AUGUST 2022

We were absolutely delighted to have some of Sean’s family visit us in August. Not being able to travel (again!) was particularly sad as we are desperate for Anna to meet friends and family; so to have people come here was a massive blessing. Rachel’s parents are coming out in September and following that we’ve got some good friends from our home church visiting too. It is such a joy to be able to host people, share our lives here and for people to experience and see first-hand what God is up to in the Great Rift Valley. We genuinely mean it when we say that if you are reading this then that is your invitation to come and visit!

Although there were many highlights over the last few weeks, top of the list was seeing the work of Naomi’s Village through fresh eyes. Being reminded of what God has done in countless lives connected to the ministry. Naomi’s Village provides holistic, intentional, and loving care for children in need. This is achieved through 5 different programmes:

• Naomi’s Village is a fully registered children’s home designed to provide intentional care for total orphans. Through the homecoming of over 90 children, God has proven time and time again that each one is a miraculous gift that was set apart to change the world.

• MTOTO (Kiswahili for child) connects trained nurses with pregnant mothers in the community, guiding them through pregnancy, birth and infancy via routine home visits.

• At the age of three, toddlers from Naomi’s Village Home and the surrounding community merge at LEAP Preschool, where they enter into a literacy-rich, play-focused environment daily for the next two years.

• Cornerstone Preparatory Academy provides a holistic, research-based education to children, both from Naomi’s Village Home and from community families struggling with the burdens of generational poverty.

• Every child served by the ministries of Naomi’s Village has a story, and that story ties them to a community and a family. In order to holistically serve these children, the Maendeleo Initiative recognises that we must serve their communities as well. The Maendeleo Initiative partners with surrounding communities to help further their development, through micro-loans, employment training, education and practical support.

After spending time seeing the different programmes and the impact they are having Sean’s sister decided to start sponsoring a child from LEAP Preschool. It is through child sponsorship that all of these programmes are able to happen. There is an African proverb that says “ It takes a village to raise a child”. In order for the children that are part of the Naomi’s Village programmes to become leaders that change Kenya, it will take everyone’s help. To succeed, it takes a “village” of people from all different backgrounds to tap into their unique talents and passions to make a difference in the lives of these children. There are a number of children that currently need sponsoring and if this is something you would like to consider then you can find out more by following this link - https://naomisvillage.org/sponsor-a-child/.

It is a privilege for us to be involved in these programmes and to play a part in changing the narrative of this community. In Luke 10:25-37 you can read about one of Jesus' more well known parables, The Good Samaritan. At the end of the parable, in verse 36, Jesus asks his listeners “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” A leader in the community pipes up and says “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus then replies and tells him “Go and do likewise.” This is our attempt at doing that. As we show mercy to a forgotten, rural community gripped by the chains of generational poverty and the suffering that goes with that, we know that we could not go and do likewise without our "village" standing with us, supporting us and partnering with us, so thank you.