Getting Back to School

hello,

with high schools opening soon there is great need for books, textbooks, bags, pens, shoes, shirts, sweaters, rain coats, soap, lotion. etc. these are the top needs as the students begin the new school year in february 2009.

this year five of our orphans qualified for higher level grades and were called to various high schools to go and study.

the form one students are to report to school in February and i hope by then we can be able to send these kids to high school. getting an education will help them so that their lives will be like ours where they are able to go to high school, then college and later find work. so far, in january we have managed to cover the basic school cost of several primary children and now we need to concentrate on these 5 older students who start school soon.

i've listed the cost for all items* for each of the 5 orphans who have moved on to higher grades below. you will see the cost in several currencies, for one student and then for all 5 students.

One Student
- 28,150.00 (Kenyan Shillings)
- $370.39 (US)
- $433.08 (Cdn)
- £234.58 (British Pounds)
- $269.77 (Euros)
- $516.19 (Aussie)
- $538.88 (Singapore)
- $2827.92 (Hong Kong)
- 32,892.40 (Japanese Yen)

Five Students
- 140,750.00 (Kenyan Shillings)
- $1851.95 (US)
- 2165.40 (Cdn)
- 1172.90 (British Pounds)
- $1348.85 (Euros)
- $2580.96 (Aussie)
- $2694.44 (Singapore)
-$14,139.56 (Hong Kong)
- 164,462 (Japanese Yen)

Fee Payment Schedule

The school year is for a total of 9 months with 3 terms (3 months each) per year. Half of a full year's payment is needed up front. The remaining half can be paid in 2 parts if needed.

Minimum due January 2009

1 student- 14,075. 00 (Kenyan shillings)
5 students 70,375.00 (Kenyan shillings)

a payment would then be needed again about 3 months later (march/april 2009). we have opened an account to try and set aside money for these students to help us plan ahead. we really need your help and we gratefully accept what u can do to help these kids.

we can receive funds through money gram or western union (see the information in the right side column). if u want to send funds through international bank to bank transfer, let us know and we can tell you how to do that. i also have a mailing address but that method is very slow and is insecure as cheques can be lost in the mail.

the photos below show the school kids lined up to return to boarding school.



i want to let you know that everything here in kenya has gotten harder since last year. the costs of everything has gone up and education fees have also gone up very recently making it even harder to get an education.

the December 16,2008 issue of The Standard, Online Edition described in graphic terms what happens to children who do not get an education or who have to walk far to go to school.

"The children are often sucked into the informal employment sector where they are exploited by their employers, and exposed to physical and sexual abuse.

Ms Phelomena Elizear, the secretary for Embakasi Constituency Right to Education advocacy group, says distance to learning institutions present a big challenge to the girls. "Parents are reluctant to send their children to school because they are at risk of being waylaid and raped," she says. The problem is compounded by insecurity and poor infrastructure."

click the news link for an article in the Daily Nation news for more information on school costs http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/512242/-/u18940/-/index.html
we want to do what we can to help these kids that God has entrusted to our care..and will send them to boarding school as God enables us through your help. please pray with us and, if you can, send us your support today. May God richly bless you.

Because He lives
Jonah

* books, textbooks, bags, pens, shoes, shirts, sweaters, rain coats, soap, lotion. etc

Living to Serve

this is a story of Mr. Koech. he has been serving for over 40 years in the college i attended...he came here while he was young and now he is old. he is about 70 years of age.

he rides home in his bicycle and has little to show for the toil and hard work that he has had over the last 40 years...but he is happy to have served here.

he told me of a number of missionaries that he worked with. some of their kids are now doctors, pilots, and many other things...he played with them and cuddled them... and now they are far away...

my thoughts are that ....service in its true sense demands a lot of dedication and love for it.........this is what has made Koech to serve here for the last 40 years..... without regret.....and he is still ready to serve even more.....

I love his charisma, his attitude to work ....and his being able to read and write at his advanced age..without the aid of spectacles. he rarely goes to hospital though Koech is nearing about 70 plus years now....and he still rides his bike home.....Praise be to God.

in the other picture u see me admiring a car that was about to be dedicated to its owner. this is mitsubishi 4x4. it looks good for africa where roads are sometimes impassable.

i hope u enjoyed this moving story....otherwise have a great week.

Because He lives......
Jonah

Feed the Hungry

hello everyone,

this month has been a very busy one for me. we have been involved in visiting homes that have been affected by the post election violence. we feel that the people have not really healed from the political situation that happened here.

we pray that the government will come in and help the situation with the people who have been affected by the violence and especially thru a joint venture to address the dire food issue in this country.

we are experiencing a very high inflation rate of 31%; making food very expensive. crop failures also seem imminent in this country and that will likely mean more food price increases. please pray for continued rain so that the food prices of crop foods can be contained.

here are some of the pictures taken of recent corn distribution to needy orphans and caretakers earlier this month. if you can help feed the people, please let me know. otherwise we value your prayers for this ministry and give all praise to God for what He has done and continues to do. May the Lord bless and keep you and your loved ones.


Update: July 16, 2008
Pastor Jonah reports that regular rains have returned to the Kericho area...Praise God as this will help to contain the already escalating food costs in the country. Thank you for your prayers for the nation of Kenya.

The Cat That Did

hello everyone,

this a great (short) story......a story of a mother cat who saved her young ones from a burning house. i promised to blog this story when i blogged about Simba the dog some time ago.

the kittens were about 3 weeks old when they were rescued from a burning house by their mother.....the kittens sustained some injuries in the fire.

in the pic below you can see that one of them has two ears that do not respond normally......i was trying to get good focus on those ears in my camera...
i guess when these ones grow up they will appreciate their mother for saving their lives.....

I am grateful to the one who lives in us,

have a great day!

God bless
Jonah

Some needs met

Dear Saints,

A quick word to thank you all for prayers and for recent contributions for food. We praise our heavenly Father for his goodness.

Brother Thomas was able to buy 2800 Kenyan shillings worth of corn to distribute amongst 8 households of orphans. It cost him 300 Kenyan shillings to transport it from Kericho to the village. Pastor Jonah will also be able to put the $50. contribution from brother, Dan in USA to good use....The children and the overseers thank you so much!!!

Brother Thomas also reported that a family of 7 requires the following bedding: two mattresses, several sets of sheets and some warmer blankets. Brother Thomas has no email so if you can help, please let Pastor Jonah know.

We seek your prayers on this and other orphan and Internally Displaced Person needs as well.

Love and blessings. Because He lives!!
Sis PJ

Thanksgiving is Upon Us in Canada

Hi readers, in a few days Thanksgiving will be upon us. What are we to be thankful of in Canada? There are so many things: a peaceful country; relatively clean air to breathe; plenty of water to drink, bathe and wash; food to eat, and if you are homeless, places to feed you and help you enjoy Thanksgiving with traditional turkey and dressing...I could go on with my list but I think you get the idea.

Sometimes it is easy to take for granted those things that we have and easier yet to complain when things are not perfect in our eyes. Despite the issues of the day here in our own country and the variety of issues that some of us face, there are so many things I've grown to appreciate and love about Canada: homeless shelters and food banks, the old age pension plan, the assistance for the mentally challenged, the numerous agencies that help care for and support those that need it, and the charitable and compassionate nature of Canadians. I know we can do more for those in need here at home, but life is very rich compared to many other countries, including African nations like Kenya.

At this time of year, I would ask you to consider those in Africa who have no change of clothes; no running water; no indoor toilet; no regular food; no shoes to wear despite the rain; no bedding to lie down on at night and no assurance of an education; no money to see the doctor when sick and no funds for medicines even if you can see the doctor. These are things that most of us here in Canada will never have to experience, let alone experience them on a daily basis. For that, we can be truly thankful. Even with these hardships, my friends in Kenya do not want pity or a hand out, they simply want a hand up, a hand of support as they strive toward building better lives which are self-sustaining and God centered.

As you spend time this weekend reflecting on the ways in which you give thanks, may you take a few moments to consider what you might do to assist those in Africa, and in particular through Kericho, Kenya's Missions of Hope. Much Love xoxox Sister Penny Joy