Kenya Experiences ~ Jennifer

There is just something about finally giving in to the will of the Lord and seeing him make big things happen. That moment when you finally surrender and put your hope in him and things start falling into place.  I think hope is a universal language. We have been putting our hope in the Lord for years. Hope for the kids we've come to love. Hope for the kids we hadn't even met yet, only seeing them on the streets as we passed by. Hope that this dream we have would make a difference in the lives of kids around the world. 

   I saw hope on the faces of the kids we met at the first meal hosted by 29:11, Inc. and the kids of Victorious Children's Home and Mission to the Fatherless. I saw it when they played with a brand new soccer ball, and brand new Frisbees they had to be taught to throw. I saw it on faces of kids who, even though they've grown up in an orphanage, were proud to be able to serve others that day. 

  I saw hope on the faces of my friends, both American and Kenyan, when on that hot, sunny, Kenyan afternoon we cooked, played, danced, sang, and spoke with the kids we had wanted to reach out to for years.
 HOPE. Sometimes it comes in the form of a dream coming true. Other times its just a smile, a hot meal, a kind word, feeling like you matter, or a bar of soap. 

     

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Kenya Experiences ~ Kara

It's amazing what God can do and WILL do when you are willing to move in obedience . Let's get real for a moment; the trip to Kenya is not cheap. Playing musical children and arranging for care for three kids at home is not easy. Taking time off work and preparing my household to be gone for that extended period of time doesn't come without trials... But it comes with blessings! God has blessed me over and over for doing what He has called me to do . Stepping out in faith towards the bigger picture of what God has in store for His children is big....very big...like B.I.G big. God has a plan for these sweet children. He has already proclaimed it, a hope and a future. He needs me to carry out His plan. Me. A measly West Virginia girl with a lot of faith and a heart for His work. He needs all of us. I know in my heart that God is not calling every one of us to get on a plane and fly to Kenya ( or any of the other countries we hope to journey to). He is though calling each of us to do our part. Spend some time with him, in prayer, and let Him tell you where He wants you. We are all a piece of the puzzle. Spending time with those precious children, with my Kenyan friends and alongside my 29:11 Inc sisters has shown me that we each have a piece of the puzzle and each piece is needed to complete Gods greater picture.  This isn't just about a feeding program in Kakamega Kenya... It's about actually listening to what God wants us to do. We need to open our hearts to hear what He is telling us our role is... Because He will tell us and when He tells us He will expect us to act on it. The action is the hard part...but it's our piece of His puzzle.

Kara

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Kenya Experiences ~ Rhia

                           

   My main goal on this trip was to NOT get sick.  The past 2 trips to Kenya just about landed me in the hospital both times.  The first was food poison. I honestly don't remember the trip back home, which is probably a blessing.  The second was last year when I boarded the plane to Kenya with an ear infection which turned into a huge fiasco when the infection entered my bloodstream. Needless to say, everyone was wary of me taking this trip.
    I should have known better than to think that my God couldn't handle this.  He had big plans for us on this trip and that included me not getting sick! :) There were so many things we wanted to accomplish on this trip and I believe we we were very successful.
    The best part for me hands down was being with all those street children that joined us for a wonderful meal. Seeing all those babies with plates overflowing with food was the greatest feeling. Our first trip as 29:11, Inc. was a success. It was better than we could have imagined. But of course with all the wonderful, there is also a bit of heartache, growing pains you could say.  But again, our God is big enough to take care of all that, too!

Rhia

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More pics and stories

Kenya 2013 ~experiences

So recently we traveled to Kenya to start a program benefitting children living on the streets of Kakamega. 

We have been to kenya multiple times, but this trip was the first for 29:11 Inc as an organization. 

Over the next 4 weeks, each member who made this trip will be blogging about their experiences.  Get ready to hear from Jennifer, Rhia, Kara & Whitney about the importance of their trip, how they were impacted & what this means for 29:11 Inc moving forward. 

Kakamega Kenya - providing for street children

Our vision is to come alongside local communities to encourage & equip them to meet the needs of the orphaned and homeless children in their communities. We are looking for your help to continue doing this in Kakamega Kenya. 

Kakamega is a about an 8 hour drive from the capital city of Nairobi. Aspects of it are what you would expect to see in an African country while others might not be. Here are some pictures we have taken:

The culture in Africa is very different from U.S. culture. It shocks and outrages us that hungry and dying children on the street are passed by as if they do not exist. For a moment, we were able to change that. 

On Wednesday, November 20, 2013 we partnered with Vicotorious Children's Home, Mission to the Fatherless and local community members to provide a shower, food, comfort and some time for homeless and orphaned children to just be kids. It was amazing. 

This boy has no family and survives on the streets of Kakamega. At first, he didn't want to play, relax or even speak but after he realized he was safe with us, his entire demeanor changed. 😀

We cut tomatoes, potatoes & peppers for about 200 children. 

Local community members offered their time, money and compassion and will continue to do so even after we are gone. 

Juice for 200+ children must be made on buckets. Ha ha

This little guy didn't start smiling until after he had eaten. We were so glad we got to see that handsome face!!  

Time to play and forget about surviving for even a short bit of time. 

Soap - kids are kids - most of the children didn't want to shower until we said we would eat AFTER they bathed lol. They RAN to the facilities. 

There was also a time of singing and prayer where we told the children how much we love them and how God wants them to have hope and a future. 

Now for your part. 

What we did was great and we have several people partnering with us and supporting us locally in Kakamega but they CANT DO IT ALONE. 

We are in need of 20 people to commit to becoming monthly partners at $20/month. 

Without recurring support we will not be able to continue to impact the lives of these beautiful children. 

If this is a decision you have made, would like to make or if you have any questions, please let us know via Facebook, twitter, email or comment here. 

We have so many amazing pictures and experiences but you'll have to keep checking back with us to see them all. 

If you would like to be updated frequently, like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/2911inc 

 

A Letter from Vicki ~ 12/8/13

Pure religion and undefiled before GOD and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction,and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Dear friends and family in CHRIST,

        Receive Calvary greetings in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ by whose grace we are saved and sustained in this noble calling. I hope this finds you cradled in the loving arms of the Father and resting in His peace.

Here at Victorious Home all is well despite of the measles outbreak which is now going down. It has rounded most of the kids that live at home and now it is affecting the high school kids who have just come home for school break.

        We are now coming towards the end of 2013,and as usual everyone is getting ready not to end the year but laying foundations for the coming year. This also applies to me here with my big family,time to buy uniforms,school shoes,books and prepare for school tuition,we are also needed to prepare for breaking the land in preparation for planting when the rains come around March.

All these things sound very important,but the most important thing is to prepare our hearts for the Savior to be born deep inside.

        This year (2013) has not gone by unchallenged, it has been a year with so many challenges to me personally and to the ministry as well. There is been trying moments when i thought i had reached the end and GOD took over from my end. I am very thankful for these challenges for they have been opportunities to experience GOD and HIS saving grace in all spheres of life.These are hard times,what the bible would refer to as perilous times filled with so much filth as denoted in 2Timothy 3:1- 9,some have lost loved ones,some are going through broken relationships, sicknesses,betrayal and victimization,but know that in all this, GOD remains GOD; and you can still hear HIM say,'Be still and know that I AM GOD! Psalms 46:10'.

In the midst of adversary GOD has remained faithful and shone HIS face upon us, Albert Einstein said that "Great spirits always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds", this means that whatsoever you do to impact lives will always meet opposition by those the devil use to destroy the good work done,but the good news is that GOD will neither leave nor forsake those HE loves and has called for HIS purpose.

        We have registered some achievements in the year,one of the most encouraging was to see Christine our oldest child graduated as a nurse and is now doing a part time job about four hours from home so we have started on a good note and we shall have three graduate next year,two took the senior national exam and six the 8th grade exams and are waiting for results. We rejoice to see this accomplishment because our efforts are not in vain. Next year will be a mind boggling because we shall have 19 kids in high school the biggest number ever in the history of VCH, i for sure covet your prayers in this endeavor because its in deed a challenge. Right now we have seven in college,next year we shall have three to go to college and so many from K-8th grade.

         We shall also be having our cane harvested which will take us a step forward and we shall continue in the process of working towards self sustainability,it has a good feeling to have us contribute to the good work you are doing for us,learning responsibility and being assets in the building of the society. We shall be working towards getting more land so that we can produce more food for consumption and for generating income. We shall also be trusting GOD for a tractor for our farm work.

My brothers and sisters, all this would not have happened if you didn't stand with us in prayer, unity of mind and purpose and in financial support.

        Isaiah 58:10-12 

If you extend your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in darkness,and your darkness shall be like noonday. The Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your soul in drought,and strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Those from among you shall build the old waste places,you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,the Restorer of streets to dwell in.

       I love you all and wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy prosperous new Year with Peace and trtranquility. Many many thanks to you and may the LORD look at you with a bountiful eye.

In HIS Service,

Vicki

Wordless Wednesday - 12/4/13

A Letter From Vicki ~ 11/11/13

 

It up lifts our hearts to hear from Vicki & to know that she and her family are doing well. 

Vicki has been sharing her story in the United States for several months now and we are glad to report she is safely home with her family. 

Here is the message we got this morning:  

    Dear friends and family in Christ,

I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for having me in your homes,churches and utmost in your hearts.

I will forever be grateful for your unfailing love for me and for the kids at the Victorious home.Thanks alot for your tireless generosity and steadfast prayers.

I had a very great time and feel very much rested and refreshed to continue working in our Master's Kingdom.

I just wanted you to know that i made it safely home and the kids sent their kind regards to all of you. They  will al l  be home for school break from the end of this week and will go back to school in January.

Kindly keep our eighth grade candidates in your prayers,today they had rehearsal for their National exams that will will last three days commencing tomorrow tuesday and ending Thursday the 14th.thanks in advance for your fervent prayers.

                 In HIS Grace,

                        Vicki

Did you catch that..the kids will be home when we get there. We know our mission isn't necessarily to spend time with the children we ❤️ but it's also hard for us to plan a trip 1/2 way around the world not knowing if we will get to see them. 

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. 

We take off in 5 days! 

For trip updates and general information check out www.hopeof2911.org or www.facebook.com/2911inc 

Pinterest!

We absolutely love this!
I hate it when I see something I love on Pinterest and I don't pin it because I always have such a hard time finding it again!!

There is this one video of a lizard trying really hard to jump from one shelf to another.  He gets all geared up & looks like he might just have enough in him to make it.  Unfortunately, all the hype was for nothing because he doesn't even clear the shelf he is jumping from.  Poor guy...

BTW - if you know which Pin I'm referring to please please please link it to me in the comments - I love that little guy, trying his hardest and barely moving!


With that being said, sometimes we feel that way.  We get all geared up, do a ton of prep work, cross our t's and dot our i's and then...BAM...we come crashing to the floor.  Well not actually crashing to the floor but it feels like it when your social media isn't out there like you had hoped or your website isn't getting many hits.

So, if you haven't guessed it yet, 29:11 Inc. is now on Pinterest!
First of all, the ladies over here all have our own accounts, boards and pins (sometimes its excessive) and secondly, with so many people on Pinterest, we couldn't miss the opportunity to get out who we are and what we're doing.

So, check us out on Pinterest (we aren't sure we've linked it enough in this post) and if you like what you see PIN IT!

Happy Pinning!

Jeremiah 29:11
 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

A Child's Heart

Don't you just LOVE kids!
I mean seriously...
Sometimes they just PUT US IN OUR PLACE!

We learned to Stand Strong no matter what the world throws at you -
a GREAT lesson for kids and adults!!

This week was our Vacation Bible School week.  As you may (or may not) know, the ladies of 29:11 Inc. are Children's Ministry junkies so the weeks surrounding VBS are extremely busy for us.  With that being said, Praise the Lord things went well.





We take up coin offerings each day of VBS and all of the money goes to feeding children in orphanages we currently have connections with in Africa & Haiti.

It seems like each year we have children who are willing to sacrifice - I mean truly make a sacrifice - for kids who they have never met.  We have kids who give each year but there is always that one kid whose story sticks with you.



This year, that special child was Ava (red shirt, sparkly purse)
Isn't she cute?!?


Ava wanted to make a difference to children in other countries.  In her words she wanted to make "just one kid in Africa or Haiti smile."

She emptied out her entire bank and put it all in her purse to give in our offering. Ava may not have given the most money this week, but she definitely sacrificed.

She even asked to "give a speech" to the kids and parents at VBS.

Ava said that she wished she had a big big room, filled with all the money in the world.  She said if she had all that money she would give it away to make just ONE kid in Africa or Haiti or other countries like that smile.

Ava gets it.
She really gets it.

Sometimes I wonder even as adults, even as people who have started a non-profit to help orphans and homeless children around the world, even as people who work and volunteer in ministries, even as followers of Christ - do we get it?

Are we willing to give all that we have for just one smile?

Lord, give us a heart that is truly willing to  give up everything we have to follow you.  Don't let us be like the rich man in Matthew 19, who couldn't part with his possessions.  Use all that we have to further Your kingdom.

Jeremiah 29:11
 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."