We did it– not only did we raise all the funding needed for our next food distribution event, but we surpassed it by $125. Way to go! I can't wait to provide updates on this event when it happens. This event will touch a lot of people. I’m talking over two thousand. We don’t simply feed people— we share a message of hope and truth and then they go home with a gift that will provide for another day. These people, our people, live day-to-day during these cyclic times of struggle. To add to the struggle they’ve also been experiencing massive amounts of rain, flooding and crazy fuel prices along with civil protests. Those blessed enough to own a vehicle are paying nearly $6 per gallon. Stark contrast to our elevated pump prices right now. Check out this video of a wild protest turned relay race that just happened near Bishop’s home. Creative, fun, and peaceful. That leads to another need; Bishop drives over two hours per day largely along rocky African dirt roads. It takes a lot of fuel between managing the orphanage, school, churches, and everything else he does for the greater community. Get this, Kenya Now doesn’t pay him or his wife. We have two people who help with basic car maintenance but it’s minimal and not nearly enough. But where does my donation go? Straight to where it is allocated; education, food, distributions... You can help Bishop by scheduling a recurring gift and know that this blessing would be a huge relief. The kids at the school have been competing in sports this week. They’ve all done great and they’re having a blast! Sponsorships help us educate these kids, house our orphans, and do fun activities just like this! Please consider sponsoring a child today. We have a very large list of unsponsored children. The impact is much larger than you might imagine. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!
My wife, Kara, recently found this shirt, and I think it’s hilarious. But it also stirs up a bit of discord in my soul—a somber reminder of how I first reacted when God started writing this new chapter in our lives. In the beginning, leading a mission in Kenya, let alone a mission in Africa, was never a dream of mine. It wasn’t even a passing thought. When I felt God’s mighty grip pulling us in, my initial instinct was to run. I was on course to pull a full "Jonah" (although I could totally do without the whale). To be clear: I wasn't running because I thought the women and children in Kenya weren't worthy of help. I was running because I was terrified of my own inadequacy. I didn’t have the "know-how." I’ve always been a big dreamer, but a sloppy executor—the kind of guy with a yard full of half-finished projects. Mind you, our actual yard is pretty tidy. I'm sure you get the idea. The sheer thought of failing, of potentially putting dozens of orphans back on the street, was too much to bear. So, instead of saying "yes" to God’s will, I decided to go on my own little march. I cold-called twenty different organizations around the world with a desperate plea: "Please, take this project off our hands." The answer was almost always some version of: "We’ve got our own problems. You need to deal with yours." That was the "smack in the face" realization. When God tells you to do something, "no," or even "maybe," isn’t actually an option. "Get in, loser. We’re doing God’s will." There may not be a truer quip than that. And there, all along, stood my wife, waiting for me to hop aboard. Welp, now that we’ve got that out of the way, we have some work to do! What is God doing this month? We have a big gap to fill as we aim to raise $5,000 this month of May to feed thousands of people by early June. $2,000 raised so far! We could really use your help! Learn more and give here Bishop reported that they planted a new church in Kenya! The plot of land fell into place. The excited congregation started pulling together supplies from their own homes to build an incomplete, makeshift church structure. They have the drive and will to say "yes" to God's calling. Can we help them finish their church building so they can worship out of the rain? This project is $3,000. Donate below and put "church" in the note. I'll take it from there. Our board of directors has a vision for this year to expand the Rebirth Academy School and Children's Home compound. There are two plots of land that have been offered to us (without us even inquiring!). Both properties—a one-acre and a half-acre—align right next to our compound. To acquire both these properties will take some serious cash to the tune of around $20,000. God has opened the window to see what lies ahead, but He has yet to open the door. If you want to give toward this goal, simply donate and put "property" in the note section. There is no official fundraiser for this dream; it is that new! Yes, we have some ambitious goals directly in view. But like I mentioned, when God says "go," inaction simply isn't an option. Please be prayer warriors for our mission and projects. We are confident God will provide on His own time. I pray you have a restful weekend.
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.
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!
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!
