God's Grace in Kenya

We've moved!

2009-08-13T16:14:00.003-07:00

Hello to all our readers. Our blog has moved, please visit us here.

A message from Gideon

2009-08-09T08:17:00.005-07:00

We received the following email from Gideon a few days ago. I thought it would be nice for you to hear how well the children are doing in school at Nice View Academy/Orphanage from the Executive Director (Gideon).

Tati is doing very well in school and looks happy.He was position 3 with 382 marks.I hope he will score good marks in KCPE.Generally all the kids are trying to work hard in their school work . We rewarded the good performers and the rest felt challenged and so i expect a lot of competition next term.The class eight did a district exam and they managed position 2 out of 82 schools. So you can see that the academy is doing well and i thank God for this performance.Its also because of your efforts with Tammy that you have made our pupils comfortable and have been learning while their needs are being met translating this to good results.Thank you

Here is another part of Gideon's email to show how the country is doing right now during the drought:

The dry season is still going on and you can imagine how it is now without water for many Kenyan. I thank God that we have water that has became a problem in the country to a point of affecting electricity generation.From tomorrow the country will be having power rationing for the next two months until we receive the expected short rains in october.I thank God for His provisions and all our donors for their great support.May God bless them all!

And I wish to also thank you. Thank you for your continuing support and if you'd like to join us in helping the kids in Kenya please visit our website where you can donate securely online.

New school update

2009-08-05T11:37:00.015-07:00

This photo shows where construction was of the new school building when we left Kenya in October 2008.

The second floor roof had just been poured and the supports had to stay up a few more days.

All the students at Nice View were so excited about being able to use the one room that was completed even if the desks had not been painted yet (they are painted now)! The Class 8 students were joking with their lower classmates that they (Class 8) would have the new room.

I'm not good with heights so just watching this guy from the ground made me dizzy! As you can see from the next photo, the windows are in this section but they aren't complete.

This is where the building sits as of today. A third floor is planned and after its completion it will be one of the largest buildings in Tala! While we were in Tala last year many people were coming to the school looking for employment and wanting to enroll their children in the school. We had to remind everyone that the building wasn't finished so no work and no enrollment. Gideon (Executive Director at Nice View Academy/Orphanage) is handling the enrollment of the existing school very carefully. He does not want to bring in more children than can be handled with the funds available at the present time. As more support is given he, along with Saved By God's Grace, will move to bring in more children to the orphanage.

But like any construction project, funds are needed to proceed. Right now we only have funds available to buy food for the three orphanages (Mercy, Eldama Ravine and Nice View) and even those funds do not completely cover the costs. Please prayerfully consider if you can help. If you are already supporting Saved By God's Grace, thank you!

Chuck and I look forward to the time we can serve our friends and family in Kenya for an extended period of time, but until then we are called to tell of the needs in Kenya.

Street ministry in NYC

2009-08-04T17:36:00.008-07:00

A taste of New York style street ministry. We went out to different parks throughout Brooklyn with Agape Christian Center. Music, drama, testimonies...it was a time of praise and thanks for all God has done for each of us! Over 200 people gave their hearts to the Lord during the week! Praise God!!

Drought and famine continue

2009-08-03T17:30:00.008-07:00

Let me first say that Timmy is me (Tammy)! For some reason the "a" in Tammy is very hard for the kids to say or maybe it's my accent (everyone tells me I have a mid-western accent- whatever that means)! Anyway I thought this was a neat picture sent to us by Pauline from the kids at Nice View- thanks dada (sister in Swahili)!

For those of you who are supporting Saved By God's Grace know that you are remembered by the kids at Nice View, Mercy and Eldama Ravine. Your help is greatly appreciated and you can see from the following email that it is greatly needed.

Our friend, Nathan, is a Kenyan we met during our trip in 2008. He and his wife are raising their baby boy during difficult times. He tells us how things are in Kenya at this time:

Kenya is currently undergoing a severe drought,there has been no food in our farms and people are scared,many people including children in the worst hit regions are feared dead,a big no of people are going without food.The biggest problem is however lack of sufficient water!

This is real life for our friends and family in Kenya. I pray that when you read this you will say a prayer for them and their country. My heart and prayers and energy go towards loving our God and trusting Him to bring providence to Saved By God's Grace.

I wish I could fix it all, but God has placed these specific children in our path for us to reach out to. I have always loved the story of a man who was asking God why there was poverty in the world and why He didn't take care of it. Then God asks him why the man wasn't doing anything about it with the resources God gave him.

God will be faithful and I trust Him to move people's hearts to also reach out and help. I pray we are all listening to God's voice and stepping out to help those He puts in our path.

Greetings!

2009-08-01T14:38:00.007-07:00

Just a brief introduction and a few ways to contact us:

Our website is SavedByGodsGrace.org or

you can find me on FaceBook or

follow me on Twitter or

email us.

We would love to hear from you!

Water please!

2009-07-31T12:49:00.009-07:00

Yesterday Chuck and our son Mark picked up approximately 700 cases of water from the Phoenix Rescue Mission here in Arizona. It was a blessing to us and the people who are on the streets who will receive this water over the next couple of months.

I'm thankful to the organizations who donated the water to the Mission and to the Mission for then passing their abundance onto us who in turn will pass it on to the people on the streets of downtown Phoenix.

And it is a bold reminder of our friends and family in Kenya who have been experiencing drought for the past year. There is no Mission to go to for donated water and families are left to find water wherever they can. If they do find water then they have to have firewood or some other means of making fire to boil it in order to drink it. Otherwise there is a high probability of contracting typhoid.

God has provided and continues to provide water (through your support) for the three orphanages (Nice View, Mercy, Eldama Ravine). But we heard from Mercy Child Foundation that the well is low (they need rains) and the water is getting quite "dirty". A couple of the kids have gotten sick (we did get them medical attention) and we emphasized that they boil the water before consuming any of it.

Next time you take a drink of water, please say a prayer for rains in Kenya. And if you feel led to help Saved By God's Grace in continuing to provide food, water, etc. please join The Change Campaign. For those already supporting - thank you!

Coloring project ideas

2009-07-29T15:26:00.013-07:00

While we were in Kenya (2008) we had a coloring project with all the classes at Nice View Academy. Here are a couple of examples from the Nursery and Pre-Unit classes.

I'm still trying to figure out what to do with them - any suggestions? I have around 300 pictures! Maybe have a contest to choose the favorites out of the classes and make a calendar? Auction off the favorites on e-bay or some other venue?

I made sure each picture was "signed by the artist"! They had a fun time not only because they were able to get out of regular school work for one hour but

When we return I'm planning on doing this more often and to find other craft projects to do with the kids on a regular basis. I have a friend in Nakuru, Kenya (Hi Kate!) who is very crafty - in a good way! I'll probably hit her up for some neat ideas once we are in Kenya. You can see what they are doing in Kenya at A Future and A Hope.

Please comment with any suggestions you may have for the drawings and thanks in advance for your ideas!

They are not forgotten

2009-07-28T20:17:00.007-07:00

We have been encouraging Anastacia in her work in taking care of the kids at Mercy Child Foundation. She is by herself with over 30 children to care for. Recently we sent her a note, this is her reading it with Pauline, giving her encouragement and reminding her she is not forgotten.

I also talked with her last night, she was getting the kids ready for school (from Arizona they are 10 hours ahead of us). Every time I talk with her I remind her of God's love for her and the children and how He has brought us together. Many times she expresses fear of being left alone. I tell her we think of her and the children daily and are praying for them. We will not leave them, they are our family.

The children are told that God is providing for them because people are willing to give sacrificially. I am here to pass on their thanks to you for not forgetting them. God is giving these kids hope through your support and they are learning how very much God loves them. What an eternal impact you are having in the lives of these children - thank you and may God bless you.

We are praying and spreading the word about our kids in Kenya not only for support for food, clothing etc., but also to get Chuck and I back to Kenya on a more permanent basis. If you would like to help us bring the Gospel to Kenya please join The Change Campaign today.

Christopher's letter

2009-07-27T18:31:00.016-07:00

Sorry it's been a few days since my last post. We left Missouri at noon on Saturday. Thanks Kevin and Pam for extending the invitation to stay another night. The morning conversation was great, hence us not leaving at 8am. We then drove straight thru to Oklahoma City to visit Florence, she is Gideon's (from Nice View Academy) sister. We had a late dinner with her around 10pm, stayed until about 1am then took off for home-Phoenix, Arizona. We arrived in Phoenix around 5pm Sunday night. I hope that explains why no posts the past few days!

But as I had mentioned before, here is a picture and part of a letter from Christopher at Mercy Child Foundation.

"I thank you for your help because with your help we are going well with education, we have our daily food, and we have good health...I have this chance to thank you for your help in my life. From that time up to now I see there is change in my life. You are blessings in my life. So with your support I am very far in my life. The God whom Israel were praying is one we are praying...We are praying for you everytime and I hope God had eared our prayer and we are waiting for super natural thing that you never see in you life...because our God is living God and will provide."

This letter shows how your support is helping and the faith Christopher has that God will continue to provide.

We recently sent funds over for food purchases and Christopher, along with all the children at Mercy, Nice View and Eldama Ravine, do not have to worry if they will be eating tomorrow, or going to school.

Please consider becoming a $12/month supporter through The Change Campaign. Our goal is 1000 people (as of this post we have 15 people signed up) at $12 a month which will allow us to continue providing food, education, medical attention and shelter for the three orphanages. It will also put us on the ground in Kenya so we can show them the love of God in action and put into motion some self-sustaining projects.

During our trip we had some great conversations and ideas brought to us and we are very excited to return to our family and friends in Kenya to begin implementation. We are waiting on God's timing but as Christopher said in his letter, "our God is living God and will provide."

For those of you who continue to support Saved By God's Grace-thank you! We know you sacrifice to ensure the kids in Kenya continue to survive, we thank you for that sacrifice. Because of you the Gospel of Jesus is being presented daily to the kids in Kenya as they eat, are clothed, being sheltered and receive medical attention.

How glorious our God is to meet the needs of the children through His people.

God-incidences!

2009-07-24T14:29:00.007-07:00

Let me describe to you some "coincidences" (which I personally don't believe in, as Pastor Ralph from New York would say, God-incidences) that have occurred over the past few weeks. It could go back years to when we were invited to Desert Breeze Community Church.

That same friend who invited us to church, let's call him Joe (ok that's really his name!) recently introduced us to his friend Gary. When Joe met Gary and his wife, Terry, she was being treated for cancer and they had purchased a home in Phoenix to live while she was getting treatment. Without getting into any details, Gary and Terry prayerfully decided to move back to Tennessee with hospice. They talked about using the home in Phoenix for cancer patients to stay at while undergoing treatment. Sadly Terry passed away about 7 1/2 months ago. Recently Gary has offered the home to a couple of ministries, but none of them have been lead to accept his offer. He was contemplating selling the home but felt the Lord was telling him to wait...

Now move back a couple of months and our daughter, Tarrin, was introduced to Pastor Zook from Morningside Evangelical Presbyterian Church. They had a brief lunch meeting and parted company. A few days ago Tarrin received an email from Pastor Zook asking for help. A woman (who is a cancer survivor) was walking across America in support of our troops. While in Phoenix her cancer returned and she needed a place to stay while going through treatment. A church came up with emergency lodging for a few days and we contacted Gary about his home. Gary and Pastor Zook are now in touch.

All these introductions, meetings, emails may seem like coincidences but God has the entire plan under control and had it in the works long before we were aware of the needs. He put people in position to help those who need help and everyone involved had a choice - they could have said no to the prompting of the Holy Spirit but thankfully they said yes!

Choices

2009-07-23T20:50:00.013-07:00

"If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there; if you're kicked in the gut, he'll help you catch your breath." Psalm 34:18 The Message

This verse was on my mind today. We are all brokenhearted somehow, but we are all called to love our neighbor as our self. To me that means looking outside ourselves and seeing how we can help our neighbor before going after our own desires. We can, and should, make these decisions daily over big and small issues. Vacations and lattes or helping a needy family or local homeless shelter. I have to make these choices everyday and I'm not saying it's easy or that we can't enjoy these things but are we making those decisions based on prayerful consideration of what God would have us do with His resources or out of selfish motivation to have fun?

My service is to God and He has called me to help my neighbors in Kenya. I pray that each choice I make is in line with His will and His direction for my life. I pray I do not try to "justify" those choices which are not in line with scripture and the Holy Spirit convict me swiftly so I may repent and turn again towards my Father.

I trust God to be there with my Kenyan friends and family and help them catch their breath, but I wonder if He is asking us why aren't we loving our neighbor?

Blessings...

2009-07-22T05:39:00.004-07:00

Just a short post today - we've been traveling many miles and meeting many God-loving followers of Christ. It's been a wonderful trip thus far! You can go back through past blog posts to read up on some of our adventures.

Today we are leaving from Georgia and heading towards Missouri. I'm sure we'll see some beautiful country along the way.

If you are a new reader to our blog and/or would like to become a supporter check out our website - www.SavedByGodsGrace.org. You can contact us, donate, see our photo album, sign up for the newsletter etc.

You can also become a $12/month supporter through The Change Campaign, a way to use your pocket change for change in Kenya.

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26

Seems we're always saying goodbye...

2009-07-19T21:43:00.007-07:00

We left Greg and Joyce's this morning from Indiana and made it to Illinois around 12:30 this afternoon. We had to keep reminding ourselves which state we were in! It's always difficult saying goodbye to our new friends, but on this trip we know more new friends are just around the corner (or state in our travels!)

Jason and Stephanie are wonderful people and we had a great conversation before the presentation tonight. Thanks guys for opening up your home and allowing us to be a part of your family if even for just a few hours. Here is a picture of their beautiful daughter Grace! Yup, she's a feisty one but love her compassion and passion for life.

Before we left their home she gave me 70¢ and said it was for the kids in Kenya. She listened to us talk about the kids' needs and she gave what she had. I explained to her that what she gave was two days' wages for some people in Tala, Kenya and it would help feed a child at the orphanage. And her attitude was - well I had it and they need it, no big deal, then she ran off to play. "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven." (NIV Matthew 18:3)

You ask if that's all it takes? How about 40¢/day which comes to $12/month? You can help Saved By God's Grace continue to feed, educate and provide shelter for three orphanages in Kenya at The Change Campaign.

Jason's church had graciously invited us to speak at their Sunday evening service. Most of the church was there and they had some good questions. We were able to continue answering questions and at dinner afterwards (along with a few stories about our travels to Kenya). Thank you to everyone involved with feeding us, the hospitality was great and we felt very much at home with our new brothers and sisters in Christ.

Many of the young people were very interested in coming to Kenya by themselves, but the parents said "I want to go too!" So maybe during our next trip to Kenya we'll have a lot of visitors. I know that how ever many people come, God will be glorified in it!

Speaking to people about our kids in Kenya is our passion and calling. The situation there has not been good for quite awhile. The rains have not come and crops are continuing to fail. Here is a short excerpt from an email received today from Gideon (director at Nice View Academy/Orphanage)

"Things are not very good since the rains failed and the future does not look promising but we trust God who Has assured us of prenty even in times of famine. Our help comes from Him

My brother if the cost of food was reasonable things would be easy but its unfortunate food has became costly and our children use one bag of beans for 3 days , one bag of muthokoi for 3 days ,maize flour of 90kgs for 4 days and so food is taking everything but i thank God for He has been with us and He Has continued to provide

I wish to ensure you brother that despite the hard times i will remain faithful to the call of God knowing that He is there for us"

Please prayerfully consider becoming a monthly donor either through Saved By God's Grace or The Change Campaign. Your support will help us show God's love to them through providing for their basic needs.

More new friends!

2009-07-17T21:34:00.007-07:00

We left Gary's this morning around 10:30, a bit late but still ok for the next leg of our journey. I know I've said it before and I'll say it again, several times I'm sure, but God has introduced us to some wonderful people the past few weeks.

Thanks Gary for the great coffee and even better conversations. You were a blessing to me and your faith during difficult times has encouraged me. Your faith is not only in your words but also in the way you live. May God continue to be your strength and show Himself to you.

It was about a four hour drive to Evansville, Indiana for our next stop at Greg and Joyce Donaldson's. Joyce was very gracious and invited us for a little walk to stretch our legs - and it felt so good! Tarrin was able to get veggies and herbs right from Joyce's garden for dinner, so now she's going to try her green thumb in Phoenix again! The poor girl has a tough road with the extreme heat but I know she'll give it a try.

Joyce made a fabulous meal and we had a wonderful conversation that went into the evening. Yes I'm saying it again - God has brought such fascinating people into our lives and I am so thankful for the opportunity to meet and talk with everyone on this trip.

We are so appreciative of everyone who has opened their home for us to stay and fed us to help keep the costs of this trip to a minimum. As we are traveling telling others about the kids in Kenya their needs continue. Last week we sent funds to Gideon (Nice View Academy) for food at Mercy Child Foundation and Nice View Academy. The cost of food is still high but we are trusting God to move people to support this ministry so we can continue meeting their basic needs. If you feel led to help please go to Saved By God's Grace or The Change Campaign and donate online.

New testimonies daily!

2009-07-16T16:04:00.002-07:00

How do you thank someone for opening up their home, giving us a bed to sleep in and feeding us? Thank you just doesn't seem enough. Gary has done that for us and also allowed us to be a part of his life for a couple of days here in Chattanooga, TN.

We've shared testimonies, histories and funny stories. Another brother in Christ has been added to the family and we only met yesterday. I believe God brought us together for a purpose. We may not know the reason now, or ever, but we trust He knows why.

Who has come into your life recently? Are you open to the Holy Spirit leading you to meet someone/invite someone over/call a friend? Do people see Jesus in you when they talk with you in the grocery store or at work? Many times we are so wrapped up in our own daily grind that we miss those opportunities to fellowship with another believer or testify to an unbeliever of what God has done is our lives today.

God has blessed us on this trip with new testimonies every day. He has led us to speak on behalf of our kids in Kenya and He is our strength in spreading the news of His saving grace. What has God done for you today?

Oh the sights you see while traveling!

2009-07-15T20:38:00.006-07:00

Amazing sights you see as you drive across the states! This giant guitar was across the road from the Tennessee Welcome Center.

You see so much beauty that even in the car I can appreciate the awesomeness of God's creation. The majestic mountains, deep forests and sparkling waters where we can enjoy them at any time. But we are also called to be good stewards of the resources He has given us. I think that's one reason why the trash in Kenya is so upsetting.

We stopped in Hershey, PA (Tuesday) hoping for some free samples, but they don't even have free tours anymore. You have to pay to get into the amusement park (Chocolate World) then you can go on the tour :( So we just visited the gift shop at the museum and Tarrin bought a chocolate bar!

On our way to Tennessee we ran into this dragon. I thought it was appropriate since Harry Potter came out today-don't know if there are any dragons in the movie but it made me think about it.

God has been showing Himself to us on this trip in so many different ways and places - the concrete jungle, busy sidewalks, quiet forests, small stores on main street and in the people we've met.

Our children in Kenya have been on our minds constantly and we are very thankful to all who invited us into their homes to stay and to those who set up presentations. God will continue to move people so Saved By God's Grace can continue to feed/clothe/educate the kids in Kenya.

Impromptu presentation

2009-07-14T18:10:00.009-07:00

Sunday after services we had dinner with (from left) Shay, me, Chuck, Tarrin, Pastor's Ralph, Dawn and Jesus and Mark. Minister Guno was also with us but he had to leave early. It was a great time of fellowship and it gave us a chance to say goodbye. Mark and Shay left early Monday morning to return to their homes.

That evening Tarrin went out with her new friend Carmin. So this picture is Tarrin parallel parking in Times Square! She was pretty proud of herself.

Monday after going over our schedule for travel we decided to leave New York on Tuesday morning. That left us with an open evening Monday, so Pastor Ralph called a few friends from the church to set up a presentation.

We met at Iris' apartment (thanks Iris you have a great apartment and you are a wonderful hostess!) and had some food beforehand. Lots of questions and interest and I loved spending our last night here with good friends.

Leaving Tuesday morning was not easy - God brought such beautiful, wonderful, gifted people into our lives this week and I feel so blessed. We've had great conversations, opportunities to share our lives and get to know one another. We didn't say goodbye, but see you later. Pastor Ralph - fuhget about it - I'll miss hearing that!

2009-07-12T17:57:00.001-07:00

I'm testing text blogging. It was an awesome service and the Holy Spirit was alive and God was praised and exalted! Can I measure up? Only thru His strength!

Agape picnic and baptism

2009-07-11T17:40:00.006-07:00

Agape had their annual church picnic/baptism today at Heckscher State Park. Food was everywhere and the fellowship was great. After eating we all walked down to the beach for the baptism.

Awesome to hear why people wanted to be baptised - leave their world of sin behind, be a new creation, be a new man in Jesus. During our time here we've met so many people with a strong testimony of how Jesus changed their lives. People who were verbally abusive, drug addicted, and one woman's testimony was that she was on the verge of double murder and suicide when she cried out to God and He delivered her from her addictions and changed her life forever.

Watching them come up out of the water with a joy on their faces was a blessing. They knew their lives would not be the same. They aren't told that things would be all rosy from here on out. But they are surrounded by people who love them and will guide them and teach them how to navigate the rough waters of life with Jesus in their lives.

After the baptism we got in a circle and sang worship songs - praising God for all He's done in all our lives. To end the evening Mark and Jay played the guitar while "scripture rain" came down. If you felt the Lord laying a verse on your heart you could speak it out loud. How wonderful to hear the voices of His children singing praises with the Word.

World Trade Center, outreach and Alphabet City

2009-07-10T13:32:00.009-07:00

Yesterday we took the day and went to the World Trade Center. Here we are waiting for our subway. (from left is Sharon, Tarrin, Chuck, Mark and Pastor Ralph) Mark joined us from Minnesota and Sharon joined us from New Orleans Wednesday night - it's been great roomies!

A lot of construction at ground zero and if you hadn't seen the Twin Towers you wouldn't know anything happened there. Amazing how short our memory is but also a testament to how life goes on.

Last nights street meeting was another great event. This church, and many others in the area, are living among the people they are trying to reach with the gospel. They are such a powerful witness because they have lived with them, gone through the same struggles and are able to tell them there is hope through Jesus Christ.

Today we visited Alphabet City - lots of very talented people which you can see in the street art. We visited Abounding Grace Ministries. Great group of people who are showing the love of Jesus to those living around them.

I can't seem to say it enough, but seeing people living what they believe is such a blessing. They aren't just saying what should happen - they are going out and doing it!

Another day of walking!

2009-07-08T13:16:00.008-07:00

A day at the Bronx Zoo makes for a long day! But Wednesday's is free admission - yeah. We thought that was a good deal until we got inside and found out you have to pay an additional $3 to see the gorillas, $3 to see the butterflies, $3 to see the tigers, $3 to see the bears...it was crazy.So we're at the zoo and not seeing any of the big attractions - but we did see giraffes (but the ones in Kenya were much more majestic since they weren't behind fences). And we saw these little guys - makes me want to watch Madagascar real soon!

Love walking around with Pastor Ramos though. We are waiting for a couple from our group to catch up and he stands to the side of the path and starts preaching! Telling people what it takes to be saved and to repent. It was awesome! Who knows what seed was planted in those few minutes of him speaking.

We have service tonight at church so no outreach tonight in the parks. I did find out that last nights "street meeting" was in a park known for gang activity. The atmosphere beforehand was very dark and oppressive, people of all ages were scattered around the park. But after the last skit (the young adults did a skit to Carmen's The Champion song) people began to gather around and listen to the gospel. There were many who came forward during the alter call and many around the park who were ministered to by the congregants. Phone numbers are taken so the church can follow up with them, get them involved in a church and let them know they aren't alone. The emphasis is always on a personal relationship with Jesus - not getting involved in a "religion".

Agape Christian Center is raising disciples in their midst to go out and preach the Good News to the nations! God is using them to reach the hopeless and defeated in their 'hood. Telling them they can have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

You have to be a walker in NY!

2009-07-07T13:51:00.005-07:00

Long day of walking everywhere! We started the morning out by walking to the subway to get to downtown. Love the transit system here, you can get anywhere by bus/subway/train/taxi.

Our first stop was at Energy Kitchen. The owner, Anthony, is a friend of the family and is a supporter of Saved By God's Grace. He was kind enough to carve out a few minutes from his busy schedule to meet with us and offer to help in anyway he can. He's been spreading the word about the ministry by attaching our brochures to delivery orders. Love to see how people help in their own unique ways with their gifts and talents.

After a delicious lunch at Energy Kitchen, thanks Anthony, we walked around Central Park. We did get rained on a bit but what a great place-all that green in the middle of the concrete jungle! Then it was a walk through Times Square. Lots of people rushing about their lives.

I wonder if the people walking around have a connection to anyone? Are they feeling alone? The spiritual poverty here in the US is so prevalent and I'm thankful for the outreaches of churches like Agape. They are living here and reaching out to their neighbors with the living waters of Jesus Christ.

If God isn't leading you to support Saved By God's Grace please take that first step to find an organization near you to give your time to. Reaching out and letting others know they are not alone, there is hope for them and there is a purpose for their life - that's spreading the gospel! We'll be doing more of that tonight at another street meeting in the park!

Street ministry is awesome!

2009-07-06T19:06:00.007-07:00

These young people at Agape Christian Center blow me away! They are getting out of their comfort zones and reaching people in their neighborhood with the Good News.

Every church should have youngsters like these. Now I know we are here visiting during their evangelism week, but does your church have a week that you concentrate on reaching the people in your 'hood? Is your church's youth group mainly focused on getting together to have pizza and discuss the latest movie? Or are they learning skits, talking to neighbors, handing out tracts and guiding people in asking Jesus into their hearts?

For my friends who know me this may come as a surprise - I was asked to give the closing prayer. Yes I had to stand up in front of the crowd with a microphone and pray. The Lord is stretching me during this visit and what a rush! Thank you Father for your love and encouragement.

This gentleman got up at the beginning of the service and started dancing with his umbrella. Reminded me of Fred Astaire and Singing in the Rain! He stuck around, I actually think he sleeps in the park, but listened and enjoyed hearing the worship and praise.

New York is a place of so many different nationalities, languages and religions all living together. People were coming into the park to dance and worship God while others stood outside the fence. Lord may your peace and comfort reach all those around who are hurting and in need of your love.

What a day!!!

2009-07-05T20:28:00.010-07:00

God is so good, God is awesome and He is so merciful to give us a glimpse of what He wants for our lives. This morning we walked to a small restaurant for breakfast with Pastor Ramos before service at the Agape Christian Center. Service starts at 11 with about an hour of praise and worship. Then they have a few minutes of announcements and today we had the honor of being here for communion. Pastor Lopez spoke on getting the church prepared to go out for street ministry. He said that we are being prepared everyday for ministry. We aren’t called to just sit at the well and continually drink and be fed, we are called to go out and make disciples of all people. He encouraged people to love one another and show them that the hope we have is a hope they can have too. “Stop being a mission field and become the missionary God has mandated!” (Pastor Lopez) No matter your circumstances, and the testimonies we have heard have been incredible, Jesus will meet you where you are.

After service he asked people to come up for prayer and Pastor Lopez spoke words over Tarrin and I. He has never met me or Tarrin but his words were spot on and it was a blessing to know that the God of the universe loves me so much that He would put that burden on Pastor’s heart to speak those words to us. It was encouragement and affirmation and focus for me. Thank you Father!!

Then around 2 (which was right after church service!) we walked to Wendy’s for lunch. I was at first a bit bummed-we’re in New York City and we are eating at Wendy’s?! Then we walked into a “railroad apartment” and met Wendy from Trinidad! She had prepared an authentic Trinidad lunch which was extremely yummy! Thanks Wendy for your hospitality and opening your home up and cooking for all of us-you are a beautiful servant of God.

That took us to about 4 when we walked a couple of blocks to where the young adults from the church set up their equipment. That’s when the music began and God’s presence was in the ‘hood, or maybe I should say borough?! The youth presented three skits to music and they were very good for their first “live” performance. I think I need to give Dondi (from DBCC) the video so the youth can see what others are doing to reach people for Christ. Chuck was asked to present the alter call and hearts were led to the Lord. Pastor Ramos asked people to come up for prayer and said “don’t be embarrassed, you aren’t embarrassed to buy drugs/alcohol/sex why should you be embarrassed to accept the free gift of salvation?” Praise God people accepted! My prayer is that those individuals will continue to seek Him and be encouraged to grow in their new life.

The people we’ve met have been from all walks of life with all sorts of backgrounds, but because of our familial tie of Jesus Christ we are one big family all serving the One who sustains us.

New York, New York

2009-07-04T17:41:00.012-07:00

We left Michigan this morning at 2am! Chuck took a nap beforehand and I actually stayed up until around 12:30 then tried to sleep, but that was ok since I slept in the truck. I took over driving around 8am but only drove for a couple of hours, I was just really tired. Then Chuck took over driving the rest of the way. We stopped just before getting into New York at a scenic overlook – our last look at trees for about a week. Unless of course we make it into Central Park during the week.

We met Pastor Ramos and I love how when God brings people together they just get along! He is such a wonderful man of God and I am really excited to see what God has in store for all of us working together this week. We were introduced to NY by making sure to bring in all our stuff from the truck so as not to tempt anyone to break into it! So we brought everything in and got our room organized then we walked a couple of blocks to a pizza place and had a slice of pie. Ahhhh New York pizza!

Pastor Ramos gave us his testimony and I would love to have it on video. Maybe I’ll ask him to do that for me later. I love hearing testimonies and seeing how God has and continues to work in lives. Pastor kept saying “what are you guys doing here and what is God bringing us together for?” Great question and one I know God will show us as the week progresses.

Tomorrow is church service at 11 then the week begins with "street ministry". I don't have any idea what exactly that means, but God is in control and I praise His holy name for being here right here and now!

PS-Happy 4th of July. Tarrin would love to get into the crowds and see the fireworks but I think we'll just explore the neighborhood tonight.

Sparklers and VBS

2009-07-02T17:58:00.006-07:00

Had a family cookout the other night and my kids (on the ends) got to have a bonfire and sparklers with their cousins (in the middle). Being in the Arizona dry heat we don't like anything with flames around the house!

It was a fun night with family and we are so thankful for the good times.

Then last night we had a dinner get-together with a supporter of Saved By God's Grace. Carol and her daughter have been wonderful in telling others about the kids in Kenya. Her church is having VBS and focusing on missions around the world. They will be collecting change for The Change Campaign. During the week of VBS she will be calling Chuck on speakerphone and letting the kids ask questions about being a missionary, Kenya and what ever question they come up with! They'll use a photo like this one just like they use on the news - "On the phone is Chuck McDonald..."

They'll also discuss the spiritual poverty of those living in the US. We were able to give them some insight into this with our recent trip to Skid Row.

We leave tomorrow night/Saturday morning at midnight for New York. We are scheduled to be there between noon and 4 pm on Saturday.

Thank you for all your prayers and support - I love watching God working in different people, different situations and different ways. His grace is sufficient for what ever it is He calls you to!

Another positive note

2009-07-01T07:11:00.008-07:00

We donated my dad's clothes to a shelter (West Midland Family Center) and it felt so good knowing his clothes were going to help another man in need.

As you can see from the second picture, he had very little. The two boxes on the floor and the laundry basket were the contents of his entire closet/dresser drawer. And it got me to thinking of all the "stuff" we accumulate in our closets. I can say this because I am a woman, but it's usually us women who have an over abundance of clothes. I was guilty of this for many years. Buying the next new shirt/pants/jeans/purse (my personal demon!) etc. was excitement. Now, thanks be to God, my excitement comes from seeing our 372 kids in Kenya eating, playing with a soccer ball that was donated to them, hearing their excitement of going to school!

It wasn't my idea or strength to curb my want for "things", it was the Holy Spirit. Opening my heart up to Him and His purpose for my life gave me that determination. It's not easy, I have to rely on His strength moment by moment every day but what a blessing the past few years have been in service to Him!

To become a part of blessing a child in Kenya please visit Saved By God's Grace or The Change Campaign to see how you can make a difference.

Personal note

2009-06-29T19:08:00.010-07:00

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Acts 2:21

"For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit." Ephesians 2:18

These verses gave me much comfort this past couple of weeks. My father died on June 14th. I didn't know him well and he was not a part of my life growing up. He was an alcoholic and had lived much of his life with shame and guilt over the choices he made that affected me and my sister. I had seen him only a few times and had written him several times over the years but never received any communication in return. But the Lord is so good - I was able to attend my aunt's funeral (my fathers sister) back in January of this year and had a long talk with my dad. I told him that I loved him and forgave him. I found out today that was a turning point in his life. He was able to accept my forgiveness and I believe the Holy Spirit was opening his heart up for accepting Jesus' forgiveness and sacrifice. He was filled with shame at the funeral and couldn't stop saying "I'm sorry". I understood at that time how difficult it was for him to try to attempt to have a relationship (with me and my sister) with all the guilt he was living with.

Two weeks before his death he went to live with his sister and she lead him to the Lord! I can not imagine the burden that was lifted from his shoulders but am so thankful that he experienced Christ's love and forgiveness before his death. And what a blessing to know that the Lord of all waited for that perfect time to call my dad home. Now my earthly father is singing praises to his and my Heavenly Father for eternity!

We spread his ashes today at his parents grave site and I told my family how difficult it was to be sad because "If you loved me you would be glad that I am going to the Father for the Father is greater than I." (John 14:28) and I am so happy he is with the Father!

A place to rest our heads!

2009-06-28T14:23:00.006-07:00

How many times have we driven pass this "artwork" and never stopped? But today was the day. Tarrin just started driving when Chuck pointed it out, so we turned around and decided to take some pictures. The rest of the day was pretty uneventful. I drove in the morning (Friday) and Tarrin drove the rest of the day. This was written while we were driving through Oklahoma, because really what else is there in Oklahoma?!

And now that I've finally gotten on the Internet at my mom's I can update the blog.

The drive was good, hard to sleep in the truck though. But last night we slept in a real bed and slept in! Felt good and also thankful for having a place to lay our heads at night.

We will be here in Midland until Friday then we are off to New York. So the blog this week will be basically updates from Midland (Chuck and my hometown).

If you know of anyone who would like to host a presentation please have them contact Chuck.

By the way, on my last post I didn't have the link for The Jonah Project but now I do. We've had people tell us they didn't want to help outside the US - this project is right here.

Homeless but not hopeless

2009-06-25T06:26:00.008-07:00

We visited The Jonah Project. Here Patrick, Mary, Jeremiah and Sara have been blessed with over 35,000 sq. ft. of building for The Project. They are currently getting the inside ready for a church, dorm area for women and children, computer area etc. We heard story after story from them of God's faithfulness and we were able to see first hand how much they love the Lord and love working with the homeless on Skid Row. (Patrick is on the far left with the dreads!)

Then we visited Set Free Church also located on Skid Row. Pastor Ron and his wife (pictured here in the chapel) had a beautiful service. Pastor Ron is familiar with the struggles these people go through because he was once a drug-addicted, homeless person just like them.

At the beginning of service he said he wasn't feeling well and maybe he would get everyone out of there early, but then his wife sang Mercy Said No and he was then filled with the Holy Spirit and began preaching about God's goodness and mercy for all of us! He asked everyone if it was alright if he just preached on that instead of finishing the sermon from Sunday! It was an uplifting and encouraging sermon and you can tell he loves the Lord and means every word he preaches!

Set Free also has an outreach where men can come and stay to get back on their feet. This is Thomas, Tarrin met him on her last trip to Skid Row. He cooks for the outreach and does a mean spaghetti! He is so passionate about his love for Jesus and what He has done in his life. You can see the Lord shining through him every time you talk with him.

While walking around you felt a heaviness on the people. Such hurting individuals, yet with The Jonah Project and Set Free Church those individuals are being told of the truth of Jesus Christ and His hope for them. What a blessing it was for me to see the Lord working everywhere in peoples lives. He loves every single one of us and wants us to be near Him and that is the message being told on the streets of Skid Row - Praise God!

It's chilly here!

2009-06-23T22:24:00.009-07:00

Our road trip to LA was uneventful - thank you God for a beautiful and safe trip.

Tarrin took some photos of the scenery but mostly slept all the way here. I can't really say much because so did I. Tomorrow we are planning on visiting Skid Row, Tarrin has a couple of contacts we'll be meeting and working with for the day.

When we arrived at my sister's home I got out of the truck and actually shivered! It's quite chilly here compared to over 100 degrees in Phoenix! Makes me realize that the homeless in every area has some of the same issues to contend with - heat during the day and cold at night.

Please pray for our homeless brothers and sisters that they may get involved with an organization who can help them.

Thank You!

2009-06-22T18:19:00.007-07:00

A big THANK YOU goes out to all those at Desert Breeze Community Church who gave their spare change for Kenya. The church placed a 5-gallon water jug at their outreach table and congregants reached into their pockets to give whatever spare change they had to the ministry. Over $700 was raised!

What an example of how simple and inexpensive it is to reach into your pocket/purse and give your change, yet what a blessing it will be to the children of Kenya.

Visit The Change Campaign to become a monthly partner with us for $12/month (that's just 40¢/day!)

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T07:30:00.005-07:00

To all you dad's out there - Happy Father's Day!

We are presenting The Change Campaign to our local church today and helping people understand how easy it is to change the life of a child in Kenya. Just $12/month can bring change into their lives!

Your support will enable us to take the gospel of our Heavenly Father to these kids who have no earthly father. And by His grace they are learning that God is real and He will provide for them through your partnership with us.

On this Father's Day please remember those who do not have a dad and if you haven't spoken to your dad in awhile - call him!

Final thoughts

2009-06-20T17:23:00.001-07:00

Our friend, Robert, came to Kenya for a couple of weeks last year (during our August 2008 trip) to help at Nice View Academy/Orphanage and to witness the poverty we experience in Kenya.

While he was at Nice View Academy he helped hang mosquito nets, serve dinner to the kids and most importantly showed them he really cared. Robert would have small bible studies with the kids, talk to them about school and got to know them on a personal level.

This is Robert on our way to Nairobi to drop him off at the airport. I asked him what stood out the most to him during his two week stay...

The generosity of the people we meet in Kenya and their willingness to give the last of what they have is a humbling experience. Please consider becoming a partner with us through Saved By God's Grace or The Change Campaign, your support lets our kids in Kenya know someone cares. Thank you.

Feet

2009-06-19T15:45:00.011-07:00

Weird subject I know, but everyone has them - some people have problems with theirs others don't even think about them.

As in most places, boys are rough on their feet. Here at Eldama Ravine the boys were playing football (American soccer) and, as usual, many only have their school shoes and flip-flops which are not the easiest to play in. So they were running in the field without shoes and Anthony got something in his foot. Peter then stopped the game to help him out, which I thought was very sweet.

Then you see the girls making sure their feet are clean and soft. Again at Eldama Ravine I watched the girls rub their feet on a rock which was very much like a pumice stone. By the time they were done their feet were as smooth as a baby's bottom!

It just reminded me of the fact that boys are boys and will continue to play rough and not worry about their feet. While girls like to keep things neat and clean.

Another reason to join The Change Campaign...keeping shoes on their growing feet!

The simple still works

2009-06-18T19:27:00.012-07:00

I was talking with someone today about all the new inventions that have come out for babies. My youngest will be 18 in August so it's been 18 years since I've purchased baby things. But we were talking about the carriers for babies and how many different products there are just for carrying a baby around.

In Kenya there seems to be one way and it is simple and inexpensive. Plus I hear it's a very comfortable way to carry a baby. What impressed me about this form of "baby handling" is how they get the baby onto their backs! It's quite acrobatic and I thought for sure I'd see a baby falling to the ground. But even young girls carry their baby sister/brother around on their back and they do the same acrobatic dance.

Many times the women are carrying the babies around because they aren't walking yet, or they want to get around the market with their hands free to check out the vegetables. However, this woman was forced to carry her son while she was begging for money so that her son could have surgery on his legs.

The products we have so readily available here in the US are unheard of in this area. And honestly I wonder if many of them would scoff if they saw them. With this simple method they are wrapping their baby and keeping them close. What child wouldn't love that?

Beautiful mwaitu!

2009-06-17T21:26:00.012-07:00

Gideon (Director at Nice View Academy) has his mother (mwaitu) living with him and his family. I love her like my own grandmother.

Whenever we would come into the house for dinner she would usually ask us one of several questions like:

1) "What tribe are you from?"

2) "How was the party?" this one puzzled me - I guess we always looked like we had just come from a party!

3) "Are we related?"

Gideon and Pauline would usually answer for us and tell her we were from her tribe and yes we were related! I wondered if she ever saw us as white? Her peace for life came from her trust in the Almighty and I think that blinded her to the black/white issue.

I miss hearing her singing everyday. She would even sing her answers to questions! Her health is slowly failing (they believe she is around 103 years old!) and I pray the remainder of her life is spent in peace and happiness.

What a blessing it was to see her and spend time with her. When she would pray for us, even though we didn't understand the language, you just knew she was speaking directly to God.

Please pray for mwaitu and for Pauline and Gideon to have the strength to continue honoring their mother.

Playing on the field...

2009-06-16T23:30:00.008-07:00

My external hard drive crashed a couple of weeks ago with all my downloaded video from our last trip :(

So I have begun the process of re-downloading it (about 5 hours of tape!) By the way, thanks Mike for the new external.

Here's a very short clip of the kids at Nice View Academy playing while we toured the new building progress (August 2008).

There laughter and watching them play takes me back to them in a heartbeat. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter either through Saved By God's Grace or The Change Campaign. Your partnership with us is helping our kids in Kenya have the chance to be kids without the worry of where their next meal is coming from. Thank you!

The Good News...

2009-06-15T21:20:00.011-07:00

The past few days I've been thinking a lot about the Gospel message and how we spread the Good News. We are called to teach all nations to obey God's commandments (Matthew 28:18-20).

But how do we do that? We speak the words to people, but without our lives being an example of the Word we are simply talking (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

By living out the precepts God has laid out for us (one being - love your neighbor as yourself, Mark 12:31) we are showing Christ's love to the nations. Saved By God's Grace is bringing that love to the country of Kenya - specifically Tala, Koma Rock and Eldama Ravine.

By providing for our children's basic necessities they are beginning to understand that it is God who is loving them and providing for them. He hasn't forgotten them and He continues to provide for them through your support.

Thank you to all who are part of Saved By God's Grace and/or The Change Campaign. You are supporting the hands and feet of spreading the Good News to the country of Kenya.

Missing friends, family...Kenya

2009-06-14T16:35:00.020-07:00

We watched a film last night about a country in Africa and it really made me miss...

...the kids

...hearing "mum and dad are here!"

...singing praise and worship songs with them - although some of them are in Swahili

...the little ones staring, then smiling for a picture

...the kids asking for sweets

...the older kids asking for a picture

...the friendly people stopping to say hello, just because

...tea time - a time to relax with friends and/or family to chat it forward

...laughing together about our differences in culture

...my Kenyan family

...long talks during dinner (even though I usually went to bed long before the conversation was over!)

...the togetherness

All these things have helped to build a relationship which encourages conversation and helping each other in times of trouble. With your continued support we are continuing to build on these relationships and bringing the gospel to them not only in word but in action. Loving our neighbor as ourself.

Please consider becoming a $12/month partner with us through The Change Campaign and see how your spare change can bless our kids in Kenya.

New video!!

2009-06-13T17:34:00.004-07:00

Hey everyone - check out the new video for The Change Campaign!

What are you waiting for? Join us today!!!

The call is being made...

2009-06-10T22:20:00.007-07:00

Ok everyone we have a better idea of our schedule for our tour of The Change Campaign and we are asking for your help.

As you can see from our Calendar of Events we will be in Los Angeles, CA June 24, 25, 26 and 27. If you or someone you know would like us to present Saved By God's Grace along with The Change Campaign please contact our Executive Director, Chuck.

We will then be in Michigan for a couple of days before heading to New York City where we will be staying from July 4th - July 12th. Again, we will be happy to speak to any size group or if you'd like to have a fundraiser while we are in the area please contact Chuck and he will be happy to work with you on arranging the schedule.

After our stay in New York we will be traveling back to Arizona with possible stops in Georgia, Oklahoma and Florida. We would love to meet some of you in our travels and answer any questions you may have about this ministry.

Please help us spread the news of The Change Campaign so we can bring change to our Kenyan kids.

Buying for a cause...

2009-06-09T11:28:00.003-07:00

I'm not one to encourage consumerism, but I do know people need to buy necessities. And by buying your necessities you can support Saved By God's Grace.

We are now affiliated with SendThemForHim - an online shopping rebate program. They have lots of different brands/stores/merchants to buy from and when you buy through our page Saved By God's Grace will receive a percentage of the purchase price.

Amazon.com, Family Christian Stores, GNC, Motorcycle Superstore, Ebay, Laptops for Less and even Wal-Mart are among the hundreds of stores available to purchase from! Many have free shipping and no sales tax (each merchant will list those details).

Save this link to your desktop and when ever you shop online check it out. So you'll be getting your necessities and at the same time helping Saved By God's Grace.

Struggles still continue

2009-06-08T18:19:00.011-07:00

Talking to friends in Kenya today and it's always a mixed bag of emotions. Happy to hear their voices, sad to hear their stories, impatient to be there and thankful for the chance to encourage them.

Our friend Ruth is working from 4am until 9pm at a hotel. For clarification, a hotel in Tala means a restaurant. They open at 6am and serve small food items in the morning like mandazi, which are like donuts, and chai tea. Then they sell fish, chapati, ugali and other Kenyan foods in the afternoon and into the evening. Since food prices are so high they are struggling to buy the food and many people in the area are not working so they don't have many customers.

Ruth had malaria a few weeks back and is still weak from that, plus now she has the flu. But she doesn't have a choice to stay home, she must work to make what she can so she can afford to eat a little bit. Please keep her in your prayers for strength, providence and encouragement.

I also talked with Annastacia and, along with Ruth, I wanted to be sitting next to them talking. I want to be near them so we can pray together, talk and encourage each other.

Annastacia said the children are all doing well but they are missing smokies (sausages) and spaghetti! They haven't had any since we left in November of 2008. I told her we would see what we could do, but I reminded her that food prices are very high and we have to be good stewards of the provision God sends our way. He has been faithful in providing what's been needed to feed the children, however work on the school, search for a bus and other projects have been put on hold until funding is available.

Our prayer here at Saved By God's Grace is that The Change Campaign will bring that providence for Mercy, Eldama Ravine and Nice View not only for the basic necessities, projects to be completed and to be on-site longer but also so they can have smokies and spaghetti once in awhile.

A dream come true...

2009-06-07T18:05:00.011-07:00

There was a huge agricultural show in Nairobi while we were in Kenya last year (2008). It's something that occurs every year and many schools try to attend. It reminded me of the 4H fairs I would attend when I was younger.

For many of our students at Nice View and Mercy it was literally a dream come true to attend!

Even the bus ride there was an adventure. Most of the kids had never been outside their village, let alone, seen a big city like Nairobi. So they got to walk around and learn about the agriculture of Kenya, ask questions of government officials at the "show" and of course ride some carnival like rides.

They had such a good time and before going home they all got to eat at an outside restaurant - which again was a first for many of them.

The one thing that touched me as I look through my pictures was this last one of students from Mercy sitting next to students from Nice View Academy.

One of my prayers is that the Lord will continue to provide providence and guidance for Saved By God's Grace so we will know how to move each day in helping the kids at Mercy, Nice View and Eldama Ravine.

Please consider becoming a part of "The Change Campaign". Your spare change can be multiplied by God to help these kids.

"...what is impossible with man is possible with God." (Luke 18:27)

Beautiful country...

2009-06-06T18:06:00.017-07:00

This was taken as we walked to Nice View Academy from our home. We got to see the shambas, talk to neighbors and catch up on some local news! This is also where I was "blessed" by two angels! (read about it here)

This is at the Menengai Crater in Nakuru, Kenya. Like the Grand Canyon except green!

We visited our friend Ruth's family in Eldoret, Kenya. Her brother, Mutuku, has a gift for plants and has landscaped his fathers compound beautifully. I could have stayed there in the quiet for hours!

This little guy was just sitting, resting. I think he was on his way home from the market and just needed a rest.

It's all beautiful country that God created, but what I love most is...the beautiful children!

Last day at the Academy

2009-06-05T19:07:00.009-07:00

These are sad photos for me because 1) they were taken our last day in Kenya (our first trip) and 2) my hair is way too short!

Since then my hair has grown out and we had another trip (at the end of 2008) to visit the kids at Nice View and meet the kids at Mercy and Eldama Ravine.

Our prayer is to get back to Kenya on a more permanent basis and The Change Campaign is one way of getting us back there. Please visit the website and prayerfully consider becoming a $12/month supporter.

Thank you and have a blessed weekend!

The Change Campaign has begun!

2009-06-04T16:57:00.001-07:00

Go to our website (http://www.thechangecampaign.org/) to see how your spare change can help change the lives of our kids in Kenya.

Dinner entertainment!

2009-06-03T16:39:00.007-07:00

After taking this video and watching it several times I have come to the conclusion that "kids are kids"! We were waiting for dinner at Nice View Academy and asked if the kids knew any songs. That started the whole thing...someone got a jug to use as a drum, a stick for a drum stick and their voices to sing out loud.

I really miss these kids (and all our other kids at Mercy and Eldama Ravine).

This video makes me so happy because they aren't worried about if they are going to eat. They are simply having a good time while they wait for dinner.

You can be a part of putting a smile on these kids' faces. If you'd like to help feed, clothe, educate, etc. the kids at Nice View Academy, Mercy Child Foundation and Eldama Ravine Children's Village please go to our website and become a monthly supporter.

Thank you and God bless.

Have you written your sponsored child?

2009-06-02T10:21:00.018-07:00

We have a pen-pal system set up with a school here in Phoenix so they can write students at Nice View Academy. The program began at the beginning of our school year (Sept. 2008) and the students have written back and forth a couple of times. Today I received another batch of letters and as I read through them some make me laugh and some make me cry and others just make me darn proud!

Here are some quotes from the recent letters:

"It's precious and fantastic because God has given me this chance to write to you and know how you are going on with your life. I'm happy than I've ever felt." Veronicah Wayua

"I does not be excited for the school to end because I like studing very much." Sharon Nthenya

"My favorite thing to do when I am out of school is to help my parents and obey my elders...I have never heard of teepeeing." Philip Kilonzo

"I would like to meet you in person too." Nelly Ndinda

"In Kenya we live peaceful at our home is peaceful." Kelvin Mwendwa

"I am doing well in my studies. Am also very sad of your uncle's first wife mother who died. I don't have nothing to give you except to say sorry about that. I will pray for your family and don't forget to pray for my studies." Josphat Nzisa

"I will pray for your team so that it can win all the game. I will call my friend so that we can pray for you to get a good team. I wish to play." Daniel Gacheru

"I have just got a puppy. Not mine but my fathers. It is not my mum's puppy or anyone in my family." Bonface

"Here in school I am trying to do my best so that I can achieve my goal more so I am not good in maths but I am just trying." Beatrice Mumbua

"God has been my protector and my provider in every situations." Antony Muange

If you are a sponsor please consider taking a few minutes to write your sponsored child. You can send your email letter to sponsoredchild@SavedByGodsGrace.org They love receiving letters and they love responding to letters. What an easy way to make a connection with your child in Kenya!

A big thank you!

2009-05-29T00:00:00.005-07:00

Thanks Chris and Diane for a wonderful evening. You opened your home, fed us (along with several others) and invited us to tell your friends and family about our kids in Kenya.

These opportunities are always a blessing to Chuck and I - not only for the people we meet but for their support, prayers, connections and hearing how God is working in their lives. We appreciate you telling your friends about us and directing them to the website. It always reminds me of that old shampoo commercial - you'll tell two friends and they'll tell two friends and so on and so on!

God spoke to us early on in this ministry that we just needed to tell people what we are doing and He would speak to those He wants involved. We love being the hands and feet of the gospel for our supporters.

If you have a group you would like us to bring our presentation to please contact us. We are working out details for our next "presentation tour" which begins the last week of June in Los Angeles, California. We would love to partner with you.

Movie night at the Academy

2009-05-27T18:08:00.006-07:00

Every Saturday night while we were in Tala, Kenya we would set up our projector/dvd player/speakers and have a movie night. We found the kids love action movies and they really seem to enjoy slapstick humor (falling down and such nonsense as that!)

We would also have snacks - one night we had crisps (chips) and soda, another night would be popcorn and juice then another night would be biscuits (cookies) and milk. Now being a mom the cookies and milk were ok with me as the milk didn't have as much sugar, but the kids voted the popcorn and soda the winner snack hands-down!

After the first couple of Saturday's we found many of the adults at the Academy (teachers, night watchmen etc.) would show up just about the time the snacks would be handed out and the movie started!

It was so neat to see the kids enjoy a "night out" even if it was in a classroom with a sheet for a screen and sitting three to a desk! We've heard from Gideon and Pauline that the kids are anxious for us to come back so we can again start our traditional Saturday night movie time.

If you have any DVD's (PG-13 or below) you'd like to donate please send them to Saved By God's Grace at 4410 W. Union Hills Drive, Suite #7, Glendale, Arizona 85308. Thank you!

You can't take it with you

2009-05-26T22:14:00.007-07:00

As I was viewing some of my video from our trip last year I came across this one with Gideon. He is the Director at Nice View Academy in Tala, Kenya. He began talking about money and how we can't take it with us.

Gideon loves the Lord and has sacrificed much to help the children in Tala. But he doesn't see what he's done as sacrificial just what he is called to do. When the Lord brought us together it was like arriving home to our Kenyan family. What a blessing Gideon and his family have been to us and the help they have been both while we are in Kenya and the States.

Thought about doctors lately? I have...

2009-05-22T15:23:00.013-07:00

When was the last time you went to the doctors? Did any of these cross your mind as you made the appointment - will I have any money to pay the doctor, will I have any money to pay for transport or will I have to walk there, will I have any money to pay for medicine if I need it?

These questions usually don't enter our thought process. Even for those of us who do not have health insurance, there are agencies, free clinics, etc. to help - you just have to find them. Or we have family who can help.

But for our friends and family in Kenya these are questions we have to ask each time someone gets sick at one of the orphanages. There are no agencies to help, no free clinics, no family to turn to because they are in the same situation.

The funds coming in to Saved By God's Grace is covering food costs (because of the famine situation and rising food prices), so sometimes those funds have to be stretched to cover other necessities, like medical attention. Many times our friends, Gideon and Pauline (Director of Nice View Academy in Tala, Kenya and his wife), will ask the doctor for a "favor" to see the children without being paid at the time. The doctor has met us, he knows us and knows that we will get him paid.

Right now Chuck is working with an organization to help one of our daughters, Madina, at Mercy Child Foundation in Kenya. She was diagnosed on our last visit with elephantiasis and we are in the process of getting that diagnosis confirmed and getting her treatment.

If your child were sick what would you do to get them help? Saved By God's Grace is working to get Madina the help she needs. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter.

Your support will help change the lives of these beautiful children.

High school should be for everyone

2009-05-20T17:02:00.014-07:00

Our youngest daughter graduated from high school last night and, needless to say, I am very proud of her for that accomplishment. But it got me to thinking of our attitude about school here in the States compared to our friends/family in Kenya.

Here in the states parents expect, and even take for granted that their children will attend school. And the kids, even though they may not like it, expect that they will have to attend.

In Tala where Nice View Academy is located, we have families who can only afford to send one child to school and if they can't afford to send a child to school many will pray for a school like Nice View to take them in as a sponsored child. If the child is an orphan some show up at the gate of Nice View hoping to be taken in, others are brought in by a "well-wisher" who found the child and is requesting the school take care of them. Otherwise they would not be able to attend school.

Even if a family can afford to send them to school (primary school goes from Nursery to 8th grade) many can not afford secondary school (high school) so the student will have to drop out after 8th grade. What do they do then? If they can find work they will work to help the family, or if no work is available they will help with the farming to feed the family and possibly sell some produce to make a bit of money. If the child is an orphan they will try to find family to take them in, but there they are treated as slaves not family.

Saved By God's Grace is working on completing a new school at Nice View. Your support is needed to complete the building which will educate at least 500 students! And the orphans currently at Nice View will have a secure future in knowing they will attend school through 12th grade.

My prayer is to have all our kids in Kenya complete primary then secondary school and go onto university if they want. I would love for them to "expect" to have to attend school rather than praying they will be able to attend.

Printers and socks...

2009-05-18T12:29:00.014-07:00

What these two have in common is how long it takes to fix/purchase each in Tala, Kenya.

As some of you may have noticed on my Twitter the printer was finally fixed at Nice View Academy in Tala, Kenya. This was in the works for about two weeks and I received word today that is was accomplished!

Getting the printer fixed took the efforts of Pauline (here with Gideon who is the Executive Director of Nice View Academy) calling people, having someone come to figure out what was wrong with it then fixing it. Needless to say it isn't as easy as taking it to the local office store.

We had the same issue with socks, uniforms, mattresses, sheets and so many other items that here we just run down to the local store and pick up these items in one stop.

We planned days in advance to head to Nairobi for these items. Then we had to make plans for them to be transported back to Tala where we have a storage room for the orphanages supplies.

We were able to buy the uniforms in one store (pictured) but we were in this store for about 6 hours - counting and recounting uniforms, making sure we had the right colors/sizes/amount! Their backpacks, however, were very expensive. So those had to be purchased at another store, then we had to go to another location for books, another for mattresses, another for sheets, etc. It made for a very long day and we usually only crossed off one or two items from our list. Meaning another 1 1/2 to two hour drive into Nairobi, finding our items, getting them back to Tala and then the three (possibly five hour drive if we get into a traffic jam) back home.

After our return home to the states we were brought to tears when we needed socks. We got into the car, headed down a few miles to the local store, drove the smooth/safe roads and bought a package of socks. We had just come from planning for days to buy socks and here it was so simple - taking just an hour or less.

Sometimes I feel like complaining when I need to get some milk or other item from the grocery store (it's too hot out/I'm comfortable/I just don't want to go out/I just want to get home etc.) but the Holy Spirit convicts me and reminds me of our brothers and sisters in Kenya who do not have that opportunity.

Toys for Kenya!

2009-05-17T08:11:00.001-07:00

More people helping the poor is always a good thing and we are always humbled as to how people get involved.

We are in the process of working with the Academy of Cinema and Television (A.C.T.) for a toy drive. With the extreme poverty in Kenya, toys may seem like a non-important item. But for our children in Kenya it not only lets them know they are cared for but that they are worth our efforts of getting toys to them.

The simple act of giving them a toy of their own puts a smile on their face and that is priceless.

This video gives you an idea of what the nursery students were playing with and this was the only doll for the entire class. This was taken in February 2008 on our first trip to Kenya.

On our last trip in October 2008 we took with us several dolls, trucks, Frisbees, jump ropes etc. But as many of you know, toys don't last forever. The A.C.T.'s offer of having a toy drive is wonderful and we look forward to partnering with them in this effort.

More info to come...

God comes through yet again!

2009-05-16T10:46:00.006-07:00

"...She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy." (Ezekiel 16:49 NIV)

Great way to start the blog, huh? This was in my reading this morning and when I read it I first thought of the United States. Sad, yes, makes me angry, yes, but oh so true for many here. Later in the reading God says He will do away with them. Scary, yes, but it doesn't have to be if we follow the teaching's in His word.

Ok, so that's just a very short version of my first impression of this reading. Then I started thinking of people who are helping the poor and needy.

You may remember last Sunday we spoke at Peoria Baptist Church. They took a love offering for us and we received that yesterday. Now what does this have to do with helping the poor and needy other than the obvious - Saved By God's Grace is helping the poor and needy in Kenya.

Well, you may also remember my Twitter (see those updates at http://www.savedbygodsgrace.org/ at the bottom of the page) about Fransisca (the manager from Eldama Ravine Children's Village) being pick pocketed with most of the funds we had sent her. The amount that was stolen was almost exactly covered by the love offering from Peoria Baptist! Praise God! That money has been sent back to Eldama Ravine and the kids are continuing to eat because of God's providence.

God worked through Peoria Baptist to bring providence to a situation we didn't know was going to happen. He brought us all together for a reason and what a privilege it is to work for the King!

Accepting the good with the bad

2009-05-14T10:34:00.006-07:00

I was about to write this post with news we received from friends in Eldoret, Kenya when we received an email from Francisca at Eldama Ravine with upsetting news.

Now the question is - do you want the good news first or the bad? I'll give you the bad -

Francisca (from Eldama Ravine Children's Village) was pick pocketed yesterday between Eldama Ravine and Nakuru. She wasn't hurt as a matter of fact she didn't even realize what had happened until this morning. She had over 190,000 shillings which included most of the funds we had sent her for supplies and salaries.

We were reminded just this morning before this news of Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (NIV).

Please pray about this situation and we must trust God to always be faithful. Francisca was very upset and distraught in her email. She asked us to pray that she would "have the grace even tonight" to see this situation through.

Now for a bit of fun news. Our friends in Eldoret, Kenya started a school, Jamii School, last year. Before they opened they expected 30 students to arrive, on opening day 60 children showed up on their doorstep. They were a bit overwhelmed but trusted God to provide the needs for the students. They have been struggling to survive but have put complete trust and faith that God will meet their needs.

Yesterday we received pictures from them and at the beginning of this school year (January) they had 170 children show up!

Now you might think that is bad news because as they put in their email "We are facing a very hard time because we don’t have enough facilities especially classrooms food and so on" but they are being faithful to the call God has put in front of them and I know that He will shower His grace and mercy upon them and the students.

We will keep you informed as to the situation with Fransisca and thank you for your prayers for Fransisca, Jamii School and Saved By God's Grace.

Rains are a welcome blessing

2009-05-13T12:22:00.008-07:00

We've received word that rains have come to Tala - Praise God! Seeds were planted in time so that means a harvest will be forthcoming for Nice View Academy, Mercy Child Foundation and Eldama Ravine Children's Village!

The following pictures are from our last day in Kenya April 2008 (at Nice View Academy) when the rains had just began. So needless to say, this rainy season was a bit late but we are so thankful it's rained and crops are growing.

As you can see when it rains it really rains, and this is just one day! Our friends and family also like the rain because it cuts down on the dust and cools things off a bit.

Thank you for your prayers for the orphanages in Kenya and please, if you are able, consider helping financially. The children thank you, their caregivers thank you and we thank you for any help you can give.

Home away from home

2009-05-12T08:45:00.011-07:00

Here are just a few glimpses of our hometown in Kenya - Tala.

This is a row of kiosks. Each is very small and each has their own specific things they sell. We go to one kiosk for eggs, one for milk, one for cabbage etc. It makes for a long shopping time going to each kiosk, but most are very close so we park the car and walk.

Here is Chuck and Pauline walking into Rat Race - our local kiosk for getting our top-up cards for our phones.

Tala has the kiosk area which leads to the market - this area is closer to the market. You will find second hand clothing, vegetables, second hand shoes etc. But you can also buy 1 bar of soap, 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 dixie cup of kerosene - that is how most people buy these (and many more items) because they can not afford anything in a bigger quantity.

This is the market and my favorite place to shop and watch people. The women are all friendly and wanting you to buy their vegetables/fruits/pots & pans because they will give you "bei mazuri" (good price)! On market days this area is packed with people selling 1 head of cabbage, 1 banana and trying to make enough to feed their family that night.

Sorry if you have a weak stomach! This is the butchers. In the morning the butcher will slaughter a goat, hang it in the window and wait for customers. When we went in he simply hacks off a chunk of goat from the window with a machete, weighs it on the scales (bones and all) and wraps it in brown paper.

Sometimes you'll even get a small package of herbs/spices to boil the meat in!

On the far right of the picture are the intestines which are considered the choicest part (Kenyans say the sweetest part). Yes I have had them and sorry to my Kenyan friends and family but I don't consider them to be the sweetest!

So there is a small picture of what our home away from home looks like. It is pretty rustic and getting supplies for the school isn't possible here, but our daily needs were met.

Your support is helping to keep food in the kids' bellies, clothes on their backs and education in their lives! Thank you for your continued support.

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T16:16:00.009-07:00

We spent the morning at Peoria Baptist Church here in Arizona giving our testimony and raising awareness for the children in Kenya. All morning I was thinking of our children in:

Tala,

Koma Rock,

and Eldama Ravine and how very much I miss them.

Every time we talk or email the orphanages I tell them we haven't forgotten them and we love them very much. We emphasize to them when God provides for us here that provision is passed along to them. They are seeing God's hand in their lives and for that I am thankful!

On this mother's day please remember those who have lost their mom's and those who never knew their moms. And give your own mom a call or hug! :)

Reminiscing

2009-05-08T08:44:00.007-07:00

We were going through some papers we brought back with us from Kenya. Yea I know it's been months, but they were all letters, pictures and drawings that the kids sent back with us. We just weren't sure where to put them!

I am in the process of putting some of the students artwork onto the website in an Art Gallery. We have some talented artists at Nice View Academy!

The entire student body drew pictures of whatever they wanted. Most were of their home or Nice View. This drawing is from Damaris who was in Pre-Unit (Kindergarten).

Eric Musembi, Gideon's son, gave us a story. It reminds me that the grass is not greener on the other side!

"Kigo Kigoi had been in Kareru Prison for many years. One day the prison guard forgot to close the back gate. Kigo saw a van that had come to collect kitchen waste. He crept onto the back. He wanted to escape. When it stopped after an hour, Kigo was shocked to find himself in yet another prison--Giture Maximum Security Prison."

It also reminds me that God can use me right where I am. I trust Him and rely on Him to direct me and this ministry. Thank you for your prayers of encouragement and support.

God's perfect timing!

2009-05-06T11:21:00.002-07:00

Chuck received an email from Fransisca (Eldama Ravine Children's Village) and she said the children are all doing well. She says the children have returned back to school and are improving in their studies.

I was brought to tears however with the following:

"Please tell Tammy her children miss her soo much and any time they talk of her they shade tears of joy knowing though they dont have parent mothers God has given them a caring mother to fill the gap."

I want to be there so badly to talk with them, hug them and just be there with them, but we are waiting on God's timing. And, as usual, my reading today spoke to that issue directly! Galatians 4:4 says "But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son..." Since God knew the perfect time to send His Son then I have to trust He knows the perfect time for us to return to Kenya.

The children in Kenya are also praying, "we are still praying for you about your coming the soonest." We thank you all for your support and prayers.

Saved By God's Grace is waiting and trusting in the Lord for His perfect timing - Amen!

Kenya is still Kenya

2009-05-05T09:30:00.001-07:00

Chuck passed an article along to me that made me laugh but yet was so truthful and to the point I had to share a quote or two. The gentleman wrote this in 2001 but it still applies today!

" Kenya roads are just about the same. With the exception of worse Nairobi traffic jams, things are the same as 20 years ago. Matatus drive just as badly with just as many people hanging out the doors. Trucks drive just as badly and spew just as much black diesel smoke as they crawl up the hills."

and

"Kenya dust is still the same. After ten years in Canada, it is hard to recall just how pervasive the dust is around here. This fine volcanic dust gets everywhere. It is in houses, throughout cars, and coats anything in the vicinity of a road. There is no end to it! I'm continually amazed at the dirt around here.

This took me right back to Nairobi in a flash! I can see the people hanging out of the matatus (mini-van taxis), the traffic jams everywhere and the dirt and grim in the air.

Our trips to Nairobi were few and far between - we only went when we had to get supplies. Nairobi is about 36 miles away from Tala to the west but that trip could take up to two hours getting there and depending on the traffic jams up to five hours for the return trip!

It's not like running down to your local convenience store. Trips were planned out for days before hand to make sure we had everything we needed on the list. We had to plan for buying socks, uniforms, school supplies and many more items not available in the local villages.

Your funding helps make getting these supplies possible. Thank you for your donations and support.

Change 4 Kenya!

2009-05-04T16:30:00.016-07:00

We have a 5 gallon water jug sitting on the outreach table at Desert Breeze Community Church. We've labeled it "Change 4 Kenya" and people are asked to drop in their spare change. Our friends and family have jumped on the band wagon and are bringing in cans, bags and wallets of coins to drop in the jug. Here's Danny and Wendy with their contribution - thank you!

This is a simple way of raising funds and awareness for our kids in Kenya. Maybe your church/group/business can do something similar for Saved By God's Grace? Please contact us if you'd like some brochures and business cards.

Do you put 40¢ a day into a change jar/dish/box etc.? For a glimpse of what's to come visit our homepage (scroll to the bottom) and read more.

A few Yeah God's!

2009-05-02T16:35:00.011-07:00

Annastacia (house mom from Mercy) called today. Actually she "flashed" us - meaning she called us and hung up after the first ring. That means they want us to call them because it is cheaper to call from the US to Kenya than from Kenya to here.

She told me they are all doing well and getting ready to go back to school on Monday - yeah God!

Benjamin, who was sick recently, is better after getting the medication he needed - yeah God!

They planted maize, skuma (spinach like veggie) and beans at Mercy and Annastacia said they had "a lot of rains" - yeah God!

Annastacia is feeling better after receiving malaria medication and cream for an eye allergy - yeah God!

I thanked her for her on-going strength and faithfulness to God and to the children at Mercy. It brings me much comfort knowing she is there loving the children and letting them know it is God who brings them providence through Saved By God's Grace. I told her how very much we love her and the children, and I pray she sees that by our continued support.

Christopher asked me when we would be returning and I asked them to please pray with us so that God will show us when is the proper time for our return.

Annastacia said "I am very happy that you continue to care for us and have not forgotten us. I pray Jesus will meet your needs." A woman (she actually seems more my daughter) who has nothing but the love of Christ in her heart is praying for our needs to be met - it was a humbling prayer and I thank God for allowing me to be a part of Annastacia's life.

Please consider donating to Saved By God's Grace - may He meet your needs so you may help others through your abundance. Thank you for your support.

A day at Glendale Community College

2009-05-01T10:43:00.006-07:00

We were invited to participate in the "All Shades of Black" for the Black Student Union at the Glendale Community College campus in Arizona. They had several different cultures represented and Saved By God's Grace was there to represent the children in Kenya.

We talked to several people about the orphanages, we had several people sign up for our newsletter and we handed out a lot of information. Now we let God move the hearts!

COMING SOON - "The Change Campaign" - watch the website or blog or FaceBook or Twitter for details!

A glance of Nice View Academy...

2009-04-27T18:11:00.004-07:00

This is a short video of some moments I captured while walking around the compound at Nice View Academy.

Where, oh where are the rains?

2009-04-26T16:36:00.017-07:00

I was saddened to learn the meat from the mother sheep that died was not fit for human consumption as it died out of human view. One day we'll have the funds to provide the children with meat, but that day will have to wait.

We did, however, get some food staples to Mercy last week. Notice how the children crowd around the truck? What an encouragement for them to see they have not been forgotten. They are receiving the staple items like beans, maize etc. But we were told the children are not eating sukamawiki (spinach-like vegetable), tomatoes or potatoes because the price is too high.

We wonder here "why don't they plant?" No constant rains have come and people are afraid to plant because if it doesn't continue to rain then the seeds are ruined. These are the times we want to be there and have the resources to help plan for planting and getting water to the shamba's (gardens).

Presently we are trying to keep the kids fed - no extra funds for petrol (to run the pump to water the shamba), no extra funds for more seed, no extra funds for items like meat/potatoes/tomatoes etc, no extra funds to get us back to our children in Kenya.

Please consider becoming a monthly donor to help these beautiful children in Kenya.

A part of everyday life...

2009-04-24T15:34:00.001-07:00

Today was a mixed day of emotions. I received three letters from Nice View Academy - these were from students who wrote their sponsors here in the US.

Some of their questions made me laugh - "What is chiropractic?" "What is scissors?"

Some made me proud - "When we closed schools I helped my parents by washing utensils and cleaning the house." "I was number fifteen in exams." "I wish you to come and share the mangoes next term with you."

Some encouraged me - "I pray God to bring for you love and happiness." "I pray in Christ for you." "Even my mum is a widow. Widows and widowers they just pray to God."

But what hit me the most in these letters is the way the children tell their sponsors about their everyday life. They tell you of not working, starving, having no parents between normal, child-like questions/statements: (you can click on the letter for a larger image)

"There is no one is working. I am in standard seven."

"Only that my aunt she is not fine because we are starving and we don't have food. What kind of a game do you like?"

"I was number fifteen in exam. I have some more problems that I want to help me because I don't have parents and stay with my brothers. Now I am in class five."

Going without food and/or parents is an everyday occurrence for these children and their parents or guardians are without work. They speak of starving like we speak of running out of gas - needless to say I was in tears while reading these letters.

With your help Saved By God's Grace is working to bring hope through Jesus Christ to these children and show His love for them through meeting their basic needs.

Please prayerfully consider how you can help.

Sheep, lamb, kid? What do they call it?

2009-04-23T17:56:00.004-07:00

As most things in Kenya go I am still getting information about food prices...so I will wait on that posting until I get a more complete picture. Now...

I never grew up on a farm so this is foreign to me. I'd look at a goat/sheep/hen as a pet and be very sad if it died. But in Kenya there are no pets - if you are struggling to feed yourself and your family you certainly aren't' going to spend money on food for an animal.

Pauline and Gideon from Nice View Academy had won a sheep a couple of months ago at a church raffle. They were surprised and happy to find out that the sheep was pregnant. But then one day it was missing. I asked Pauline how they go about finding it - I told her how here in the States we put up posters with a picture and our phone number to get back our missing pet. There they just ask around and tell people what the sheep looks like, plus with it being pregnant it was a little easier. After a couple of days someone found it and returned it!

I found out this week that the sheep was tied to a tree to keep it in the compound, struggled against the rope and died :( Here is the lamb that Mutie (the night watchman at Nice View) is holding.

But they did say that the lamb is beginning to eat grass and growing bigger. They are hoping to get an offspring from this one to replace the mother. I haven't found out yet if they were able to use the meat from the mother or what. What a treat that would have been if possible.

Nice View Academy is not able to purchase meat for the children because of the expense, so I'll try to find out if the children were able to eat the meat.

This is another area that Saved By God's Grace is working to help the orphanages become self-sustaining. Getting chickens or goats or cows where they can use them for milk, eggs etc. Planting veggies, beans, maize etc. Giving them a helping hand (see video)...please join us in this mission.

Thanks for stopping by and remember to check out the website www.SavedByGodsGrace.org!

You can make a difference!

2009-04-22T17:23:00.012-07:00

Before I get into the news about the food issue I'd like to update you on Anastacia and her doctors appointment on April 17. (Here is Anastacia with some items we purchased during our last trip of 2008)

This is part of an email I received from Pauline -

"I met with Anastacia today and took her for treatment. She was found to have malaria, and an allergy of the eyes .She was prescribed for eyes drops, malaria drugs and some ointment which i bought for her. She was asked to see the doctor again on 2.5.09"

We thank God that through funding from you we were able to get treatment and the medicine she needed. This is a typical situation that Saved By God's Grace supports.

We are focused on helping the children and adults at Nice View Academy/Orphanage, Mercy Child Foundation and Eldama Ravine Children's Village, the three orphanages God has brought before us, but we need your help.

Recently in the BBC News - "maize prices have increased by up to 130% in parts of the country since last year." We can not lose focus now, although many here in the States are feeling the squeeze of financial issues, assistance is available (churches, government programs, food banks etc.). There are no food banks, no welfare, no food stamps available for our Kenyan friends and family.

The food crisis is a world-wide problem - "There are over 850 million hungry people in the world in 2009." "One in seven people on earth goes hungry every day, and when we talk about going hungry every day, we are talking about real pain and anguish and suffering that goes with that hunger." (source: Talk Radio News Service)

One may wonder, what can I do? Become a monthly supporter, have a car wash, host a bake sale...there are many ways of helping. Tell people about this ministry, drive people to the website www.SavedByGodsGrace.org - God will move hearts.

To help make the statistics about people not numbers, here is an email I received today from Pauline:

Dear sister,

This is a photo i took the kids of Nice view today as they are on tuition.They are quite happy that they can be in school to learn and take at least lunch before going home. most families are going without lunch nowadays for they can only afford one meal a day

Admire their happy faces and God bless you for putting smiless on their faces

Be blessed
Dada (sister in Swahili)

Now the one in seven people has a face - these children are eating at least one meal a day thanks to the efforts of supporters to Saved By God's Grace. A big thank you!

"..he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously—take God seriously." (Micah 6:8 The Message)

Tomorrow's blog will have some prices of staple items that are purchased in Tala where Nice View Academy is located, giving you a picture of the costs associated with feeding the children.

Now what?

2009-04-20T15:19:00.001-07:00

This past weekend we sent Nice View Academy/Orphanage, Mercy Child Foundation and Eldama Ravine Children's Village funds to pay for food, school fees, back salaries and building a chicken coop (among a couple of other items). Doing so prevented us from purchasing our return tickets back to Kenya. We agonized and prayed over this, but in the end it was no decision...the kids must eat...our tickets to be back on-site have to wait.

I say this not as a guilt trip but as a way of letting you know what is happening. Our hearts are always in Kenya because God has called us there and we (Chuck and I) would love to be there 11 months out of the year but funding and fundraising are always issues.

Building a foundation for Saved By God's Grace is part of having us be the hands and feet of Jesus in Kenya while also providing for the children's basic needs. We trust God to always be faithful and provide but we also know we are directed to tell others about this ministry and He will move hearts and bring providence through those whose hearts He touches. We look for His providence through you so we can carry His love to the kids in Kenya.

As the Apostle James says:

"Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?" (James 2:14-17 The Message)

Please consider what you can do to help the least of our brothers and sisters and their children.

$40 = helping a child

2009-04-17T11:29:00.019-07:00

Following is a portion of a letter from Torongo Girls High School we received via email from Eldama Ravine. It is in regards to a student, Lydia, who lives at Eldama Ravine Children's Village and is in Form 2 (10th grade) at the school. (you can click on the letter for a larger image)

(Remember the dates are in day/month/year format)

As you can see they not only sent test results, which were on a separate letter - Lydia is ranked 4th out of 51 in her class! We are very proud of her effort. But the school is also encouraging parents, or Eldama Ravine Children's Village house mom and dad in this case, to ensure they are assisting with family chores along with studying.

Then at the end of the letter they mention school fees. There is no free education in Kenya (although the government would like everyone to believe there is). They state that if school fees are not cleared before school begins the student will not be allowed into school.

Her fees for the semester are 5000 KSH which comes out to about $63 USD. And this is only one child out of the 371 we currently help at Eldama Ravine Children's Village, Mercy Child Foundation and Nice View Academy/Orphanage.

Helping to pay for school fees is one area where Saved By God's Grace is trying to help, but without funding we are not able to pay school fees, buy food, supply medical attention and many other everyday needs.

We ask that you prayerfully consider setting up a recurring monthly donation (one goal we have is to have 1000 people be monthly donors at $40/month). That would enable us to provide school fees, making sure water is available, medical treatment is given, uniforms are purchased, food is bought and stored, emergency situations could be handled in a timely manner, projects (like a new kitchen for Mercy Child Foundation) could be budgeted for and many other daily necessities could be met. You can set this up securely at our website.

Thank you for your consideration of supporting Saved By God's Grace and in turn helping God's children in Kenya.

God is never late!

2009-04-15T13:52:00.010-07:00

I received an email from Pauline (Gideon's wife from Tala, Kenya - Nice View Academy). They are on break from school right now and she is enjoying her down time.

She did tell me that Annastacia (house mom from Mercy Child Foundation) will be going to Tala in order to have her eyes checked. She thinks she has an allergy, but I will know more after Friday.

However, it is difficult getting information from Kenya as the culture is not an "open conversational" culture. Yes and no answers seem to be the norm, but I will continue to ask until I get a more complete story!

Here is some good news from Kenya:

"God is great. On Monday morning this week we did get some rains that we are assured of causing the seeds to germinate.Otherwise it came quite late but God is never late in our lives He comes at the right time."

This is something we've been praying for and yes God is never late! May He bring to fruition the harvest that was planted.

Pauline also sent some photos - Gideon's sister, Florence, was visiting them from the States. She handed out sweets to the kids at Nice View and Mercy, which they were very happy about!

Along with the sweets they also took food to Mercy. You can see the back of the car loaded down! Praise God for His providence

Please remember Saved By God's Grace in your prayers and any help you can offer is always greatly appreciated. You can donate securely online at www.SavedByGodsGrace.org.

Thank you.

It's not mine, it's God's...

2009-04-15T10:26:00.004-07:00

6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. (Romans 13:6-7 NIV)

I was reminded today of a conversation I had with my uncle a few weeks ago. He had a person (lets call him Steve) staying at his home who had just gotten out of jail and trying to get back on his feet. Steve had been in their house for about a week when my uncle and aunt had to leave for a couple of weeks. Steve didn't know where he would go and mentioned that to my uncle. To which my uncle replied, "stay here while we are gone." Steve asked him how he could be so trusting in allowing him to stay while no one else would be at the home. My uncle said, "this house and everything in it are not mine, they are God's so if you want to steal anything you'd be stealing it from God not me."

EVERYTHING we have is on loan from God so why should we be upset, anxious, fearful of losing any of it or giving it away? It's not ours to begin with!

If I can keep this perspective on "stuff" then my perspective on the poor is clearer (hand out my excess, don't horde it) and my relationship with my Creator becomes closer.

Mzungu, mzungu....sweets?

2009-04-14T12:36:00.003-07:00

Here's our "fan club" in Tala, Kenya! Every day on our way home from Nice View Academy we would stop at the kiosk in the backgroud for cabbage, spinach or whatever other produce item we needed at home. That in itself was different for us because we weren't used to stopping for food every day. Without electricity to refrigerate anything this is a way of life.

So any way, our fan club would always be on the look out for our vehicle. Not hard to spot since there are only a few autos in Tala and especially not hard with two whites (wazungu)! We would get out of the car and immediately hear "sweets, sweets?" This picture was taken at the beginning of our trip in 2008 when we weren't familar with the sweets concept. So I had granola bars in my bag and handed those out. I had to show the kids how to open them and that they were edible!

But once word got out that the wazungu would have sweets on hand the crowd kept getting bigger and bigger. What cuties they all are and a blessing for us to see them on a daily basis.

"We can do great things for the Lord if we are willing to do little things for others." (Our Daily Bread)

A heavy heart

2009-04-13T10:41:00.011-07:00

I have been struggling with some differences recently. While everyone is saying how bad the economy is I still see the malls/stores teeming with people buying more stuff. Then I talk with friends and family in Kenya...many are living with unsanitary conditions, wondering if the water they are drinking may give them typhoid, and if they do get sick they wonder if they will have the money to see the doctor, get medicine and feel better.

(This is a student from Nice View Academy getting water for a bath and water to wash her clothes. Saved By God's Grace has water tanks at the facility now so the children can get water from the tanks instead of the ground. But the water in the tanks may still have typhoid, it is not "clean" water as we have here in the US)

"I no longer call you servants...Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." (John 15:15 NIV) How do we learn what the Father wants us to know? Read His word daily and live the way it tells each of us to live.

I don't begrudge anyone on how they spend their money but we must look at our lives and ask our Lord and Savior if what we are doing is scriptural. Are we feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked with our excess? Or are we purchasing another pair of shoes, shirt etc. (fill in your favorite item-mine used to be purses). I too must ask myself this question daily and I don't always get the comfortable answer I want to hear - most of the time I'm asked to sacrifice my choice of having another "xxx" in order to give another person a choice of cleaner water, a meal for the night or a shirt on their naked skin.

There are so many organizations out there who are helping people. Please open your hearts and listen - maybe you're being asked to help in our ministry or another ministry in your hometown. Whichever it may be thank you for hearing my heart in this matter and may God be your guiding light.

"Love is more than a sentiment, it's putting another's needs ahead of your own." (Our Daily Bread)

Believe!

2009-04-12T08:16:00.003-07:00

"Then He said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.'...Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'" (John 20:27-29 NIV)

Day with no name...

2009-04-11T17:23:00.003-07:00

The past couple of days have been more of a personal note and I thank you for tuning in. This Easter season (and throughout the year) Saved By God's Grace is thankful for the opportunity to tell our kids in Kenya about His resurrection and salvation. Showing them His love for them, being the hands and feet of the gospel message.

On this Saturday after Good Friday I was wondering - what were the disciples feeling on this day so many years ago? Bewilderment, astonishment, grief, anger? Were they asking the question, "Was He truly who He said He was or were we all mistaken?"

We have the knowledge of "Resurrection Sunday", but they didn't. They only had their faith and belief in who Jesus said He was.

During this time of grief, mourning and sorrow let's remember that we have the hope of tomorrow and the resurrection of the One who gives us life.

Good Friday

2009-04-10T08:27:00.006-07:00

Rembrandt's painting, The Three Crosses came to my attention today. Some critics say that Rembrandt painted himself into the shadows of the painting, saying that his own sin helped nail Christ to the cross.

"It is a simple thing to say that Christ died for the sins of the world. It is quite another thing to say that Christ died for my sins...It is a shocking thought that we can be as indifferent as Pilate, as scheming as Caiaphas, as callous as the soldiers, as ruthless as the mob, or as cowardly as the disciples. It wasn't just what they did-it was I who nailed Him to the tree." (Our Daily Bread April 10, 2009)

How sad, shocking and true. But I can remember the words Christ uttered on the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34 NIV) I can go to the cross for forgiveness and reconciliation, repent (turn around) and have a fuller relationship with my Savior.

Reading His word daily so that the Holy Spirit can convict me of my sin and bring me to repentance is one way I commit to working on that relationship. Living out His message of loving my neighbor is another way.

How are you developing that relationship on a daily basis?

Emails and phone calls from Kenya - busy day!

2009-04-06T12:43:00.020-07:00

I received an email from Pauline today (Nice View Academy). The children are on holiday now but many are returning to school for tutoring (which they call tuition) next week. They had visited Mercy with some food and Gideon's sister, Florence, is visiting them from the states. She went with them and handed out sweets. We've heard from our friends in Kenya that the children are missing the sweets Chuck would hand out-liberally! It was a joy to see her hand out sweets and see the kids smiling faces.

I had also talked with Annastacia (house mom for Mercy Child Foundation) this morning. She said the children are all doing fine and on break from school. But they too will be returning for tuition next week. They enjoy school and are very happy to be able to attend. Annastacia may have to go to the doctors for her eyes. She says they are itching so she may have an allergy. We will talk with Pauline and Gideon and have them check out the situation in person and let us know.

Here is an excerpt from the email I received from Pauline:

Today i accompanied Roy as he delivered food to Mercy.Florence had good time at Mercy with the kids and when we were leaving they sent her greetings to you and one tiny boy was quick to tell her to ask you when you will be coming, to ensure that you have come with your entire family so that you will stay around without thinking of going back soon. I found that quite interesting and funny
Thats how much the kids want you around them

While I was on the phone with Annastacia I talked with a couple of the kids and they kept saying how much they miss us and love us - I told Annastacia they were making me cry. What a blessing to give love to these children who felt no one cared for them. Letting them know that we are thinking about them and praying for them daily helps them feel a part of something-a part of a family.

I'm so thankful for Annastacia and her commitment to stay with these children. What a difficult job it is but she handles it with joy and knows that God is with her throughout.

Please pray about your involvement with this ministry - if God is leading you to help please step out in faith and trust that He will be faithful. Thank you for your prayers and support-may God bless you in your relationship with Him.

2009-04-04T22:04:00.004-07:00

We are back home in Phoenix. We arrived in the evening last night, had some dinner and went to bed. It was a long trip but God blessed us every step of the way. Today we began the process of organizing all the donated items we received, getting our desks back in order and thanking God for the opportunity to serve Him yet another day!

Chuck sent funds to Gideon today...he will purchase food for Mercy which was running low, seed for planting the shamba (garden) at Mercy and various needs at Nice View Academy. This is just one of the tasks involved in this ministry.

Through this blog, Twitter (which you can see on our homepage) and Facebook I hope to give you an idea of what happens through Saved By God's Grace on a daily basis. I am updating these modes of communication frequently so that when we are in Kenya you will be used to seeing them! Plus you will have a bit better idea of the happenings here and in Kenya with Saved By God's Grace.

Where's my toothbrush?

2009-04-01T20:22:00.012-07:00

I had mentioned on Facebook about how packed our vehicle is...here is proof! We are so thankful for all the donations and happy that God planned our vehicle to be exactly the right size to fit everything in!

Chuck had to literally squeeze stuff in and shut the door and pray it would stay latched. I was shoving things into any little space I could find...so I hope my kids are ready to help me unpack, or at least ready to pick things up as they fall out of the truck!

It really felt like the doors were going to spring open at any time. But so far everything has stayed in the vehicle.

We felt such an outpouring of love and support on this "tour" and I just want to thank everyone for their hospitality, for the groups you put together and the encouraging words for this ministry.

God continues to spread the word about His children in Kenya and you are all a part of that - THANK YOU!

Little details and Cinderella's castle...

2009-03-31T20:53:00.003-07:00

We arrived in Grand Rapids, Michigan around 10:30 am on Monday and had to set everything up for an 11:30 presentation. It wasn't too rushed though because it was a luncheon and we basically sat around the table and swapped God stories. What an inspiration and encouragement to hear how God is working in their lives. It amazes me to think of how He does it - keeping all the details straight and moving the universe for His plan.

After lunch we visited with our wonderful host, Elizabeth and her two children. Chuck was Prince Charming and had to crawl into the Cinderella castle with Olivia and Caleb! Happily he didn't get stuck inside and it was a joy to interact with kids - it's been awhile for us with little ones.

After dinner Elizabeth and Chris had another couple over for dessert and we again talked about how God is working.

Hearing so many different testimonies during this trip has been a complete unexpected blessing. Lives are changing, young people are committing themselves to serving, couples are focusing on missionary work and God is being glorified in all these lives - Yeah God!

Two more presentations complete

2009-03-29T18:20:00.008-07:00

God is working and opening doors and we are so thankful for all He is doing in this ministry. We had a presentation last night at the Gall's home. We had the privilege of meeting some wonderful young people with hearts for serving. One (Meah) is sponsoring a child in Guatemala and she is paying for her sponsorship by selling homemade tote bags. Another (Nate) is raising money for the Sudan by making wood trivets. These young kids (around 12 years old) are an inspiration and I pray that we can learn a lesson in humility, service and love from them.

Then today we had a presentation at St. Vincent De Paul church in Shepherd, Michigan. Other than the cold wind and blowing snow we were warmly welcomed into the community. Carol Gall (whose home we were at last night) advertised the event in their newsletter and with posters. Thanks Carol!

We had a great conversation with Cheryl who has been to Kenya several times with groups of young people. We felt encouraged by her love for the people of Kenya and it made us even more homesick for our family and friends there.

I spoke today to a friend in Kenya and she was telling us how difficult life is there for everyone. Food prices are soaring and the rains have not come to their area...yet. We are trusting God to bring the rains.

Your support is always appreciated and in these difficult times we are thankful for your help in getting food, medical attention, education etc. to our kids at Nice View, Mercy and Eldama Ravine.

Delta panel and open doors for Open Door

2009-03-27T11:45:00.009-07:00

Sorry I didn't get a blog post out last night.

Yesterday (Thursday) we participated in the Delta Community College panel on faith-based services to Africa. It is always so encouraging to hear of other people working in Africa (and around the world) of how God is moving throughout the land. So many small ministries are doing great things through the strength of the Holy Spirit.

We were on a panel with six other people and what was neat was to hear the similar stories of serving in a third-world country. But we were all in agreement that the joy we receive far outweighs the risks. Pastor Phyllis on the panel said that others say she is courageous to do what she does, but she says it isn't courage just obedience to God's calling. Amen sister!

After the panel discussion we met with a delegation from Delta who are going to Kenya in May. They are going to attempt a visit to Nice View Academy! We are praying for God's plan to be met for the Academy through His people.

Today (Friday) we saw and were involved in God working out some details and logistics. Our brother-in-law, Vic, works for Meijer's in Midland and he told us they had some mattress pads they were going to throw away unless a 501(c)3 wanted to pick them up. Since we were in town and he knew Saved By God's Grace is just that, he called us. We picked up about 50 mattress pads and took them to the women's and men's shelters here in Midland. We met Pastor Bob from the Open Door (the men's shelter) and talked about his wonderful ministry to the men in Midland.

To think we were here from Arizona for "a time such as this." Those mattress pads would have been throw out, instead God had a plan for them to be put on the beds of those in need.

I thank God for these opportunities to serve Him and to be a part of His plan. Whether in Arizona, Michigan or Kenya I pray for God's will to be done in this ministry.

Twitter has moved!

2009-03-25T21:25:00.003-07:00

You may have noticed that my Twitter is no longer on the blog page. I've moved it to the front page of the website. It's on the right hand side at the bottom (below the video, calendar etc.)

Check it out!

Busy and glorious days

2009-03-25T21:07:00.010-07:00

We've had three presentations the past two days and they have all been wonderful opportunities to talk to people about the kids in Kenya, talk about what God is doing and how God is working in all our lives.

We spoke at Sacred Heart Academy in Mt. Pleasant, MI on Tuesday afternoon. The students there (7th graders) were very interested in how the kids in Kenya go to school and what a day is like for them. One student saw this picture and said "oh look they have Old Navy stores over there." We pointed out that we took those clothes over there and explained how many of the kids only have one or two sets of clothes (which includes a school uniform). I pray their eyes were opened to a little bit of the world around them.

Our next presentation was at Trinity Lutheran Church in Midland.

They have a beautiful setting and we were very thankful for the opportunity to speak with them about what God is doing in Kenya.

Then our final presentation on Wednesday was at my moms house. She was a bit disappointed that only a couple of people showed up but God knew who had to be there. We had a great conversation with them talking not only about the orphanages but about God Himself. What a blessing to be a part of community with another brother and sister in Christ.

Home Sweet Home

2009-03-24T18:22:00.011-07:00

We were talking tonight about our home in Kenya and thought I'd show you where we live while there. It is a 20x20 home with four 10x10 rooms - you walk into the living room, bedroom is to the right, kitchen/office area is straight ahead then to the right of that is our bathroom.

The living room has two couches (I think Gideon brought them back from the US in the 1980's) there is a coffee table and a corner stand. This is where most of our stuff lands when we walk in at night.

The bedroom is big enough for a bed and nightstand. Our last trip we actually took the door off the hinges so we could move the bed!

The kitchen/office area has a refrigerator that is about 30 years old. If we have electricity we can barely get it to freeze water for ice! We also have a small table which holds our cups (2), spoons (2), my instant coffee and an electric heater to heat up water for the instant coffee (again only when we have electricity). Then we have a desk which holds our toiletries for the bathroom and a place to work on the computer.

The bathroom is one room with shower, toilet and sink. The shower has an electric shower head to heat the water. I know - electricity and water do not mix! It was a bit scary the first couple of times and I won't turn it on for fear of touching the open wires on top. 240volt and water just don't mix and doesn't appeal to me!

When we don't have electricity the water has to be heated up by firewood then brought to us in a big jug. Then we pour it from there into a smaller tub so we can pour the water over ourselves. We learned that during those times without electricity we only wash the "vital" areas. I think you can figure out where those are.

So that gives you a glimpse of how and where we live in Kenya. It's amazing how much you don't miss. We have no tv, no radio, no heat, no air conditioning, sporadic electricity and water...the list could go on. But when we get back to the states those things become luxuries. It shows us how blessed we are here in the United States but it also shows me that we have so much to do and share with our brothers and sisters in Kenya.

Confirmation day

2009-03-23T19:44:00.002-07:00

A day of odds and ends. Today we visited family, responded to a few emails and confirmed a couple of presentations. Our calendar now has the updated schedule.

But throughout the day we thanked God for His continuing help and guidance while on this tour.

Your prayers and support are appreciated and may God be with you.

This beautiful lady is Gideon's mom (mwaitu in Kiswahili). She lives with Gideon and Pauline so we were a part of the family and had the pleasure of seeing her everyday. The "network" is going as they say in Kenya but she loves to talk - although we couldn't understand a word since she only speaks Akamba! She also loves to sing and would sing prayers for us. When she spoke to God it didn't matter the language, you could tell she was speaking to the Almighty. Her health is slowly failing and I ask for your prayers on her behalf.

Thanks to the Mennonite Church

2009-03-22T20:57:00.007-07:00

Many thanks to Pastor Duford at the Midland Mennonite Church for opening up his church to us for a presentation tonight. They had great questions and we had wonderful conversations with people.

I thank God for these opportunities He has given us to tell people about the kids in Kenya.

I knew Pastor Duford from waaay back (I grew up at the church he worked at) and when he heard about Saved By God's Grace he worked us into the schedule. Thank you again Pastor Don!

A very good friend of mine from about 20 years ago (yikes!) also came to the presentation. She heard about it from the newsletter and looked us up on the website to see the Calendar of Events. So it was nice to hear that the whole email/newsletter/website calendar works for the purpose we intended it.

Thank you to all who attended tonight's presentation. Your prayers and financial support are appreciated.

Small glimpses of life in Kenya

2009-03-21T17:40:00.016-07:00

I am going to try to update on a daily basis here on the blog. While we are in the United States it will most likely be a picture from one of our trips along with a short story or background of the picture. I thought it would be a good idea to get in the habit now and then while we are in Kenya it will be part of my routine.

This first picture is Katine. It is a small village where many of the children who attend Nice View live. (I did some photo shopping to it and made it a 3-panel picture because I really liked the composition of the landscape.)

I took this while we were walking to a students home for a visit. We walked for about 20 minutes before reaching the first home and I thought about the child who walks this everyday to and from school. These kids are taking a chance every day by walking to school. But many would rather take that risk then stay at home and not attend school.

I remember when our daughter, Tarrin, started first grade and was walking to school. For the first two weeks her dad, Chuck, followed her to make sure everything was ok. Our kids in Kenya don't have that luxury. They are mostly on their own and try to walk home together in a group if possible. And many come home to an empty home because dad has left the family and mom is either working for a few shillings or trying to find someone who will give her family some food for the evening.

I pray that these small glimpses of life in Kenya will show you how these families try to live every day by God's grace. If you haven't read our recent newsletter you can go here and read it to find out what items we will be taking with us this next trip to Kenya. Thank you for any and all help you are able to provide these children.

Day one down!

2009-03-17T06:23:00.003-07:00

We made it to Tucumcari, NM last night. The drive was long but mostly uneventful. Just outside Flagstaff, AZ on I-40 we were “parked” on the highway for about 1 ½ hours. We took advantage of the time to do some reading but I was thinking about how many people were probably complaining about the inconvenience of waiting. But all I could think about was the people involved in the accident and how their lives have been changed now forever.

It reminded me of a song about living my life like these are the last 5 minutes. What would we do differently if we knew these were our last five minutes? Would we be worried about buying that new car, tv, shirt etc.? Or would we want to make sure Heaven was our next stop?

One prayer for this ministry is that we are working like it’s our last five minutes.

Why Twitter?

2009-03-13T16:33:00.003-07:00

I wanted to explain a bit more about why I joined Twitter. Twitter is what you see on the right - little tidbits of information throughout my day. The main reason for joining is so that when we are in Kenya I can update it throughout the day. You'll have a front row seat as to what we are doing during our day, who we are visiting, what projects are beginning (or ending) and so forth.

So while we are here in the states you'll see updates about my day here. Maybe not as interesting as in Kenya but it gives me a chance to learn the process. Thanks for reading!

More techie stuff

2009-03-12T18:24:00.005-07:00

You may have noticed the new "widgets" to the right. I'm getting Facebook up, Twitter up and trying to keep the blog updated, the website updated, MySpace updated and what ever new media comes up!

My prayer is that the Lord will, and can, use any and all types of media to get the word out about Saved By God's Grace.

If you're on Facebook we now have a group Saved By God's Grace and a cause for Saved By God's Grace. Tell your friends about it!

Check out the Calendar of Events on the website - we are getting a lot of presentations set and we still have a few in the scheduling stage. See where we are and maybe you can join one or have one of your own. Contact us and we'd love to set up a presentation with you and a group of your friends, colleagues and/or family.

Technology - what a gift!

2009-03-11T11:47:00.003-07:00

I'm finally getting on the bandwagon of Facebook. At first I wasn't to sure about it but then this morning I was logged in and my very good friend, Kate, from Nakuru, Kenya was online. We chatted for about 20 minutes and it brought me right back to her in Kenya. The pull back to Kenya gets stronger everyday and I miss my friends, family and the kids there.

I received an email from Pauline and she told me the electricity is on! Praise God! But she also encouraged me with these words:

"trust God that He will do the needful in his perfect time.Just be patient and carry on with the presentations. and since nothing escapes His mind and attention you will soon witness what He will do. "

It was just what I needed - God does see everything and knows the situation - with us, the ministry and all over the world (amazing to think about isn't it?)

If you are led to help Saved By God's Grace in any way, please contact us or go to the website to donate securely online. Any and all help is greatly appreciated, thank you.

In the dark

2009-03-09T10:22:00.009-07:00

Some of you may remember or heard me tell about how dark it can get in Kenya. When the electricity goes out it is EXTREMELY dark. You literally can not see your hand in front of your face. Now for many families being without electricity is a non-issue because they don't have electricity in the first place and are used to using candles, lanterns etc. for a light source. For many of these families when the sun sets the day is done because they can't afford the fuel for lanterns or batteries for flashlights.

When I think about the times I've been without electricty (which has been maybe a handful of times in my life) it wasn't that bad and the city was on top of it right away. But as you will see from the following, it's not the same in Kenya.

Our brother and sister (Gideon and Pauline) in Tala have been without electricity for about two weeks now. Some thugs (theives) stole a major component of the transformer which runs electricity for the village. Here is an excerpt from an email I received today from Pauline:

"You cant just imagine that the power is not yet fixed though this is the second week in darkness.To make matters worse they demanded a payment of ksh.1000 (about $12.50) per every homestead to strengthen security of the transformer as if the power company belong to us. This has really inconvinienced every body with no water and light.We hope they will move quickly this week to arrest the situation."

Pauline goes on to say: "To write this i had to carry the laptop is school. (this is where Pauline works) Pray with me we get our power back I hope to write more when am at home coz here there are alot of disturbances i cant concentrate on the computer well"

This is just one instance to show you the stark difference between living in the United States and living in Kenya. We continually pray for God's will to be done and that we will be obedient to His calling. Please keep Saved By God's Grace in your prayers and thank you for your support.