TGD Kenya computer student, Don, passing out a treat to Dianah: sponsored by Eleanor Prince.

These awesome cute little guys looking so prosperous and healthy after a few months sponsorship! Don't they look spiffy! They are adorable! Thank you to Brian and Juanita Piland and Megan Wise for helping these little guys out!

We are so thankful to Laura Stubbins who sponsored little Everlyne. What joy came to her grandfather! There aren't words to describe what the gift meant to the man, but he thanked the TGD Kenya staff profusely and with such gratitude and joy! He passed away soon after--but thanks to sponsorship, this little girl will be taken in by an aunt.

Newly sponsored Elizabeth was in such serious poverty. Thank you to Matt and Brenda Metzner for changing Elizabeth's situation.

These are some, but not all, of the families your gifts have blessed. It really changes things for them. Most families in Kenya are making a dollar a day, so a sponsorship of their home brings $50!! They get the food and relief from the burden of educating an orphan they've taken in. You cannot imagine--but you KNOW that God is moving and blessing through you to do things you cannot imagine! THANK YOU for changing the world here!

GREAT SADNESS. William Owanga

Frank wrote me:

It is with sadness that I inform you of the death of one of our new guardians, Mr. William Owaga the guardian to Everlyne Adhiambo. Coincidentally we paid the old man a visit on Saturday and had a long chat with him only for him to complain of chest pains the following day in the evening and succumb to death at around 9pm Sunday night.
I was informed of his death this morning and Joseph and I went to the home and saw his lifeless body on the same bed we talked with him a few days back. I am glad that the old man was born again and discussed and confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour over his life.
The family was still gathering in preparation to taking the body to the morgue. I expect the burial to take place this coming Saturday and I believe by then we will know the fate of the two girls who were under his care.
 JOSEPH WROTE ME ON SATURDAY: (Frank)
suggested we pay Evelyn a visit. Evelyn's home is a neighborhood away from where I stay, so we strolled to the place. As usual, the old man's daughter was there to usher us in and took as to the now familiar room, the old man's bedroom. He immediately identified us from our voices. He sat up in haste as we we were brought stools to sit next to him. I wish you understood Luhya and Swahili. Those are the languages Mr. William Owaga used through out our discussion, as he expressed his gratitude every after three or five minutes.

What surprised us was the vibrancy in the old man, who is Evelyn's guardian, during that discussion. He actually dominated the discussion, telling us his life history, the laghter and tears he experienced, how he settled in Kakamega 63 years ago (in 1948), his life as a youth and later as a married man, before salvation and after he gave His life to Christ. Well, we didnt ask him to get into the trouble of taking us through his life record, yet here he was, freely and comfortably (I can add, joyfully) telling us all about himself and his family. To make it more interesting, he even know the positions his two grandchildren got in the end of term exam they had last week. He talked so well about the supplies that changed the mood in that home, the Saturday supplies we gave to Evelyn. He almost jumped up (literally) with joy when Frank reminded him that the supplies will be monthly. It's like he had forgotten that it's gonna be a continuous program.
Now, that can't explain even a tenth of the experience we had with him. That's why I said that what we see (and write about) is just a tip of the ice-berg of the the breakthroughs families and individuals are experiencing here as a result of what God is doing through TGD. I wish you could feel it, because we felt and saw the joy and ambiance that radiated from this home today. As we stood to leave, Mr. William Owaga was so grateful of our visit that he said "Thank You" in four languages.

doggie diaries

Today I drove the puppies an hour north so they could poop in the parking lot of a target (I had my special bags!)  I drove the new Jeep that Steve traded for the Viper (even trade, just paid tax, title, license.) I am not thrilled with that thing. Steve got the lift kit, I guess, and we are towering above the road. He bought a rubber mat in the back so puppies could stand and grip it. But when you lay the seats down, there is a gaping hole where the hinge is---ouch. Little puppy paws slip down into that.

I almost wasn't up to it but needed ground beef for tacos. yes, i drove an hour outside of downtown --because if I had to walk the seven blocks to the closest grocery store--it was raining and puppies can't poop in the rain very well---even in Austin!

and sure enough, we got out there to that big wide parking lot and they were all tails UP! happy puppies! no whirring cars zipping by. It was worth it to me. It was so cold (about 41?) that we weren't good for too long. But they were ready to get back in the car. Sarah sat with them while I went into target. I looked for a 25 foot leash so we could let them have the sensation of running around---but they only had five foot ones. There is a petsmart around here somewhere and a pet store of some type just a block or so away.
we'll see. I could pay someone 16 to come walk them for 25 minutes--but it is the DOGS who I am most concerned about--not me.

we did see this square of sorts---like a green oasis amongst the checkerboard streets --- little sidewalks and trees instead of a building on that block there. A woman with her small dog was walking through. It was right in front of some big majestic library where all these people were standing outside on the sidewalk and across from them were a line of cars like parents picking up elementary students at a school---but these were adults and young adults....so I could not grasp what was happening. All I could see is that GREEN---and only about 10 blocks north and maybe four or five blocks east. oh if my puppies could WALK to that then I could let them poop there in less traffic----but i think they might pop their eyes out of the sockets on the way. They lunge forward (nothing new) but with a frantic look about them (new). Penelope's little legs quake. It moves me with compassion.

but when they won't go potty, I'm moved to self-pity and whining. "Penelopeeeeeeee.....go wee-weeeeeeee, pleeeeeeeeease. NOW! GO WEE WEE!" She turns and looks me right in the eye. Just to see if I am serious. and I am, so she looks away and at the dirt and at the cars.

oh....I may drive an hour north tomorrow, but first I'll try to find a parking space near that green patch nearby.

Dog prayers

With the world situation and people suffering and the USA government looking at a shut-down, it is strange that my prayers are "Please, Jesus, get Penelope to pee! Please have her poop!" and likewise for Oliver---who is a little more accomodating.
But each of us lives in our own small world that we see from our own two eyes. In my world, there are two dogs locked up in a high-rise building in downtown Chicago. At least four times I day, I hope for the best in order to keep the corporate apartment from becoming a doggie-toilet. I intercede for my dogs daily (and several of you as well and my husband, children, extended family and more) praying that they will be calm enough to release their bladders. Penelope can hold for 24 hours. It's amazing and frightening. and she has had two small overflows onto the carpet. Very small considering she can hold about four cups worth and only went about 1/4 cup onto the carpet both times. We got her downstairs and outside to the clanging banging roadside where we ask her to go on the sidewalk or on the little patches of dirt by the light poles or bushes. Some businesses have their little bushes fenced in. Oh how I'd love to take a bunch of pictures of all I am describing. a video would be so informative and you could see what I deal with.
and so while I'd like to be thinking of all the other details I must continually attend to her in my new home and during this transition---I am hounded with thoughts of....."Would the dogs go now?"
Today it was raining! Add another insult to the process. All these other thing I blow off saying, "Through Jesus, I can do anything!" and yet.....I can't seem to just lean into this one. I'm suffering ---over DOGS. and i love these dogs. They are precious animals and I know them well. They rely on me and I care for them. They are quite confused about my requests out there in that noisy potty spot. What? Here? A truck is coming! That train is crazy-loud! I'm SCARED!
Please, if you are reading this. It is Thursday morning and I pray my Penelope and Oliver will potty outside today at lunch time and after I feed them their dinner. Pray for grace. Pray for Dog Blessings. I am relying on Jesus and I am discouraged---send hope and perseverence my way by the Holy Spirit. God bless you.

week one

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord! Chris and Tracy Leon will be sponsoring our 25th orphan! Hallelujah! What a Savior is Jesus! It is so exciting!

I am so thankful to orphan sponsors and general donors. I am so blessed to see so many hearts that get excited about what US dollars can do in an impoverished area. It is not just that children need shoes ( i read in an article today) but that the REASON they don't have shoes needs to be addressed. Their parents don't have an education. Their parents don't have jobs. So let's employ some working adults, let us train young people and let us educate those who are the least in society.

Good morning Chicago

I rolled out of bed this morning, ready to make Steve some coffee and oatmeal. I knew I had to feed the dogs but not before I was ready to take them out to walk. I'm still stiff and sore. My fourth toenail split on our first night here--it is a vertical split from the edge of the nail to the nail base and it is all the way through to the bed of the nail. did I say Ouch? I was wondering how I would walk yesterday, but a bandaid helps protect the nail and make it lay down (instead of the crack lying open.) I can wear my running shoes and then I discovered that a new pair of boots I bought on sale when I was here looking at houses is perfect. there is a lot of room in the toe box-so much that the top of the shoe part does not even touch the top of y toes at all. Hooray! so I was able to go take care of registering cars for parking and then go out to eat (only a block away) and then go to CVS--one block in the other direction. And I could walk the dogs.

probably this isn't interesting.

My house is up on the market in Pflugerville.
http://www.realtyaustin.com/idx/homes/texas/pflugerville/78660/1008-vanderbilt-cir/3066764.html

We priced so low but Pflugerville has a lot of homes at a great price. Most don't have as much cool stuff as mine did, so I'm hoping hardwood floors and heated pool really catch the eye of some mom who wants to bless her family with a great home. and prayers! I've prayed and prayed in and over the house. We have scriptures written in the foundation and in the innermost parts of the home which we wrote during the building process. Many times the Steve, the children and I went out to the building site and prayed over every step and for the future. Now someone can receive all those blessings!

The owner of our future home wants to stay in the home an extra couple of weeks (groan.) We expected to move in on May 1st. Now it may be mid-may. I still have to settle in so I can work towards Laura's wedding. I need to mail out some save-the-dates for Laura. We haven't gotten the invitations yet and the wedding is in July. (July 16 in Austin.) I can't wait to share my joy! I am so happy and full of hope and faith and love for Laura and Garson. What a blessing. I praise God.

So much going on in Kenya. I talked with Titus ---wait.....I actually talked with ANITA but I emailed and texted Titus.  No, no....I DID talk to Titus--ha ha! I talked to him while I was driving.

Anita was telling me of a child that goes to the school where Rose teaches. He is about 11 or 12. He has five siblings. His mother abandoned them for a new man and now the young boy is the head of the home. He does what he can but they have been suffering. Rose took Titus to their home and immediately Titus could see they needed to do something for these children. Some people came to help them plant some vegetables so they could eat. When it was time to harvest, the mother snuck back with her husband and they harvested in the night and stole the food away. The children were left destitute as before. Even one little girl of about four has been sexually abused repeatedly by a neighbor and has visible venereal disease. The injustice is so painful and makes me angry. Can hell burn hot enough? People don't want others to go to hell--and you think we should not PAY for all the evil we do to one another!?!? Jesus has laid all that sin upon Himself that we could go free---even that mother and her husband could go free. Even that diseased pedophile could go free --but they refuse to accept the grace of God and turn from sin---so the little girl suffers and knows no different than to have large men abuse her painfully and for pain to be her constant companion and who knows how this will affect her heart and mind as she grows. We are molded by our environments to some degree---and for her there is no love and nurture---there is abuse and pain and sickness. I grieve!

I do what I CAN do---and I do not know this family ---but I join Rose and Titus in wanting to change the course of their lives. Titus does what he can all the time. He does more than you can imagine. His life is a constant service to hurting people and nasty jealous complaining people and joyful loving servant hearted people. He is a pastor to thousands. I don't envy his job one bit, but I commit to him and his service to God within his community. He could come live here, folks. He could come with his family and two of his children might not have died. But he serves that broken community where poverty tries to destroy everyone and so much evil is hidden. God is at work there, shining a light and bringing hope and He hears the cry of the children and rescues them.

and I think it is easy for us to forget how much evil is in our own hearts. We live in a materialistic world of comfort where our irritations are slow internet service and cars that cut us off on the highway. Our fingernail (or TOENAIL) breaks, our A/C wears out, we get a flat tire, or our boss is irritated and it wasn't even our fault. Those are our problems.
but when you look deeper, there is still divorce, adultery, lying (oh God help me -how Christians lie and pervert the truth!) and jealousy, envy, greed, sloth, wastefulness (guilty!), anger (guilty!) and there is perversion as people watch movies where they look upon the nakedness of others and just sit there as if God is not grieved????? Oh, if you were watching those people naked right in front of you---you would realize how evil your actions! but our commercials are filled with naked ladies rubbing soap on their hip--the only thing missing is nipples and pubic hair---how much of that do you watch?

we will see all that has been done on judgment day and it can't come a moment too soon. Let men call upon the Lord and be saved. Let us turn from our sin and unto the Holy One and Worship Him in beauty! why do we think we need all this delicious food and a massage and movies and concerts and pleasure and sensuality? (Not that we should not enjoy this life. Come on. You are looking for excuses when you criticize me as if I mean that life should not be good. We bless God for all this goodness but we must turn away from our sin----let the Holy Spirit convict us.)

I wish I could rescue souls from hell. Yes, even the mother of those abandoned children and even the pedophile --who for some reason thinks he needs to dominate this small child to get his needs met unnaturally. God forgive him his perversion and cruelty and save him that he might turn and repent and be cleansed. Let us not judge him but let us rescue her! let us rescue him, too! let us rescue each other! it is so easy to see how wrong the pedophile is---but let us turn from our sins, too! OH GOD, send me someone who cares enough for me to call me out for sin and rebuke and love me and forgive me---there is a better way by the Holy Spirit. Let us walk by the Spirit and we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

We are in Chicago!

Friends, thank u for emails n calls! I love u!! I am going to try and update u through my blog so I dont bore too many.
It was quite an ordeal to get here. Puppies did great and pooped each day outside during pitstops. They were happy and spastic in hotels-- but I drugged them and they slept well. Training pays off!! Obedient children are a reward. They are not too thrilled living downtown in the loop, especially when a train goes by overhead! They are snoozing on my bed here with me now. Sarah thinks downtown looks old and rusty but she likes the area where we purchased a home. I have to get a P.O. Box set up so we get bills and TGD donations. You are all so faithful. I see Gods Grace in you. I give Him GLORY and cheer Him for His lovingkindness to the poor and in moving our hearts to care-- and making us ENJOY giving! We have His nature within.
I think living downtown is crazy. I have often traveled and enjoyed downtown hotels-- but these people live here. It is sensory overload right now but God will adjust me. And i can go to the aquarium and marvel at His creations or the planetarium to hear His glory proclaimed by the stars.
Steve had his first day at Navteq. I cant wait to hear! I know he will come home excited and brimming with fresh ideas and plans and dreams. He will fulfill Gods purposes like Moses or Joseph. Everything new and different. And he might collapse from exhaustion if God does not refresh him. We have worked and worked to prepare the house for sale, travel, and set up.
Doug came over and walked me n sarah to grocery store then pizza delivered and played a game together. Good family time.

2 new orphans sponsored!

I am so thankful that we have Everline and Elizabeth sponsored! Praise God! and we have support for some of our already sponsored children who need half donors. TWENTY FOUR CHILDREN SPONSORED! That's just a miracle and it is a blessing. I cannot imagine the impact this will have on these orphaned children who felt alone in the world. At the bottom of their social world, they were chosen and loved. It makes the heart soar! The beauty in the world eclipses the pain because some people are not discouraged to the point of apathy. God renews hope in this life. All Glory to Jesus that He does not leave us in despair.

Please donate to Frank and Cynthia Adungosi in their loss

Please give a financial gift to our beloved friends in the Lord who had two days with their son before he passed away and was buried on the third.
http://www.tgdonline.com/

Please donate online through paypal on the Trinity Global Development site and send me and email at sarivers@sbcglobal.net to clarify the amount for Frank and Cynthia.

Please pray for their strength and blessing and their health as Cynthia recovers from birth and cares for her energetic toddler son in her grief. Please pray that Frank can lead his family in Jesus as they go through this difficult loss.

Ephraim Favour Adungosi Feb 24-Feb26 2011

This beautiful young man was born to Cynthia and Frank Adungosi and he was loved in his short life. Who is to say what impact such a short life can have? and yet God was pleased to bring him into the world. We grieve that he could not stay longer and learn of his family with his natural earthly mind. His mother mourns with empty arms, the father cannot make the pain go away. Their good living, their good health, their quick action, their nourishing food, could not keep him here. I am so grieved and sad! I have loved this baby before I met him. I have prayed for him in the womb. I have delighted with his parents over his soon coming. I have prayed blessings for his health, safety and long life in Jesus. Now the unbelievable has happened. and I cannot even go to their side. They will have to bury their newborn son and with what money? They will pay the hospital bill for the birth and emergency visit--with what funds? Life is Kenya is harsh and relentless. The people struggle under so great a burden. Here this moment was one of celebration....and now we say goodbye to the beautiful little soul I never got to connect with personally. All their hopes and dreams for him have to rest in Jesus and their only comfort is his better life. But we wanted him here. They wanted him to grow with his brother Ethan. They wanted him to get an education, learn and live for Jesus, take a wife, have a child of his own, bless others with his generosity and wisdom and compassion.
It has that shock of the impossible. I know babies die all over the world. but this is not some baby, this is little Ephraim. These are my friends. This is my family. I grieve and cry out to the Lord to comfort them. To comfort His people. To hear their cry and have mercy on them. To send them some relief. My God is an awesome God and He will encourage them. He will stand with them forever. He is their glory and the lifter of their head. He is their redeemer and He has forgiven their sins and brought them into eternal life. They will share their joy with Ephraim on another day. But today we mourn with them as they do the hard work of burial preparations. Remember Frank and Cynthia. Remember them in their time of need.

Jane -- We give glory to God for what He has done for this young girl!

God has given Jane the ability to excel in school, but her parents are no more. Her guardians have sacrificed to send her to school and they were willing to suffer to give her this reward she has earned, but they did not have enough. It is about $1000 to send Jane to Butere Girls School, a nationally ranked girls school--a great achievement, a great privilege. But Jane would not have been going except for those who have loved a girl who can do nothing for them. For the joy of giving to the poor and helpless, donors in the USA have heard the heart of God and sponsored Jane through the year. Her sponsorship is $50 a month, or $600 a year. As a girl starting high school, her costs would take up at least half of that money. But to go to the private school would cost significantly more. Her school of choice, an excellent school, costs about $1000 a year for education and boarding. But God didn't leave Jane, he sent another to give her what she needed to make her dreams come true! Let's remember Jane and pray she makes the most of this opportunity she's been given. It's a hard road for a woman in Kenya, but God is with her and we are behind her all the way. God bless those who have given generously for this girl.

Ahhhh, Fred is upright! Oh please help this little guy!

SEE FREDS PROFILE BELOW

Fred needs a sponsor. Is God calling you to partner with us for this little man?

Little Fred is sideways....

Poor little Frank didn't upload properly, but I want to show you one of our new children needing support.

I had to do some tricks to get this photo to stand upright. I am having technical difficulties, but please, open your heart to little Fred!

Fredrick Maina lost his mother in 2005 and his father followed suit in 2006. Both parents died of AIDS

related complications. Elizabeth Nanzala, who is Fredrick’s aunt, took custody of the young boy. Fredrick’s

dad was Elizabeth’s brother. His paternal grandmum, though alive, is blind and can’t take care of Fredrick.

Elizabeth takes care of about five grandchildren excluding her own children. She sells basic foodstuff and a

few snacks for a living, while Mr. Donald (her better half) is jobless.

Jane-Oh the goodness of God!

I was in church today and we were singing something to Jesus. I saw a vision in my minds eye. I was in Kenya but a man came up to me, so grateful. He was Asian, which is not accurate for Kenya, but that's how it looked. He came with smiling eyes and joy and energy and holding both my hands in a handshake and shaking up and down and sort of bowing so happily straight into my face. I knew in that moment that he had such inexpressible gratitude, the kind that makes you want to do anything for another person because they have saved your life. I threw back my head in a wide loud laugh and let go to raise both my hands to heaven rejoicing in the Father. I twirled like a child, laughing with my hands up to the Father for the joy He had brought to this family! and it was as if sparkles of love and joy were all around as this man and i basked in the joy and happiness of the Lord. So expansive! So beautiful! So energizing! So real!  Tears were steaming down my face and I stood there in the dark with the worship music loudly playing and the people all standing around me and I just gloried in the Lord. Just gloried in Him! His goodness! His mercy! His beauty! (then I started thinking...oh my goodness, is my mascara running? Do I have a tissue? Do I have germs on my hands from handshaking or can I rub my eyes? ha ha--just thought I'd give you the full picture.)
I composed myself feeling a bit detached but sort of washed clean and peaceful. The message was on the Kingdom of God. How God wants us to display the Kingdom of God. Jesus has come and He said, Repent and Believe! and now He calls us to go out and show what it means to let the Lord rule in your life and show how it affects the way you treat others and the way you act in the world. I knew God had told me, The Kingdom of God has come! and I knew it has come to these orphans! Thanks to the donors who are giving to these children, they taste and see that the Lord is good. The actions that accompany the donors profession of faith show these children that God is moving on hearts of others far away to accomplish something for them that might not have been possible. Jane may have perished in the day school. Her intellect and drive pushed down with discouragement and despair and lack--but yesterday she couldn't believe what blessing had come her way--she was walking as in a dream. She had not eaten for two days from worry and desire--hoping, praying, "Will someone hear and help?" and someone said yes (six people actually responded quickly.)  HER ENTIRE LIFE CHANGES RIGHT THERE. It is like a miracle. Truly. and God is glorified. One who has been left alone has been cared for with love and ABUNDANCE. Hallelujah!

Note from Joseph: JANE'S SITUATION

Your decision to have her profile in a newsletter is God-send, very timely and a very noble act. This girl, amidst the marginalization of a girl-child in Kenya, went against the wind and performed very well, especially being in a rural school and an orphan for that matter. She qualified for a school that was just the other day got shortlisted for promotion of status from being a provincial school to a national school.
Getting a chance in Butere Girls High school is a pipe dream to many in Western Province, yet our little sister legitimately qualified for an intake. It is the school she chose as she sat for her end of year exam three months ago. I want to assure you that without God's intervention through you, this young girl was going to lose this chance to I dont know who. The guardian (God bless Pastor Kombo and his wife Damaris) was looking at the prospects of taking Jane to a local day school and it wasn't adding up. When we talked in the office, he almost broke in tears (a man, and a Pastor for that matter, almost shedding tears) when he narrated how his own son was at home because of fees and now here was Jane facing an imminent lose of place in a coveted provincial high school, just because of lack of fees?
The last statements he made were that he'll buy the necessary items Jane needed in school and leave the rest to God. Today morning he called, telling us that he has bought a good number of items, spoken to the school administration about his case and given upto next Wednesday to take Jane to school, at least with first term's fee. Then here you are writing to request for her photos to post in a newsletter you want to send to your friends. I call that God in action. Jane's story has taught me (and the entire team) a lot. I have a lot to write about what I have learned while addressing this particular case.

TOP STUDENT JANE WILL ATTEND PRESTIGIOUS SCHOOL!

It is a wonderful story. Jane, on the far right (then Lillian, Abednego, and Vivian,) took the Kenyan National Exam and scored so high she was offered a place in a prestigious school. Her guardian could not afford to pay and even his own son was sent home from school for non-payment of school fees. But he is a pastor and a kind man and knew that Jane's sponsorship would pay for her to go to school--if only he could come up with the costly start-up fees. He did what he could and purchased some items and asked the school to delay. He prayed and cried. He knew the TGD team was checking with me and I was considering the sponsors situation (already sponsoring four children!) but he just couldn't make the whole amount. Jane was posted for the Feb Newsletter and immediately we had five responses--one hopeful gift and four full offers. AMAZING! Praise the Lord, Jane will be going to school. It is a wonderful day in her household. Realize that for that home it means they will no longer get the food and supplies that Jane received because all the money will go directly to her education. It shows that they weren't trying to make anything for themselves, but only hoped this young girl would have a real chance in a harsh world. Thank you so much to my many donors who responded. We have a winner donor who gets the joy of fully assisting Jane in her school entry and amazing sponsors backing her up through the year.

The joys of learning...

Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.

Randy Stonehill - Hymn (Music Video)

My hearts cry is shown here in this video. To my beloved family in Kenya. I know you are hurting! I love you! I am with you! Nothing is to be feared with Jesus--endure this world for His Glory! We shall be with Him forever and ever.

Last Days Ministries : Training Your Children For Christ

This brochure was a major tool in raising my children. Parents: What really matters?

What are you training your children to value?

All I can do is post this but even if you read it, the work is in the day to day loving of your children and pointing them to the Lord.

Last Days Ministries : Training Your Children For Christ

Going around paying school fees

Cynthia with the HeadTeacher and her teacher, Little Benjamin of Ituti gets a ride to school with Frank!

Is anything more beautiful?

I think of this song we danced to many years ago....

How Beautiful

and the words were How beautiful is the Body of Christ.

We danced in our white worship Israeli folk dresses which had very full skirts nearly ankle length.

They made beautiful circles flowing around us when we twirled and worshipped our Lord Jesus.

All of the sisters in white, smiling, twirling, a twinkle in our eye, just holding back a laugh of celebration.

It was the Year of Jubilee!

and the pictures here are the expression of that joy. How BEAUTIFUL is the Body of Christ!

Here we are with our youngest brothers and sisters in the Lord. We are only separated by time and space, but we are one in Spirit. More hands and feet (TGD Team) of the Lord provide a tangible expression of the Father's Love to these helpless young children who have done nothing to determine their circumstances. Is it their fault they were born there and is it our merit that we were born here? And yet it has made all the difference. They live in poverty and everywhere around them they can see hopelessness and despair. Everywhere around them they hear of the dying and the sick. And now, someone has come to tell them----"There is someone who is helping you today!" And now, someone has come bearing gifts. And now, they look around and wonder, "How can this be?" and let them praise their God in heaven who has chosen them in His mercy.

I pray the work continue to expand that others feel the joy and the hope that is possible with so little from us but so profound for them. They will never forget this joy. 

Where does Frida go to school?

I see this and I think, "Where does Frida go to school? What kind of school is this?" At least there is wood, I suppose. There are schools in her area. Maybe she needs to go to a better school?

And Benjamin.....same thing. Is he in a mud hut school? Such a sweet cute little boy.

Whoa! Where are you??

United States 31

Netherlands 14
Russia 10
Kenya 8
Germany 7
Sweden 2
Ukraine 2
China 1
Colombia 1
France 1

Here is the page views from my Stats page---how fun is this? Someone in Russia is checking my webpage and someone in Columbia! I bet it is Shelby in China, or maybe someone Jinling or Julie knows? and who is in the Netherlands? I know who is in Germany--and I love you guys! Congrats on the beautiful girl! and France? Who is in France? Welcome all! Thank you for perusing here. All donations are completely appreciated---or as Steve's late father would say, "We're accepting Christmas presents even now." ha ha!

Paul and many others rejoicing today!

PHOTO ALBUM WITH NEW DELIVERIES!!!
http://picasaweb.google.com/stephanietexasrivers/January2011Delivery#

Cut and paste the webpage address above to see many more photos of our precious children!

Wow! a Cow!

Thanks to David and Cyntreva, Sharon's sponsors, who donated a COW!! PRAISE GOD!

Letter from Joseph O. who works for TGD Kenya

This email from Joseph really made me happy. They are doing such an amazing job. Together, we are all doing a great job! We could not do so much for those children without the TGD Team. God is honored.

Stephanie,
The Lord is doing a new thing in Kenya through you and your family. I have had a passion for the children ever since I was a teen, and I now see why. The kind of synchrony the Lord has put between you and the TGD team is creating the whole difference. I was sponsored through my entire high school education by someone never had a chance to meet, through a program known as Save the Children Fund. You might have had about it because it's a global organization, but I just knew it just as that - Save the Children. My sponsor was a Mr. A.O. Finland or something like that. Am telling you all these because all of a sudden I've found myself not only working with orphans in their homes but also at school, like it was today. Seeing these children, as orphans as they are, having an assurance of good life and education, reminds me of my days in school (am not an orphan though for both of my parents are alive).
Facial expressions and lifestyle in general in has changed in the life of these orphans. Smiles, laughter and ululations and celebrations mark every entry in an orphan's home by the TGD crew. You'll see for yourselves when you come over.
That's why each passing day sees me serve with renewed passion in my programming (and now the orphan program) endeavor.
As you change the world, we flank you.
God bless you and your family as you change the world through this noble course.
Regards,
Joseph O.

Still need a sponsor for Silas and Trophosa

Two new girls---FULLY SPONSORED!

Zanaibu

Sharon 2

Lately

Working for TGD has been such a joy this last month. With the orphans getting supplies, I can't express the joy of it. The team members are just loving it, too. What joy to see the faces of these children! My Kenyan team is PUMPED! and I think it is truly fun to just go buy all these great things, important things, and be part of the shopping and giving.

They've made videos and I've favorited some on myYouTube account.

Steve tells me of someone who is interested in doing more for the orphans. I am so excited! I pray I can represent them well.
and I have the great joy of sharing a teaching on Love Languages with a group of moms. and I pray I represent TGD well there, too. I suppose I am most interested in representing Jesus and the eternal value of loving others, however, and TGD promotion takes a back seat.

I am just not a marketing girl. Oh I was so discouraged this summer. Donations went WAY down right when we were in crazy need. It was a humbling time, a low time, a time of waiting and worrying and trying not to worry and worrying a little more and trying not to cry. I was looking in faith at Jesus and I was trusting Him, knowing that time would pass and it would be a memory---SURE ENOUGH! Time has passed and all worked out eventually. We have recovered from the costs and looking back over the year, people were VERY generous. God was really moving on hearts and people were responding and joining Him in this work. What a blessing!

At Christmas, my hands burned with pain. I went to the doctor and he said Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I have had to cut back so much typing! I have not been able to write! and when you are in pain....well....you can't think. But I have been able to cry out to the Lord. Not good prayer but good dependence.

I'm in Houston now, planning my daughter's wedding in July. It's a great joy. What a difference between her life and those in Kenya. Oh I thank the donors for making those children feel like the bride of Christ. Hallelujah!

Prayer that they would return to the Lord

Jeremiah 24:7 I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people and I will be their God if they will return to me with all of their heart.

Before picture

I love these girls. Here is a before picture. Scroll down and see Shaline smiling, smiling. Thanks to sponsors making a difference in their lives. These girls are full orphans. Mary has extended family who don't want to take care of her. The Aunt took the infant child and abandoned Mary. God cares for them just as God cares for us. He hears the cry of the wounded, the lonely, the broken-hearted. He heals, strengthens and redeems. Then He sets us up to give to the world so His Kingdom grows on earth--Hallelujah! God will use these girls mightily to care for others in the future. They shall no longer be called outcast, but Overcoming!

Gladys and Frida rejoice!

303 page views last month on my blog.

Thank you for visiting this blog! Be sure and visit the youtube page on my channel: stephanietexasrivers .
I am so pleased with the progress the TGD Team has made towards supplying the orphan children with plenty of fun stuff!  If you roll the cursor over the photos at the right, you can speed through the slideshow! Give it a try!

Be sure and check my videos with the link at the right

Go to my YouTube account through the "Check out my videos..." link on this page. I've loaded up videos that Frank and Joseph O. made from the TGD Team visits to the orphans. Hallelujah! They've made short clips of most of the children and will be adding on clips to make each child a movie over time. How cool is that? I bet the children will LOVE seeing the result.

Orphans receive supplies and uniforms

Shaline has been one of my sponsored children since I first felt that we should try to help the children in a dependable manner. I brought Todd White, of Austin Stone Community Church, and his wife, Patsy, in January to take photographs of orphans. At that time, we had over 100 children show up and several had parents but all were interested in getting sponsors. I went to Pastor Joseph's church, my favorite, where they had a dancing presentation, scriptures, and plenty of Jesus singing. There he showed me several children who were full orphans, Mary and Shaline being two of them. I went home with Mary on my mind continually because she only smiled when she was dancing. Other than that, she had not smiled at all. And Shaline never smiled.
Now LOOK AT SHALINE! She is radiant!
It is such a wonderful opportunity to give to those who don't have anyone fighting for them. Pastor Joseph had arranged for some widows in the church to take the girls in. I began to support the widows and orphans through the giving of my children, Kevin and Laura, each giving $50 a month and so four girls from that church were supported with $25 a month to their guardian widows. That wasn't enough for all expenses because Mary has some sort of eye allergy that gave her headaches. We investigated her vision first and found it was good. Thankfully, she gets treatment now and doesn't come home missing school. She made progress in school.
Now we have donors for every child, some still at only $25 a month and needing another sponsor, but some have $50 a month! This is a huge amount in Kenya. Not giving a family all they need, but it goes incredibly far there to people who have survived on nearly nothing. Schooling and uniforms are a status symbol to these children and they may be the only ones in their area with a mattress! ( I gave some pillows to our TGD students and they got sore necks because they weren't used to them---but LOVED them anyway! Yay!)

Frank is doing an amazing job leading the team through all the administration and management hurdles and we are all thanking God together. It is a great day of rejoicing and thankfulness in Kenya!

Orphans receive school uniforms

Orphans receive supplies

From: The Berean Daily Verse and Comment

Matthew 5:3


(3) "Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.



New International Version Change Bible versions

The word "poor" has a wide variety of meanings and applications in both testaments. The Old Testament uses five different words from the Hebrew language, while the New Testament uses two from Greek. However, these seven are translated into a large number of English words. Besides describing destitution, they appear in contexts indicating oppression, humility, being defenseless, afflicted, in want, needy, weak, thin, low, dependent, and socially inferior.

Of the two Greek words translated "poor" in the New Testament, penes designates the working poor who own little or no property. People in this state possess little in the way of material goods, but they earn what they have through their daily labor. A form of this word, penechros, describes a poor widow who may be receiving a small subsistence from a relative or social agency. Penes is used only once in the entire New Testament (II Corinthians 9:9), and its cognate, penechros, is used only to indicate the poor widow of Luke 21:2.

This, therefore, is not the word used in the beatitude in Matthew 5:3, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Here, "poor" is translated from ptochos, which literally means "to crouch or cower as one helpless." It signifies the beggar, the pauper, one in abject poverty, totally dependent on others for help and destitute of even the necessities of life. In Galatians 4:9, it is translated "beggarly."

At first "poor" simply indicated to be in material need, to be in poverty. Gradually, its usage spread to other areas besides economics to indicate people in weakness, frailty, feebleness, fragility, dependence, subservience, defenselessness, affliction, and distress. The poor were people who recognized their utter helplessness before what life had dealt them. They recognized that nothing within their power solved their weak state, thus they would eagerly reach out to others for assistance in rising out of their situation, as a beggar would.

Eventually, the word took on spiritual overtones because some began to perceive that these afflicted people often had no refuge but God. Thus David, a person we would not consider as defenseless, nonetheless says of himself in a situation where he felt only God could deliver him, "This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles" (Psalm 34:6).

To grasp how Jesus uses "poor" in this beatitude, we must contemplate the mind of a person who finds himself in poverty. One who recognizes his poverty takes the necessary steps to be poor no longer. He may seek advice on how to resolve his dilemma, get or change jobs, curtail spending to only necessary items, pay off his debts, and/or get rid of financially draining liabilities. In other words, he tries to change his circumstances. God wants His children to have this recognition of poverty regarding true spiritual things, and possess the drive to seek their enrichment from Him.



John W. Ritenbaugh

From The Beatitudes, Part Two: Poor in Spirit

ORPHANS!

I am so happy! Today my team has withdrawn the cash to begin distribution to the children. What celebration there will be! The children have $100 worth of things coming---They probably cannot even imagine what is in store for them! THANK YOU DONORS!! Feel the joy of it!

We started gathering donations in August. My hope was to have at least $200 to begin setting up the children in the Trinity House. Now we have returned to home based care---which is just a better option. The TGD Team is finding the homes of the children through God's grace and their diligence. We had Pastor Joseph working with the children, but with his mother's illness, a new baby on top of Cornerstone leadership, his own church to pastor and leading a small school of 85 children who would otherwise receive no education, He resigned. We praise God that the program did not need to stop there.

Of course, if we do not have good accounting and accountability or if we lack good management, we will discontinue the program, but the TGD leadership team has pledged to do what it takes and with Frank as the new leader, we have already seen amazing changes in industriousness, receptivity, communication, creativity, and production. Praise God! May His Kingdom come and His will be done!

Frank has sent new profile photos of the children with their guardians. He is getting numbers to reach them. The TGD students will be assigned to be a Big Brother/Big Sister to orphans that live in their vicinity. Plus, the computer students are brainstorming software solutions to managing the orphan program. I know they will develop creative solutions that enable greater productivity and management! Everyone working together is going to bring out the best in All.

It's a New day, it's a Good day, and God is doing a NEW THING!

You are making dreams come true. Sit back and meditate on the role God has given you in this joy. Hallelujah!

The Herald Angels sing GLORY to the newborn King!

December Newsletter

We are updating the Orphan Program for the sake of the children. Keep up with the latest by checking the blog:  http://www.texasrivers.blogspot.com/

**SCROLL DOWN FOR CURRENT INFORMATION ON ORPHAN PROGRAM**

We have cancelled the Clinic Program- Check out  http://www.tgdonline.com/  for the latest news on local health programs.

With the help of Mickey and Otis Stanley and their research into the medical community in the area, we could see that the BEST BENEFIT to the community would be sharing the medical equipment with three primary providers: Dr. Kennedy’s Iguhu Hospital, Dr. Ayub’s local clinic up the hill from Cornerstone, and Pastor Juma’s local maternity clinic. The area health providers received an early joyous Christmas blessing!

With tremendous help from the TGD Team and the Students, we sorted, re-packed, loaded, and delivered the precious cargo from Medical Bridges and Austin Samaritans and YOU!

We cannot even imagine how wonderful medical supplies appear in the eyes of our friends in Kenya! They were rejoicing! They were thankful! It was a wonderful time of sharing and serving the Lord together.

TGD Building: We are turning the building over to Titus to share with us as his school expands to more classrooms to meet the needs of children up to 8th grade. When the building is completed, we will move the computers into one side of the facility to create the public computer lab for the area high school students. We have set up two different locations of computer rooms for our TGD student programmers who are enthusiastically able to work on ONE computer PER PERSON rather than one computer per CLASS. HOORAY!!!!! Thank you so much for making these dreams come true!! To see their joyful faces as they set things up and looked around--it was priceless. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. How Wonderful!

I am sharing with you what we do ( I do not fundraise specifically) and pray the Lord puts it on your heart to give. In our country this season, everyone is asking you to give and I urge you to consider---How great are the needs you are giving to? Who gets your money? How much of your donation reaches the one in need? www.TGDonline.com We give 100% of your donation to people or projects. We bear all the U.S. administration costs and we provide JOBS in Kenya for the administration there.

You are changing the community through your giving! THANK YOU FOR GIVING GENEROUSLY!!
http://www.tgdonline.com/

Shaline

ORPHAN PROGRAM UPDATES

In the interest of the wisest use of US dollars, I have changed BACK AGAIN to our original plan of keeping the children in their current home for orphan support. There are a couple of children who really need a better environment (Ben, Noel, and Cynthia) and we will see what we can do to relocate those, but usually relocation is stressful to children-even in the best situations.




As I moved towards establishing a home, the government role loomed. We had so much difficulty with the NGO process even though we experienced no corruption there. Everything they did was straightforward, but they put us through the ringer. BUT we had so much difficulty with the Port process on the container that we know we never want to do that again. Definitely some corruption there and little we could do about it. Our TGD Team got the runaround at the port and there were numerous delays that the port created and then charged us for. Bad system. Sad for the citizens who lose global investors.



Therefore, in the interests of the children, we are serving them in the home. I went to Kenya prepared to set up a system of accountability to my team who probably chaff under my intensity, but they understand they live in a corrupt society and they know we are trying to minister to God, the orphans and the donors with integrity.



I warn my donors that I will stop this program at any time if we cannot be sure of the children receiving the direct benefit of the money sent to them.



Yes, the children will lose out. Please remember that we cannot save everyone but we are doing all we can. We are not going to participate with corruption if it shows up in our ranks. We are not going to continue a program just because we started it. We are not going to have a non-profit so that I can feel like I’m doing something good in the world. NO! We will either do good, or we will stop. If we need to stop at any time, I will return all unused money to each donor.



However, if this program does an excellent job of getting aid to these children, we will expand with more children and hire more people to administrate in Kenya. There are so many orphans suffering. There is so much need. Children just cannot help themselves in the way a healthy adult can create opportunities. We are all praying to prosper these children and lead them into life everlasting. Thank you for your support of the neediest!



Also, as we begin, we could have a few fits and starts and burps. The hardest is the bulk buying that the monthly assistance entails. It will likely be harder than they think and I realize that we may have to adjust some things. According to each child’s school fees, we may be able to lower some children’s monthly donations. Some children will not need as much and I will be communicating this with you personally.

Steve Rivers!

Well, I stuck this one on here for fun!
I have written for my blog but I cannot get online with my computer since I am in San Francisco with Steve--so I am on his computer and on Friday I will send out a newsletter and update the website http://www.tgdonline.com/

Anita is in KENYA!! She and Ed have visited Harrison. Harrison recently built a home for his family with over $40,000 USD donated through an Illinois church (Little Chapel) home group that sponsored him! wow!! They still have not moved into the big lovely house. I am eager to see the pictures!

We still need money to complete our wonderful Trinity building which will house the community computer lab. We have our teachers ready and even our wonderful students could be sponsored as teachers. When we get the lab finished, you can sponsor a JOB for a young person working in the computer lab. It is a great joy to them! TODAY, you can help the community by donating to the building! Give $25 today online at http://www.tgdonline.com/ and give people SKILLS for the 21st century.

For Christmas, please consider donating so that we could give SOAP. I don't have an official plan yet, but we need to promote handwashing and we can do it by giving away soap and pairing it with a public health message of sickness prevention and health promotion! We'd also like to give LOCAL BRANDS of aspirin and tylenol. Toothpaste and toothbrushes and feminine products to high school girls. Let me know if you are interested in that. We've given away plenty of these products and they are so warmly and thankfully received! thank you to all of you who have given, even from the very beginning. Your gifts of 25, 30, and 40 dollars have gone so far and helped so many people.

Nicole and the little neighbor puppy.

I was working in the TGD building early one morning and came out to see this little puppy wandering in the front gate. Now that seems like a prescription for disaster. How the heck would the little guy find his way BACK OUT? He wandered over to where I was working and took a liking to Catherine, our TGD Team Computer Teacher. I had her come over to me so I could get my hands on the little flea bitten cutie. OH PRECIOUS! I love animals and Kenya is full of them. A puppy is an American regular, but no less adorable. Nicole was very unsure and a bit frightened. Sasha wants NOTHING to do with dogs she does not know. She screamed bloody murder until we got that puppy away from her. I sat down on the ground near precious and began to just love and pet the little girl, I think it was.  It went nipping at little Precious' socks and nipping at my hand. I laid it on my lap where Precious watched with interest. After a while, I knew I had to get back to what I had been doing but I hated to leave the puppy. I asked Everline and she knew that it had come up the road. I hoped that meant someone would make sure it got back to its home! But I backed away and headed into the church. I think I came back just a couple of chores later to find Nicole was breaking up some leftover Ugali and feeding a ravenous little puppy. Clearly she had warmed to the little thing and was so sweet! I came over and praised her and got a picture. She seemed almost embarrassed and ran off self-consciously, but not before I got a couple of shots with her and the puppy. I like this one best. No, she did not kick it in the head on her exit! It just looks that way.

TGD Product Promotion!

I already raved about body wipes from REI from Adventure Medical Kits called FRESH WIPES (4.95 for 8 giant sheets--a bargain)

But I've got to add Cliff Bars Mojo Mountain Mix bars which really traveled well and tasted delicious every time. Chris and Tracy Leon gave me some miniature ones that were perfect. THANKS! You need to try them, too.

and SECRET Clinical Strength Deodorant. WOW!! When I'm in Kenya, it is sweat, dry, sweat, dry, sweat, dry. By the end of the day, I am NOT going to wear that dress again (or top.) Nope. Not doing it. Although it is not a big deal to go around smelling quite strongly in Kenya, I just can't seem to be okay with it. I continue to hold onto my American idea that body odor is a big no-no. Secret really helps here. This is some serious stuff. YES, the aluminum might give you alzhiemers a little early, but hey, you'll be smelling SWEET. This is a serious part of my Kenya trip arsenal. Take note, future travelers, and grab yourself one on your way.

Mickey, Titus, & Otis headed to Masai Mara and moms with bras! :-)

BOOK LIST

Here are some good books to read this winter and get the feel of Kenya. Amazon.com can help ya:

An Imperfect Offering: Humanitarian Action for the Twenty-First Century -James Orbinski. This is a great book by a past president of Doctors without Borders. I love those folks! It actually talks most about Rwanda, but you get the feel for the continent here.

Six months in Sudan: A young doctor in a war-torn village. by James Maskalyk. Another one not specific to Kenya but wow, so moving.

Don't let's go to the dogs tonight: An African childhood by Alexandra Fuller. My Dad's girlfriend (whom I adore) told me this is her favorite book. It was intense! This girl had parents who neglected her but she has no bitterness but really tells how it went. It is an emotional look at Africa.

God grew tired of us: A memoir. by John Bul Dau. A story of Sudan. This was one of my early reads and I really enjoyed it. The pain in Africa is so real and felt by so many. It gives you a window into their world.

A long way gone: Memoirs of a boy soldier. by Ishmael Beah. These stories STINK! I mean, the stuff these guys go through. All their family killed. The horror of it. Where to go. Getting drugged and learning brutality when dragged into an army. It's horrible. it's real for many boys. It ruins people.

Tick Bite Fever by David Bennun. You know, when you are on those 24 hour flights to Kenya, you gotta read something. I'm not a movie girl and somehow I cannot focus on the Bible on the plane. :-( but this book was a delightfully humorous look at life in Africa through the eyes of a young white kid who seems heck bent on injury. It was funny.

A Primate's Memoir: Love, Death and Baboons in East Africa by Robert Sapolsky. This is a very irreverent book that makes me chortle out loud. Steve and I have read portions to each other like when we were driving to Houston for Thanksgiving and I began the book. Then I had him read me some as I was falling asleep (I go to sleep at 8pm--yeah! wake at five am FULLY RESTED-whoa!)

ha ha I just posted this video because I was trying to get a different one on here