While we are experiencing record low temperatures here in the USA with snow and ice in the north, the temperatures are warm and sunny in Kenya. In fact they are a little too warm and sunny. They are in need of some rain once again. But that hasn't stopped things from moving forward at New Beginnings Children's Center in Nyasoti, Kenya. There was a flurry of excitement (not snow) as the new year arrived.
Lots to be done with the start of our secondary classes. The classrooms themselves needed to be cleaned, floors needed refinishing, window panes needed to be installed, and outside the steps and terrace needed to be finished. Books needed to be purchased and uniforms needed to be made. Teachers and staff needed to be hired. A menu for the school children needed to be planned (since breakfast and lunch will be included with tuition for secondary students).
We are very happy to have our New Beginnings secondary students remain at the center while attending school. This enables us to keep a closer watch on our children as well as ensure that they are receiving a good quality education. Praise God that the District Education Office is working with us to help direct us on what needs to be done NOW and what can wait until later to add to our school. It is taking more finances than we expected to get the secondary school up and running (each desk/locker costs more than $50). If you are interested in becoming a 'New Beginnings Defender of Education' (see below), it will be a tremendous blessing.
New Beginnings Form 2 (grade 10) students in their new secondary uniforms.
From left to right back row: Winfreda, Raphael, Clinton, Wicklyff
Middle row: David, Geoffrey
Front row: William, Loreen, Stephen, Brighton (missing from photo-Shem)
We are praying for more people to become involved in helping with the costs of education for the children. This is an extreme need right now! We need to increase our teachers salaries to above the poverty level. With the incoming president last year, prices of everything have been on the increase within the nation. This is not helping those who live far below the poverty level in the rural area. Plus, we need to purchase more books and other supplies for our students. We cannot do this based on the tuition we are charging since our goal is to continue to keep our schools affordable for the people who live in great poverty within this community. Please join us in praying for people to join us in this effort.
If you choose to donate $20-$50 each month (Donor Defender) to our education fund, you can provide an increase for 1-2 teachers.
If you give $51-$99 each month (Patron Defender) to our education fund you provide for 3-4 teachers to receive a raise and more supplies such as books to be purchased for a classroom.
If you can donate $100 or more each month (Champion Defender) to our education fund, you provide a raise for 5 teachers plus additional supplies. Please consider helping us in this very critical way.
Every person who becomes a 'New Beginnings Defender of Education' will have their name placed on a plague that will be on display at New Beginnings Christian School. Our current goal is to have $1000 in donations for our education fund each month to supply our teachers with a fair wage above the poverty level in Kenya and to buy the needed classrooms supplies for the school. This is vital for the education of the children in this remote part of the world. If you are a teacher or just care about seeing children in a very remote, poor area of the world, have a chance at a better life, consider becoming involved as a 'Defender of Education'...'for the love of a child'!!
What a blessing it was to share with the warm and gracious people of Elisha's Home in Montrose, PA. We felt like we were part of the family as we shared our hearts and had a time of fellowship with all of you. I look forward to seeing more of these wonderful Saints in the future as they "Step out of the boat" in many ways. Welcome to the Shalom family! Thanks for joining those who love and care for the children of New Beginnings.
April 25-27 we have been invited to be part of "Middle Tennessee Women's Retreat". This is a part of Ann Downing Ministries. Ann Downing is a Southern Gospel singer and a Dove Award recipient. She has also been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. It is truly an honor and privilege to be invited to share a little about what God is doing through Shalom Christian Missions with this wonderful ministry. If you are interested in attending, check out their website www.anndowning.com/mtwr or contact me. I know that you will be truly blessed by the experience!
Please continue to pray for more open doors for our ministry. God is doing great things and we want to share about the miracles He is doing in a remote part of Africa. May God be glorified!!
This month we are collecting donations of socks for the children of New Beginnings. We need socks of varying sizes from medium children's size to adult size. The children prefer tube socks but we will accept any donations. Our goal is 250 pairs of socks for the children so that each child will receive 2 pairs. We are still collecting donations of underwear, bras, camis, and sleep pants. Thanks for giving to the Lord!
Expedition 2014 teams forming for July. Take a step of faith and join one of our teams. 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, 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 holding 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!!
SPECIAL PASTORS TRIP: 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 October. Contact our office for information and rates.
John M will return to New Beginnings later this month and I know our project coordinator is looking forward to his arrival. It has not been an easy task for Vincent to get the secondary school up and going without a board member on the ground to consult on the many decisions and to prepare for the needed inspections. Please pray for Vincent to use wisdom at this time and pray for John's safe arrival back at New Beginnings.
Our staff focus for the month of February is Jared:
Jared (back row, white shirt) stands with the students before they take their National KCP exam.
Jared is the headmaster of New Beginnings Christian Primary School. He works very hard to keep the rest of the teachers focused. He plans morning assemblies for the staff and students, teaches grade 8, works to coordinate clubs for the students, plans for special sporting and art events, he arranges for the exams including the National Exams, strives to meet the requirements of the District Education Office, and constantly works to maintain excellence in the children's education in order to improve their scores and give them a brighter hope for a better tomorrow.
Jared truly cares about his students by going far above just caring about their education. When he has seen children subject to abusive/neglectful situations in their home environments, he has been known to take children into his family's own home to help improve the child's life while they await a sponsor to be admitted to New Beginnings.
Please pray for Jared as he serves the Lord by serving the children of New Beginnings, the community of Nyasoti, and beyond. He is making a real difference in their lives every single day.
New Beginnings Christian School Secondary level started Form 1 (grade 9) on Feb 3rd. Included in the class of new students are 10 sponsored students who call New Beginnings HOME. We are so excited to see Romanus, Lizzy, Happy, Ian, Faith, Brightone, Sharon, Roney, Vincent, and Lydia move on to the secondary level of their education. Please pray for these students and all the students of New Beginnings to work hard and succeed in all that God is calling them to do. A better tomorrow begins today!
The first 2 secondary classrooms are finished and ready for the students.
Consider becoming part of our Defenders of Education!
We are still focusing on Phase 1 of the building.
Phase I will focus on those things that need immediate attention to keep things functioning. The first thing is to fence and gate the reclaimed part of the compound to keep it secure. The importance of this cannot be stressed enough and we are praying for funds to come in quickly to see this accomplished.
The second thing we need to do is to get rain gutters on many of our buildings and a few water tanks in place to ensure that we can harvest rain water and to prevent erosion around the buildings.
The third building expense will be to get our missionary house in shape before the teams arrive in the summer and to give our long-term missionaries a place to live. This means finishing an additional room that was left unfinished plus building latrines and other various things that need to be done. These are our first three priorities in building.
Phase 1.
| Donated | Still Needed | Total | |
| $600 | $400 | Fencing & Temporary Gate | $1,000 |
| $5,000 | Gutters & Water Holding Tanks | $5,000 | |
| $5,000 | MIssionary House Renovations | $5,000 | |
| $11,000 |
$10,400 still needed
The buildings need spouting and more water harvest tanks to prevent damage from run off and to collect precious water for the center.
Any donations to the building fund will be greatly appreciated!
Rosemary is 13 years old and is in grade 8. After her father's death, Rosemary's mother was unable to provide for her and she was sent to live with an uncle. Rosemary has been attending New Beginnings Christian School for the past year while she lived with her uncle. She has been waiting for a sponsor for over a year and during that time has suffered many health issues.
A decision was made to admit Rosemary to New Beginnings as an emergency case in order to assure that she has good medical care. She is a bright student but her grades have slipped because of missing so much school last year. Rosemary is asking for prayers for her health. She is also asking for prayers that she will improve in her studies but mostly she is asking us to join her in praying for a sponsor.
Another drought has hit the area and they are asking for prayers for rain. This drought is not only hurting the crops but has set off a typhoid epidemic. When it gets very dry, the typhoid spreads through the dust that is blowing. Please pray for our children that have been getting sick.
New Beginnings vegetable garden in the valley has become a victim of night stalkers. Someone in the community has been stealing our crops at night. Please join us in praying protection over our crops to feed the children.
Peter is 10 years old and lives at New Beginnings. Peter's mother died from Malaria and his father has abandoned him. Peter needs a sponsor.
By sponsoring Peter or another child for $38 a month, you will provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care and an education.
100% of all sponsor donations go to help the children
Norestine is 9 years old and lives in Kenya. Her parents live in poverty but have graciously donated land to New Beginnings. Norestine needs help.
By sponsoring Norestine or another child for $38 a month, you will provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care and an education.
100% of all sponsor donations go to help the children.
Collins is 13 years old. He was a victim of child abuse and was placed in an orphanage by a child advocacy group. Recently the orphanage closed leaving Collins without a home. He now lives at New Beginnings. Is God calling you to help Collins?
By sponsoring Collins or another child for $38 a month, you will provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care and an education.
100% of all sponsor donations go to help the children.
Shalom Christian Missions is a 501(c)3 non- profit,
dedicated to serving children in need throughout the world.
All donations are tax deductible.
A & R Rental Center-York, PA
Bon-Ton Dept Stores - York, PA
Flying Feet - York, PA
Freedom Wireless-York, PA
H & R Block -- USA
Imagineered Signs -- York, PA
This Little Light of Mine -- York, PA
Zapata Renovations -- York, PA
Ann Downing Ministries -- Hendersonville, TN
Christ American Baptist Church Youth -- Spring Grove, PA
C.R.E.W. Youth Ministry-York, PA
Eagle Christian Ministries- York, PA
Elisha's Home and Ministries - Montrose, PA
First Baptist Church - Smithville, TX
First Evangelical Lutheran Church Youth -- Chambersburg, PA
First United Church of Christ-Schuykill Haven, PA
Harvest Chapel - Abbottstown, PA
Hope For Women -- Tempe, AZ
May God bless you as you give to help the children!
Donations may be made through paypal at our website 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
