Our Christmas Day celebration was a huge success. The tiny
PEMA Church in Mjanaheri, Kenya was overflowing with adults and children alike.
Surprise, I was told that I would be preaching that morning and thankfully the Lord
brought to mind Isaiah 9:6, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given.”
I asked how many of the parents would “give” their child away after he or she
was born. None volunteered....
Monday, December 26, 2016
100 Christmas Dollies 2016: Dolly Giving
The children of PEMA Church in Majanaheri, Kenya received dollies for Christmas along with a traditional Christmas meal. Thank you to all our sponsors, we could not have done this without you! As always, the younger children are challenged to smile "cheka" in the photos. Some of them had real personality, though. Take a look.
...
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
100 Christmas Dollies: #GivingTuesday
Have you heard about #GivingTuesday? Giving Tuesday was created to unite us all in a day of
generosity, to make a difference in the world any way we choose to at the start
of this busy holiday season. Every year Surprised by Hope officially launches
its 100 Christmas Dolly campaign on #GivingTuesday and we’d like you to join
us.
What is the 100 Christmas Dolly campaign?
We identify a pastor and...
100 Christmas Dollies 2016: Building Churches
Every holiday season, Surprised by Hope launches its 100
Christmas Dollies campaign and the most commonly remembered message is that
children receive dollies for Christmas. But the program is so much more than
that.
Those dollies are indeed a lovely gift but, even more so, the
money raised from dolly sponsorship is gifted to a church who has applied what
they’ve learned from our business teachings...
Monday, November 28, 2016
100 Christmas Dollies 2016: Child Recipients
Gifting children on Christmas day is perhaps one of my
favorite activities. Take a look at just a few of those happy faces and then
read more about each story.
The children of Victory Christian
Fellowship received 100 Christmas Dollies in 2015. They made quite a
procession out of that wonderful gift giving day. Gathered under the tree, and
out of the hot sun, we shared the...
Sunday, November 27, 2016
100 Christmas Dollies 2016: Select Your Dollies
More than 100 adorable, handmade dollies are waiting to find
their new home with boys and girls in Kenya. Every year the 100 Christmas
Dollies program unites these dollies with new families who are associated with
the selected church. This year the children of PEMA Church will receive the
dollies because Pr James and the church members faithfully applied what they
learned from our Entrepreneurship...
Saturday, November 26, 2016
100 Christmas Dollies 2016: Dolly Makers
Every year Surprised by Hope gives 100 dollies to children
in East Africa for Christmas. In the process of that giving, we share the story
of Jesus’s birth with 100 children closely gathered around. The gift of these
dollies to the children is very much like the gift Jesus is to all of us, and
the children learn to love and thank God for that gift.
The first dolly maker—my beautiful mother—never...
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
100 Christmas Dollies 2016: Beneficiary Announcement
Pastor Ephantus proudly wore his new Surprised by Hope shirt to a community meeting where he represented us well. Before the meeting began, however, Pastor James excitedly introduced himself and said, “I know that lady! I know that lady!” while pointing to the logo on Pr Ephantus’s shirt.
Pastor James attended our first ever business workshop in Watamu, Kenya almost four years ago. Though...
Monday, November 14, 2016
A Rabbit Trail Day
I opened the kitchen cupboard to pull out a pen and saw six plastic
boxes holding a variety of household items. Surely six is too many. I set about
condensing those items the result of which was two Jiff jar storage containers and
one storage box with a few officey things contained within. I sat down in the
middle of my living room to finish sorting the Legos I’ll use for some business
education...
Thursday, October 13, 2016
Africa and Missions
African having been raised under African Traditional
Religion experience religion in terms of the Old Testament and pass those
beliefs and practices along to their children and grandchildren. The New
Covenant was introduced about 100 years ago when western missionaries first
arrived. Shortly after realizing the abundance of resources on the continent, a
very cruel colonization began. Present day...
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Generational Curses
In answer to the question: What role do generational curses have in our lives today? I searched the Scriptures for the keywords “generation” and “curse.” Exodus 20 seems to be the source of many beliefs about generational curses saying that God is “punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me” (v 5) despite the specific application...
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Kibera Slum Tour
Guest blog writer,
Cindy Faber, shares her experience touring the Kibera Slum.
Most of us have an idea of what a slum looks like. Either because
we've seen one in the city or have seen a depiction of one on TV or in the
movies. But how many of us truly have seen it first hand? Have you walked
through the streets and among the people that live there?
A few of us had the opportunity to visit...
Giraffe Center and Elephant Orphanage
Guest blog writer, Cindy Faber,
shares about her experience at the Giraffe Center and Elephant Orphanage in Karen, Kenya.
One of my favorite animals is
the Giraffe. Perhaps it's because they are so tall and graceful, yet awkward.
Whatever the reason, I'm totally in love with them. Especially after visiting the
Giraffe Center in Nairobi where we had the chance to get up close and personal
with...
Friday, August 19, 2016
Love & Respect Ministry Team: Behind the Scenes
Perhaps these aren't so much "Behind the Scenes" as pictures that I like and didn't really fit in any of the other blog posts. I didn't get all the pictures from the team so let's encourage them to post as well.
Together with my Aunt Jean in Nairobi at the beginning of our trip.
SOOOOOOOO happy!...
Sunday, August 14, 2016
Nairobi National Park
Our morning at Nairobi National Park was cool and beautiful. What an honor to experience such a place filled with wild animals with the bustling Nairobi city around all sides.
...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)