May I tell you that life in Africa is never boring? You can never tell what each new day will bring.
One day can be quiet and restful, yes even with 100 children on the compound day and night. The next day you might be called to save the life of one of those children, by rushing them to the closest hospital (45 minutes away) over some of the roughest roads in Kenya. It is all just a step of faith that God will provide and care for those whom He has placed at New Beginnings.
I think the impact that New Beginnings is having on these children of interior Kenya really hit me on the day that I began to counsel each of those who will finish high school and leave our program at the end of this year. To listen to these, now young men, share with me how New Beginnings has changed their lives, was so very touching.
All of those finishing this year came to our program as small boys and will leave as young men. Many of them shared how the biggest thing that New Beginnings did was to help them come to know Jesus as their personal Savior. And "THAT" more than their education, more than having their needs met and growing so strong, was the thing they shared that most changed their lives.
That is the power of Jesus in your life! More than once I had to choke back tears while I was listening to them.
I feel certain that these young men will go on to become leaders of some sort in Kenya. They will begin to bring the positive change that Kenya needs. They will display to their community and the nation what a godly man looks like. One who walks with integrity, honest, empathy, compassion, and sincerity.
I hope to share more about these 8 young men as they near their final exams this year. Five of them will graduate from New Beginnings Secondary School and 3 will graduate from a Polytechnic School. Some will go on to find jobs (Some have already received offers for them to work for a business that they interned with) and some will go on to attend university. (We have started a College Scholarship program to help those who are accepted into advanced schools of learning in Kenya.)
Please pray for all those who will finish our program this year.
Some of our graduating students.
Four have requested to become interns in our intern program. Our intern program is for those who were sponsored and completed our program. This 8-9 month internship is set up to help teach our graduate students good work ethics, prepare them for life beyond NB, and help to ease them back into the community.
The program offers them a small amount of pay each month. If possible, we try to have them live with their guardians during this time unless they have no one or they live to far away. We not only look for those who excelled in their final exams but for those who set a positive example for the children of New Beginnings. If they do not prove to set that example, they can be dismissed from the program. All are welcome to apply but we look for the best to take these positions.
We are very happy to say that one of our former sponsored students successfully completed his 8 month intern program with New Beginnings. Felix began by living on the campus but later moved
in with his aunt in the community. He worked with our secondary school assisting with the C.R.E. class and later was assigned as the secretary to the secondary school.
Felix, when he found a sponsor in 2008.
Felix was offered a permanent job with New Beginnings but declined in order to go on to further his education.
A confident Felix as he leaves New Beginnings.
We are very happy to see Felix's dreams coming true, thanks to a sponsor who cared about him as a young child.
Please continue to pray for Felix.
"The day that you came into my life, everything changed. Thank you!"
Be the change for a waiting child!
Sponsor a child today!
Saturday September 17th at 5 PM: SCM Celebration and Missionary Reunion--Join us at the Makrias' for a picnic, games, and bonfire. This is open to all who have traveled with Shalom Christian Missions in the past and anyone who is considering learning more about this amazing opportunity. Come for the fun and to hear what is happening at New Beginnings Children's Center NOW! Bring a side dish to share and come join the fun.
November 11 Benefit Dinner: Four Points Sheraton in York, PA. Please plan to join us there. Contact us to reserve your spot! Tickets are $35/person, or sponsor a whole table for 8 people for $280!
January Winter Mission Team: Please pray for the team as people begin to make decisions to join. There is still space available!! Visit our Missions page for more details!
Would your small group, church, Sunday School, VBS, or organization be interested in hearing about the challenges of serving orphans in a remote part of Africa? Perhaps becoming a prayer partner with us?
Please email or call us to schedule a date.
We will be accepting donations of the following items throughout the year (donations can be brought or mailed to our headquarters):
September, October, November
Donations to Christmas Shoes to purchase each child a new uniform, socks, and shoes for 2017 (cost, $25 per child)
January/February 2017
January Down Under: We will be collect donations of underwear. (Including underpants, bras, slips, and camisoles.)
"What will I do on a mission trip?"
That is often the question people ask.
The answer: What is God calling YOU to do?
From construction work to Bible school, to medical care, gifts for the impoverished, to sharing the Gospel.
Our teams have done it ALL!
What is God calling you to do?
Not sure...take a step of faith and see what God shows up to do.
It will be more than you ever dreamed or imagined.
Our missionaries stay in missionary housing of brick construction, on the secure grounds of our children's center, in a very beautiful, remote area of Kenya. Spend time immersed in the culture and lives of those who call New Beginnings Children's Center HOME.
Show the love of Jesus to the community.
Change their lives AND change your life...FOREVER!
Youth groups, families, singles, are all welcome.
2017 Winter Applications being accepted!
January 14 - January 28, 2017* (2 weeks): $1500 + airfare
January 14 - February 14, 2017* (1 month): $1900 + airfare
*Dates are tentative until airline tickets are purchased. Airfare during the winter months is generally less than in the summer.
Winter trips include a Safari to Nakuru National Game Park OR a game drive at a local park with some of the New Beginnings children.
2017 Summer Applications being accepted!
July 15-31, 2017 (2 weeks): $1500 + airline ticket
July 30-Aug 14, 2017 (2 weeks): $1500 + airline ticket
July 15-Aug 14, 2017 (1 month): $1900 + airline ticket
*Dates are tentative until airline tickets are purchased.
All of the July/Aug trips include an overnight safari to the world famous Masaii Mara Game park.
Travel as a group OR travel alone and make new friends who will travel with you.
Make plans to bring your whole group!
Discounts for leaders and we do all the training/planning.
Set up the dates now while there is plenty of space open.
Check out our missions page for more info!
All Dates are tentative until airfare is booked.
1-3 month internship ($1000 for first month and $500 for each month thereafter)
Long term mission opportunities available!
Click here for more information!
What a fantastic summer it has been for our missionaries. Four missionaries traveled to New Beginnings in June to start off the summer. One remained for 2 weeks, another for 2 months and 2 more remained to serve for 3 months. Later in July, three more joined the already busy team, for 2 weeks of service. Then in August a new intern came to serve for a minimum of 3 months and perhaps longer.
So many opportunities to serve at New Beginnings Children's Center. This year's team spent lots of time with the children and really blessed the center by doing lots of painting and upkeep for the center.
What a beautiful new look they have given the center. Not to mention the impact you left on the children of New Beginnings. Our new intern is spending lots of time with the children of our Early Childhood Develpment area of our school helping to teach our preschool children.
If you are looking for a place to serve in remote Kenya, then look no further than serving at our children's center. We have over 100 children who call this HOME and many more who come to New Beginnings everyday to receive a primary and secondary education. Join us and be blessed as you bless them!
Both our primary and secondary school have begun their final semester for this school year. The children are working very hard to do well. Please keep them in prayer.
The final semester started very well and the children are prepared to work hard to show a positive finish to this school year. A new teacher was appointed to take the place of one who has left to further her education. An American Intern has joined the primary team to assist with the Early Childhood Development classes.
We mourn with our Headmaster, Mr Ogweno, over the loss of his baby daughter.
Every day or evening finds class 8 students putting in extra time in our study rooms to that they will be ready for their final exam of primary school. The exams will take place in early November.
A new principal has taken the reigns of our secondary school. We are excited to have Mr Ngoko become part of this ministry by leading the secondary school. I feel confident that his experience over the years will give him the edge in moving our secondary school onto a new level.
We are also happy to have 3 new teachers taking positions in Swahili/C.R.E., Chemistry/Biology, and Math/Physics.
Lots of building activity taking place in the past 3 months. Another primary classroom is almost complete, a new primary latrine, housing for our secondary teachers, a gate house to help our security, and lots of painting have taken place. Thanks to all who have given to make these things possible. Things are starting to really take shape.
A 2nd primary classroom
The only goal we did not reach for this year was to build a new kitchen. We have the space dug out and leveled for the kitchen but still need funds to make this happen. Can you help us reach this goal for 2016?
A new kitchen is desperately needed to help us pass the health inspections and for the safety and welfare of the staff and everyone they feed. Our small smoky dirt floor kitchen serves over 200 people 3 times per day. We can't make this happen without your help. Please consider a donation to our building fund.
We are happy that all paper work has been completed and approved for our classrooms and our new kitchen. With a new classroom in place and an area leveled and prepared for our new kitchen. We remain with the need to raise the funds for our new kitchen.
Please Help us replace our current kitchen with a new kitchen!
Finish Secondary Classrooms for Form 3, & Boys Dorm COMPLETED
Primary Classrooms (1) COMPLETED
Secondary School Improvements COMPLETED
Permanent Boys Dorm COMPLETED
First primary classroom COMPLETED
Praise God to all who gave to complete this phase!!
We are excited to say that we are now collecting donations for Phase III of our building!
(We have changed our plans for Phase III to only include 1 classroom in order to complete some of the other projects that were greatly needed.)
| Phase III Projects | Cost | Donated | Still Needed |
| Second primary classroom | $10,000 | $10,000 | COMPLETE |
| Permanent Kitchen Building | $10,000 | $0 | $10,000 |
| Secondary School Offices | $3,000 | $3,000 | COMPLETE |
| Medical Clinic Renovations in big house | $2,500 | $2,500 | COMPLETE |
| Teacher's housing, latrine, and bath house | $2,000 | $2,000 | COMPLETE |
| Girls' dorm and bath house for secondary | $2,500 | $2,500 | COMPLETE |
| Water Harvesting needs (tanks, gutters, etc) | $2,500 | $0 | $2,500 |
| Total | $32,500 | $20,000 | $12,500 |
Phase IV
Dining Hall/all purpose room
Primary Classroom 3 & 4
Secondary Dorm
Phase V
Smaller Housing to accommodate children in family settings
Medical Clinic/Pharmacy/StorE
Staff housing
Can you help us Build for their Future?
"Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness." 2 Corinthians 9:10
Please join us in praying for all these projects!
Denis is 15 years old and is a total orphan. He came to New Beginnings several years ago from a very abusive family situation. He still suffers from PTSD but is doing so much better.
He is in grade 5 and is an average student. He is typically a quiet child. His dream is to one day get a drivers license to become either a car driver or motorbike driver to transport people for a living.
Denis has a younger brother and older sister who also live at New Beginnings. For all three of them, New Beginnings is their home. They have no other.
Please pray for Denis' health and pray for a clear mind for him during school. Pray for him to make good choices during this critical time in his life. We also ask that you would pray for Denis to find a partial sponsor. For $40 per month, you can become a partial sponsor to Denis and make a difference in his life.
It continues to remain dry at New Beginnings, with only occasional showers. The fields in the area are plowed and waiting for the rains to start. Soon the rains will come again and everyone will rush to plant for the next season. Pray for this farming community that rely heavily on the rain and the sun to survive.
Over the past few months we have added several people to our growing staff. We welcome Jackline, a social worker, who joined our staff as the head of social welfare.
We welcome Jack, who joined our staff as part of our grounds crew. Jack has the big task of making sure water is where/when it is needed around the compound. With new water tanks added for drinking around the compound and hand washing tanks added to our latrines, plus the kitchen, and mission houses needing water, it is no easy task. Jack also takes care of our livestock each day.
We also welcome Mercylyn, a new house parent who will work with our primary girls. Our house parents have the continual job of making sure that our children's basic needs are being met. They also monitor the children to make sure they are accountable at all times. When the children are in school, Mercylyn will also help care for the babies of New Beginnings.
A new child came to live at New Beginnings. Helen came through the District Children's Office. She is 10 years old and a total orphan. Helen was being abused by her grandmother and was in need of a safe place to live. She is in need of a sponsor.
Helen and Mercylyn
In July we enrolled Rose in a school for the deaf. We are so happy to have found a school that can begin to educate her. Rose now understand that she goes off to school just like a few of our other children who attend school away from New Beginnings, but on breaks she returns home to be with her family at New Beginnings. Life is looking much brighter for Rose.
Currently we have more than 10 children who live at New Beginnings who have no sponsor, plus we have many more who have only a partial sponsor. Is God calling you to help one of these children in need? Visit our Child Sponsorship page to become a sponsor! We can't do it without your support for them!
Rose is about 13 years old. We have no background on Rose except to know that she is deaf. She was brought to New Beginnings by the local police who found her wondering the streets. She is very sweet and enjoys her life at New Beginnings. Rose needs a partial sponsor.
You can sponsor Rose or another child by selecting a child at Sponsorship page.
A child is praying...are you the answer?
100% of all sponsor donations go to help the children.
Roberto is 12 years old. His father is deceased and his mother struggles to care for him and his siblings. Is God calling you to help Roberto?
Roberto needs a partial sponsor.
You can sponsor Roberto or another child by sending $40 for partial sponsor or $80 for a full sponsorship per month.
A child is praying...are you the answer?
100% of all sponsor donations go to help the children.
Charlet is 5 years old and is in kindergarten. She is the child of a single mother who attends New Beginnings secondary school. Charlet is in need of a full or partial sponsor. Can you help Charlet?
You can sponsor Charlet or another child by sending $40 for partial sponsor or $80 for a full sponsorship per month.
A child is praying...are you the answer?
100% of all sponsor donations go to help the children.
You can BE THE DIFFERENCE in the life of a child!
Shalom Christian Missions is a 501(c)3 non- profit organization,
dedicated to serving children in need throughout the world.
All donations are tax deductible.
A & R Rental Center -York, PA
Freedom Wireless - York, PA
H & R Block - USA
Test Products Inc. - Exton, PA
Ann Downing Ministries - Hendersonville, TN
Christ American Baptist Church Youth - Spring Grove, PA
Christ American Baptist Church - Spring Grove, PA
Crestline UMC - Crestline, OH
Eagle Christian Ministries - York, PA
Elisha's Home and Ministries - Montrose, PA
First Baptist Church - Smithville, TX
First United Church of Christ - Schuykill Haven, PA
Harvest Chapel - Abbottstown, PA
Hope For Women - Tempe, AZ
The Worship Center - Lancaster, PA
May God bless you as you pray and give to help the children!
Donations may be made through paypal or you may send your donation to:
Shalom Christian Missions
1255 Mill Creek Rd
York, PA 17404
(717) 586-6945
These two children are at the top of our list of children needing sponsors. Click one of their pictures to read more about them.
Meet more children in need
