Dear Friends,
What an amazing year 2023 has been! God has blessed us beyond measure which is a direct result of you and your support for these children.
Our new management system is now fully operational and it is making a huge difference. We thank those who taught us and the staff at New Beginnings for what you did to help make this change. We now have 4 directors at New Beginnings; each heads up a different department. We also have a manager who oversees it all. Not directing each department but steering the ship to keep it on course.
Our Finance Department has made strategic changes to keep things more accountable. They have maintained the school fee collections. For community people who struggle to pay school fees, we have devised creative ways for them to pay with commodities or work. Only those in desperate situations apply for sponsorship help. This department is also working to operate our new community store with a goal of making New Beginnings become more self-sustaining.
Our education department has been working hard with a goal to bring our schools up to the top standards of Kenya. We have strategic hiring plans and strive to pay our staff well. We can see that this year our scores are much better than last year. We sent 14 students to universities and colleges all over Kenya this year, and we expect to send more next year. More people are calling to get their students enrolled in our schools.
Our child welfare department is doing a fantastic job of integrating many children back into a safe home either through counseling or finding a different family that will welcome them. They have developed an integration process that helps them monitor the safety of the home and how the child is doing when visiting. With counseling for both the child and the family, the process is moving forward. And just in time because the government children’s office recently moved into our area and this has brought MANY more children to us through the rescue efforts of the community and the government. TRAFFICKING needs to end! We are a light in the darkness for these children.
Our Operations department is working hard to keep up with all the building and maintenance that are needed to keep things moving forward. From updated mission houses to the new store, road repairs, keeping our vehicles maintained, repairing rain gutters, and even a new playground for the youngest children. The Operations job never ends. Very soon they will be starting one of the new dormitories that we desperately need.
We are so thankful to the 60 Kenyans who work every day to make this Children’s Center operate smoothly.
We are also very thankful to all of you who pray, sponsor children, and give in any way. We are very thankful to those who come to serve at New Beginnings. This past year we had over 20 people join us on the mission field. They leave an imprint that will not be forgotten. We hope they will never forget us.
For children who once had no hope for their life, especially after the death of a parent, these children are now walking miracles to testify to the goodness of God. When a student comes to you the day before leaving for a university in the city, with tears in their eyes, to thank you, to tell you they never dreamed that one day they could attend a university and now they are ready to step into that new season in their life you can’t help but PRAISE GOD!
This is a child who came to us at about 4 years of age after both her parents died. She was living with her grandmother, who had a mud house that was ready to collapse and barely had a roof in place. And now, because God touched the heart of someone to give to help change her life, she will travel to the big city and attend a university. To be a witness to what God is doing is an honor and a privilege. Even on the worst days, we can see God’s hand in all of this and give Him honor and glory for what He is doing. What an AWESOME GOD we serve.
New Beginnings has become, as many in this remote area of Kenya say, A City On A Hill, whose light is touching and changing many lives.
When asked how this all started, I say over and over that it was never something that we planned to do and had no idea how to do, BUT when God said “I’m not asking you to do it. I am asking you to be a witness to what I AM going to do.” We can be a witness! Can you? Saying yes to God will take you on one of the biggest adventures you could ever imagine. We are honored to be a witness to what HE is doing on this remote hillside in far-off Kenya. If you would be able to give us a place to WITNESS what HE is doing, we are also honored and privileged to do so. Contact us to set up a date OR come join us on the mission field. Don’t be afraid to say YES to GOD.
We hope you have a blessed New Year!
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!
Gaye Makrias
Shalom Christian Missions
Bookbags
Every July, we give each of our school children a new drawstring bookbag for school. If you like to sew, please contact us and ask for the bookbag pattern!
Drawstring Bookbags
Bras and Pajamas
Currently, we have a need for bras (all cup sizes, but not more 34" band size), camisoles, sports bras, and pajamas for our girls.
Please bring/send to our headquarters:
Shalom Christian Missions
1255 Mill Creek Rd.
York, PA 17404
We so appreciate your donations!
Please continue your prayers for our ministry to the orphans of Kenya. If you or your church are not currently on our Prayer Warriors list, contact us so that we can be sure to add you. We have weekly prayer requests going out.
We would also love to meet with you for a time of fellowship and prayer. We would be honored to come to your location, whether it is at your home or church, to pray for the needy of Kenya. These are just very blessed times and we appreciate them so much. Let us know if you would like to schedule a gathering!
A letter from one of our missionaries:
In July, I was part of a missionary team that visited New Beginnings in Nyasoti, Kenya.
While there, our team had the privilege of ministering to children of all ages as we led Bible studies, played games, and created various crafts.
It was such a joy to see the smiles on the children’s faces as we interacted with them and loved them as Jesus would.
I will never forget the laughter and the bliss that came from those special moments spent with the kids.
The yes that I gave to the Lord when I committed to going to Kenya resulted in moments of pure freedom and unforgettable joy.
It may seem somewhat bleak to simply remember a child’s smile but for me, it is something that will forever be engrained in my heart.
I have been deeply blessed by this opportunity & would encourage many others to go.
New Beginnings is a special place that is full of God’s children. Being with them will forever change your heart.
Amy
Consider joining us. Change their lives and change your life FOREVER!
We are accepting applications for the July 2024 and January 2025 teams. If you are interested, visit our Mission page to apply. If you have questions feel free to ASK. We want to do all we can to help you get on the mission field to remote Africa. We have people interested in specialized team trips that would include a special ministry focus, and possibly even a longer safari. We can make this happen. Contact us about what you feel God is calling you to do. Let's work together to create the right trip!
Consider a multi-generational family mission. We often have parents/children join us and have even had 3 generations experience missions and Africa with us. Build a memory together that will last forever. What age can join us? When traveling with a parent there is no age limit, but we recommend 10 or older. If traveling with a youth group or without a parent, you must be over 13 and have parental permission.
Most of our teams spend their days immersed in the culture and lives of the children who call New Beginnings Children's Center HOME.
Show the love of Jesus to a remote community through home visits to their modest mud houses while taking supplies to the poorest widows. Spend time with the children doing Bible School, Bible studies, and Storybook time. Enjoy their cultural songs and dances. End your trip with an awesome safari to the world-famous Masai Mara. See the animals as they live in the wild.
Change their lives AND change your life...FOREVER!
2024 Summer Trip
Tentative Dates for these teams are:
July 21 - Aug 4 (2 weeks) $1600 + airline tickets
Aug 4 - Aug 18 (2 weeks) $1600
July 7 - Aug 4 (1 month) $$2100 + airline tickets
2025 Winter Trip
Tentative Dates for these teams are:
Jan 26 - Feb 9 (2 weeks) $1600 + airline ticket
Feb 9 - Feb 23 (2 weeks) $1600 + airline tickets
Jan 12 - Feb 9 (1 month) $2100 + airline tickets
Download an application and find more details on our Missions page. You can also call us at 717-586-6945 for more information. Can't reach us because we are out of the country? Email us for a quick response.
Travel as a group OR travel alone and make new friends who will serve with you.
Discounts for leaders (of groups of 10 or more) and we do all the training/planning. Make plans to bring your whole group. Must be 13 or older to travel without a parent or guardian. But family groups are welcome.
Set up the dates NOW while there is plenty of space open.
Can't make these dates? Contact us for other dates. This is a unique opportunity to experience life in a very remote part of the world.
Don't pass it up!
For those who would like to spend a month or more with us, you can request to come as an intern for 1-3 months. Interns will be assigned a specific job to do while they are at New Beginnings.
Must be over 18 years of age to apply as a Foreign Intern. Find details on our Long-term Missions page or contact our office for details!
David is 12 years old and in 3rd grade. David's mother was homeless and taken in by a compassionate person in the community. She was pregnant and would not say where she was from. Shortly after David's birth, the mother abandoned him with the elderly woman. He has remained in her care. The woman doesn't have the means to pay for school fees and David has not had much opportunity to attend school. David needs a sponsor but will remain connected to the elderly person as his family. David needs help. Is God calling you to help David? For just $25 a month, YOU can be an answer to his prayers.
School News
We are excited for a new school year to start the second week of January. Requests for more students to join our school are through the roof. Both our schools are getting a great reputation with high scores on the national exams. This is a result of the hard work of both the students and the staff.
Our elementary school continues to grow. We have finished our first year of having a Jr High School as part of the elementary section. We look forward to adding a few new teachers to meet the requirements of this section. Our students are having amazing results and this is the reason for so much expansion and requests for those from far away for boarding.
Our high school also continues to grow. The National Exam results have not yet been released but we are having many new students already coming to enroll in our school. We are doing our best to accommodate them but we are in great need of our new dormitories. We still need the funding for the last 2 but the first one is already being built.
Pray for all our students and teachers.
We are honored to have Messiah University partnering with us to develop a Gravity Water System as part of their collaborative Engineering project. We are excited to see this integrated into New Beginnings and what it will offer. Stay tuned for more news on this in the future.
PHASE VI: Building for their Future!
We are still forging ahead with our building for 2023 which will extend into 2024. We have accomplished so much but still need some funding to complete these projects.
We have finished so many small projects around New Beginnings. Our community store has been completed and we added to the original plan to make it a gathering spot for the community. It now has a beautiful patio for those who want to come and have a refreshment and socialize. Perhaps even play a little checkers together.
Our playground for our preschool and early elementary is now leveled and plans are being made for playground equipment. This will be the perfect place for our youngest children to play. Our future plan in this area is to build a baby nursery and daycare perhaps in 2025.
Our team has worked hard over the last few months to repair classroom floors, latrines, etc to get things ready for the start of school for 2024.
We have finished the first part of our road project and hope to do more on that project in 2024. This is making it possible for vehicles to get to New Beginnings even when it rains.
We are still working on the installation of electricity to New Beginnings. There seems to be a lot of corruption connected with the power company and this has delayed our progress in this area. Your prayers are needed and will be what help that project be accomplished.
Dormitory Bunks
We have had to increase the building cost of our dormitories because we decided we needed to expand the size of each one. The funding for the first of the 3 dormitories has been reached and we have begun leveling the ground to get ready to build. The first dormitory will be for our high school and jr high school boys. They are bursting at the seams and begging for expansion.
We still need a small amount for the second dormitory which will be for our primary girls. They have also reached capacity and need more space to bring in more students.
The final dormitory in this phase will be for our high school and Jr high school girls. Their dormitories are currently within and near one of our classrooms. Plans are to build a new dormitory and then have the extra classroom (currently used as a dorm) to expand for a computer classroom. This computer classroom will be used by our schools and also to hold classes for the community. Computer training will be essential for their lives.
Any donation to the building fund will be greatly appreciated and help us to move forward in changing the lives of these children.
Renovations and Upgrades ___ Total Donated Balance needed
Electricity for the center $10,000 $4,000 $6,000
Dormitory for High School boys $16,000 $16,000 $0
Dormitory for Primary girls $16,000 $12,000 $4,000
Dormitory for High School girls $16,000 0 $16,000
Various small projects $12,000 $12,000 $0
Road Project $20,000 $3,000 $17,000
$90,000 $47,000 $43,000
Our God is a mountain-moving God and He is moving this mountain. We are halfway there. Please join us in praying for what is needed.
Any size donation to our Building Fund will help us reach our goal. Donate TODAY!
"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 finances for these projects!
Currently, we have more than 20 students in colleges/universities throughout Kenya. Our scholarship program is a great way to invest in advancing a student's education past high school. You can give to help a certain student or donate to help any who is waiting.
Students currently attending their first year at colleges and universities are Irene Joseph, Dave, Dickson, Kijana, Phenny, Linet, Tyson, Pamela, Norah, Irene Atieno, Anjeline, Papa John, and Austine.
We thank you for the support of those going on to institutions of high learning.
Sometimes our high school graduates contact us when they have been out in the world for a little while and find themselves in great need of help to go to the Next Step. Some who finish our program have found jobs or have families that will help them get to the next step, but sometimes our graduates just need that extra hand-up.
Our Next Step Program was started to help these formerly-sponsored students who come to serve our center as interns so that we can begin to train them and see if they are serious about this decision. Then we help them go on to college/trade school/etc to help them move forward. Cynthia has recently joined our Next Step Program. She is working towards a higher education in teaching.
If you would like to give to help these graduates, your one-time or monthly donation of any size will make it possible. Currently, we have several young adults working toward their goals. If you would like to help them, I know it would be greatly appreciated. Donate here and select 'College/University Scholarship Fund' or "Next Step Program" to help a young person achieve their goals!
Please share this great need with your family and friends.
PLEASE NOTE: Because of rising food costs, etc, we have made a slight change to our sponsor amount. Currently, the cost to fully sponsor a child is $100 per month. BUT you can be part of the team of sponsors for as little as $25 a month. We will find others who can partner to help each child in need. Don't delay, start TODAY! $25 can help change a life! Current sponsorship at the former amount is still acceptable and much appreciated.
A special THANK YOU to those who have joined our sponsor team. YOU are HEROS in the eyes of these children. YOU are World Changers!!
Ivon is 15 and entering 10th grade. Her mother is deceased and her father abandoned the family. She is also a single mother to a young child. She wants a better future and knows an education is the only way. She is partially sponsored but needs 1-$25 and 1-$50 sponsor. If God is tugging you to help, it would be a gift of HOPE for Ivon.
John is 6 and entering 1st grade. His father abandoned the family and the mother was forced to move with an uncle who lives along the lake. A dangerous area because of child trafficking. The mother is illiterate and only does small jobs to help support her family. John needs help. If you can help John at ANY level it will help change his life.
A child is praying...are you the answer?
100% of all sponsor donations go to help the children.
"..when you did it to the least of these...you were doing it to me!" Matthew 25:40
If you would like to sponsor a child, please visit our Sponsorship page to see which children have been praying and waiting for YOU!
If you do not wish to sponsor through Paypal you can instead let us know which child you'd like to sponsor and send a personal check to our address:
Shalom Christian Missions
1255 Mill Creek Rd
York, PA 17404
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.
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We would like to add your business or ministry to our list! Contact us TODAY!
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
