As I think back on 2013 and what it has brought to Shalom Christian Missions and our center, New Beginnings Children's Center in Kenya, I stand in awe of God and HIS greatness. The changes that have come to New Beginnings in Kenya and what God has restored can only be explained as a true miracle.
As we stepped into 2013, our long-term missionary at New Beginnings was in poor health and being treated in one of the hospitals in Kenya. A mission team would soon arrive and all would be living together in our little mud house on the hillside in remote Kenya. Throughout 2013, we saw John Z. make an amazing recovery and a strong finish before departing Kenya for the year. We saw two interns serve during the year along with other missionaries. We have seen three long-term missionaries take a step of faith. They are preparing to go to serve during 2014/2015. A miracle!
God opened so many doors during 2014. Here are just a few that we have witnessed:
We have seen legal doors open for us and local officials who are honest and good, God-fearing people brought into our area of remote Kenya. Not like those from the past who were bound by corruption. I can only say that some of these people were purposely placed there by God. Some came for a short time, but will be forever remembered by those of us on the hill in Nyasoti for their integrity and godly standards. A miracle!
We have seen more community members come together to work for the good of the children. We have seen others from outside the community step in to help. People have started to recognize that New Beginnings and Shalom Christian Missions are sent by God to this part of their world to help them and to see positive change take place. To help women and children have a voice and hope in this remote village where they were constantly victims in the past. A miracle!
We have seen the 20 month trial of Simon Ochola finally come to a close and witnessed the courts of Kenya give him 15 years in prison for the defilement of a child who was placed in his care. Not much of a sentence when you think about all the children he has defiled and the lives he has damaged, but still, justice was served. A miracle!
(We continue to pray for other children in other areas who have also been defiled by this man. There is another case in court at this very time.)
We have seen every child in Nyasoti area who could possibly need rescued from the hands of Simon Ochola brought into the safe and caring arms of New Beginnings, leaving local officials, who were told by Simon that we would kill the children, to marvel at how healthy the children are becoming in our care. These people along with us at New Beginnings have witnessed God bring several children back from the brink of death to restored health and life at New Beginnings. A miracle!
Reclaiming What Was Stolen
We saw the property that was originally donated to SCM returned and legally placed in the hands of our NGO in Kenya. Prior to that we saw the registration of our Charitable Trust (equivalent of a non-profit in the USA) take place in Kenya so that we can own land, etc. A miracle!
Reclaiming what was once stolen.
We have seen our primary school students in grade 8 take their first KCP national exams at New Beginnings Christian School. We have witnessed our school place in the 160's out of more than 900 schools. Not a bad placement for a school only in its second year. We have seen the scores of our children continue to climb as they feel confident and encouragement to study. A miracle!
We have seen 120 children who live and learn at New Beginnings have their lives transformed, little by little. They come in often alone and lost in the world and find hope and security and a place of love to call HOME. We have seen the children write HOME on the stones outside of their house. For many, this is truly their HOME. They have no other. A miracle!
As I marvel at what God has done because some people took a step of faith, I wonder what will happen next in 2014? It is always an exciting adventure when you take that step of faith with God. HE is a God of adventure and miracles!
Join us in 2014 and take a step of faith. Life will not be boring and you will stand with us next year in awe of what God has done. Do not fear! Take a step of faith!! Join us in 2014.
How can you join us?
There are so many ways you too can get involved.
TAKE A STEP OF FAITH!! And watch what God will do!
2014 will be our second year of giving. We will be accepting different donations each month to help provide what we need for the children at New Beginnings. Listed below is each month’s donation focus:
Thank you for giving to the Lord. The children's lives have been changed.
Expedition 2014 teams are forming for July. Take a step of faith and join one of our teams.
What do you do as a missionary?
You get to the serve the Lord and HAVE FUN!!
Watch what God will do with your life to make a difference for eternity.
Help with VBS or Bible studies with the children.
During the day you might spend time working around the children's center compound, visiting widows in the community, traveling to market where you might help with a drama, sharing the Gospel with the community, traveling to a nearby island to share the love of Jesus, or sometimes just hold a child that needs to feel loved.
In the evenings you might help tutor children, worship with the children, watch a movie and serve a snack to the children, hold a Bible study, help give hair cuts, or have a campfire. On your free day, journey with us on a real safari to see the big game. All this in one of the most beautiful settings on earth: AFRICA!!
Visit our Missions Page for dates and more information.
The sooner you are ticketed, the better airfare pricing.
Don't delay...apply today!!
Sponsors applying before January 18th waive the $30 application fee.
We have planned some special short trips just for pastors and church leaders. Invade remote villages with the Gospel of Christ and share the love of Jesus with orphans and widows. Our next trip is planned for February. Contact our office for information and rates.
Our staff at New Beginnings is doing a terrific job keeping everything going at the center. Currently there is no missionary on the ground, but John M. will return in February.
John works at the outside fire to prepare food.
This month's staff focus will be on our Head Cook, John, at New Beginnings. John has been working for us for at least 2 years. He began as one of the cooking staff but soon took on the extra duties to be promoted to Head Cook. John oversees the two other cooks who work with him to make sure that the children all receive three meals each day. In one year, our kitchen staff prepares and serves over 131,400 meals to our hungry children and that is not including the staff and teachers. WOW! That's a lot of food! Please keep John and his family in prayer this month.
The new school year will start Wed. January 8th for New Beginnings primary school and the following week we will begin our secondary classes. This will be an exciting year with the addition of our secondary classrooms. We are happy to have our secondary students remaining with us this year instead of living at boarding school. We are also happy to open an alternative day school for students in our area who want to attend secondary school but could not afford the higher costs in the past. Please pray for our students and the teaching staff.
In striving to keep our tuition low to meet the needs of the children in our area, it has been more than a challenge to pay our teachers a good salary. We have worked to keep the school self-sufficient since the beginning, but with everything on the rise in Kenya, we feel we need to find sponsors to help with our teachers’ salaries.
We are not suggesting that a person pay the salary of a teacher, but instead if we could have those who would contribute to help cover their salaries it would be a tremendous blessing to the teachers and to the students of New Beginnings Christian School. By offering our teaching staff higher salaries, we will be able to maintain our staff for many years. Please pray for our teachers and if possible consider giving $10 or more per month to help cover our teachers’ salaries.
We have met the financial goal set to get our first two classrooms for the secondary school up and going. Classes will begin later this month. What remains are for desks and books to be purchased. We will also need to purchase laboratory supplies in the future to begin our science lab. Donations to further our educational needs will be ongoing for those who wish to support us in those efforts.
There is still much to be done as far as building at New Beginnings. We will break what needs to be done into phases.
Phase I will focus on those projects that need immediate attention to keep maintain operations. Our first three priorities in building are:
PHOTO: Better gutters and some placement of water tanks will help harvest more water to the center.
Any donations to the building fund will be greatly appreciated!
Meet Mark!
Mark is 16 years old and is the son of one of the people who donated the land to New Beginnings. Mark's family has been involved with us since the very beginning. Both his mother and father are employed by the center and it would be a tremendous blessing to all of them if Mark could find a sponsor to ensure that he will have a good start for his future. If God is moving you to help one of those who have helped us help the children, Mark would be a good child to sponsor. Pray for Mark to do well in his studies as he has struggled in this area.
The rainy season, although late, has finally come to the parched land of Nyasoti. Everyone is thankful. Although the corn crop did not do well this growing season, many of the other crops are now giving a better harvest. Praise God for the blessed rains!! It always amazes me how we often complain about rain, but in a land that realizes they must have rain to give them water to live and grow their crops, they consider any day with rain as a blessed day.
Please keep our project coordinator, Vincent, and his family in prayer. A close uncle passed away suddenly just before Christmas.
A Christmas surprise! The day before Christmas, the project coordinator for New Beginnings was summoned to the DO1's office. Considering all the corruption we have faced within this office, it is always a bit unnerving to be asked to come there. Praise God that the DO1 only wanted to assure him that he is working with us and realizes some of the other corrupt officials have caused us many problems in the past. BUT the main reason he wanted to talk to Vincent was to get an invite to spend Christmas Dinner with him and the children at New Beginnings. It was our honor to invite him. Unfortunately on Christmas Day as he was coming for dinner, he was passed by some officials coming from Homa Bay area that needed to meet with him right away. He will try to join us on another occasion. Pray for this man.
Meet Celestine!
Celestine is 11 and has only known life with her grandmother. Her father was never in the picture and her mother abandoned her a week after she was born (she later died). Celestine's grandmother is unable to continue caring for her. She needs help.
By sponsoring Celestine or another child for $35 a month, you will provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care and an education.
100% of all sponsor donations go to help the children.
Meet Dickson!
Dickson is 10 years old. He came to New Beginnings as an emergency case after his father tried to kill him and his family. He has had a rough past but has adjusted well to New Beginnings. He needs a caring sponsor!
By sponsoring Dickson or another child for $35 a month, you will provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care and an education.
100% of all sponsor donations go to help the children.
Meet Sharon!
Sharon is 10 years old. She is a total orphan and came as an emergency case after her brother-in-law, whom she was living with, beat her very badly. She has nowhere else to go. She needs help!
By sponsoring Sharon or another child for $35 a month, you will provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care and an education.
100% of all sponsor donations go to help the children
Thank you to following businesses and churches for their support:
May God bless you as you give to help the children!
Donations may be made on our website via Paypal or you may send your donation to:
Shalom Christian Missions
1255 Mill Creek Rd
York, PA 17404
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
