~by Emily Rop
Children's Home Admin Assistant
This week, our children were ending the youth camp and they are ready to resume for their studies. Some of our children aged 12 years and above had a wonderful encounter during the camp time, they had an opportunity to interact with other youth from different places hence they felt part of the community. They stayed for five days in the camp. When you'd run into them while they were at camp (which is hosted at the training center next to our children's home) they were very excited!
Some committed their lives to Christ, nine of them were baptized and truly their lives are transformed.
One of them named Linus Kipkoech testified and said that he will never miss another camp because the teachings about how to overcome temptations and forgiveness enabled him to forgive his uncles who took their property and some of the cash their parents had left when they died, and they were taken to an aunt's place where they could not go to school nor wear good clothes yet the uncles were using their money to educate their children. Since his parents died, Linus' heart has been wounded, especially when he remembered his uncles. After the camp he no longer holds any bitterness in his heart rather than to pray for them and he said let the will of God be done.
Healthwise, the children are doing well. Juli and Michelle, our nurse practitioners, did general examinations on all the children and she was amazed on how our the children are doing growing strong and healthy. We thank God for his care and protection. This month of August we didn’t have many cases of malaria.
Our maize is now ready for harvesting. The children roast it in the evenings as they share their live experiences and past stories with their parents . Our children did commendable work of transplanting trees about two thousand and we still have another four thousand which we intend to transplant as we are looking for market for the remaining so that we can sell and get some income.
Our director whom the kids call Babu and Koko (grandfather and grandmother) came back from their leave. The children put a ribbon on the gate then the directors had to cut it as they entered the compound. The children sang and hugged them as they shed tears of joy! You could see the children felt a sense of belonging and the orphaned spirit is not seen any more.
The kids are back to school and their spirits are very high promising to work hard as they continue to trust upon the lord to remind them whatever they have learned.
Showing posts with label Kenya. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kenya. Show all posts
Monday, September 01, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Kipkaren News
~by Emily Rop
Children's Home Admin Assistant
It is with great joy that we share what the lord has done at Kipkaren children’s home this week. We are doing well. God has been gracious and merciful to us all. We thank God very much for what he continually does in the lives of our children, we have seen children develop in all aspects of life spiritually, academically emotionally and even physically.
This week the school has closed for August holidays, our children this time round improved so much both in position and marks in their respective classes.
Teachers are doing commendable work in training and guiding them to be good future leaders who will lead and show good example to people they will get opportunity to serve in future. You could not imagine how this kids were when they first came. Some were 10 years old and they had not seen a classroom before! They had been looking after other people's cows. One of those kids is Victor Nyukuri, who is now in class two, and Justus Kiplagat who is in class one. Both boys can now express themselves, read and write. It is amazing and we thank everybody who is contributing for their upkeep.
This week we had visitors from Califonia: David and Judy Blackford. They have been a blessing unto our children and entire home. They prayed, counseled and encouraged our foster parents following the post election violence, some of our foster parents came from the community that was most affected. We thank God that now peace is restoring and the evicted families have started to settled.
The Children’s Home directors went for their annual leave and the kids are missing their granny night where they could share stories, riddles and songs together . They will be back on 24th of August and Mr Ezekiel Moiben has been in charge of the home during their absence.
Holiday
The children are enjoying staying with their parents, assisting them by doing daily chores like weeding flower beds. During this time, they have planted one thousand trees and are aiming to plant another three thousand before the school reopens. Parents too have the pleasure in helping them do their evening studies seeing them one by one thus learn their strong and weak points.
Educational Tour
Beside helping their parents at home, the children wish to go out to see wild animals, visit other children’s homes at least to get new ideas. Finances are an issue, though we are trusting God to provide for future trips as to break the monotony of staying in the same place from time to time.
Spiritually
Our children are growing spiritually. This is evidenced from the testimonies and sharing they give. They have very powerful testimonies they have started sharing their past experiences without fear. They also confess that since God has provided a home for them they don’t feel any pain any more in their hearts. They have kept on presenting choirs in the church during presentation time. We are for the idea of recording these songs so that we can sell and get a source of income but so far finances is an issue at the moment we are trusting God for a sponsor to support us in recording and producing these songs.
Children's Home Admin Assistant
It is with great joy that we share what the lord has done at Kipkaren children’s home this week. We are doing well. God has been gracious and merciful to us all. We thank God very much for what he continually does in the lives of our children, we have seen children develop in all aspects of life spiritually, academically emotionally and even physically.
This week the school has closed for August holidays, our children this time round improved so much both in position and marks in their respective classes.
Teachers are doing commendable work in training and guiding them to be good future leaders who will lead and show good example to people they will get opportunity to serve in future. You could not imagine how this kids were when they first came. Some were 10 years old and they had not seen a classroom before! They had been looking after other people's cows. One of those kids is Victor Nyukuri, who is now in class two, and Justus Kiplagat who is in class one. Both boys can now express themselves, read and write. It is amazing and we thank everybody who is contributing for their upkeep.
This week we had visitors from Califonia: David and Judy Blackford. They have been a blessing unto our children and entire home. They prayed, counseled and encouraged our foster parents following the post election violence, some of our foster parents came from the community that was most affected. We thank God that now peace is restoring and the evicted families have started to settled.
The Children’s Home directors went for their annual leave and the kids are missing their granny night where they could share stories, riddles and songs together . They will be back on 24th of August and Mr Ezekiel Moiben has been in charge of the home during their absence.
Holiday
The children are enjoying staying with their parents, assisting them by doing daily chores like weeding flower beds. During this time, they have planted one thousand trees and are aiming to plant another three thousand before the school reopens. Parents too have the pleasure in helping them do their evening studies seeing them one by one thus learn their strong and weak points.
Educational Tour
Beside helping their parents at home, the children wish to go out to see wild animals, visit other children’s homes at least to get new ideas. Finances are an issue, though we are trusting God to provide for future trips as to break the monotony of staying in the same place from time to time.
Spiritually
Our children are growing spiritually. This is evidenced from the testimonies and sharing they give. They have very powerful testimonies they have started sharing their past experiences without fear. They also confess that since God has provided a home for them they don’t feel any pain any more in their hearts. They have kept on presenting choirs in the church during presentation time. We are for the idea of recording these songs so that we can sell and get a source of income but so far finances is an issue at the moment we are trusting God for a sponsor to support us in recording and producing these songs.
Monday, August 18, 2008
News from Ilula
~by Caroline Kiptoo
Children's Home Admin Assistant
Bwana Asifiwe! Praise God! It has been a successful and busy week for all of us at Ilula this week. Glory and honor to God for seeing us through and for answering our prayers. The Lord has continued to guide our paths. The children are home for August vacation and are enjoying every bit of it. During their end of term II exams, their performance was above average in general. Their languages especially English has improved a lot. Most of them can now communicate fluently in English. They will be going back to school on Monday, August 18th for extra coaching for two weeks.
Birthday Celebration
There were 3 children celebrating their birthdays in the month of August. The celebration was colorful! The three children and some staff members celebrating their birthdays in August joined hands in cutting the cake and ensured that at least every person tasted it. Pastor Dave and Judy who were visiting Ilula from Kipkaren were part of the visitors who made the party a success. Judy encouraged the children to celebrate their birthdays and be thankful to God for everything he has done in their lives.
Visitors
Pastor Dave and Judy from the US who had been at Kipkaren visited Ilula Children’s home early last week. The children were glad to welcome them with a bunch of flowers at the round about. The visitors were so happy to meet the children and they looked forward to interacting with them, getting to know them and playing with them. Dave and Judy also conducted a one day seminar with the house parents on having Visions. The parents benefited a lot from the seminar. They also spent most of their time with the children cheering them at the field during soccer competitions, playing with them and taking meals with them. They left on Tuesday to go back to Kipkaren. As they bid goodbye to the children and staff, they encouraged the children to love one another as God loves us. They were happy to have been a blessing to the children and staff and to have also received blessings at Ilula.
August Vacation
The children have had lots and lots of activities to do since they closed school two weeks ago. They have been very busy cleaning their rooms, gazebos and the compound ensuring that everywhere is clean all the time. They have also been helping at the kitchen garden to weed and plant more kales. The older kids have been working on their small garden beds behind their houses weeding and planting more crops. One child who loves gardening a lot was blessed when he received some water melon, pepper and cucumber seeds from his sponsor.
The kids have also been participating in sports. There was inter-house competition in soccer between Chepsat family Vs Kiprotich family and Rono family Vs Kosgey family. Every family cheered their team and for sure it was a success. It is quite encouraging that the Ilula children understands and appreciates that at the end of every game, they are all winners. Despite the fact that in a game there are winners and losers, the Ilula kids appreciates that we are all winners. One child said “At ELI, we are all winners!” isn’t this great? Praise God!
VBS which is normally conducted during the holidays started yesterday August 14, 2008. Edna one of ELI’s staff who is concerned with the Children’s Ministry led the VBS. The children are enjoying it very much and are learning a lot. They are being taught bible stories, memory verses, missionary stories and new songs. They will have a chance to present what they have learnt in VBS on Sunday at church.
Children's Home Admin Assistant
Bwana Asifiwe! Praise God! It has been a successful and busy week for all of us at Ilula this week. Glory and honor to God for seeing us through and for answering our prayers. The Lord has continued to guide our paths. The children are home for August vacation and are enjoying every bit of it. During their end of term II exams, their performance was above average in general. Their languages especially English has improved a lot. Most of them can now communicate fluently in English. They will be going back to school on Monday, August 18th for extra coaching for two weeks.
Birthday Celebration
There were 3 children celebrating their birthdays in the month of August. The celebration was colorful! The three children and some staff members celebrating their birthdays in August joined hands in cutting the cake and ensured that at least every person tasted it. Pastor Dave and Judy who were visiting Ilula from Kipkaren were part of the visitors who made the party a success. Judy encouraged the children to celebrate their birthdays and be thankful to God for everything he has done in their lives.
Visitors
Pastor Dave and Judy from the US who had been at Kipkaren visited Ilula Children’s home early last week. The children were glad to welcome them with a bunch of flowers at the round about. The visitors were so happy to meet the children and they looked forward to interacting with them, getting to know them and playing with them. Dave and Judy also conducted a one day seminar with the house parents on having Visions. The parents benefited a lot from the seminar. They also spent most of their time with the children cheering them at the field during soccer competitions, playing with them and taking meals with them. They left on Tuesday to go back to Kipkaren. As they bid goodbye to the children and staff, they encouraged the children to love one another as God loves us. They were happy to have been a blessing to the children and staff and to have also received blessings at Ilula.
August Vacation
The children have had lots and lots of activities to do since they closed school two weeks ago. They have been very busy cleaning their rooms, gazebos and the compound ensuring that everywhere is clean all the time. They have also been helping at the kitchen garden to weed and plant more kales. The older kids have been working on their small garden beds behind their houses weeding and planting more crops. One child who loves gardening a lot was blessed when he received some water melon, pepper and cucumber seeds from his sponsor.
The kids have also been participating in sports. There was inter-house competition in soccer between Chepsat family Vs Kiprotich family and Rono family Vs Kosgey family. Every family cheered their team and for sure it was a success. It is quite encouraging that the Ilula children understands and appreciates that at the end of every game, they are all winners. Despite the fact that in a game there are winners and losers, the Ilula kids appreciates that we are all winners. One child said “At ELI, we are all winners!” isn’t this great? Praise God!
VBS which is normally conducted during the holidays started yesterday August 14, 2008. Edna one of ELI’s staff who is concerned with the Children’s Ministry led the VBS. The children are enjoying it very much and are learning a lot. They are being taught bible stories, memory verses, missionary stories and new songs. They will have a chance to present what they have learnt in VBS on Sunday at church.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Beatrice: Our first athletics and drama competition
It was in the month of May when our teachers informed us that we would go to Kipchoge Keino Stadium for athletics. We were as happy as a king in the palace. We started our practice because practice makes perfect. Our games teacher, Mr. Kogei, took us for cross country training, and we ran throughout our village of Ilula. It was hard but we had to do it.
We did our practice for about three weeks then it was time to go for the competition. We were to meet other schools from the zone. We were very excited to travel to town. We were six children from my family (Rono family) who were to go for the competition. Our parents ensured that we were smart and ready to go. We prayed before we left for school that morning and they gave us some pocket money.
After finishing our Friday assembly and devotion, we boarded the car to Kipchoge. Our father Mr. Nixon was driving us and we enjoyed as we saw many things on our way. We met other students from other schools and there were bigger children than us. The long races started followed by the short races and the other activities.
After everyone had participated we waited for the results. We were very happy to learn that two of our students were to proceed to the district level: Joyce and Rose. We jumped up and down thanking our Almighty Father for enabling us to win. We came back to school very happy.
In the month of June after the athletics we started getting prepared for drama festivals. We prepared poems and shahiri. Some of them were entitled “Pesa” (Money), “Mwalimu Fidhia” “Donda Ndugu” and “Maritha”. The one about money was saying that money is not a very big thing and that we should not boast about it. I presented a solo verse in “Maritha”.
Our music teacher Mr. Edonga Ekai trained us on how to recite poems. He didn’t want to inform us where we were to go but he promised us that if we practiced well, he shall tell us. A list of names of those who were doing very well was read and I was glad I was among the group.
We presented at the zonal, district and two pupils managed to go to the provincial level. Hillary and Fridah went to Kericho for four days and they tried their best.
We thanked God for enabling us to reach the provincials. We are praying that next time we shall get to the national level.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Scophia: The day we went to Kipchoge Keino Stadium
It was on a Thursday evening and we had prepared the school team and they were practicing hard. They knew that practice makes perfect. We had prepared ourselves because on Friday we would face tough competition.
On Friday morning, I was so excited because I was among the team traveling to Kipchoge for athletics. I woke earlier that usual, took a shower and wore my best uniform. After taking my breakfast, I walked to school. At the assembly we prayed for those going to Kipchoge that they may have a safe journey and that they may participate well.
We reached the stadium faster that I expected. We went round the field where we were going to run. There were so many students from various schools who had come for games. After sometime, we were all assembled at the field to be told what to do. There were many big boys and I was so scared of them I thought if you could step on them by mistake, they would beat you seriously.
My team was the first to run and so children representing all the zonal school lined up to run. We ran as fast as we could but the race was tough. During the short races, one of the runners was disqualified as he was a trained runner.
Rose Jepchirchir was participating in walking race. She was in first position all through until when she heard the bell. Rose did not understand that she had one more round to go so she stopped and the two students behind her overtook her. She never gave up but continued and she became position three. Joyce Jerotich also managed to be among those who were to continue to the District level in the long races. We were given glucose then we ate lunch and came back to school happily.
I thank God for enabling us to participate in games. I am praying that next year we are going to get to the national level in athletics and make our school famous in the country.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Update from Laban at Ilula
Things have gone bad ever since the outcome of the elections. There is tension all over. Houses
were burned even as close as 600 meters from the children's home. Gunshots from the security forces were heard trying to stop mobs that were causing all that was going on.
We have been trusting in God though the situation has caused fear and anxiety among the children as well as adults. There have been up to 200 people taking refuge at the children's
home. We have no security as the government cannot provide now. They concentrate mostly
on those in makeshift camps for those displace and urban centers to take care of property
from damaging and looting.
Thank you for your prayers!
Don Rogers and his family were here that time and they managed to get some organised flight to Nairobi. They are safe, planning to fly back to US on the 11th. They were able to purchase some food for Ilula and Kipkaren in Nairobi and sent it by plane to Eldoret. We received the food on the 5th with Kipkaren staff who drove through numerous mob roadblocks to Ilula.
Shops and banks have not opened yet. Schools and colleges have been pushed to reopen on the
14th& 15th Jan.
The Red Cross was here yesterday promising to bring food today for the displaced people
and include the children. We hope they will do something though we are told the organization is really stretched with the magnitude of the problem.
We will keep you updated of our situation. Keep praying for us for God's protection on us.
It's a miracle that no child nor adult became sick at all from the start of the unrest. [We would not have been able to get anyone to the hospitals.] Also, hospitals are busy with the wounded and medicine is scarce now.
The grace of the Lord has been sufficient for us. We had wonderful prayers and encouragement with staff yesterday and the Lord moved mightily to give us more courage and strength to go on trusting and believing in GOD'S MERCIES AND DELIVERANCE for his children people and our nation KENYA.
Please keep praying.
Everyone here greet you and appreciate your concern. Things are cooling down at least a bit.
were burned even as close as 600 meters from the children's home. Gunshots from the security forces were heard trying to stop mobs that were causing all that was going on.
We have been trusting in God though the situation has caused fear and anxiety among the children as well as adults. There have been up to 200 people taking refuge at the children's
home. We have no security as the government cannot provide now. They concentrate mostly
on those in makeshift camps for those displace and urban centers to take care of property
from damaging and looting.
Thank you for your prayers!
Don Rogers and his family were here that time and they managed to get some organised flight to Nairobi. They are safe, planning to fly back to US on the 11th. They were able to purchase some food for Ilula and Kipkaren in Nairobi and sent it by plane to Eldoret. We received the food on the 5th with Kipkaren staff who drove through numerous mob roadblocks to Ilula.
Shops and banks have not opened yet. Schools and colleges have been pushed to reopen on the
14th& 15th Jan.
The Red Cross was here yesterday promising to bring food today for the displaced people
and include the children. We hope they will do something though we are told the organization is really stretched with the magnitude of the problem.
We will keep you updated of our situation. Keep praying for us for God's protection on us.
It's a miracle that no child nor adult became sick at all from the start of the unrest. [We would not have been able to get anyone to the hospitals.] Also, hospitals are busy with the wounded and medicine is scarce now.
The grace of the Lord has been sufficient for us. We had wonderful prayers and encouragement with staff yesterday and the Lord moved mightily to give us more courage and strength to go on trusting and believing in GOD'S MERCIES AND DELIVERANCE for his children people and our nation KENYA.
Please keep praying.
Everyone here greet you and appreciate your concern. Things are cooling down at least a bit.
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