Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord and He will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:17
I trust that you will find the time to read this newsletter. There are a number of new things happening in the WorldComp world. I want to say thank you to all of you who tracked with us on my blog during our recent Medical Camp Mission to Kenya. I have never had so many people respond while we were in Kenya. It was very encouraging.
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Coming this Friday October 4th
ANOTHER SPECIAL KENYA NIGHT
Our team will share their thoughts and reflections from our recent medical camps for the poor. We held camps in 6 different locations and saw over 10,000 patients. Richard Vicknair will also be sharing about some new partnerships with other Christian Ministries which will greatly enhance our impact in Kenya, about some wonderful new projects, and about Richard and Valerie’s plans for 2014.
You won’t want to miss this wonderful time: Join us at 7pm on Friday October 4th at The Westside Church – 7758 Earl Ave NW, Seattle, 98117
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PLANTING A SECRET GARDEN
At the age of 12, Lucy Kamau ran away from her home because her father was about to sell her to a 60 year old man. The sad reality is that many in the Masaai culture still adhere to the old customs regarding women. Women and girls are considered the property of their fathers and husbands and may be sold or traded as concubines or household slaves at the will their owner. Many of these women are savagely abused at the hands of the men in their villages. They are also subjected to the primitive custom of female circumcision and mutilation.
So, at 12 years old, Lucy found herself alone in a city a number of miles from her home. Fortunately for her, she was befriended by some Christians who took her in and gave her a home. Now, Lucy is close to 50 years old, and she and her husband are doing all they can to help Masaai girls escape from a life of abuse. They pastor a church in the city of Narok, in Central Kenya. They also run a large school for girls in the city. Over the years a number of mothers and grandmothers have smuggled their girls out of the villages to keep them from being sold and abused. Lucy and her husband have taken in many of these girls and made them part of their family, changing their names in the process to keep them safe. Several years ago we were introduced to several of these girls; two lovely young girls about the age of 11.
As the years have rolled by Lucy and her husband have become known among the women in the Masaai villages as people who they can trust with their girls, but Lucy can only do so much on her own. As we sat with them several years ago we dreamed a dream together of starting a ministry to help these young girls and the woman who are trying to save them. We are still looking for the right name for this ministry but for the time being I have given it the name of “The Secret Garden”; A place in which these girls can be secretly planted and cared for until they blossom into the beautiful women God wants them to be! Lucy is a great role model for them.
The idea is to partner together with Lucy and a team of women to help these girls. Lucy wants to start a home for these girls and we want to provide the means to educate and train them in various vocations, so they can provide for their own futures. At the Christmas brunch last year Valerie mentioned this vision to women who attended and they graciously gave $5000 toward this project. Not one dime of this money has been spent and when we go to Kenya in January we intend to plant this ministry with these funds. It is amazing how far a small amount of money can go when it is loaned out again and again in microfinance loans. It’s the gift that keeps on giving! We are going to use these resources to “microfinance” a number of businesses that will train girls in various trades like; sewing, baking, jewelry making, shop keeping, computer skills, accounting and more.
The Secret Garden will be our 5th microfinance program and we are so blessed to be able to be involved in these vital projects.
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A NEW WELL PROJECT IS UNDERWAY
Remember our Kimbo well project? This well in the village of Kimbo, outside of Nairobi is going strong and is still serving thousands of poor people everyday. For years now we have been dreaming of a similar well in the city of Kakamega on the grounds of the Kakamega PEFA Church. This church is located near a major slum in Kakamega that has no water supply. Thirteen years ago we dug a hand-dug well that served the community for 9 years before it gave out. The people of the area were pumping water from a hand pump day and night to fill their water jugs with clean water. The hand-dug well can no longer do the job. It is filled with mud and is polluted. Our hope is to sink a deep well down through the well shaft and install the same kind of modern well that we installed in Kimbo.
THE GOOD NEWS
The financing for this well is very close to being raised. A Christian Men’s group from Pascagoula, Florida has been raising money for 3 years now and through a great deal of effort and sacrifice they have raised $12,000 of the $22,000 needed to complete this project, but Simeon Obayo has reported to me that they are feeling a sense of hopelessness now in getting the job done. Just before we left Kenya in August, I felt led to commit to raising $5000 in matching funds to help complete the job. Every dollar we raise will be matched by the group in Pascagoula.
Would you please pray about helping us with this vital project? Your investment in this project will provide clean water to hundreds of families in the Kakamega slums. If you can help, please put “Kakamega Well” on the memo line of your check.
On a side note: With our help the Kakamega Church has also completed a latrine project with 8 flush toilets and 8 showers so poor people can bath themselves and their children. Many poor people literally never get a chance to wash and they suffer many physical consequences because of this. Once the well is finished it will also supply clean water to this facility and will be open to the poor on a daily basis.
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KENYANS – MOVING FORWARD ON THEIR OWN
Even before we finished our medical camps in August, we were talking to our Kenyan medical staff about carrying on in our absence. I am so excited about this! Below is a report from Osborn Obayo about what has been done since we left:
September 15, Nairobi Kenya:
Yesterday and the previous, our team of 10 nurses and 10 volunteers conducted successful medical clinics for our children in our Kibera and Dagoretti centres. Sister Emily Arimoi, the nurse who was coordinating our nurses in the recent camps, was in charge of the clinics and the team did tremendous work with unbelievable results. More than 400 kids with their parents were attended to and, sadly, about a similar number were turned away due to time constraints. You will remember this area which was described by Dr. Phil, as the “sickest area” in the Kenya. The situation hasn’t changed much. The team attended to deplorable conditions and we all agreed there was a major medical intervention. The team is determined to conduct these mini medical camps because that have proved to be very cost effective with a higher impact. Please encourage your friends back home to support us in this so we can have at least 3 medical clinics per year for Kibera and Dagoretti.
In His Service, Osborne
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O.K. REALLY BIG NEWS
Before I run out of paper I should tell you that Valerie and I have decided to spend a few months in Kenya for the sake of the work that is now being done. After our trip January 9th – 24th, we plan to stay on in Kenya for the months of February and March. Our work in Kenya has grown so much and so fast that we feel that we need to spend some serious time with our Kenyan staff. During this time we want to have many meetings to disciple and envision our team. At this point we have about 150 people working with us. We also have other groups that want to network with us and we need to meet with them. We need to get our paperwork in order for the new regulations regarding NGO’s in Kenya, and we need to just “hang out” and share our minds and hearts with our Kenyan partners. Also some of our projects need to be reorganized to give them solid foundations for the future.
Some people have asked about the dangers because of the recent incident at the Mall in Kenya, but I believe we need to trust in God here and not allow the enemy to keep us from the work of the Lord.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
In order for us to be gone for several months we need to temporarily expand our personal missions support. Valerie and I do not take a salary from WorldComp. Our moderate salary comes from three sources: Firstly, we receive a one-quarter salary from our church, secondly, I am on social security and thirdly, we have about 25 people and two churches who send us personal missions support.
I wonder if you would pray about supporting us in some way for a five month period from November to March or consider a “one time gift” to help us. If you already support us please consider upping your present support during this time. We appreciate those who pray for us and support us so very much and we try to make every dollar count. If you could do this please let us know by responding to this email.
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How about helping us with
A BOOK DRIVE FOR THE BOYS AT SHIKUSA
NEEDED: 1ST to 8th grade textbooks, dictionaries, good reading material, and whole bibles (old and New Testament).
During our visit to the Shikusa Boys Detention Center last month I had the opportunity to sit in on an annual “Board of Volunteers” meeting. The meeting involved a number of key people from a number of organizations. Many of these people have been inspired to get involved with the center through the efforts of our own Dr. George Matimbai. During the presentations I was deeply touched when the staff presented a list of the needs of the Detention Center and the passionate discussion that followed. We helped them with one of their big problems by buying and delivering 200 mattresses for the boys. When the board saw this gift they were very moved and gave us a standing ovation.
Most of the boys who come to the center are illiterate. They cannot read or write and a vital part of the process of giving these boys a future is to teach them to read and write and develop math skills. One of the really big needs is teaching materials for the library and classrooms of the school. Over the last 5 years the government has built some great buildings for classrooms and a great library room. The problem is that the Detention Center is on the bottom of the list for teaching materials. Due to critical financial shortages in the country the school systems are struggling to come up with textbooks, reference books, and good reading material.
As various teachers stood up to encourage others to reach into their own pockets to help with this need, I was moved to make a pledge to launch and Book Drive when I came back home. My hope is to collect and ship teaching materials: Reading Books, Dictionaries, and whole Bibles and to come up with some money to buy the textbooks. The reason for this is that Kenya uses the British methods of teaching and it is best to buy curriculum and textbooks in the country. Dr. George and the Worldcomp staff can obtain curriculum and get it to the school.
You can help in two ways:
- Help me find and collect good reading books for young boys (1st – 6th grade level). I am looking for the right stuff, not just random books. Do you have a dictionary or two you could donate? How about a whole bible in good condition? If you could get these things to Westside we will ship them inexpensively by boat, directly to the center.
- I need some cash donations to buy textbooks and curriculum in the country and deliver it to the boys.
Let us know if you would like to help with this project or you can donate by sending a check to:
Worldcomp Kenya Relief, 7758 Earl Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98117 (put “Shikusa textbooks” on the memo line).
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Please pray for us now more than ever
The work of WorldComp has expanded at a very fast pace. I have to admit that I have just sat back and marveled at how the Lord has provided resources for all of the incredible things that have been done and I know He has a plan to supply all that is needed for the future. I know enough about how the Lord works to know that He not only provides resources, He provides people with gifts and ideas to raise those resources. Please pray that the Lord will bring our organization to the hearts and the minds of those who God has raised up to fund His causes. And pray that the Lord will give us great wisdom for the days ahead.
We love you — Rich and Val
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WorldComp Kenya Relief International is a 501C3 non-profit organization.
Your contributions to Worldcomp are tax-deducible and greatly appreciated.
To give by mail: Send Check to
WorldComp Kenya, 7758 Earl Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98117
To give on Line: Go to www.worldcompkenya.com/ways-to-give