Emmanuel Baptist Church Testimonies

Pastor Raymond from Emmanuel Baptist Church in Hadu, Kenya was sure to point out that “all these testimonies are real!” And that these people increased their giving to the Lord and participated gratefully in fundraising for the church. All these years, Pr Raymond has been growing fruit from the seeds we sowed so many years ago. I thank God that he allowed us to enjoy it.

Sister Mary began selling porridge as she walked around town and she says she is “doing great!” She also makes charcoal to sell in town too.

Esther and her husband started a new shop after attending Surprised by Hope’s Entrepreneurship teachings. She said that those teachings opened up the way she thinks and now she has confidence in her business and her abilities as a result.

Sister Fatuma is happily selling chai, chapatti and more in her food kiosk. She started this business after the teaching too. She served Pr Ephantus and Pr Raymond as they met to discuss her new business. Pr Ephantus said, “Mmmm, it’s very nice food for sure.”

Christine is happy to be selling her home utensils and close in this new shop she started after the lessons. The teaching about knowing how to use their assets creatively really helped her.

Mama Gladys, Pastor Raymond’s wife, started selling fruits and vegetables as a result of the teaching. 

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Abaana Ministries Testimonies

Surprised by Hope spent three days with leaders from 13 Christian primary schools associated wtih Abaana Ministries back in March. We introduced these leaders to the first and second sessions of the Entrepreneurship Series and when we returned last week to deliver the third and fourth sessions we received so many wonderful testimonies.

Some of these changes seem rather obvious; however, when asked why these income generating projects had not yet been started most responded that they just never realized they were possible. We praise God for reminding these leaders that they are created in His image and for refreshing their creative thinking abilities.

Arise & Shine Primary School

Our problem was the need for a temporary structure for P3 and P5 students and our lack of funds. We called the parents who were unable to pay school fees and asked them to contribute anything they were able toward that payment. These parents brought bricks, sand, and poles, which were used to construct these classrooms.

Prince of Peace

Our problem was that the nursery classroom structure broke down and we lacked funds to rebuild it. We asked parents to contribute what materials they had and we are now constructing that new block.

New Foundation Primary School

Our problem was that providing food for the children was difficult without fully paid school fees. We had land that could be sold to buy food, but after this teaching we realized we could clear the bushes and planted crops like cassava, maize, beans to use to feed our puples.

Christ Church International

Our problem is a general lack of funds in the church. We had land that was unused due to lack of sufficient funds. Pr Moses and his group contributed small money which they used to plant four acres of maize and they are expecting a lot of profit from the crop this season.

Calvary Chapel Kasega

Our church was under foreign financial support and was suddenly cut off, which effected the income of the church in the village. However, we had land and so after this teaching Pr Augustine went back and sat with the committee who decided to clear that land very well and plant maize of one and a half acres, which will be a new way the church can get income.

Kisole Baptist Primary School Busia

Our problem was a general lack of sustainable funds in the school. After we left this training, we went back in Busia and bought three piglets and 1,500 bricks. We wanted to erect the structure for these animals as a school project for side income.

Buyobe CU Nursery & Primary School

After the teaching we were really so much challenged. When we went back we called for the committee meeting where we planned and agreed to do a project of a piggery. Right now we built their houses and we have paid for piglets from one of the good farmers in our village (waiting for them to be weaned) for our project.

Lady Taina (?) Nursery & Primary School

After getting the training we went and rented land of four acres. We planted maize, 2 acres and then we are going to plant beans 2 acres. We did not already have this land and got the idea from your teaching about how it could help us.

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Pull the Net Testimony

The pastors of Pull the Net studied the first half of the Entrepreneurship Series several months back and this week the Surprised by Hope team joined these pastors in learning the second half of that series. Eager as ever, they were highly attentive and many were keenly understanding of the concepts. As evidence of the understanding from the previous sessions, the group testified that the teaching works by together starting a poultry project that would provide for their financial needs as pastors. The project is relatively new, but they already have 300 chickens growing, growing, growing in preparation for being roasted, boiled, and fried.

I'm so proud of their efforts and their eager learning. As we taught the second portion of the entrepreneurship series we used this poultry project as our example, along with a few individual pastor projects, so that the group would have solid ideas for who their target market is, how to market their product, and how to gain competitive advantage. I love when we can use specific projects to address questions in detail so that they are helped in a way that requires as little transfer as possible.

Pray for these pastors as they learn to care for these chickens so that they remain healthy and multiply. Pray that they would continue thinking big in how they approach their business and that the Lord would have favor on them in all their dealings. Pray for the lady who offered their chicken house free of charge. Pray that her small shop would be blessed such that she would never demand an unreasonable fee for that house but that instead she would accept the blessing of the Lord as her reward.

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Shared Hope for Orphans Testimony

When the Surprised by Hope team arrived at the Light Academy Primary School compound, we were shocked by all the positive changes that had taken place over the short time since we first stood on this same plot and prayed for exactly what we saw in front of us. While they are receiving some outside support, the leaders' implementation of the entrepreneurship teaching Surprised by Hope delivered, and their faithful accountability, has taken them far.

The Spirit impressed in me the need to prayer walk for the school and for the Shared Hope for Orphans compound. The SbH team, the various school leaders, and all the children who remained after breaking for the holiday tromped around the outer edges calling out to God to let his will be done, to protect them all from evil pursuers, and to shower them with his love and blessings.

What a joy that you have allowed us to play a small part in the success of this school and orphanage. Thank you!

August 2013

Classrooms

Future boys dormitory.

Bathrooms

Following the prayer walk, we all gathered in the center for final prayers.

Alone's mzee donated the land for this project. He must be very proud.
The two Caucasians next to me are working on adoption through
Shared Hope for Orphans.

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Mother's Care Technical and Nursery School

Jasper attended the Entrepreneurship Series some time ago. I remember his practical application project being a technical school, but hadn't heard about his progress. Often students have viable ideas but don't do anything with them - having the belief that God will plop something into their lap from the sky. Not Jasper, though. Jasper applied what he learned and opened Mother's Care Technical School where students learned either tailoring or brick making. With the proceeds from that school, Jasper then opened Mother's Care Nursery and Primary School where almost 100 children attend.

Upon learning about this amazing application testimony, I was determined to visit during the short time of daylight following our class time. Welcome songs filled the air, songs where my name appeared many times. The technical students and the primary students were all talented when dramatizing this momentous event. Why momentous?

Jasper relayed that the inspiration for the schools came from the Surprised by Hope teaching. As a result, he named the schools Mother's Care. He said that his mother was also a widow and that our collective care for him and his future was like a mother's care. During this ceremony, Jasper officially renamed his youngest daughter and reported that others are now also calling her "doctor." Oh boy.

I'm proud of Jasper and his application of what he learned. Clearly the material helps those who co-labor with the Lord. Please pray for him as he continues to expand both schools in an effort to honor the Lord.

Head girl.

My new namesake.

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Sensible Shoes for Orphans from Joyce, Marian, Elaine, Martha Anne, and Nancy

Not long after delivering the Entrepreneurship Series teaching-ministry, Pastor Patrick opened a simple school for orphans just down the road from his church, Christ Fountain Ministries. This was his practical application of the material he'd learned. Divine Palace Orphan Center was filled with 86 children from the vast surrounding area. The children welcomed us with a song and big smiles on their faces.

Sharing with all the children about walking in the way of love (Ephesians 5:1) is as always a blessing. We talk about practical ways kids can love one another, not just the philosophic "be nice" kind of speech. I don't know if the simple teaching helps but the prayers certainly do.

Following the teaching I washed the feet of 13 shoeless children. Their bright shoes stark against the dust covered everything else. So many brave little ones sat on the simple bench with their feet in the water. Still as stone but not screaming for mommy…oh, right…they don't have a mommy.

It was a privilege to pray for the school, the children, and the teachers before we left. Will you please continue praying for them as well?

Praying for and laying hands on the children.

Praying for the teachers.

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Pastor Yoram's Termite House

The land where his dilapidated temporary house was erected proved impossible for brick making. Being a creative thinker, Pastor Yoram asked a nearby neighbor if he could chop down the termite mounds covering his plot. A welcome service, the neighbor agreed.

Pastor Yoram used that clay from those termite mounds to make bricks and build his house. Proud of his accomplishment, he wanted the muzungu to sleep in that house at least once before departing. We all shifted to the beautiful mountainside where the unfinished house rested almost four kilometers from the church. Four kilometers may not seem like much but when you hand carry two 20 liter containers of water uphill and downhill to provide for the family every day…you might change your mind.

The first muzungu to visit the entire clan, so says Pastor Yoram’s 80+ year old father, we were gifted with Julia who quickly became the responsibility of Pastor Gerald given that he was already keeping Frank the rooster. Pastor Yoram’s wife had a badly infected finger – probably from using an unclean knife (see the water issue noted above) and so I left all the medicine that remained for getting the last of the glob out of my leg. I told Pastor Yoram that he would most certainly need to take her to a doctor as the infection seemed to me to be bad enough to quickly lead to infection of the blood and finger amputation and all those other nasty possibilities. He received the news graciously and I suspect he wondered how exactly he would manage to get her the needed medical treatment.

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