He ain’t heavy Mister—he’s m’ brother!

Shared by Cindy May and Andrea Thiele

Nyakambene,  a modern day Boy’s Town.

While the burden of Nyakambene appears to be heavy, once picked up, we realize it is no burden at all. It is pure joy! The Hollies and Neil Diamond had it right. “He ain’t heavy. He’s my brother!” I didn’t realize that song had part of its origins in Boy’s Town. “He ain’t heavy Mister—he’s m’ brother!”

Ah, I pray for all of us today, that we would despise the fear that grips our hearts and take hold of the joy that stands before us in Nyakambene.

Cindy

5/20 Update from Drea–while visiting Nyakambene with Cyrus and crew today.

Today was a long…but great day. We traveled to Nyakembene to meet with the children, tell stories, share a short sermon, have a feeding program, and pass out some clothes. 

This was a hard day. The kids there are so desperate and poor. Most only get 1 meal, if that, per day. All of their clothes are worn to nothing, holes and falling off. They are in such need of Jesus and much need of food. 

When you have food every day and you know where your next meal is coming from, it is so easy to rest in that confidence. But when you have nothing, with no promise of anything more, you are hopeless. 

When we passed out the supplies today, you could see the urgency in everyone’s faces. The children crowded, pushed and shoved and fought, to get their food, although there was enough for everyone. The are not assured their next meal, so this one is very important, as it may be their last. 

The children there are much different then the loved kids here in Kisii. They don’t have that look in their eyes that they are well cared for, secure, loved. They look like they are longing, suffering, angry, hopeless, and restless. 

Just as we were once separate from God, outside the gate, dying without hope, so are these people of Kenya. They need to know they are loved, wanted, important, remembered…they need to know there is a God in heaven who loves and cares for their every need! How? How will they know?? 

WE ARE THE REMEDY! If we follow Jesus…the only way to display his love is by ACTION!  The whole world is waiting…the whole earth is crying out and longing for the love of Jesus to come to touch them. We need to be the hands and feet of Christ, we are their hope, we are their security! Through the power of Jesus Christ in you and me…we can spread hope to a desperate world. Don’t let it overwhelm you, just take the first step of faith, Jesus will give you the courage to do the rest. 

As I sit here typing this, I can hear the kids outside singing, “Praise the Lord, Hallelujah!” This is what our God is worthy of. This kind of praise. As quoted by John Piper, “Missions exist because worship doesn’t.” 

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Martina’s Home! First Two Rooms are Complete

Shared by Cindy May and Pastor Experito

Below is an email Pastor Experito sent along with a photo of the first two rooms of Martina’s home, which have been completed enough for them to move in.  I think possibly the most exciting thing in this photo is the water tank that you see off to the left.  The rain water from the iron sheet roofing collects in this container…and thus, hours of hauling dirty water are completely eliminated.

As the house is expanded, more iron sheet roofing will be added, and more water collected. So exciting!

Email from Experito:

We have been taught by our Lord Jesus, that we freely receive and freely we give…You have been on the fore in that regard we are emulating.

Martina is all smiles upon completion of her two roomed house. She is arranging a grand entrance….It is exciting to behold  her as she moves up and down celebrating gratefully.

Hugs,

Experito

MARTINAS HOME

 

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Pictures of Martina’s Home….In Progress!

Shared by Drea Thiele and Cindy May
Hi Drea,
Martina has a different story to tell in Koch Goma. Every day people come to see whether the house built is really hers, at her advanced age.
We are going to put in a water harvest tank for her. There is no bounds with the joy Martina currently curries. Many thanks and abundant blessings to the faithful donors for this incredible life changing experience in Martina’s family.
Hugs,
Experito
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In a couple of weeks, a small team will be traveling to Koch Goma to visit Pastor Experito and his family, as well as Martina.  We always like to take gifts, and asked Experito what they would enjoy.  If you’d like to purchase any gifts, please see the list below and email us to let us know what you’d like to donate.  Items can be dropped off or mailed to the Thiele home in Surprise, Arizona.
Hi Drea,
Thank you for your usual concerns in that you have always come to Africa NEVER empty handed. Much as our thoughts matter in making it possible for you to know what might be a priority to put in the suitcase for your other family in Africa. Experience has taught me that you have always been much in the spirit and have done much more than what would be our shopping list. However,we have never lost appetite for both creamy and crunchy peanut butter, kids wear and their no tears Top to Toe Wash has been amazing!!!  The Adult and kids lotion are another story…..undergarments as well as outfits, bring another flavor to our life. Suits and t-shirts are a tale always to tell.
Many Thanks,
Experito
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Martina’s Joy Update

Shared by Cindy May and Andrea Thiele

You may remember the earlier post about a widow named Martina.
Thanks to your gifts, we have had the privilege of sending $5,000 to begin construction on her home.  This isn’t just a larger home with room for 15 children to sleep.  It is clean water.  It is health.  It is opportunity for schooling.
The iron sheets that will eventually be installed as the roof of her home will collect rain water in a large tank.  The water will then be filtered for use. (This is the same system that Experito and Justine now have…again thanks to your generosity!).  Because the water will always be filtered and clean, health issues will be greatly reduced.  And because the children won’t have to haul water, they will save precious calories and have time to attend school.
A little love goes a long, long way.
Enjoy this video!  Pictures of construction will follow soon.
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Faith in Action

Shared by Andrea Thiele

I had a SKYPE call from Cyrus 2 days ago. His heart was broken from caring for 10 children from Naykembene. He said that if we were there we would surly cry. He found some kids by the river and the children had nearly starved to death, and have no clothes and are very dirty. He took the 10 home to feed them and bathe them. I began to pray about it after our call, and found myself in tears. We don’t “face” that kind of tragedy on a daily bases, or on a yearly basis for that matter. We are hidden from starvation, abuse, homelessness. It is rare that we see a child sitting on the side of the road, begging for food (I have never seen one, except with a parent and then maybe only 3 times in my life in the US). I had to cry out to God, literally.

He is the only one who saves! God you are the one who provides what these children need, help us, help them! I asked myself the question, “What would I do, in Cyrus’ shoes?” I would do the SAME thing. I would bring the 10 children home and then ask, no beg, humbly for help from Jesus and my Christian comrades who had more than enough to help me and the kids. There is no way I could turn my back and leave them in that condition, Cyrus couldn’t either.

I asked the Lord to provide in every way for these children, then began to tell him the task is so BIG. Who are we? Kenya, Uganda, Africa is so big full of hunger, homelessness and disease. Who are we? He reminded me, we are to take steps of obedience, he loves these kids more then me, more than Cyrus, MORE! He just wants us to obey and trust Him. To me the task seems so daunting  at times. Then he reminded me that Abraham’s faith was accredited to him as righteousness, and was made complete in action! Romans 4:3, Hebrew 11:17, James 2:22

I say all of this to encourage you for the task at hand, so that we don’t become weary of the calling. Sometimes I know that I can become weary of trying to figure out where the money is going to come from, or how we can do one more thing. This was timely for me today, hopefully it will encourage you as well.

Blessing to you dear friends,

Drea

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Transformation in Kochgoma- Part 2 of 2

Shared by Cindy May

Lawrence Ogwal, age 12, loves animals and wants to be a veterinary doctor. His parents are too poor to pay for schooling.

Lawrence Ogwal, age 12, loves animals and wants to be a veterinary doctor. His parents are too poor to pay for schooling.

Peter Ogwang is age 14.  He stopped in 5th grade, unable to afford to continue.  He is currently digging to support some of his 8 siblings.

Peter Ogwang is age 14. He stopped in 5th grade, unable to afford to continue. He is currently digging to support some of his 8 siblings.

You may have heard Experito mention in the video yesterday the long-range vision for Kochgoma: a complete school kindergarten through high school. We have been praying about and for this school for several years. The nursery school/kindergarten built a couple of years ago is the beginning of this project.

* Nearly 1000 children in Kochgoma are not attending school…because there is not one within a reasonable distance to attend. Most are hungry or sick. And all are affected by the 20+ year war.

* The dream we share with Experito is that all 1000 children could not only attend school and be educated about health care and learn how to provide for themselves, but also be trained in Worldwide Perspectives/Pathways during their high school years.

* We pray, trust and hope that this school would become a launching pad for sending well-trained students to take the gospel into the un-reached areas of northern Africa (which is in the 10/40 window).

Lawrence and Peter are two of the 1000 children living in Kochgoma who are currently not attending school.

The estimated cost of building the school (including planting food, providing school uniforms and shoes for everyone, building latrines and showers, and providing dormitories to students who are too far to safely walk) is $1,100,000 or about $1100 per student.

One-time “Sponsorship”

You can sponsor 1 child… or 2 or 5 or 10…or more :)  By sponsoring a child, you will be contributing to the cost of building the school and providing the children with uniforms and shoes and other schooling needs. The sponsorship amount of $1100 per child can be given all at once or over the period of a year.

RADICAL Challenge

The Church at Brook Hills, where David Platt pastors, took one year to join forces and take the RADICAL challenge. The challenge is–for a period of one year– to make a plan to forego our comforts to meet the needs of the world around us. The goal is to spend as little as possible and give as much as possible.

Remember the Poor is planning to provide funding for Martina’s home ($30,000), and funding for the school for 1000 children in Kochgoma ($1,100,000). All 15 of Martina’s children are included in the 1000 who need sponsorship. 100% of your donations will go directly toward these projects.

If you, your family, your small group or your church will be joining Remember the Poor for a RADICAL challenge during 2013, would, you let us know by leaving a comment or sending an email? We’d love it if you would share your ideas on what you plan to do to to cut back on comforts to make more available to give. We’ll compile ideas and share them in a later blog post.

As I was writing this, I was reminded of Paul’s encouragement to the church at Philippi. They had been giving to meet Paul’s needs, to “share in his troubles.” He reminded them: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” As we give, we can do so with confidence that God will meet our every need.

To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Philippians 4:20

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Transformation in Kochgoma- Part 1 of 2

Shared by Cindy May

Frank and I count this man, Pastor Experito, and his family, among our dearest of friends. Immense thanks to Pastor Jonathan Celoria of Palm Vista Church for putting this video together. The children you see in this video are sitting outside the kindergarten school in Kochgoma, the structure funded by RTP donors.

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