OCTOBER 2022

Over the last few weeks teams from Naomi's Village, led by the ministry social workers, have been going out into the surrounding communities to carry out poverty assessments. Each year 100 children are added to LEAP, the pre-school programme that is one of the five programmes run by Naomi's Village.The poverty assessments identify families who are most at risk and therefore the children cannot attend school. It is these families, the poorest of the poor, that are offered a place at LEAP. Once the children have spent two years at LEAP they graduate to Cornerstone Preparatory Academy. As part of Sean's role he was invited to participate in some of the assessments this year. It was an incredibly humbling experience and a very tangible reminder of why we are here, to educate, equip and empower a generation to change their community and break the generational cycle of extreme poverty. Time and time again Sean heard first hand from parents who were grateful to Cornerstone Preparatory Academy and Naomi's Village for helping them with their daily burdens and providing their children with a place in school. This year, the poverty assessments have been particularly harrowing with many more families than usual struggling due to a lack of rain. Many of the families live hand to mouth so when the crops and vegetables on their small allotments fail, it leaves them in a very dire situation. Kenya is going through the worst drought in a generation and up in the Northern part of the country things have been desperate for a number of months. The north is particularly arid so when rains fail it has a significant impact. It has been so bad this year that we are also feeling the effects in the Great Rift Valley. At home we have felt the effects as well, we have had to limit our amount of washing, not flush toilets and minimise washing up and baths. Although it has been frustrating with two active young boys and a baby, our inconveniences are trivial compared to those around us and we are grateful for what we have. Through this recent difficult time being faced by so many we are reminded of the provocation in Galatians 2:10 to "remember the poor''. You can read a brief but great article about that particular passage here.

At the start of October we saw the last of our visitors arrive. Having our good friends Tim and Aimee and their baby girl with us was truly wonderful. Their enthusiasm and passion for what God is doing here was contagious. Often we can get bogged down in the challenges and difficulties that face us, but Tim and Aimee's joy and enthusiasm was such a blessing and encouragement to us. We were able to be reminded of all what God is doing here. A week or so after they left it was Jonah's birthday. That was also a good reason for Tim and Aimee coming out- they were able to bring out Jonah's birthday presents! Jonah turned 9 and had a great day, he had a football party with his mates from school. After Jonah's party the countdown to the UK was in full swing. We are intending to fly back to the UK on the 11th November. However, Kenya Airways pilots are planning to go on strike so that could prevent us from travelling. Despite talks breaking down last week and the strike still currently going ahead, at the time of writing things seem to be heading in the right direction and we really hope we can make it back for Christmas. Us and travelling has become a bit of a joke with the pandemic, passports and now strikes. We really hope that we will be able to catch up with many of you in person soon.