This week has settled down a bit on our end, though our Kenyan ministry partners, Bishop and Ruth, have been dealing with a lot. They’ve been busy with multiple funerals for church members, including a tragic situation where a three-year-old was struck by a vehicle last week. To top it off, Bishop’s vehicle was impounded because the tires were completely worn out—the roads in Kenya are incredibly rough, far beyond any off-road logging path you've ever traversed. Please continue your prayers for Abundant Mercy of Jesus Ministries (AMJM). While Kenya Now is committed to our joint mission of education, nutrition, and widow empowerment, AMJM does so much more. They are the powerhouse of God’s movement in the region, and we are blessed to work alongside them. Their church system is always in need of financial support for crusades, leadership seminars, and more. You can donate directly to their evangelistic mission through our Spiritual Awakening Program. I encourage you to explore how you can be a part of their overall ministry. Supporter Initiated Fundraiser One of our volunteers, Robin, has started her own fundraiser for a university student named Stella. She is accepting monetary gifts at the link I just listed and in-kind donations for a Savers FunDrive. Spring cleaning season is here, and if you're like us, clearing out the clutter is probably imminent. If you have items to spare, consider donating them to Robin. Savers weighs all the donations and gifts a portion of the proceeds directly to her Kenya Now fundraiser. It’s a simple way to clear your space while fueling the mission. Email Robin to coordinate a drop-off today. You can also create your own online fundraiser directly from our website. Start here. A Shoutout to the Team Kara and I want to give a massive shoutout to Sara Tremblay, our sponsorship coordinator, and her dedicated team of volunteers. This past month, Sara has worked tirelessly to update every single child's profile with new pictures and information, ensuring our sponsors stay informed. These kids grow so much year after year, and right now, nearly 100 children are still waiting for a sponsor. You might ask, "What does a monthly sponsorship actually do?" Here is the deal: We have a large catalog of students ranging from Pre-K to University. People often get stuck trying to decide who needs it most. The good news is that every child benefits from every sponsorship gift—it’s what powers our entire school and orphanage. So why sponsor a specific child? Because we want you to see the real faces, names, and dreams that your gift impacts. We want you to pray for your specific child (and all of them) so that God shines His favor over them. I am confident we are raising future doctors, nurses, scientists, teachers, and great leaders of East Africa. Your investment goes significantly further than any of us can imagine. I still can’t believe God called my family into this wild mission. Thank you for joining us—and please consider sponsoring a child today. It truly means the world. Have a blessed weekend.
Do you remember Benjamin and Joel? They are the two young brothers we found living in horrific conditions with their elderly grandmother. When we reached them, all three were malnourished and in a state of medical crisis. My brother, Bishop, was an orphan himself and lived through similar conditions. He called me nearly in tears when he saw them. He knows exactly what those boys are feeling. Kenya Now and Abundant Mercy of Jesus moved immediately. we provided food, mattresses, and built them a new shelter because their old one was so infested with parasites it was unlivable. I am relieved to report they are doing better, but the road back is difficult. People often ask why we don't just bring them into the children's home immediately. The reality is that we have to protect the other children first. Both boys have severe skin infections caused by chiggers—a parasite that burrows into the skin to lay eggs. Bishop hired a local specialist to treat them. It is a grueling process. They have to soak their feet in a tarry solution to suffocate the larvae, and then the dead tissue is physically removed with a knife. I am sharing these details because this is the reality for a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old right now. We cannot gloss over how serious this is. Once they are cleared medically, we will welcome them into the Rebirth Children's Home. This brings our total to 29 children. They also need to start at Rebirth Academy to make up for the school they've missed. We need to get these brothers sponsored immediately. Your monthly gift pays for the caregivers, the teachers, and the medical care required to give these boys a real life. Please prayerfully consider picking up a sponsorship share today. Our supporters are the only reason we can step in for children like Benjamin and Joel. Read their profiles below. Pray for them, and please, sponsor them. View Their Sponsorship Profiles
So much happened this week that it honestly feels impossible to fit it into one short update... but here we go. Starting with the most serious situation: Bishop was called to the home of a widow after concerns were raised that her failing health was putting her two young orphaned grandchildren at risk (Joel and Benjamin). When he arrived, the conditions were even worse than expected. The mud hut was collapsing, the three of them were sleeping on a rug soaked with urine and feces, and all of them had severe chigger infestations from sleeping on the dirt floor and walking barefoot. For those unfamiliar, chiggers are tiny fleas from contaminated soil that burrow larvae into the skin, especially the feet and fingers. It is painful, dangerous, and heartbreaking to see. Bishop immediately went into action. We had two leftover mattresses, blankets, and pillows ready to give, along with food and urgent medical attention. But the response did not stop there... we also funded an entirely new small home for them. Shoutout to the professional builders that did the work pro bono! The existing structure was declared completely uninhabitable, and the rugs were burned that same day. Bishop and his team are still carefully assessing what long-term support will be best for the widow and the children, and I will absolutely keep you updated as we learn more. How you can help:We had to reallocate funding from another project to cover this $700 emergency grant, so if you would like to help us replenish that, you can donate below. On another major concern (and also praise), our children at the orphanage began falling sick one after another this past week. Our Healthy Child Fund was running low, and naturally, questions were piling up. Thankfully, Bethany (Bishop’s daughter and a trained nurse) stepped in quickly. She went to the school, examined the children, and discovered that most had contracted the flu. She also found that a worker had accidentally added too much chlorine to the drinking water tank, which likely contributed to some of the symptoms. Bethany has committed to staying at the school this week to monitor and treat the children. This has pushed forward an initiative that had only been in the early planning stages, but now has suddenly become urgent: hiring a full-time school nurse to care not only for our orphanage children, but for the entire school community. That is exactly why our joint medical clinic fundraiser (in partnership with Sigma Beta Theta at-Large Chapter in Western Massachusetts and American Christian School in New Jersey) matters so much right now. This fundraiser is listed on our Fundraiser page. We do not only need to build a clinic, we need to hire the staff to make it function well. This week made the need impossible to ignore. Now for a major praise report: We have been praying for funding to complete our water runoff management project and cover the remaining cost of expanding our wood stove... and an anonymous supporter gave the exact amount needed in cash. Not close. Not partial. The exact amount. Those projects are now moving forward, and I will have more to report soon. One last thing: the shoe fundraiser is officially in motion. Feet have been measured, orders are being placed, and over 160 children will soon receive brand new, high-quality leather school shoes. God is good. God is moving. And at this pace, we may all need stronger running shoes ourselves. 🙌
It has been a week of challenges and victories here, and we are so grateful to share the journey with you. Health & Healing We want to start with an update on our Healthy Child Program. Recently, Ian, one of the boys in our children’s home, fell ill with malaria and pneumonia. After two days in the hospital, we are thrilled to share that he is back home, back in school, and feeling much better! Our Healthy Child fund acts as a vital "insurance policy," ensuring every child in our sponsorship program receives immediate care when they need it most. • How you can help: We are looking for monthly donors to help us fortify this fund. BECOME A MONTHLY DONOR HERE Clean Water & Infrastructure Our deepest water well—and our most essential—has been struggling lately. This week, the mechanic traced the issue to the electrical inverter. We are happy to report the well is back in full working order, providing clean water for our kitchen and the entire compound. Expanding the Kitchen Speaking of the kitchen, we’ve officially outgrown our wood-burning stove. We built this kitchen years ago when our program was much smaller; today, we have 170 mouths to feed, 365 days a year. To keep up with the demand, the stove needs to be modified and expanded. We have most of the funding ready, but we are $400 short of our goal. • How you can help: If you’d like to help us close this gap, please make a contribution below and write “Stove” in the comments. Storm Water Solutions Finally, we are looking for partners to help us tackle a major storm water runoff issue. This is a "big ticket" project, estimated at $3,000, but it is a necessary permanent solution to protect our grounds. • How you can help: Does this project resonate with you? If you’d like to learn more about the details or how to contribute, please reach out to me directly (dan@kenynow.org) Through all these logistical needs, we never lose focus on the smiles that fuel our hearts. God has big plans for these children, and we are truly blessed to be part of His action plan. God is good—all the time!
Our team of 16 is officially back from Kenya! We touched down this past Friday, and man, was it a journey. Part of our group dealt with some major travel headaches including delays and cancellations due to the conflict in Iran, but I’m very happy to report that everyone is finally home safe and sound. Reflecting on this trip, I feel incredibly blessed. We had such a solid, cohesive team, and getting to witness the amazing work God is doing in Kenya together was something special. Highlights from the Field: - Homegrown VBS: Kara took the lead on a VBS program that was a total hit. It’s definitely going to leave a lasting mark on those kids. - The Mural Project: Robin and Jane headed up a brand-new mural. Students of all ages jumped in to help, and the final piece perfectly captures the vibrant personalities of the kids at Rebirth Academy and Children’s Home. Thank you Robin for making this possible! - Sponsorship Growth: Our coordinator, Sara, was busy capturing updated photos and dialing in everything we need for our sponsorship program to really flourish. Real Needs on the Ground I spent some time walking the compound with the Bishop (the director of our partner ministry) to identify where we can step up. While the growth is a blessing, it brings some "good problems" to solve: - Kitchen Overhaul: Our wood-burning stove needs a major upgrade to keep up with feeding more children. The total cost is $1,000, and we’re currently $400 shy of that goal. (Video attached below) - Storage: The kitchen also needs a new cabinet to keep snacks and food supplies organized throughout the day. This will cost $600. - Water Pump: Our deep-water well has been acting up, and the mechanic’s verdict is in: it needs a total replacement. That’s a $300 fix. (Video attached below) - Drainage & Runoff: We have some significant water runoff issues that require complex repairs. This project will run a few thousand dollars. If you want more details on this, feel free to email me directly at dan@kenyanow.org. Even with a long "to-do" list, we’re focusing on our blessings of the smiles on those kids' faces. That is all the motivation we need. How You Can Help If you feel led to give toward any of these specific needs, just click the Donate button below and mention the project in the notes section. We truly appreciate your ongoing prayers, encouragement, and support! There is no update video this week (late work nights and MORE snow!) Instead I want to direct you to our Trip VLOGs that capture unforgettable moments from the beginning to the end of the trip. It’s totally worth binge watching! Pst… I’m pushing our YouTube channel. Check out Day 1 below and be sure to subscribe.
Food distributions are one of my favorite parts of what we do. Nothing shows the strength of our partnership between Kenya Now and AMJM quite like coming together to fundraise for and host these large scale events. This past Tuesday, I had the opportunity to speak in front of nearly a thousand people. I shared the heart behind these distributions (following the example of Jesus), and spent time asking questions and listening as people opened up about their struggles during seasons of hunger. Hearing their stories is sobering. Seeing the desperation as families come for food is something that stays with you. It’s also what fuels me to come home and keep fundraising at full speed. There’s one more part of these events that means a lot to me. I get to do them alongside my entire family, children and all. Thank you for the support you continue to show our ministry. Together, we are doing the work of God. Check out this reel from our most recent food distribution event.
We are four days into a beautiful trip to Kenya, spending time with the children, the community, and the leaders of Abundant Mercy of Jesus Ministries. This week we are continuing our Vacation Bible School, focused on what it means to be treasured by God. Each day we are sharing a simple but powerful truth— every child, and each one of us, is uniquely created in the image of God, deeply known, and deeply loved. Follow our daily vlogs on YouTube and be sure to subscribe! Check out our latest vlog!
