Spring 2024 Update
Yesterday after our flight to Nairobi being cancelled and stuck in the airport in Amsterdam for almost 14 hours, we finally made it to Nairobi about 6AM. We were by the Grace of God able to hit the ground running and made stops at the store for supplies for the week, then we were able to go to one of the tailors to place the order for some of the uniforms.
Today, we again were up and running early. Our helpers from Bata shoe company arrived here at Haven with us about 8:30 this morning and we started our journey up the hill to Nduchi Primary to measure the feet of all the children to get the order for their shoes placed. We are grateful that Bata sent some of their people to help us get them all measured.
Once we finished getting them measured, we were able to sit down with the Mr. Chege, the head teacher at Nduchi. He informed us that their test scores had gone up by 8 points from last year, which has allowed a majority of their 8th graders to qualify for enrollment at the National and Extra County High Schools. These results have a direct correlation to the feeding program through the Lord’s Kitchen that was started in 2021. By providing nourishment for the children during the day, we are helping them to nourish their minds, decrease truancy, and increase enrollment at the school. It is truly amazing to see how God has been able to use the feeding program to have such a profound effect on the students in such a short time.
After we left Nduchi, we went to Kirangi Primary to measure the students there. This is the first year that God has given us the ability to bless them with shoes, uniforms, backpacks, and school supplies. We are all excited to have a 4th school to support and the additional 400 kids that we get to bless through this school. We will also be able to build a porridge kitchen here this April through funds from the Bennett Sims Memorial Fund, which we know know will be a huge blessing to them as it has been for the other schools.
After finishing at Kirangi, we were able to go back to town and finalize all the contracts for the rest of the uniforms and sweaters, before coming back to Haven to start preparing for Home visits in the coming days. The Lord has given us the ability to bless 21 families with cooking oil, flour, corn flour, rice, beans, lintels, sugar, soap, matches, and tea.
I know this one is a little long winded, but God is so good and there is so much to report on from the beautiful mountains outside Kenya. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support for us all year, but especially while we are here. With the flight issues on the way here, we are running on fumes, but God is good and your prayers for us are definitely pulling us through.
