIDS by living pure for Christ. I once read "educate a girl child in africa and you change the village".

For me I can't think of anything I have or would buy that could equal the joy of seeing the lives of these girls transformed. I think God would be pleased with using His resources to transform these girls and to not just tell them of the love of Christ but to show them.

I do believe teams should come - without teams coming we wouldn't have the support of so many of our partners in the US - Bridgette, Linda, Elaine, Amy, Mindy, Pat and Craig, and too many others to list. But can we do both - invest a lot and a little?

Learning more and more everyday and grateful for God's teachings,

Connie
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