Mission: Kenya >>
In an affluent society such as ours, we have the opportunity to make a huge impact in the lives of those less fortunate in other parts of the world. It's in recognizing this that we have been increasing our efforts to be a source of relief, provision, and hope for those living in poverty of body and soul in the third world. God has directed us to focus on the nation of Kenya as we have a very unique opportunity to make a major impact both spiritually and socially.
During the past 4 years we have taken our involvement in Kenya to a whole new level. We now are working with 5 Kenyan Nationals who are heading up significant ministries in the country. I have actually known all of these Kenyans for 20 years, but in recent years God has raised them up and they are involved in ministries that are really making a difference in Kenya.
Osborn Obayo: is heading up a ministry to HIV positive people and their families in the slums of Nairobi. They reach out to HIV positive people, bring them into fellowship, show them where and how to treat their disease, teach them to regulate their diets; they then help them to start businesses with the help of micro-financing. In the past year, with our help, they have started 11 new businesses. Osborn and his team have now started a Christian school at the entrance to one of the largest slums in Nairobi to allow kids from the slums, whose parents cannot afford an education, to attend school.
They have 600 kids in the school, 50 of them are HIV Positive, and the school looks after them. They also feed 200 kids everyday, who are from the poorest families. We have been raising money for the feeding of these kids, and have recently committed to four major projects on school grounds: electricity, a deep well and water supply system, a modern latrine system, and a kitchen for daily cooking for kids. This is an $11,000 commitment, but we have adopted this school and the entire outreach program as one of our primary projects for missions. The long term dream is to build similar Christian Schools with similar mission in other slums in Nairobi.
Dr George Matimbai: Is heading up a ministry to the largest boys detention center in Kenya (420 boys), who are housed on a work farm in Western Kenya. When he first started there the boys were living like animals in a slave labor camp. Their clothes were rags, their bellies full of worms, and they were sick all the time from eating off of wooden plates, bad water, poor hygiene and improper sanitation. 3 years ago we began to help Dr. George. He is now the chairman of the board of this detention center. The transformation is beyond imagination. Many of the detention staff have come to Christ, including the head man. The boys are being cared for and loved. They are accepting Christ and being discipled. The compound has been transformed.
In addition to basic necessities we are helping Dr. George build an infirmary (clinic) on the sight and providing the center with regular monthly support. George has also overseen the construction of 6 new church facilities in Western Kenya and he oversees our "water projects". We are now raising money to dig wells in strategic places in Kenya. George also co-ordinates occasional "Medical and Dental Camps" with Medical Personnel from abroad which we want to participate in as well.
Nancy Odwaro: is the widow of Hosea Odwaro, who was one of my best friends in this world until he died 10 years ago of leukemia. Nancy struggled to survive for a number of years and out of desperation began to network with other widows in the area to support one another. Her widows ministry now involves 300 widows. They are learning about "Group Savings accounts" and micro-finance. Nancy is an amazing person and we are supporting her in a number of ways.
Simon Barasa and Simeon Obayo: Are the pastors of a church in Western Kenya that we helped to build. We have sent outreach teams there and have been vitally involved in many projects and events with them in the last few years. I recently returned from a trip there and brought $6000 to purchase the piece of land next to the current church facility. Our dream for this piece of land is a "Ministry Center" which will involved a Bible School, Discipleship training center, computer lab, micro-finance assistance office, a labor hall, a dining hall and feeding program for preschool kids, etc. This is another one of our long term projects.
The Miwani Farm: In addition to all the above we are heavily involved in a farm that some of our Seattle friends have built over the last 7 years. It is a model farm to teach agriculture, modern farming techniques, and dairy farming. Students from local technical schools are bused in for "field days" and shown how to prepare soil and grow crops in Kenya. The dairy provides income for the farm. In addition to this the farm is an orphanage. There are 4 houses on the sight, each with a married couple who cares for up to 10 orphans. And each family has their own cow and acre of land to grow their own produce.
At this point the names mentioned above have become "Household Names" to the people of Westside and we feel that the Lord has led us to put all our "missions eggs" in this basket for this season. We are planning future ministry in Kenya in the form of teams, individuals and resources who will strengthen these ministries. We hope you, too, will get involved and support these efforts in some way.
--Pastor Richard Vicknair