It has been several months since my last update message but it has been an exciting time for our projects in Kenya. For the last several years we have been running two preschools in Kenya with a combined enrollment of about 150 children. One of the schools is in the area of Mathare, outside of Nairobi, and the other is in the fishing village of Gudwa, on the shore of Lake Victoria. Both of these schools have had great impact in the lives of the children, their families, and the surrounding communities. But at the end of last year we felt God calling us to do something more.
In December of 2013 I told you about our desire to form a ministry in Kenya, purchase a plot of land, and build a permanent school building in the fishing village of Gudwa. Many people contributed to this project. We saw this as confirmation so we took the first steps to see this vision become reality. I thought this would only be a three or four month project. Well, we had a few setbacks and delays along the way, and the project cost much more than anticipated, but I am pleased to announce that the school is now complete and the children are being taught in the new classrooms. Throughout this year, we have been able to witness every small step, from the purchase of the land to the laying of the first stones to, now, the final completion. This has been such a joy to see.
The Gudwa school has nine classrooms with one room currently being used as an office and four rooms currently being used to educate the children. The school has a capacity to comfortably hold 200 children.
The second major project began right after the first of the year, a uniform program for our kids in the Mathare school. We were able to hire ladies from within the community to make the uniforms which contributed much needed income to several families in the local area. The uniforms have been well received from the parents as well as the teachers.
Many children were coming to school in ragged clothes and the teachers say that the uniforms are a big help in identifying the kids. The children of the school share a common community bathroom and they need to take their play time out in the road. Something as simple as a uniform is a big help with being able to identify kids and keep them safe.
In November and December I will share more about our plans for 2015. However, for right now, I just want to say a big thank you and praise God. He has been so wonderfully faithful and we are seeing many lives drawn closer to God through these school projects.
Matthew 25:40
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'”
Have a Christ Centered Day!
Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries
**** Reading Plan ****
Oct 6 Jeremiah 6:15-8:7; Colossians 2:8-23; Psalm 78:1-25; Proverbs 24:26
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Such cute and happy children!