Courageous Life

This summer our team will meet many of the women who sew with Jacaranda. This is an amazing ministry started by our friends Brenda and Garry Kean. These women live in and around the slums of Nairobi and have desperate needs. Most are single Moms. Many are HIV positive. Sewing and bible study continues to lead them away from the familiar beer making and prostitution that can consume their lives. Jacaranda trees are prevalent in Nairobi,Kenya. They have deep purple flowers that bloom before the rain falls. The Jacaranda tree represents the hope that the rains will indeed come. Rain needed by a dry and parched land. We hope to represent that rain sharing God's love and hope with people in need. Thought I would share some pictures of these beautiful women. This is Sarah, the Production Manager. Sarah is the "one woman" that Brenda started this ministry with. We now have 67 plus women in 13 different locations around Nairobi. Sarah is training trainers, and is

Romans 12:"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people in need." That is the verse for our team heading to Nairobi, Kenya June 3rd 2011. Be careful what you pray for because I would have never imagined I would be leading a team on a missions trip to Africa. It's true. This was not in my plans. I have prayed for years for the ministry of my sweet friends Brenda and Garry Kean. I have prayed their ministry would grow in ways that would amaze them. In those prayers I never saw myself as part of their ministry. So watch out! You never know where God will grab you! I learned three things from my trip in 2009 1. It is not only ok, but it is essential for my heart to break for the what breaks the heart of God. 2. Always be obedient to the small, soft promptings in my heart. Like giving my socks to the lady at hospice. That act sweetened a bitter heart. 3. God is bigger than my im

I am sending this information out to a few of you who may feel led to help with a specific need for uniforms and backpacks for a group of children in the slums of Kayole. One of our church members, Albert, has established a school in the midst of utter poverty and chaos. He has 135 students and they are actually learning the Word as well as regular school lessons despite very difficult circumstances. A government regulation here in Kenya is that every student must wear a school uniform in order to attend school, and they must have school supplies. Many children are turned away because they cannot afford a uniform, it is so sad! Our women of Jacaranda Creations are making school backpacks which we put school supplies into, as well as we are sewing school uniforms for children. We need help right now to purchase the material necessary to make these uniforms. We also like to pay each woman who makes the uniform, so it is a win/win situation. A child gets a uniform and backpack wit