Rewind and Fastfoward

     Fastforward and Rewind        

Dear Family and Friends,  

Hope this finds each of you well and feeling much gratitude filling your hearts this Thanksgiving season!

Through our trip toNairobi in June God has moved in greater ways than we could have imagined.  First of all, our home church Crosspoint Community has partnered with Jacaranda Creations to start up a sewing branch in another slum area of Nairobi.  As you may remember, the Jacaranda is a tree plentiful in Nairobi.  Brenda and Garry Kean, the founders of this micro-entreprise have more than 70 women and men sewing at locations around Nairobi.  These men and woman live in desparate situations but are filled joy and hope in the Lord.  They connect to him, knowing he is their vine and they are his branches. Mostly this connectedness comes through the work of Jacaranda Creations.  It is so exciting to see the involvment and support of my home church and friends! 

The blessings have continued through the founding of our child sponsorship program, Jacaranda Kids.  The Hewett family serves on the committee along with several others who went on the trip with us. Since August, 47 kids have been sponsored. This means they are in school, some for the first time ever. On top of this they also receive one meal a day!  This is huge.  God continues to grow this ministry in amazing ways and we are constantly humbled at how big God  uses his children in America to be the answer to prayers of a 5 year old in Africa. 

Our church has now decided to send two teams per year to support the work of the Keans in Nairobi, Kenya. The first trip will be as soon as April 2012. During this trip we will  minister to the women and children in the slums.  We are hopeful to bring all the sponsored kids together for a one day camp. This is not an easy or inexpensive day!  They come from all areas of the city and since nearly 70% of Nairobi is made up of slums. Traffic is crazy and transportation expensive.

Immediately our girls declared they are going.  Jessica only needing two classes to graduate high school as adjusted her schedule. Lauryn, a sophmore in college has spoken to her advisors for next semester and has been granted 3 semester credits to go on the trip.  Myself, well of course, I want to go back.  I miss and worry about some of those children.  I gain so much from the woman who sew, teaching me pure and real joy. And when asked if I would go and help lead the team, I HAD to say, yes. 

This is all happening so fast and I am so excited.  It's the "fastword"  in the title. 
BUT,
the "rewind "is once again I have no idea how to pay for this trip. I must be crazy.  I also dread writing and asking for support but the truth of the matter is your support is what we need.  I think God enjoys keeping me humble this way. But on the other hand I am so excited God loves me (us) enough to keep me walking close to Him. Trusting in Him and not on my independent, self sufficient self.

John would love to return with us, but as some of you know he was laid off in August.  By the grace of God he started a new job in October but leave time is not available in April.  We will miss him!! But grateful for so much.

Brenda Kean, missionary Nairobi.

The cost of this trip is $2,600 each  The money will be going toward flight, lodging, and assisting Jacaranda ministries.We have been saving money and participating in group fundraisers but we need your help. Any donation is much appreciated.

You can donate on-line by going to crosspoint.tv/give, (click: One time donation, Campus: Bellevue, Other: [A box will pop up] then type Hewett Family+ Nairobi then continue to the payment info.).

If you would prefer you can mail a donation to Crosspoint Community Church at 4301 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37209.  Checks should be made payable to CPCC. Please be sure to put in the memo line (Hewett-Africa). All gifts are tax deductible.

Thank you so very much.  May you be blessed!

Love,
Rhonda and the Girls (Lauryn and Jessica)                                                                     11.26.11

PS. Plus, I have a car trunk full of donated sewing supplies including a brand new sewing machine. Excited for the opportunity to deliver in person.  Please pray we can get these things safely to the women in Nairobi.

Comments

Laura said…
I love reading about your passion for this. I'm so glad I met you and this mission!
November 27, 2011 at 2:11 PM
Rhonda said…
Thank you, Laura! You are an encouragement to me. Rhonda
November 27, 2011 at 6:28 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ok, here I go... off to the blogging world.... Why does this feel scary to me? I am only in my mid 40's and afterall isn't 40's the new 30's? I truly am excited to start this adventure if only as therapy for myself. Somedays there is so much tension between my heart and my brain I find it hard to think straight. Can you relate? Anyway, here I am if anyone would like to share in my journey and thoughts please do. I love company. Yesterday and today I worked with a patient who reminded me so much of my friend Melissa that died last July from lung cancer. Today was especially difficult. This patient's physical pain has been great and she keeps rubbing and pointing to the same location that I remember Melissa complained about. I do not provide bedside nursing, but I round with the doctors on patients who are admitted to the oncology service and help manage their care through their hospital stay and on into home needs. While I was in the room I actually had my fi...
Read more

Hands of the Healer

Image
Sweet Beatrice. I love this girl. I met her two years ago and she was very sick. She looks a lot better, but unfortunately has only gained 3 lbs in 2 years. She is 6 years old and weights 25 lbs. Her cough continues despite Brenda taking her to the clinic many times. My heart sank when I saw her again. But, Brenda was able to arrange a visit with a new doctor this time. I explained to him what has been happening the past 2 years with Beatrice and I do believe he was an angel in disguise. He treated her without payment and walked us to the hospital for x-rays and communicated with the chest clinic on Beatrice behalf. Shockingly, I went in with her for the chest x-ray and the "technician" took the picture with the previous patient, (another young girl) still redressing. No metal shield. I pulled Virginia and I behind a brick wall. Crazy! This is their government healthcare. Anyway, the doctor brought the x-ray to me and allowed me behind the counter to view the picture ...
Read more

We're Here

Jessica and I are here, Nairobi, Kenya! Although here inside the Kean home I feel like I am just up the street on Mill Brook Circle in Stonemeade. That's the thing with good friends, no matter how long it has been since you have seen each other it always feels like just yesterday. The plane rides went well, no delays, no problems getting through customs. Jessica and I passed the H1N1 screening. ;). She is feeling good. Her cough is aggravated today... the air in the plane is dry and drier here too. But no big deal. Making her drink a lot today. Last night I thought it was just fatigue not allowing me to find things and think clearly, but today we have learned our luggage was stolen from. Nothing we can't live without, but a clear reminder of the fallen world in which we live. And we are sad that some things we were excited to give the girls here are gone. I haven't seen much outside the comfort of this home yet, but I will say driving at night in Nairobi is ...
Read more