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 ~ 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 

9 Days

We almost can't believe it...

God's Timing...

This was a struggle for us this year. Several of us have traveled to Kenya 4 times and always at the end of summer. That's just how it works - August rolls around and we are flying to Kenya. 

This year that was not an option. 

We questioned if we could do this. 

We questioned what we had been hearing from God. 

We were saddened at the thought that we had somehow we had misinterpreted something somewhere along the way. 

Have you ever felt that way? 

All I can say is - 

9 days until we take off for Kakamega Kenya. 

9 days until we get to see our African family again. 

9 days until the first official international trip for 29:11 Inc. 

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."