Christmas 2015 letter

Christmas 2015 letter

Greetings from En-Gedi Children’s Home

 “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also.  They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd”.  John

December 2015

 

 

Dear co-workers in the Lord,  

 

Firstly, I give all the glory and the Honour to our God who has brought us this far!  

 

Secondly, I would like to thank you all who have been (and those who have recently joined us) part of this ministry that shares God’s love with children otherwise unable to experience love; share God’s light in an area of ministry filled with the darkness of superstitions, myths and stigma –  all associated with having children who are abled differently.

 

As we close the year – the first full calendar year of En-Gedi Children’s Home (we started April 17, 2014), I take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry and Peaceful Christmas as we usher into our lives anew, the birth of the Prince of Peace – our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I also wish for all you a wonderful New Year 2016 and I look forward to continue working together in this ministry of love. 

 

Highlights for the year are thanksgiving and praises to our God and I invite you to join me in saying “thank you” to our God for:

 

  • Healthy year for all our children and staff
  • Great improvements in the abilities of our children: 2 boys learned how to sit down on their own (they lay flat on the floor); 4 boys fully potty trained; 1 girl learned to lift herself up a bit in an effort to stand; two boys learned how to mouth some words; children learned how to say simple prayers (2 can talk and others make gestures indicating praying time – trying to close their eyes); children learned how to sing (some just making some joyful noise to Jesus); 2 children learned how to count to at least #10; and all but 3 most severe participated in exercises of building blocks and playtime through the year. Indeed God is good!
  • Acquisition of 1 acre of land to build a bigger En-Gedi facility
  • A wonderful opportunity to share about God’s image in disability at En-Gedi Home, in the neighbourhood and in some villages from where the children come.
  • Visitors to En-Gedi from within Kenya and from other countries near and far
  • My first formal training on disability at a Joni & Friends conference in Uganda – sponsored by Elim Christian Services
  • My very educative visit to Chicago – courtesy of Elim Christian Services
  • My visit to Michigan, Colorado, South Dakota, Minnesota and Washington State – courtesy of all you who ensured that my travels were covered; that I had warm and lovely homes to stay in; that I shared wonderful visits and meals with many of you and that my necessities were all met.
  • A very successful launch for a fundraising campaign to build the new En-Gedi facility – courtesy of an anonymous donor who requested us to march his US$50,000 gift. Please feel free to continue to give towards this matching fund and celebrate the beginning of construction early 2016.
  • Renewed commitment by a brother who pays current En-Gedi house rent and utilities
  • Renewed commitment by a sister who donated and who continues to manage En-Gedi website
  • Increased financial support towards En-Gedi ministry

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2016!

Margaret Njuguna

 

 

P O Box 763-00204, Athi River, Kenya    (megnjuguna@gmail.com)

Web. www.en-gedichildrenwithhope.org

 

April 2015

En-Gedi Children’s Home – Kenya - #6

In this update, we feature David Lonkututi who came to us 8 months ago.  He came looking very weak and didn’t talk.  His family said he did not know how to talk but just within a few days, he started responding to us talking Ki-Maasai – his mother tongue.  I was on the internet looking up words he was saying.  Then he started repeating every word we said to him and within a few weeks David was talking.  His family didn’t talk to him, so they assumed he couldn’t talk.  The other thing David could not do was to seat on his own or make any movements.  He learned how to move flat on the floor – slithering like a snake.  Then he learned how to raise his knees a bit, and the latest is David seating down on his own.  He builds blocks and is learning how to count and to write. 

Towards the end of February, we were privileged to have a visit from two of my friends from Colorado – Ihla and Ruthie and they both were a big blessing to us and together we enjoyed being with the En-Gedi children and staff for a week.  We also were blessed with visit by two officials from Set Free Ministries and another couple from Edmonton, Alberta. 

Taking care of these children and sharing love has brought me very close to my God as many times, I keep checking myself out regarding the call to serve.  Sometimes the children wear me out with play and exercises which is done mostly on the floor and their laughter, and the different ways they all express their joy keep humbling me and keeping me rededicating myself to His service.  Our children are the happiest – and those who have visited us can ascertain that.  The continuing improvement in their different faculties keeps affirming our motto:  “DOING OUR BEST AND GOD DOING THE REST”.  

Our latest lesson has been potty training for 2 boys; one who cannot say a word and the other who struggles to say something.  We are about 60% towards success in that.  And now I have realized that I need some special toilet seats and even children walkers and I am praying that somehow I will get some.

would like to take this chance to thank all of you who have joined me in this ministry of sharing God’s love.  We care for 10 children and in another couple weeks, we will take in a very desperate child abandoned at a relative’s home by a single mom when she noticed the disability with the baby.

Thank you for your thoughts, prayers and all different kinds of support.  For those of you who sent my birthday (March 29) wishes:  – Ahsante sana. 

To support,   you can send a check to “Set Free Ministries” and clearly indicate “En-Gedi” on the memo line.   You will receive a tax receipt from SFM.   Address: 

Set Free Ministries
700 36th S.E.  Suite 108
Grand Rapids, MI 49548 US
Phone: (616) 726-5400:  Fax:  616-726-5404

Prayer Requests: 

  • For continued health to all our children and staff
  • For continued provision towards our daily needs
  • For God to give us a bigger facility so that we take in a few more children
  • For victory over terrorists attacks from neighboring country.

FEBRUARY 2015 UPDATE

FEBRUARY 2015 UPDATE

God has indeed been faithful and very present with us at En-Gedi Home.  We closed the year 2014 with our lovely 10 children: 8 boys and 2 girls – all aged between 3 and 8 years.   Besides the many many gifts that we received for Christmas from friends near and far, we got one special gift which was life, but unfortunately had to give it’s life for us to cerebrate a meal. 

 

One of the Maasai parents (we have 3 boys from the normadic Maasai herdsmen) brought a life goat which was slaughtered and barbaqued for En-Gedi staff and some boiled for soup for En-Gedi kids.    We also received many visitors mainly from my Presbyterian Church, but also from Churches and families around our local town and the greater Nairobi area.

We witnessed God’s blessings through the Christmas season and into the new Year.    Our Part-time Occupational Therapist continued attending to the children a couple times a week and she has already taught us how to do work-outs with the kids.  The three wonderful Moms have continued to work well with me and with the children and we give God all the glory and the honor. 

 

The smiles, laughter and different kinds of noises from our kids is an indicator of a home full of joy.  With the children, we build blocks, try to hold pencils to write and try to learn how to read.  Interesting because of the 10 children, only 2 can talk a bit and still none can walk.  All the 10 are bathed each day and 9 use nappies/diapers.  The 2 who can talk a bit have learned how to pray – using just a few wordsand they pray for every meal. 

 

Godfrey has continued to exercise his leg after surgery, but he still cannot walk.  He is able to stand with some support, but still needs continued therapy and we are doing that with him.  Godfrey is very gifted with designs and we see it when he makes different designs with building blocks.  

dedication update

Dedication Update

Dear beloved friends and supporters:  first and foremost is to thank you all for warm welcome when I was in your country last spring/early summer.  Our time together was a blessed time.  Secondly, please allow me to share this pictorial memorable event of our July 7 En-Gedi facility dedication.  You were all well represented by 17 guests from the US and Canada who attended the event.  

Parents/guardians of the kids

En-Gedi Board Members

Wheelchairs donation by the Rotary Club of Kitengela

One highlight: all the guardians and parents of our children were invited and all attended and came with various gifting both to the children and to the guests.  Glory and honor go to our God who has walked with me in developing and building good relationships with these families.

BEAUTIFUL AFRICA

Beautiful Africa

The terrain of Kenya is diverse. Kenya has a coastline on the Indian Ocean containing swamps of East Aftican mangroves. Inland you will see plains and valleys.The Kenyan Rift Valley is home to Kenya’s highest mountain, Mount Kenya and Mount Elgon on the border between Kenya and Uganda.  In western Kenya you will see the Kakamega Forest,  a relic of an East African rainforest.  Mau Forest, however is much larger. It is the largest forest complex in East Africa.

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