A message from Gideon

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

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.

Drought and famine continue

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.

Water please!

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!

Christopher's letter

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.

More new friends!

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.

Final thoughts

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.

Playing on the field...

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!

Struggles still continue

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...

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)

Last day at the Academy

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!

Dinner entertainment!

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?

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!

Movie night at the Academy

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

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...

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

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.

Rains are a welcome blessing

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.

A glance of Nice View Academy...

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

A part of everyday life...

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.