April 2015

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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

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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

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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

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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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AUTUMN HI-LITES

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Autumn Hi-lites

“I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength for my work. I thank him for considering me worthy and appointing me to serve him” (1 Timothy 1:12)

Time for another update from us:  All our children have been well, healthy and happy.  The oldest child is now 13 years and the youngest is 2 years old.  The care givers have joyfully continued to serve diligently and have developed close friendships with the children.  We give glory and honor to God for His continued providence.  All of you receiving this update are in various forms and different ways co-workers with us at En-Gedi.  May our faithful and loving God bless us all together as we serve Him.
En-Gedi home is not only a great home that offers love and care to children with special needs, but also a home where people come to learn how to look at life from a different perspective. In the recent past in this country, we have lost several prominent people – some senior in the government, others CEOs in very successful corporations.  As the country mourned for these VIPs, the many Kenyans who visited En-Gedi home during this time expressed a humbling experience after they saw happy and healthy children whose mental and physical inabilitiesare so great, yet peacefully relaxing and breathing normally as they enjoyed their life – despite all the limitations.  My take in this is: “indeed life belongs not to us, but to our Creator”.  I am likewise humbled as I continue to care for these lovely children.   I can confidently say that many of the people who come to visit En-Gedi get a life changing experience, and more so because many return and some commit to some kind of support.
The last 3 months has seen many North Americans come to visit us and I am ever thankful for all the connections through myalma mater (Calvin University {formerly “College”}) and my many years of service with the Christian Reformed Church of North America through World Renew. Very special thanks to all of you for being part of this life changing ministry.  The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace – now and always.

I am thankful to God that many parents of challenged children have been freed from the full time job of taking care of their children and gotten involved in economic activities that improve their livelihoods; thankful too that these children have been given opportunities to develop and use their bodies and minds to their fullest ability, whatever that may be.

Notable was a day’s visit with Calvin Christian High School. Thanks to all who came as families, friends, individuals and organized groups. We love visitors.

We are so blessed to have this facility to house our children. We are so blessed to have a loving staff to care for them. For all, to God be the glory!

WE pray for continued health for our children and their caretakers.

Praises & Prayer requests: a) Praise God with us for His provisions each day; b) Praise God that En-Gedi has continued to be a model Home for Christ’s love for His special children.  Prayer requests: a) Pray for continued health for all the kids and the care givers; b) pray that we get enough funds for a van to help us with our community visits.

To donate by check, please make your check payable to:

Set Free Ministries, 700 36th St. SE, Suite 108. Grand Rapids, MI 49548 US

Please indicate En-Gedi on the memo line.                                               Https://setfreemin.org

You can also wire funds directly to En-Gedi US$ account in Kenya.

For those in Kenya, you can give via M-pesa or direct bank transfer.

 

Margaret Njuguna, En-Gedi Children’s Home,    P. O. Box 763-00204, Athi River, Kenya

Tel. +254-710-395756; +254-733-972027      website: https://en-gedichildrenwithhope.org

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms”. 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

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