Horizons Foundation newsletter – Kenya orphanages
Building Financial Self Sufficiency
The orphanage continues to care for 64 children and 5 destitute widowed women living nearby.
The orphanage is legally set up as a Kenyan charitable organization named New Life Covenant and Power Ministries (NLM), recently approved by the Kenyan national Attorney General and is directed by Bishop Washington Amara (pronounce eye-you-ga). This is the gentlemen who began to bring orphans into his home many years ago to give them a safe place to grow and thrive.
In early August, the Kenyan Presidential election was completed, and the population has not suffered as they did in the last Presidential election. Five years ago, many people were mutilated or killed as the various political groups demonstrated and then later marauded thru the cities killing many people who supported the “wrong” party. Very few people traveled the highways in late July and early August due to fear of being beaten or killed during that time. That made getting food delivered or picked up to be a very dangerous job and what little food was available becomes scarce and very expensive. Thankfully, many Americans donated funds for food for the orphans in July, so that a two month supply of food was purchased in July, for safety’s sake.
The cost to feed the children, widows and staff continues to rise. Rising prices of food is the number one concern of the Directors of the orphanage as it is getting more and more expensive to feed the children. The cost to feed the children is over 40% higher now, than it was just 8 months ago, in to January 2022.
Seven acres of land near the orphanage were donated by one of the Directors of the orphanage and is being put to good use. Most of the crops will be used for food for the children.
:
One half acre has been planted in tomatoes
A large field planted in greens (skuma wiki) – a staple of the Kenyan diet, eaten every day
Maize and beans planted on 5 acres – the largest staple consumed by the orphans, every day
And the excess produce, especially at harvest time, will be sold in a store being built on property
just purchased by New Life Ministries (NLM) in a commercial district just being built “in the path of progress’ on the primary highway connecting two communities, near Kendu Bay, close to Lake Victoria. Plans are being discussed regarding building a gas station adjacent to the building pictured above. As there are no gas stations within two and one-half miles, this seems to be a good money making business with all profits from the business going to the orphanage. This is a project under discussion for some time and will get very serious planning during September.
Currently, a small store is rented in the downtown commercial area and once this new store is built, the rented store will no longer be necessary, saving that rental charge each month.
Additionally, American donors supply the funds to New Life Ministries for the children to go to school. The cost of sending these children to school is the second highest expense the orphanage incurs! Thankfully, the school system recognizes the best students and two of the children have now been given full scholarships to attend a boarding school. They will be sent to a much better school than they attend now, at no additional cost. Thank you Lord!
The plans to make the orphanage Financially Self Sufficient are currently proceeding at full speed. Sadly, the food costs are rising dramatically. Please pray with us that God will continue to supply His ideas to make the orphanage fully Financially Self Sufficient in a very challenging environment!
If you know of others who have a heart for orphans, please get me their email addresses.
Some call me Al, some call me Dad
636.634.5805
Donations may be sent to Horizons Foundation, PO Box 596, St. Peters MO 63376 –
100% of your donation is passed onto the Directors of the orphanage.