Godly Decisions

Trying to make decisions that are right for your organization when you're still getting used to the whole nonprofit lifestyle is difficult.

We have some major decisions coming up that will determine everything from day to day operations to big financial decisions, to trip places and dates. 

Honestly, right now we are overwhelmed.  We want to make the right decision for 29:11, us & the dream. 

Please  be praying for wisdom. Ask that our hearts be guided and that our judgment wouldn't be clouded by feelings. 

Thanks so much!  As always - 29:11 Inc. wouldn't be what it is without your love and support. 

If you haven't yet:

Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/2911inc

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@2911_inc 

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December 2013

As you know we are currently feeding orphaned and homeless children in the streets of Kakamega, Kenya. 

Here, the kids receive a large meal (some of them carry it around for hours before finishing), encouragement & love in the form of conversations, hugs, games, music and the word of God, free time to play and be kids and a shower. 

Here are some pics from our final meeting in 2013. 

While 29:11 Inc offers financial support, members of the community give what they have - time, shillings, a bag of sugar...) to help support the homeless in their community. This is not a cultural norm and we are praying that in 2014 more Kenyan people will leave their comfort zones to help support the orphaned and homeless children in their community. 

How can you help? 

Stay updated by liking us on Facebook www.facebook.com/2911inc 

Following us on twitter 

www.twtter.com/2911

Become a monthly partner by making a recurring donation through our website 

www.hopeof2911.org 

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 

 

Wordless Wednesday - 12/4/13

T&T ~ fruit flies be gone

Okay so this is going to be short and sweet and (for the moment) photo less! 

It has been one long (illness laden, parent teacher conference having) week for me! Not to mention our worry here for all of our friends & family in Nairobi, Kenya. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as many have died during a terrorist hostage situation. 

With that neon said here is your marvelous (and simple) tip:

To get rid of fruit flies follow these simple steps:

1. Put apple cider vinegar in a bowl/jar

2. Cover it with plastic wrap and secure the plastic with a tight rubber band

3. Poke holes in the top 

That's it!  Seriously - those fruit flies will fly into the jar and be trapped. I have a gross jar with tons of them in the bottom. Yes, the vinegar smells but only for a day or two and if rather smell a little bit of vinegar than have fruit flies everywhere - blech! 

Love you all! 

T&T ~ Relax!! ~ Whitney

Okay so this morning I completely flaked on Tips & Tricks Tuesday. Ugh!!

So with that mishap and with all the running/chaos of my long weekend (that's right I even had a 3 day weekend!) I've decided that the perfect tip I can give you this week is to take time and RELAX. 

Seriously. This is me: 

95% of the time I am the girl on the left - trying to do everything and making a mess of most of it. I always forget to take time for myself just to relax and unwind. 

So whatever it is you do to relax... 

Reading 

Running

Napping

Or even just taking a few to enjoy a good ol' cup of Joe

Take some time each day to relax, unwind and refocus.

Comment or like us on Facebook & tell us what you do to unwind!

Love peace & prayers! 

T & T ~ Homemade Bug Repellent ~ Whitney

I know that summer is almost over, and that this would've been a much better beginning of summer post but, as my children say, "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit!" Trust me though, this is a great tip even if it is coming to you at the end of the summer.

With that being said...

My 9 year old is a bug magnet!  Honestly, in a field of 500 people the insects will hunt him down and feast on him.  He is constantly covered in scabs because he can't stop scratching bug bites!  He can get 2-3 bites walking from the house to the car.  It has always been an issue and bug sprays haven't worked for him.
With that being said, I haven't used repellents containing deet.
Call me a hippie but deet scares me.  I have never used it, not even in Africa, because of its neurotoxicity, and I refuse to put it on my children.  For a while I used insect repellents containing picardin but the laundry list of other chemical ingredients in bug sprays (and almost every product we can buy these days) convinced me to just make my own.

I found an amazing recipe that I absolutely LOVE!
 My children love it because "it smells like cookies" and the little one just loves telling people "we make most of our stuff."

These are my boys (7 & 9) putting on their "cookie bug spray"

I love it because it actually works.  Since we've started making this insect repellent my 9 year old has not gotten a single bug bite.  This stuff is a miracle!  It is so easy to make and use!!

Here are the only things you need:

16 oz bottle
15 drops lavender oil
3-4 tbsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup lemon juice



Put 3 ingredients into the bottle.
Fill the rest of the bottle with water (about 12 oz).
Shake to mix.

Use this how it works for you and your family.  We have a 16 oz bottle that we keep our mixture in and then have small bottles in purses, overnight bags, in the basement...anywhere we may need them.

This is a small <$1 travel bottle from Target.

You only need to put a small dime size drop in our hands and then rub it on our arms, legs and necks...wherever you need to repel bugs.  The best part is, it is all natural so your kids can put it on themselves.  My boys actually remind me if I forget because they enjoy covering their arms and legs in "cookie bug spray"

We had a big family picnic over the weekend where everyone was outside all day, running, playing and sweating.  My boys and I put on our cookie bug repellent when we got there and didn't have to reapply all day.  Let's just say we were the ONLY ones who didn't get bug bites.

Try it out and let us know how it works for you!!

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."