Cape Cod

Driving home from Cape Cod took a miserable 8 hours, but I added three states and learned our Port Jefferson ferry system to Connecticut. Steve says he wants to see Boston and walk the Freedom Trail, but he really likes to stay home. We'll see!
Did my first Northeastern beaches experience. As a good American, I intend to buy some beach chairs, an umbrella and a special beach cart for all the stuff. With an umbrella, I can sit in the SHADE!! The waves came spilling onto the sand, making me happy.
Thanks to Anne and Sheila for letting me come up and stay in their little beach house! We were so close to the beach we just crossed the street. We stayed in South Yarmouth at The Village Green Hotel which did not have air conditioning but it wasn't needed. Especially for me. I wore a jacket as the gray skies and soft winds chilled me easily. Our main day had a nice sun after 12 noon as the temperature approached 80. I was able to be in a swimsuit and a sarong without socks or a blanket.
THE UMBRELLA REALLY MAKES IT FOR ME!
I'm really into the umbrella.
and my friends!
New friend, Anne, from Boston. Anne loves swimming in the sea. She waded out to some rough waves and would leap up as the waved tried to crash over her and then she'd bob out there until the next one formed. She's an extrovert and told me all about the people at the beach whom she had met on her first day there (I came that evening.) We had so much fun! I plan to vist her when (if) we go to the freedom trail and she will visit me when she comes to Long Island with a friend in September. SOMETHING GREAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO!
It was great to see Sheila! I have invited her to join me on my China trip with Jianwen on October 10-20th. An easy travel companion, Sheila says you don't have to ask her a few questions: Does she like that food? (She likes all foods.) Does she want to eat? (She always wants to eat.) and does she want to stop at the bathroom? (yes, thank you.)
We can talk all day about Kenya, world travel, Jesus, God's Word, food, people in general. Sheila is an extrovert, too, so it was good to know I was with two extroverts who always think the more the merrier! (Introverts could have felt imposed upon.)
We talked about laughing. That was funny! and we laughed. That's always fun. It made me wish I was as fun as Brenda Metzner and Debbie Booher. Those women make me LAUGH! I like to imagine myself with Brenda, Debbie, and Christa Horst.
Christa is so fun because she will get up and sing spontaneously--she will sing AND dance! And she is an easy laugher. (is that a word?) So imagine Brenda (she makes me laugh so hard my cheeks burn from muscle fatigue,) being so clever (I don't know how she does it) and Debbie and I--well, i don't even know what we talk about that makes us laugh hysterically because we might also cry from emotional pain during that same visit! (so that's fun because, hey, you get the whole range of emotion in less than 3 hours.) And imagine Christa there. Well, I think if you gave us each a glass of wine (which we never need to get a high octane high! double high! add something extra and you go to the moon!) we might die from laughing. Seems like an amazing way to go, yeah?
So I loved being with Anne and Sheila. I don't know what we were laughing about, but we were playing Mexican Trains (Camilla taught me that one!) and I was so happy to be there that I just got loud and forgot that the windows were open in our tiny cabin, but then it was funny so I yelled out the window. Just a happy yell. Thanks, friends! :-)
We were at South Yarmouth but drove up to a beach closer to the tip (the pilgrims first landed on the tip.) We went to Coast Guard Beach just past Salt Point somethingrather. The waves were big there. Sheila did a beach walk because she is a adventure missionary and she's got to keep burning those calories (since she loves eating!) and she has to stay strong. We went back to the beach close to the hotel later because we could go so quickly without having much with us and the walk from the street to the waves was short. I liked that! I'm not too good walking in the sand! But I tried sprinting on the sand--MUCH BETTER but I really got winded. whew. work.
We watched people parasail (how do you spell that?) and we saw the cutest little seal or seals. He would pop his little head up and watch some surfers. cute cute. We prayed as we talked (Thanks, Anne!) We drove by cute houses.
The Cape Cod style was everywhere, duh. But I have those shingles on the back of my house and they aren't my fave, until now. I really liked seeing the Cape Cod style in so many forms and so often and realized that it was a cultural distinction, which made me really appreciate it more. I see the beauty now.
Lastly, when I drove home, there were bottlenecks everywhere. Traffic was as slow as elderly snails on a death march (against their will!) what could have taken three hours, took six. Then include the ferry to Long Island and the drive from the North Shore to the South Shore--it took eight hours. oooooooh. But I am thankful for it. And although driving through Port Jefferson was familiar, it was also very dark, curvy and lacking good lighting making me remain hypervigilent to the driving conditions as I navigated my way to.......................NICHOLS ROAD!
MY FAVORITE FAMILIAR ROADWAY.
I drive from South Shore to the Northern portion of the island at least three times a week as I go to Whole Foods (45 min drive and I often go to the bank to deposit TGD donations THANK YOU!!) so I love love loved loved loved thankfully loved being on a familiar road. FAMILIARITY WAS NEVER SO BEAUTIFUL IN MY LIFE AS IT IS RIGHT NOW!
ahhhhhh.

you have no idea how much time you save by knowing where you are going.
plus, as you go, you can relax and think of other things.
not me.
but okay.
God knows where I am supposed to be and I love Him.
I'm thankful to have been here six months now and actually have a couple of pathways that are mine.
yay!

and it was SOOOO GOOD to hang out with women and talk. and talk. and talk. and talk. and talk.
ahhhhhh.

Thank you, Jesus!

Thank you, Sheila and Anne!

Thank you, Steve, for letting me go!

I loved it!

The joy of monthly caring THANK YOU!

Zainabu: I could not get her photo to her sponsor, Jody Williams. I couldn't even post it to her facebook! But praise God that Zainabu's life is so much improved. She is having emotional difficulty and physical illness and is alone in this world. Having someone reach out and care for her is such a blessing. Even the personal visits from the team can really let her know God sees her and she is not alone.

I just love Valerie's smile! Thanks to Sarah for supporting this young lady. She is a precious soul and a smart girl and I expect great things from her!

Remembering the extra blessing

I just had to repost. I was asking Christa: "What else did you get the sponsored children?" and she wrote with a list for these pictured children.

Yvonne got a mattress, sheets, blanket, lantern, pens, pencils, paper, erasers, books, toy, water tub, washtub, cups, bowl, toothbrushes, toothpaste, vaseline.

Asman received the same as Yvonne

I was so happy to remember going to these homes! We drove around our part of the countryside passing out delight! I blogged about my peak life moment at Beverlyne's home. (Thank You, Jesus!) and I just wanted to express again the joy and delight of giving.

Thanks to our Kenyan team who works day in and day out with our children and community. They also love the giving and participating with God in the blessing! Thank you to our donors who keep the whole machine going by the Grace of God in their lives and through their abundance of generosity.

I was sending a note to the sponsor to these children: Darla Partridge. She lives in Illinois and is not online so she never sees my usual reports, emails, blogs, facebook posts, webpages (www.TGDonline.com and now www.TGDKenya.com ) or newsletters. I just write her a few lines and add a few photos like the above--and they are just printed out on regular paper (cheapo, I know.)
But thank God she is helping because Asman's guardian, his grandfather, was down with Typhoid. Our team took him to the doctor, got his test results and got him needed medication. Pray with us for Nelson, Asman's grandfather, to recover as he is the only one to care for Asman. We need him! Asman needs him!

You may remember that Grace and Everlyne (Everline?) lost their grandfather right after he witnessed the joy of seeing them accepted into the program. I think he was just holding on for them. Now their aunt has them, but she also has other children AND her son Shadrach has muscular dystrophy. Shaddy is a complete invalid plus the uncle has a huge tumor on his head plus some mental disturbance. The family suffers but the support of these bright girls makes all the difference in the world. God is praised!

So we really pray God protect the lives of the guardians and parents to these children. May they receive provision, health, salvation, deliverance, and joy in every area of life. Life is not money and Jesus even said it is not food or clothes! But we know we all have basic needs and we must have good relationships along with air and water. We pray for the families and homes these children live in that they would be strengthened in the basics and that a firm foundation would go up in their lives so that God could shine through and allow them to become a blessing to those around them, in Jesus name.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

Rivers Clinic

Please give generously or even miserly(!) so that projects, like the Rivers Community Clinic, can expand. This isolated clinic needs test equipment and always always always-antibiotics! and more than that perhaps, Antimalarials. This community is trying to care for the sick and let us support them in every way we can. We have so much available at our grocery stores! Send money so they can have ibuprofen and tylenol. They need antifungals. You can send a check or use the online paypal (which does have fees.) Every dollar you donate goes to Kenya. There are no fundraisers, no administrative costs, no American salaries taken out of your giving. Every bit goes to Kenya and we cover all the operating costs AND give you a tax receipt! You can even GO WITH US! We welcome you and your future friends of Kenya welcome you. If I can go, anyone can go! We have had several elderly guests--so what is stopping you? If you cannot go, please give. Your charitable dollars go FARTHER in Kenya than any dollar in the USA. People live on $30 a month in Kenya (but not very well, so be generous if you can afford a little less over here.)
What does it gain us to gain the whole world but lose our soul? The next life will have greater rewards, so put your treasure in the hand of God. I thank you deeply! For many of you have given so generously that God has been glorified tremendously and lives have been saved, in the natural and in the eternal. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Kevin Madahana's story

KEVIN MADAHANA

1.      PERSONAL LIFE STORY

2.      TGD BUILDING

3.      FUTURE PARTICIPATION IN TGD PROJECTS

4.      IMMPROVEMENT ON TGD BUILDING

5.      HOW TGD HAS CHANGED ME

6.      CHALLENGES AND SOLUTION

7.      IMPORTANCE OF THE TRAINING (COMPUTER)

8.      PART TIME ACTIVITIES

PERSONAL LIFE

I was born on 7^th April, 1986 as a second born soul to the late Mr. Kennedy Obiero (God rest his soul in peace) and Mama Margret Musimbi. My elder brother Felix had been born three years earlier. At a tender age of only two months, my parents broke up (as am told by my grand mum.)

Our grandparents had to pick up our daily care and they brought us up. My grandmother was a local nursery teacher and cared for me just as her own son when I was her son’s son. Felix, being two years, spent the day playing with other children in the neighborhood.

Our grandparents struggled to bring me up. They fed me on milk from the local breed of animals in the homestead. I believe that it takes the hand of the Almighty God for the hopeless in society to grow up and survive from the hard times to date. I thank God for helping my grandparents bring me up.

To my readers, God uplifts the humble and I survived to join school. Our grandparents paid for our early schooling fees. In lower primary, father’s brother Abel paid for our fees and we were never sent home.

With God’s guidance I sat for my Kenya primary school exams in 2001 and was ranked the 4^th in a class of 36 pupils and 13^th in the division. I was selected to join a reputable high school in the province. My grandparents and uncle came up together with the other family members and rewarded me a chance of a lifetime to join high school.

I’d love to write more about my personal life but I may get my readers emotions rolling! Bear with me. After high school I was only 17 years old. At the early age of 18 years, I began a specialization in Range Management and Animal Production from the University of Nairobi’s lower Kabete campus. Truly it has taken the hand of God for all this to happen. Thanks to my guardians’ big hearts.

The journey at campus was full of challenges, but God’s grace was at hand. He helped me make it through. At a tender age of 22 years, I graduated from college at Lower Kabete in style. The struggle and the results were dedicated to my grandmother and my father, my educator Abel and all those who made my ends meet. God bless them. Right now, I work as a freelance veterinary doctor in my area and I thank God for his endless mercy and gift of life.

Trinity Global Development Building

The TGD building is located at Shibuli in Kakamega County, Western Province of Kenya. Ever since the construction started up to where it stands, it has taken the hand of God. In first place, I’d love to thank the donors for the support to ensure that the construction is complete and under use for the prosperity of community.

At first, it is the youth employment opportunities that our youth are getting from the activities at the site. My friends work at the construction site and they earn their daily bread from the TGD building. Instead of having to engage in drugs and criminal activities as part time, many of the boys spend their day at the construction site. Once again, thanks to the Trinity Global Development Community.

Secondly, the rooms already under use on the first floor of the TGD building have proved important for the youth of the area. It hosts about one hundred boys and girls (youth) who are undertaking a computer course courtesy of TGD at the same building site. Then the teachers who teach the students are members of the community, hence TGD has helped to create jobs for the guys and they work in the TGD building

To our sponsors, I want to say thank you for your kids hear you are struggling to improve our lives, though you are far away. You came to our rescue and we love your work. May God the Almighty bless you. So my question is, if the TGD building is providing so many chances of jobs and education to many people in the local community when it is still in its initial stages of constructions, what of when the whole work of building construction will be over? May God always bless the TGD community –we love you. There are so many things I’d love to write about your amazing hearts but maybe I cannot. Let me just say THANK you.

FUTURE PARTICIPATION IN TGD PROJECTS

 I want to take this time to make a few proposals of the things I’d love incorporated into the TGD projects which will be housed under the buildings which I hope will be completed. Apart from housing the computer training students, the following can be put into consideration.

1.      COUNSELING CENTER: One of the rooms under the TGD building should be turned into a counseling place for the many couples who may break-up due to family conflicts. This will help to reduce failed marriages and improve young relationships thus helping to diminish the rate of orphans or single parents in the local community. This will also help create jobs for the social counselors and sociologists.

2.      ANIMAL PRODUCTION RESOURCE CENTER: This center will provide our potential farmers with the necessary information for improving their stock and thus improving their lives. Famers go long distances looking for animal production officers and most of them give up. This leads to un-motivation which causes losses for the famer. A resource center could provide advice on dairy, beef, drugs, care and pasture management for the farmers. They will also get the knowledge of dogs and Rabies. Dog bites are rampant in this zone.

3.      SPORTS CENTER: Football (soccer) is considered the world’s leading tourist attraction sport. Most boys and girls struggle hard to learn it even if they lack the talent because it is the only available sport at their disposal. Adding other additional games will teach our children of the potential in the world other than just football. Think of scrabble games which help our children improve their English language. Then there are indoor games like table tennis, chess, lawn tennis and badminton. If our children’s minds are broadened in this perspective, then they can always learn to work hard for a living. This resource center will be important for facilitating this.

4.      VCT CENTER: This will help the youth know their AIDS status and help fight the HIV pandemic currently wrecking havoc throughout the country.

5.      EDUCATIONAL CENTERS: I pray other rooms be dedicated to other types of knowledge and education. There should be more courses offered to the local community through the TGD building since its evident that knowledge is power and everybody would love to learn and get knowledge but the lack of institutions that are affordable kills the dream. God, thank you for the TGD Community.

IMPROVEMENT OF THE TGD BUILDING:

So far so good for the TGD community in helping improve our lives. This building under their umbrella organization has the potential to shine when it is complete. The building stands out as modest in the area and I would love to see it completed and being put into use. It is designed well and actually, the best, as from its outlook. I’d just urge the donors to keep up its funding since it is better and, once it is complete, it will be the best. Thank you to our donors for designing the building for us. God bless you.

HOW TGD HAS IMPROVED MY LIFE

 I first thought that life is so discouraging for me. I used to see my friends go out to town to take their Information Technology course. They were paying such high fees that I could not raise them and pay. There was nobody to raise that kind of amount for me to pay for computer training.

When I heard about the TGD training program, I could not afford to lose that chance of life time! I knew the knowledge  I had was incomplete without the computer knowledge Everything is going the IT way. Ever since I joined the TGD program, I have come to know so many things, especially about the computer world. I have learned to type, store, paste and make changes to tests. I have learned about the function formulas and other good ventures about computers. I am not the same as I was last year. The TGD program has opened my eyes and shown me that there are still more things I need to learn in this life. Personally, the knowledge I‘ve attained from TGD is the only change I have passion for. Also, the friends I have met due to the program! I cannot leave it out. I must say that, too, has changed my life. Keep on the good work.

ODDS

On 8^th may, 2012, my dad passed on at around 12:30PM. The night before, I spent a sleepless night as I saw him writhe in pain. I could not afford to wish for a good health for him but God’s time for him had come. May God rest his soul in peace.

This stands out as the greatest challenge. Since joining the TGD community as a student, I had to halt my studies for about four weeks as I took care of my sick dad until the day he died. Another week was spent on the funeral and burial ceremonies. This was my toughest time and I could not smile or celebrate since I was a loser. In fact, a double loser because I had missed my lessons for a month and I had lost my dad whom I was working to save.

God is usually faithful and thanks to the entire TGD family and classmates who prayed for me and I felt like the burden was no longer on my head .The way I beat this challenge, I rest it upon my colleagues at TGD who prayed hard for me and our family. Thanks to my friends at TGD who stood by me till even after I came back. They showed me all that I had missed while I was away. God bless you all. This stands out as my greatest challenge but God is faithful and always graceful.

IMPORTANCE OF COMPUTER TRAINING

The basic importance of the TGD training program is the knowledge it has provided amongst the youth of our community. I can now go to town and enter a cyber café and start logging into a computer on my own without the support of the attendants. The program at TGD has given me the SLELF CONFIDENCE. I look to the training with gladness. The training has given me a sense of belonging, especially amongst my friends who had already undertaken the training somewhere. Thank you for the opportunity you gave to me.

PART TIME ACTIVITIES

I love sporting. I play football with my local club Mzalendo. I play in the mid-field position. I also love scrabble games, table-tennis and chess because they are enjoyable, though not locally available. When I get a chance to play, I always work hard to perfect my skills. But because football is locally available, I play more of it.

    I also love animals. When am free I always visit the farm unit just to see how the animals are faring on…whether there is any animal that needs treatment or if they are well fed. Most of my part time I actually spent with the animals perfecting my profession.

July in Kenya THANKS TO YOU!

Here I see Derrick teaching Fredrick and Cynthia and Zainabu. Ben is in the background. Thanks to your ongoing support, Derrick rose up as a student and is now an employee and a teacher. His monthly salary helps him provide for his two small children, wife and his mother. Keep up the good work, Derrick!

Erick is on our visitation team. He works closely with the guardians to be sure the children's school fees are up to date and they have all they need for school.

Jack is handing out food (I think!) to Gladys' mother. All the guardians, the team and the children take bread together each month as they gather together for God's blessing.

Henry, Joseph, and Frank take some time with guardians each month to update them and encourage them. They are a fantastic team!

Judith teaches the children computers. We want our young ones exposed to the new technology even though they come from small villages and live in mud huts. Though their school may not have electricity, they are in charge of the future! God is preparing them well.

Oh we love Beverlyne and her mom--what a great time they had when Christa came and brought gifts for every child in the giant family! Blessed Blessed Blessed!

AHG! Shaline is drinking a Coke. Okay, it is a horrendous nutritional choice and we usually provide juice, but the children really do see a Coke as a special joy. Let's hope the team reviewed toothbrushing! But we know Shaline felt a bit peppy that day! :-)

David's story: A community computer student

DAVID SETH MURUNGA

PERSONAL LIFE STORY, EXPERIENCE AND ENCOUNTER

I was born in Nakuru one of the towns in Kenya within the rift valley province in Kenya. Due to lack of capital and basic needs our family shifted and came to our rural home in Kakamega residing in Shibuli within Kakamega County.

Moreover, I was raised in a poor environment whereby my parents couldn’t afford to get money for my siblings and I to go to school. During school holidays, it forced our family to go and work for people in our farms so that our parents could afford to take us to school and get the basic education. I grew up in problems and encounters, getting school uniforms, sometimes when sent home to go and repair toned school uniforms, my parents couldn’t afford to get money so as I could repair my toned school uniforms. My parents worked hard to make siblings and I with the little they had for us to be educated.

Furthermore, it reached a time I became hopeless in learning. My parents did their best to make sure that I learn but their wish ended in vain. I thought my parents had no money because my siblings who are elderly had been educated. Sometimes when sat alone, I could cry a lot of tears of sorrow rolling down my cheeks. I decided to engage in drugs especially when I was in high school. Engaging in bad company made my life to mess even the school results slowing down. I became so drunkard especially when I could visit my dad in Nakuru where he was working to get our daily bread. A group of spoilt boys spoilt my life, I smoked cigarette, bhang and also drank illicit brew. My comrades convinced me and told me that my life could become comfortable if I become an addict because they knew we were very poor.

My life continued, my parents worked very hard to make my life at home, at school and our environment is good. Due to my mess in my life, my mother who by that time was a born again Christian did her time best to change my life but it all ended in vain. I thought all was my end of life. One day when I had gone to visit my dad at Nakuru I attended a crusade in Afraha Stadium, it was during school holidays and I was in form two. I had not done end term exams because of school fees. As the preacher was preaching, it touched my heart whereby by that day, I became saved. I decided to change my life from addiction of drugs. Changing my life and accepting Jesus as my personal savior opened the doors for my life especially education. I started performing very well at school despite the amazing miracles God did for my life and still yet God is working on my life.

Moreover, when sometimes I could go home for school fees, I still had passion and prayed a lot. I completed my high school education in troubles. I didn’t believe myself but God worked with my life. I didn’t know I would reach that level but by grace the doors were opened for my life.

After completing my high school education, I still continued with serving the lord, working with my fellow youth at our church teaching others on the ways of salvation. I also help my parents at home do agriculture because I know for now they don’t have capital to take me to continue with education or search for a job. Due to the introduction of TGD in our village Shibuli, I do appreciate a lot because I know is working and God answered my parents especially enabling the community to be with complete computer knowledge. I also thank our Bishop Titus and mother Stephanie who is our sponsor.

TGD has enabled us to have knowledge in computer. I’ve learned more about computer global knowledge, the spread of internet, Facebook and also introduction to computers in our community. TGD has enabled me know how you can make work easier using computer by saving your work, communicating through the internet. Working calculations using excel programme by saving it to make work advance.

Furthermore, the orphan program done by TGD is becoming a great benefit to the society. Many people who are orphans are getting encouraged by getting food and school support programs. Spiritual encouragement during TGD meetings motivates my courage. My faith in TGD is becoming a reality by the facts the TGD people are doing in our society to educate people get support through support programs like that of orphans.

It is my wish the TGD building be completed. I believe the lives of people are going to be great if they’re going to have introduction of health facilities like dispensaries, libraries, bible school and community based programs on educating people on the dangers of HIV/AIDS, its prevention and handle of such people infected. The community is going to be blessed if many people who don’t have money to attend schools and colleges going to be educated.

TGD being one of the best institutions in our community, I would wish it also have its own bus whereby transport will be easy when people want to go and educate other people from another community around our locality. Introduction of cinemas in conjunction with the cornerstone church using projectors by educating people the importance of salvation, education on the dangers of drug addiction and sexual abuse going to help many people get education if TGD staff  going to do that. My desire is TGD to bring changes.

The problems we students are experiencing is incomplete toilets, lack of roof in our TGD building. If the building is complete it will provide a stable environment for learning of students. The second floor going to be a benefit if the introduction of libraries, bible school and community based hall for learning. The building should have a roof because when it is raining students face difficulties due to leakage of water, uncompleted window panes, cold when it’s raining heavily during lesson attendance especially during evening lessons.

When the TGD building is going to be completed, it will provide a good environment for learning and teaching staff. I am glad to be a student at TGD. I do pray for our sponsors, God to uplift them so that they continue with their good work. Thank you mother Stephanie, may God uplift your work and vision. God bless all our sponsors. TGD go, go TGD.

A caption picture showing David doing what he loves doing most. Rearing fish on his fish pond.
David Seth Murunga A TGD Student.

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Glory to Jesus, as He has allowed us all to participate in Beverlyn's joy.

Joseph sent me an email. I pause to reflect on how many people participate in the Lord's work towards this family. God made it all happen. Pastor Ed and Titus began a relationship that led to me and Anita going to Kenya. My husband saw the work of God and wanted to join God in what He was doing there. Walter was with us leading in the beginning. Frank has come along as a brilliant administrator able to handle the complexities of the ministry. Joseph responded to God's prompting to rescue this girl from the streets. Sara chose Beverlyn to bless through sponsorship. Christa came and chose to use donations from SO MANY PEOPLE and bless the whole family. It is not something we have done at any other time and imagine the impact to Beverlyn knowing that she was chosen and now her whole family was blessed by her connections to the program. The Trinity Kenya team assesses Beverlyn, connects with her school, and visits her home. Her school has been blessed to see a needy child come into the school with sponsorship and with a team that cares about her wellbeing. David photographs and sends them by email. The whole team purchases and disperses and measures her height, weight, wellness. The whole team cooks for her and serves the family and provides entertainment and team building activities among the children. Can you see God's glory in this towards one little girl? Can you see how God has wrapped His arms around her? And look at what He is building in her. Read this email from Joseph.....


Am not used to receiving calls from teachers of our sponsored children. It's even more unusual when it comes in over the weekend.

So you can imagine how I reacted when my phone rang and looking at the screen, it was Madam Rosebella of Injira Primary School. Injira is the name of the school that Beverlyn goes too. Rosebella is her caring and motherly class teacher.

I received the phone with apprehension, expecting some 'cold news', of course. Distress calls are what we are used to, especially when our sponsored children are either seriously sick, admitted in hospital or about to be sent home for fees. So you now know why I frowned when I saw the caller ID especially on a Saturday.

"I'm calling to inform you that Beverlyn topped her class in the just ended mid-term exam. She got 847 marks out of 1100. The second was a boy with 795 marks...." Now, at this point, I lost most my composure. "I must be dreaming," I thought aloud. "Madam, you've made my weekend, thank you so much for your input in Beverlyn's life. God bless you..." I found myself repeating those words. "Have a blessed weekend," were her last words and she hang up.

Six months ago this young girl was soaked in the rain, selling sugar canes on Kakamega streets. These young Position One brains were wasting away bargaining sugar-cane prices in the market. Now, here she is, pursuing her dreams. What a joy, what a blessing. From the street to position 1 in a class of 80+ pupils, 65% of them being boys. She beat ALL boys in her class! What??? Yes.

No doubt, you are part and parcel of this achievement. You are the reason for this celebration. You have changed a life. Just imagine the kind of impact you've made in the life of this young girl. Your efforts are not in vain. Thank you for giving love, hope and a future in Beverlyn's life.

Be blessed.

Regards,

Joseph Omuto.      

Give a cup of water to a small child.....

Do you love giving? My donors LOVE giving and look at these children! They love receiving! FUN!

Joseph declares....

I do remember Friday the 18th of May 2012. Stephanie and Christa had just set their feet on Shibuli soil for the first time in 2012.  It was Christa’s first visit to Africa and therefore, Shibuli. 

TGD students and the Cornerstone community were all present to welcome the donor community represented by Stephanie and Christa. It was TGD on one side, Shibuli Cornerstone NFE School on the other side with Stephanie and Christa alighting right in the middle of the unique and vibrant human panorama, singing joyfully and ululating, all for the glory of God Most High for arrival of the visitors.

Yes, that’s still fresh in my mind. The welcome, the vibrancy in Stephanie and Christa to be reunited with their Kenyan family and above all, the joy of expressing their love to the children by being good ambassadors of the donor community.  Now, that last bit is what makes this day special. The joy of expressing their love to the Kenyan community.

The TGD students had sung, Christa had taken her time to shake hands with each and every person in the compound (of course young and old, male and female. I mean, ALL!), the cornerstone choir had presented their wonderful songs of praise and the Cornerstone School children had garlanded the guests.  It was time to go shopping in preparation for next day’s big activity, The Sponsored Children Distribution.

Okay. It’s already midday so let’s get into the car and go buy items for next day’s distribution.  “Wait!” That’s Stephanie. “What is it?” We all ask. As I look outside the car window, I see Humphrey and other pupils rushing to have their lunch as usual. “Look at that shirt! He isn’t the only one though,” adds Stephanie. 

By this time, it has come to our attention that Stephanie is talking about pupils with tattered shirts and true to her words, they are quite a number.  When I talk of tattered, I mean it. At one point you’d imagine that a pupil is putting on a rag or a piece of cloth around his or her body, exposing the entire back or belly. If it wasn’t for the T-shirt underneath, then half of the skin would be exposed. We all get out of the vehicle and both Stephanie and Christa now want to know how many pupils are wearing tattered shirts. Henry takes upon himself to find out who is who in the shabby garb. The rest, as they say, is history.

>>>Fast-forward to Thursday 7th June 2012. The pupils are over the moon.  You can see that for yourselves. They woke up knowing nothing about the new uniforms; shirts, blouses, tunics and pair of shorts.

Two hour earlier:-

Henry has been working in the background to ensure that the tailor is up to the task, doing the right thing and on time. The tailor is done, Henry has collected the uniforms and they are right with us.  As Frank asks Mama Rose (popularly known as Mama Sheila) to have the pupils gathered in the church, nothing crosses their minds that it’s anything to do with the uniforms for over thirty of them.

We all congregate in the church and after a word of prayer from one of the teachers, Henry calls out the names of the beneficiaries.  One look at them and you read all the melancholy in their faces. Poor children! Just imagine them in those ragged shirts, shorts and tunics. What would they be looking like one month from now? Some are ashamed of looking at the camera while others would rather hide behind their friends.  They are conscious of their situation and they think they’ll be on their way home in a couple of minutes. They think we want to send them home for putting on tattered shirts.

Their faces are asking, “Is that their intention? Are we going home because of our torn shirts? After all, that’s the common denominator between all of us standing here.”

I look at Humphrey. He looks scared. I imagine him asking, “What about the camera man? He is busy taking shots of us. The last time I appeared before a camera, I was smartly dressed. Gosh! Please, this is an embarrassment.”

As we ask the ‘torn uniform’ pupils to follow us out of the church, the rest keep wondering what will happen to their colleagues. Little do they know that they won’t go back home in the same frayed uniform they came with in the morning.  Up to this time, the uniforms are in a big black plastic bag outside the church.  As they line up for another photo from David, Henry reaches for the bag, gets out a heap of well-sewn uniform and immediately, the young ones brighten up. It’s joy, celebrations, laughter and screams of bliss. They are over the moon and above all, their lives will never remain the same.

This is the kind of joy you can’t explain in words. They are in new school uniform today because of you.

Thank you Stephanie and Christa.  We didn’t know that what you saw on 18th of May 2012 would culminate into this wonderful experience to these dear ones. You saw, you were touched and you took action. Glory to God Almighty and may He bless you with Abraham’s blessings.

This is just the beginning of celebrations on what the Lord has done through the donor community. Check out more photos on www.facebook.com/tgdkenya or at
m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.458004680894831.118607.285054111523223&type=1&m_sess=soBNvymG-_VtWTP46.

Beverlyn’s home, Grace and Everlyne, Wallace and Lina Valarie, Fredrick and Walter, Fridah, Paul, Cynthia, Asman, Noel and Ben, Yvonne, Benjamin, Emmanuel, Abednego, Gladys, Shaline, Zainabu, Lillian, Brenda, Elizabeth and Lydia all have a story to tell.  Actually, all the TGD sponsored children including the frontrunners, have a big smile on their faces. I’ll be telling you why as the Lord grants us life.

Till then,

Be blessed.

Regards,

Joseph Omuto.

My babies....

You know, the love in my heart just swells when I see this photo. I have fretted over Sharon and Daisy (Photo from left to right: Sharon, Wallace, Valery "Linah"pronounced LEEnuh, and Daisy.) with their sponsors, Cyntreva and Carolyn. Now my own children, Kevin and Sarah, are sponsoring Wallace and Valery. Such a joy. Such a pleasure. These here feel like my FAMILY.

and THEY ALL DO!

I am dealing with these names all the time because I deposit your donations and I know who they represent. I have different children on my mind in the same way we consider those we love. I have hopes and dreams for them, fears and prayers. Then, when I go, I see some children more than others and certainly, the sick child and the sad one move me so much. AND THE HAPPY ONES! (Paul, Gladys, Yvonne) Sharon has been sick and Daisy used to be so timid. We have seen such an obvious benefit to these girl's lives. It can be so graphic and so wonderful--then there are times...when I see that some child is slow in learning...that I worry about their future so much. We are determined to try to develop vocational skills for each child.

Your love for them has meant so much. It delights me to the core! I get letters, prayers, wishes, gifts and just thoughts and questions showing that you are engaged. (Not that you have to be! we love your donations and we love you!)

:-)

Thank you so much. When I went this time, I shook with wonder at all God can do when you just try and things happen because He is working through us all to accomplish His Purposes. It feels so good and it looks amazing. It is a true miracle!

Sarah sponsors Valery and you can see the delight in Valery's face and how she sparkles! What young lady doesn't love a new dress!?! How Jesus loves us!

Such a blessing to see our sponsored children

Christa brought gifts from Megan Wise for Ben. Megan started off as a half sponsor to Ben with Heather Sais until Heather wanted to cover Ben fully. Ben still sees the extra love and prayers from Megan. She sent him some art supplies from the USA through Christa. Megan's gift is tailored to Ben's talents. The Trinity Global Development team and the teachers at Cornerstone School tell us of Ben's artistic ability and Megan wants to nuture that! (Her mom is an artist!) You can see Ben's enthusiasm!! It is such a joy to connect personally soul to soul.

Also pictured, Christa took a moment to get a shot of three of her five children. Here are Paul, Cynthia and Fridah. I love their full face smiles!! It was a good day at church together! And Cynthia perfomed for the whole church with her excellent voice. She did so well! We pray great things for all these children. God has remembered them and shown His love to them. He brings us a long way just to shower them with some of His attention. Now that's love! and it shows....

Thank you to all the families who care for these so far away but near in the Father's Heart.

Medical tests in Kenya

I was able to bring some relatively inexpensive items like urinalysis strips and a blood sugar monitor to test my team and some of the children. Next trip, I really hope to have more scheduled time to go through the tests slowly and give more thorough explanations--but I am thankful to God that we managed to get some of our Trinity Family tested.

Dynamic Duo! In Jesus!

Check "Favorite" videos on my YouTube

Well, I put a video here by Christa and now the post has disappeared! How crazy is that?!? But you can find the video on my YouTube link and instead of watching the featured one that comes up (Although it is amazing, "Take One Minute,") Please click on the "Favorites" and Christa's video will come up. Yay! It was our theme song for this trip.

Jesus in Kenya

Click the link below to see what I am talking about!

Jesus wants to use YOU to wrap HIS arms around the world...  

I bought the new Christy Nockels CD in April and since I've had some trials (Jan, Feb, March, April,) I really felt like Song #2 was my theme song. (Shout out to Megan Wise, birthday girl on April 15 and theme song also is #2.) 
Preparing for Kenya in May, I checked out Christy Nockel's website and read about the writing of these songs. I can't even remember the title, but the words of #8 caused me to reflect and meditate. First off, my husband often prays for people: "God, wrap Your arms around them." and since He loves affection as his love language, of course he would pray something tangible. I feel frustrated sometimes that God is busy loving people and they don't experience it. I want people to know and feel and experience God's love and mostly GOD HIMSELF.  I know our greatest fulfillment is when we are engaged in the purpose of our creation: TO GLORIFY GOD AND BE SATISFIED WITH HIM FOREVER.
We aren't often satisfied. We often do not believe that God is enough. Those who adore Him, however, DO know that there will come a day when we will be satisfied in all the longings of our heart with the true loving presence of JESUS in our midst.
I don't long for some kind of nirvana in "heaven"--I long for JESUS. NOTHING BUT JESUS.
But in this life here? Well, I spend much of it complaining. I spend much of my time asking for MORE. I spend my prayers wanting all the people I know and love protected and prospering and blessed in Jesus.
So this song....I read that she was trying to express that God cared about women who were in sexual slavery against their will and that God cared about the babies tucked under the bed through the day and night. How so many are hurting and alone --and no one sees. No one, BUT GOD. and God sees and CARES and loves and reaches. He sings over us. That is in Zeph somewhere. A favorite scripture of mine since i learned that Hallel meant to jump and spin with delight back in my worship dance days with Anita Nenonen, Janice Horrell and Lisa Lipe and Jana Osborn and Cindy Tyler and more.

Well, I yielded to this "wrapping His arms" idea knowing that God does more than I understand and that He cares and has it under control. He has the whole world coming together to this time when Jesus returns and all is made right. In the meantime, the earth groans and we groan with it, eager for this revelation to become daily reality.

With all that, I head to Kenya and bring my CD for the drive. But the potholes make the CD jump and we take it out. The days unfold and we are so busy and prayerful and rejoicing and organizing and hoping it all gets done as todays agenda bleeds into tomorrows and some things go undone.

Then we get to Beverlyne's house. Christa has 1700 in donations and she gets something for all 35 sponsored families plus the ones that were added after 2010 who didn't get the initial set up all get mattresses, towels, lanterns, sheets, so much! and she wanted to get something for EACH of Beverlyne's siblings--all 7!

We arrive and go in and it is all happiness around. Dark in the mud hut so we take some stuff outside after the children all get their clothes on. The little 2 or 3 year old girl has mistakenly gotten boy clothes. she's not pleased. she even cries when we try to stand her up for the photo on a chair (probably just scared of the attention or the chair wobbled.) Christa is not happy with the clothing error so she remembers that she's gotten this dress for a random child whom she adored. we don't even know where she is and we don't see her again (we will figure it out though) so in the meantime, Christa decides to give this little girl that dress. Well, what do you think happened? This little girl was so pleased! I don't think it is captured in the photos but it was so wonderful. I had to walk away from this scene because I could just SEE God wrapping His arms around the family. It was seriously like a award winning movie moment with the music playing in the background and swelling and the mood rising and the joy so tangible. I began crying rather convulsively. I was in wonderment but trying to keep control of myself.

This was a serious life moment. You only have a few of these in life. A peak. Like God punches through your sensations and your whole body is overwhelmed because it is so happy. Something is happening. Something is coming to fulfillment. You are on the right wavelength and timeline and you know, all the stars really do align because God made them! and it wasn't a movie. It wasn't a soundtrack and it wasn't an imagination. This was my real life and I was really living it. What compares? It's the polar opposite of doing the dishes and cleaning the toilet. The total opposite of mundane. What is your happy place? Mine is under the trees in Western Kenya where a friend has laid down a mattress, put gifts for children upon it, and handed a little dress to a small child as the mother, like a geyser, expresses thankfulness and joy. Your eyes water, your cheeks break from the strain, you can hardly see and you laugh spontaneously. That's my happy place.

This video she made---it sort of expresses that joy.

I can't use words to describe my joy -- but this video. It blows my mind because this is the song that was in my head and now I am in that song. With the moments that make up my real life so it is kind of a reality, nonreality. But it is something real in Jesus and something real in Eternity.

Jesus loves us all. So much. He puts us together. We give to each other. We love each other. We touch each other in a moment in time that holds eternity. OH this is beautiful. It's not just pictures--not just "images" of reality like the movies. It is REAL.