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 

 

29:11 Inc has SWAG!

Just wanted to share a few pics of supporters wearing our awesome new shirts! 

We want to thank all who participated in our t-shirt fundraiser! Please send us your pics of 29:11 Inc shirts! 

Thanks & ❤️

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."

Kings & Queens

Have you heard this song?

----------->

It puts so much into perspective.  What makes our children:

...different than these children?

The short answer is where they were born.  At 29:11 Inc. we don't believe that where you live should determine if you live.

This song is amazing & thought provoking.  It starts off with this:  

"Little hands, shoe-less feet, lonely eyes looking back at me 

Will we leave behind the innocent too brief

On their own, on the run when their lives have only begun

These could be our daughters and our sons

And just like a drum i can hear their hearts beating

I know my God won't let them be defeated

Every child has a dream to belong and be loved"

So many children around the world are alone, hungry and without basic necessities.  We want to help change that.  We are hoping that others will be inspired by our vision and will help us meet the needs of these children.  

This is what we hope will happen to all the children around the world we are able to serve... 

"Boys become kings, girls will be queens

Wrapped in Your majesty

When we love, when we love the least of these.

Then they will be brave and free 

Shout your name in victory

When we love, when we love the least of these

When we love the least of these.

...and this is our prayer.

"Break our hearts once again

Help us to remember when 

We were only children hoping for a friend"

Don't you love it when music inspires and encourages you?  I hope this song encourages you to prayerfully seek where the Lord would have you support & serve!

"Won't you look around these are the lives that the world has forgotten 

Waiting for doors of our hearts and our homes to open"

"If not us who will be like Jesus

To the least of these.

If not us tell me who will be like Jesus

Like Jesus to the least of these."

Hope & a Future

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."

Statistics & Saddness

I know that anyone can make a statistic say whatever they want and that you should always "proceed with caution" when someone gives you a number or a percentage.  Therefor, this is a link to the Orphan Coalition with their information, numbers and where they got them.

Now for the heavy...

This hurts my heart.

For some people, it is easy to think of societal ills such as homeless, orphaned children and human trafficking as distant problems but these things, while highlighted in third world countries, happen everyday in the U.S.

I was shocked to read the number of orphaned children in the United States - 123,000

and then the number of children moving throughout the foster care system - 463,000

Here, at 29:11 Inc. we think that even one child without a permanent home is too many. While many of our pictures and stories are of children around the world, in third world countries, we NEVER want to forget that there are children here in need of hope and a future.

This is where you come in.  

We want to be encouraged by what you are currently doing in your own community to help homeless and orphaned children and how you think 29:11 could help.  Comment below or contact us with your thoughts and ideas and as always SHARE us with your friends, family, co-workers...anyone who has a similar passion to help those in need here and around the world.

As always

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."