News
Calling All Angels - Famine in Kenya, Children Need Your Help! 2009-09-22
We can’t say it any better… thanks Kurt and 410 Bridge, we are ready to help!410 Bridge Blog posted 9/21/09:
Whenever possible we really try to communicate and emphasize the positive aspects of what’s happening in 410 Bridge communities. Seeing God at work… hope… opportunity… self development. Not always, of course, but most of the time. This blog post is not one of those times, so I’m struggling a bit in writing it.
Talk to us about our ministry model in Kenya and you’ll quickly realize that we make no apologies for who we are and what we do… The 410 Bridge is not a relief organization. We’re all about development and we measure our success not by what we do, but by what communities do for themselves.
The reality, however, is that children are dependent. [I'm fairly certain that's why they call them "dependents" on tax returns...] Children rely on others – their families, schools, and communities – for their survival because they simply can’t always “do for themselves.”
The other current reality is that the drought in Kenya is having a devastating impact on these kids. Schools are beginning to close in several 410 Bridge communities for lack of food. If it doesn’t rain in October (short rainy season), things will quickly get worse. That’s hard to imagine, but true.
The good news is that we have a plan…but we need some of you to help.
Over the past year or so we’ve piloted programs that improve the quality of education in Primary and Secondary schools. The programs are meant to improve the quality of education in every school, in every 410 Bridge community. No small task… but thanks to a lot of hard work and the help of our child sponsorship partner BrightPoint for Children, it’s working. A really important component in every one of these schools is a feeding program. This allows every child in school to get at least one basic meal every day. Without these programs, many of the children would go hungry or not attend school because they’re put to work to raise enough money for their daily meal.
So here’s where we need help… we have about 300 kids that need sponsors. By sponsoring a child, you will be blessed with a relationship and connection to a child in Kenya. Letters… photos… love and relationship that can’t be explained. Just ask any sponsor. You’ll also be helping to improve the quality of education for an entire school which goes beyond just the one child you sponsor. You can help impact the entire school!
We normally don’t make such a direct appeal like this, but the reality is the reality… no rain = no food. No food = no school. We created these primary school programs with BrightPoint to alleviate the hunger many of the children face everyday when they go to school, and all we need now are sponsors to make the programs work.
If you feel led to help, we’d appreciate it. You can visit BrightPoint for Children’s website to see all the children that are ready to be sponsored. Here are some links for specific primary school programs that really need help…
Ngaamba West Uvunye Primary School
Kandaria Akado Primary School
Kandaria Sigoti Primary School
Segera Uaso Nyiro Primary School
Segera Endana Secondary School
Other programs will be coming online over the next 30-60 days. So stay tuned…
If you’re a currently sponsor a BrightPoint child, thanks a lot!
Tell a friend…
Kurt
JASON/100... COMPLETED!! 2009-02-09
JASON and Team Segera... finished the entire 100 miles!! WOW! He says..Today, I am tired...the only thing hurting (no injuries) is the blistering on the bottoms of both feet. The kids are at school and I am on the couch. I think I dreamed about this at 3:00ish am Sunday!!!!! ...within 2 min. of crossing the finish I was on a lawn chair totally asleep. Thanks to all for the prayers.Thanks to you Jason for your caring heart for the children of Kenya!! It is not too late to donate if you are reading this and are inspired by Jason's story!!
JASON/100 2009-01-16
Running for a ReasonHug-fueled runner takes on 100-mile challenge to raise funds for Kenyan children
LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS -- Going out for a weekend run will take on a whole new meaning February 7 as Jason Culverhouse puts feet to his faith and competes in the Rocky Raccoon 100-mile Trail Run. But he’s not doing it for his health. Instead this Lake Jackson salon owner is using the event as a way to raise money for the children of the small Kenyan mission of Segera.
After hosting three members of a Kenyan children’s choir last fall, the father of three said his heart was opened to God – and the need of children in this poverty-stricken corner of the world. “I had been through a nine-year disconnect from God and a very thick wall had formed around my heart,” Culverhouse said, recalling the moment a child’s tight embrace melted his spirit. “I felt I could only see God through a tiny crack in my wall.”
And then came that hug.
“Something huge happened to me,” he said, “it was life-altering. God used that one moment to absolutely do a heart transplant on me.” In what he describes as his “life moment,” Culverhouse said “the reality of who I am and what I would never be again was staggering.”
Culverhouse admits he knew the moment was coming. “My wife, Jennifer, went to Kenya last summer and was changed in a big way,” he explained. “I knew something big was on its way for me too.” And yet, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t break through the wall that surrounded his heart.
Come February 7 and 8, he’ll use that crumbled wall as the starting line as he runs 100 miles to raise money for poverty-stricken orphans in the Kenyan desert.
The Children
Located in the midst of a rocky desert north of Nairobi near Mt. Kenya, The Segera Mission is truly an oasis of hope. The people of this area are very poor and struggle to grow any crops given the drought conditions in which they live. Their children must herd the few animals their families have many kilometers each day to find grazing and water. Therefore, there is no time for school much less money with which to pay a teacher.
The Segera Mission was founded by a man affectionately known as Pappy about 10 years ago. In 2008, members of the charitable organizations 410 Bridge and BrightPoint for Children started working with the leaders of The Mission in an attempt to help the area’s residents with food, education and medical needs. It was an answer to prayer for the community, whose members understand that their children hold the keys to any future success for their residents. The Mission provided a Nursery School, but it was understaffed and did not have supplies needed. They also provide a home and education to several orphans, and have a feeding program for the community. All of these programs were having problems until they partnered with BrightPoint for Children. The not-for-profit organization has begun sponsorship programs for the three Segera programs.
Making the Connection
The Culverhouse family learned of the mission through their church, Brazos Pointe Fellowship in Lake Jackson. Members of the fellowship, including Jennifer Culverhouse, went to the area last Summer to pour cement floors in the school and help in the orphanage. Then came October, when two dozen members of the Daraja Children’s Choir visited Brazos Pointe as part of a relationship building tour. After the concert, three of the girls in the choir stayed overnight with the Culverhouse family, sharing their stories, their faith and their lives with the five Texans. That’s when the walls choking the light from Jason Culverhouse’s heart came crashing down.
A verse -- and a calling
“I can honestly say that I had God walk up into my face and pull down every brick in my wall,” he said. “I would say it is my ‘life moment.’ The reality of who I am and what I would never be again was staggering.”
As the weekend waned, a flame began burning in Culverhouse’s heart. “As soon as the kids drove away from the church I began asking myself, ‘what can I do?’” he said. The thought persisted, leading him to travel with other members of Brazos Pointe on a return trip to Segera this summer. But that wasn’t enough. With the flame unquenched, he decided to do more. “I’m a runner. Actually, I’m an addict,” Culverhouse said, laughing. “One day I was out on a run just thinking about 1 Peter 4:10 -- about using what you are gifted with to help other people – and it hit me. I could do a huge running event and have people pledge money per every mile I ran.”
When he says huge Culverhouse means it.
The Race
Taking place on a series of rough, wooded trails inside Huntsville State Park, the 30-hour race is a grueling test of mind, body and spirit. For Culverhouse it’s much more. It’s a chance to show God’s enduring love to children in a faraway land and be a living testament to the Father’s sustaining power for those who hear his story and watch him reach his goal. “This is a non-stop event and I will be running basically from Saturday morning to Sunday around noon,” he explained. “I have never run more than 50 miles in a race, and that was by far the hardest thing I have ever done. Ultra-distance races produce mountaintop highs and miserable dark lows.”
With more than $1,000 pledged, Culverhouse is pumped, but not satisfied. He hopes each of his steps – and each dollar he is able to raise -- brings hope and a brighter future to the children in the Kenyan desert. The more steps he completes, the more money he raises and the more hope he is able to share.
“This is a non stop event, and I will be running basically from Saturday morning to Sunday around noon,” he said, underscoring the physical demands of the event. “My plan is to finish of course, but this race has a 60 percent finish rate meaning a little under half of the runners don’t make it. But I do have an advantage over the other runners: I will be running for a reason!”
One step –one smile – at a time
It’s that reason that keeps Culverhouse – and his newfound life direction – on track. In early January, Culverhouse and his wife returned from a church-sponsored Cambodian mission trip where they led a hair academy for members of the Leveasar village. “I just can’t describe the feeling we got from the people there,” he said. “There is something about meeting a real need. There is no greater feeling that going somewhere to make a difference in someone else’s life and having them give back more than you gave to them. Yes, we gave them a life skill and provided equipment for them to start a career, but they gave me a dose of reality – a clear view of respect, pride and love.”
He says it is the same feeling he gets when he sees the smiles on the faces of the Kenyan children his church helps support. “Just like the kids in Cambodia, when given the opportunity to be educated, these kids take it seriously,” he said, linking to two mission experiences together. “When Jennifer and I taught in Cambodia, you could hear a pin drop during class. The students wanted to work through breaks and lunch so they could learn as much as possible. They know that the only hope for them is a relationship with Christ and an education.”
So it is for the children of Segera. “If we continue to wait for someone else to do something, the loss of these beautiful children will continue,” he said. “I know the only hope for them is for someone to step into the gap and be the hands and feet of God.”
Your next step
To support Jason Culverhouse in his journey of 100 miles, log on to the BrightPoint For Children Web site at www.brightpointforchildren.org. Credit Card pledges can be made through the site and are tax deductible, as the organization is a recognized 501(c)3 charity. All checks should be made out to BrightPoint for Children and earmarked “Jason/100.” For more information, log on to the Web site or call Jason Culverhouse at (979) 709-1186.
“Love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help. That way, God's bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he'll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything….”
-- 1 Peter 4: 7-11 as translated in The Message
Community Updates 2008-11-19
Alpha Home- Hyderabad, India - The holidays are starting early for a special group of BrightPoint sponsors and their Indian children. As part of a mission team visiting Alpha Home, these sponsors are getting to meet their children for the first time. We’ll share their heart-warming stories with you soon.
You, too, can be part of this special home. With 35 children still in need of sponsors, we’ve got more than enough love to go around. Won’t you consider making Alpha Home your home for the holidays this year by sponsoring a child? For more information, visit our website at www.brightpointforchildren.org
Christ Compassion Rehabilitation Center – BrightPoint’s first rehabilitation center is near and dear to the hearts of many, but probably none more so than the members of Trinity Vineyard Church in Atlanta. Following a special service in August 2007, all of the children at CCRC were sponsored. James, the center’s new director, says that things are going well and that the children are healthy and in school.
But the folks at Trinity already knew this. They visited the center over the summer and gave their own glowing reports. Six of the center’s boys have progressed to Secondary School and are making good progress. Two recently completed Driving School and hope to be employed soon using the skills they learned.
Daraja Children’s Choir - With their smiling faces and touching testimonies, it’s no wonder that all members of the 2007-2008 Daraja Children’s Choir have been sponsored. As soon as they begin touring, sponsorship applications pour in from those first lucky churches. The response is so great, BrightPoint has been able to find sponsors for children in other communities by setting up sponsorship tables at host churches.
This fall, the choir has been touring up and down the east coast as part of their U.S. tour. After recent stops in the Carolinas and Virginia, they’re on they way up the seaboard to Pennsylvania where we hope they are wearing their long johns!
Havilla Children’s Home, Kenya - Report card day is met with happy smiles at Havilla, where all 47 children have sponsors for both their Basic Needs and Primary Education. As a result of their sponsors’ commitment and their own hard work, their school scores are going up each month and the children are happy and healthy.
But you don’t have to travel to Kenya to see the glowing results from this home. Eleven Havilla children are on tour with the Daraja Children’s Choir. One look at their glowing smiles and new-found confidence is clear evidence of the great work being done at the home.
The 410 bridge reports that great progress is being made on a new building at HCH. We can’t wait to see these awesome children in their new home – and share their pictures with you.
Karima - This Primary and Secondary School education program is almost full, and Clinton FBC in South Carolina is making sure all the children will be sponsored by year-end. They’ll also be able to start school with a few less worries as first-term fees have been raised for all of the children. Thanks to all who are helping this program in a very special community!
Karogoto/Parker Hill - Parker Hill Community Church in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania is sponsoring 35 Secondary School children in Karogoto. The church made the initial monetary commitment, allowing the program to launch. Soon after, their youth stepped in to raise more than $10,000 with a 30-hour fast. Individual sponsors are now taking over support for each child. The program is currently being expanded and will be adding more children for the 2009 school year.
Kwambekenya – Kiambariki Primary School Program - Talk about incredible results on an incredible scale! This pilot program focuses on raising the quality of education for ALL children attending this school. That’s a huge challenge, and one that’s been met with an outpouring of faith.
Instead of sponsoring an individual child, a classroom is sponsored with funds going to help the many. In 2008, sponsors have paid for two pre-school teachers, three primary school teachers and tutoring on Saturdays and holidays. We were also able to purchase desks, tables and chairs, learning materials, assessment tests, text books and supplies for the 900-plus students.
The results are staggering. The quality of education has gone up significantly and the term grades are showing it. During a typical year, only one in four students passes the Eighth Grade Exams. This year, teachers fully expect that percentage to go up.
The sponsors of this program are amazing and have worked with us as we learned how to implement this type program.
Kwambekenya Secondary School Program – When 22 members of the Mt. Bethel UMC congregation in Marietta, Georgia learned there were children without 2008 secondary school sponsors at Kwambekenya, they jumped at the opportunity to help. Without their support, none of their sponsored children would now be in school.
More children from the Kwambekenya community will need help in 2009. To help connect those in need with those of means, we’ve opened a new program on our website. Just click on the “Kwambekenya 2009 Secondary School” to learn more about the students here and how you can help them continue their education as they reach for a brighter future.
Ngaamba Basic Needs Program - This new program helping 40 vulnerable children in Ngaamba is the featured BrightPoint program on the current Daraja Choir tour. The program provides food, clothing and health care so that school attendance is possible. It’s the all-important first step in helping a child discover their path to a better tomorrow.
Ngaamba Intumbule Primary School - We learned from our first Primary School program that it’s still important to put a face with a sponsorship and build a relationship, so the “Star Student” program was born. Intumbule has 30 “Star Students” who represent their grade and school. While the support from these sponsors goes to help raise the quality of education for ALL the students, there is still a one-on-one relationship between a sponsor and their “Star Student”. This program is similar to the Kwambekenya Primary School program (see above for more details) with the addition of a lunch feeding program for every child!
We’re so proud of these students and this program we’ll be featuring it on the Daraja Concert Tour soon. If you want to support this program, please do so quickly, otherwise you may miss out on this special life-changing opportunity.
Rhema Kinangop, GOA Center - Imagine sharing a bed with two other children in a home that’s not your own. That’s the reality at this orphanage, where 22 children are dependent on the salaries of the two sisters who run it and the meager donations they’re able to scrape together from their community.
But there’s great hope. Just last week, a volunteer point person came forward to help. (Thanks Maury!) We have faith these children will be sponsored soon thanks to his passion to help God’s children. All of these children’s basic needs will be provided for, and a few Secondary School children will be guaranteed an education.
Segera Mission Orphans - Thanks to the generous hearts at Brazos Pointe Fellowship in Lake Jackson, Texas, six special orphans now have basic needs and education support. Brazos Pointe members visited Segera this summer and have been anxiously awaiting these children to come into their lives!
Segera Nursery School Program - The members of Brazos Pointe also fell in love with all 30 of these children , allowing this pre-school program to thrive. The Segera Mission is an oasis in the middle of destitute land, but the people of this area are amazing in their faith that God will help. And the hands and feet of Jesus, through the members of Brazos Pointe, have done just that!
Strong Tower Rehabilitation Center- GOA Center - With only a few sponsors helping 24 boys at Strong Tower, help was desperately needed -- and then Carrollton UMC stepped in. A Sunday morning service at the Carrollton, Georgia church resulted in all of the boys sponsored. Thanks to the help of two mission teams, letter writing is now flowing in both directions. These former street boys have a home and “new parents”, and are growing in faith in their Strong Tower daily.
NGAAMBA - opens with 2 Programs! 2008-10-15
Several teams visited Ngaamba this summer and have been anxiously awaiting this program... it's here!The Intumule Primary School Program has 36 Star Students, grades 1-6 waiting to be sponsored. Your sponsorship of these children, has you corresponding with them and your commitment helps all the students at Intumbule have desks, text and exercise books, school supplies, teachers paid and a lunch everyday!! Just click on "Sponsor a Child" and then the big orange box to find these children.
The Basic Needs Program has 39 children that the Ngaamba Leadership Council has chosen as "very needy". Your sponsorship of these children will provide food, clothing, healthcare, a school uniform and schoolbag. Currently these children's profiles are "on tour" with the Daraja Choir.... but if you visited Ngaamba and are particularly attached to a child you met there, contact us and we'll see if your child is in the program and match you up!
Any Questions about these programs, please contact us.
Spotlight: Rhema Kinangop 2008-09-10
BrightPoint's newest program hopes to help the 20+ needy and orphaned children being cared for at this home. Two sisters have taken in these children, ages 4 - 14, and are doing their best to care for them using their limited earnings. The sisters started their work over three years ago with one girl. Then three more came, now there are 20 children living in Rhema, with more likely to come soon! Only two of these children have been sponsored, and they need help with basic needs, school uniforms and books. To learn more about these chidren, Click on "Sponsor a Child" and them "Rhema".
Carrollton First UMC partners with Strong Tower 2008-09-09
BrightPoint is now partnering with Carrollton First United Methodist Church in Carrollton, GA to support the children of Strong Tower Children's Home. Strong Tower is a boy's rehabilitation home that grew from a street feeding program in Naivasha. It was built for 24 boys, but continued support means that more buildings will be added in the future.The story behind Strong Tower: Two years ago, Steve Smith and four others traveled to Kenya to provide needed medicines to the many children and adults suffering from sickness and disease. At the encouragement of Wes Griffin from International Leadership Institute (ILI), part of their time was spent helping and feeding "street boys" from Navaisha. These were boys of all ages, with no home or shelter, rummaging through garbage for food to survive. The team instantly shared Wes' desire to find a way to help these children.
Over the next two years, Carrollton First United Methodist Church, Roswell United Methodist Church and Glory Outreach Assembly came together to build a home for these children. Now, it is with great joy that BrightPoint is providing sponsorships for their basic needs and education. We thank each of our Strong Tower sponsors for making this dream a reality! For the latest on Strong Tower sponsorship opportunities Click on Sponsor a Child, and them Strong Tower.
Ladies Night Out a Success 2008-08-30
Thanks to all that attended our Ladies Night Out Fundraising Event in late June. Over 130 women turned out for the event to demonstrate their support for BrightPoint, and to hear about our latest accomplishments. Of course, none of these accomplishments would be possible without the support of our wonderful sponsors! Two of our attending sponsors traveled all the way from Iowa! It was a fun night with Bunco, a silent auction and a catered dinner. The entire group seemed to be very pleased to get the opportunity to hear firsthand from some of our sponsors and to learn how the children were being impacted. The night was declared a rousing success by all in attendance!We had several children sponsored as a result of that evening, and more attendees have inquired. If you need more info, e-mail Jane today.
In Memory of Jean Yaun... 2008-08-16
Jean Yaun died Friday, Aug 15th after a 7 month battle with cancer. Her family has requested donations in lieu of flowers be made to BrightPoint for Children, a charity that Jean loved and watched grow from it's inception. To donate by Credit Card: Click on Donate Now, then choose "In Memory of Jeanmarie Yaun" and you can insert a comment for the family. To donate by check: mail to BrightPoint for Children, 1610 Exeter Ct., Marietta, GA 30068. The Yaun and Kenny families and BrightPoint thanks you for your concern and love for Jean. God Bless you!
Donations Appreciated in Lieu of Golf 2008-08-12
Please be aware that the BrightPoint for Children Charity Golf Event scheduled for August 25th has been cancelled. While we received encouraging feedback from many of you related to BrightPoint's work, the date was not good for the majority of our potential golfer's. We will consider re-scheduling this event in 2009. The purpose of this event was not only to raise awareness of the children BrightPoint is helping, but to raise money for operating expenses, allowing us to add more programs and help more children. Specifically, we need support for the following: - A Program Manager in Kenya (A local Kenyan with a degree in Education has been interviewed and ready for hire) - Community Representatives in places where we work within Africa (all have been identified) - Travel costs so we can identify more children, evaluate existing programs and set up new programs. - Children's Education Fund (used for secondary school fees for qualified children) - U.S. operational costs We hope you will consider including BrightPoint for Children in your giving plans for this year. Thanks for your interest.
BrightPoint adds Orphanage in India 2008-05-01
BrightPoint has moved into India!International Leadership Institute (ILI) teams up with BrightPoint to help the Alpha Home in Hyderabad, India. Missionaries Peter and Esther Pereira started this home to help street children and there are almost 70 children living there today.
To learn more about this home and to view these children's pictures and have an opportunity for sponsorship, just click on: Sponsor a Child, then Group or Individual Sponsorship, then Alpha Home.
New Partner 2008-04-18
Glory Outreach Assembly (GOA) partners with BrightPoint at Strong Tower and Rhema Kinangop.Strong Tower is a boy's rehabilitation home that grew from a street feeding program in Naivasha. It was built for 24 boys and they will be adding more buildings in the future.
Rhema is a home for orphans and vulnerable children in the Kinangop area (near Karima).
To learn more about these children, just click on Sponsor a Child, Group or Individual Sponsors, then Strong Tower or Rhema Kinangop.
Valentine from Havilla 2008-02-16
This came from Joseph, the Director at Havilla: On Valentines Day, I got letters from all the kids and there is one letter I read from a girl named Kezziah (10 year old orphan at Havilla), and I thought it would be good if I sent this letter to you!To my beloved parents, I want to thank God for this day. Thank you my dear parents for the good care . Thank you for the confidence that you have put in me. The confidence to face the giant tomorrow. Your work is good.
You wake up early in the morning to prepare my breakfast, You make sure that I have a decent meal. Your work is good.
What about school? You pay my school fees on time, I never missed school even a day. Your work is good.
How smart do i look? You always make sure i wear a beautiful dress and a well polished shoe. Your work is good. Happy Valentines Day, dear parents. From your daughter, Kezziah.
Then I thought, I really don't deserve this,this belongs to BrightPoint for Children and the sponsors, who have made this possible. Thanks, Happy Valentine's to you all. From the Havilla family.
A Special Thank You from the BrightPoint Children! 2008-01-22
Over the Christmas holiday's, I had the opportunity to visit many of the BrightPoint sponsored children in Kenya. As part of the 410 Bridge Christmas in Kenya program, our team spent time with the children of Havilla, CCRC and Kwambekenya. It's hard to describe how much your support has meant to each of them, but it can be felt and seen in each of these places and with each of these children. First, please be aware that none of the BrightPoint children or communities have been negatively affected by the recent unrest caused by the Presidential election in Kenya. Each community has been calm and is far away from the areas of unrest that you may have seen in the news. We continue to pray for all Kenyan people during this challenging time.CCRC: It was a special day with the children of CCRC. Their newly formed choir sang beautifully for us, led by Boaz. Our team shared Christmas songs and gifts with all the children. John Mutahi spoke to our group, sharing the history and struggles of the center. As he began to share what the BrightPoint sponsorships have meant to them, he became too emotional to finish. That said it all!
Four additional children have qualified for secondary school! Bernard, Francis, Jaheim and Gordon all passed the required national exam. Gordon scored exceptionally high and qualified for a highly regarded provincial boarding school! Plans for the trade school children are coming together including mechanic training and driving school.
Kwambekenya: I'll never forget the cheers of joy from the children as they opened their Christmas gifts. Who would have thought that a simple backpack could mean so much! It was a day of celebration.
The community continues to rally around the support for the primary school and it has become a focal point for community hope and spirit. We look forward to having this program fully sponsored. The 7 children from the secondary school program are all enrolled for the coming term. None of these children could have continued their schooling without sponsor support.
Havilla Children's Home: A lot to share from Havilla: The basic needs sponsorships are clearly helping the children. Ample food was evident and the children were healthy!
All of the children are now attending primary school! While additional school sponsorships are still needed, we did not want any children left behind. They are all extremely excited about going to school together!
Please be aware that there is a chance that the Havilla children may be displaced from their current home due to issues related to ownership of the land they are living on. The 410 Bridge is currently working with Havilla on a plan in case that occurs. 410 Bridge Director, Kurt Kandler is currently in Kenya and we will have more information for you when he returns.
There is also a benefit being planned for Havilla by recent team members that visited there (we'll let you know more as plans develop).
Thanks to everyone for your interest and support.
God Bless, Steve Smith
BrightPoint for Children, Inc.
A Week at Havilla Childrens Home… 2008-01-21
by Suzanne McFadden, Havilla SponsorFrom December 27th until January 2, our family had the privilege of visiting Kenya and the Havilla Childrens Home. Having spent time with the members of the Daraja Childrens Choir when they were here, and sponsoring a few of them for Basic Needs, we wanted to spend some time serving them in their own home. It was a perfect time to be there since the children were out of school on their Christmas Break.
Joseph and Salome Kamau and the 46 children welcomed us in the traditional Havilla way, with song and dance and open arms. The next few days we spent learning the ropes and helping out with the daily work required around a home of 48 people. We were just amazed at what it takes to keep a home of 46 children running smoothly!!
The children spent much of their morning doing chores. The cows have to be milked early to provide milk for the day. Breakfast is usually some porridge or bread and butter, sometimes along with their beloved Chai Tea, which consists of a little bit of tea and a lot of milk!! After breakfast, the dishes have to be washed – with no automatic dishwasher!!
Then begins the clothes washing. Imagine the dirty clothes from 46 active, playful children!! They all wash their own clothes, and the older kids help the younger ones. And remember, there is no washer and dryer!! They wash in a big tub, then rinse twice in separate tubs, then hang the clothes to dry.
As the kids finish their clothes, it’s time to start lunch. Some start the fire, others take turns chopping cabbage, peeling potatoes, chopping meat, making the dough for and rolling out chapatti’s, and cooking the rice or ugali. Once lunch is done, the dishes have to be washed – by hand again of course.
Did I mention that at some point tall grass has to be cut down and chopped to be fed to the cows?
The amazing thing about these beautiful children is that they do all of this with a smile on their face. We heard no complaining or grumbling. In fact, they laughed a good bit as they watched us try to do the chores that they do so effortlessly. Joseph and Salome have created an environment where these children are loved and cared for, and it shows. They are happy and have an air of confidence about them that just warms your heart.
For those of you that sponsor a child at Havilla, please know that your sponsorship is making a huge difference in their physical lives. As Joseph showed us around the first day, he was so proud to show us the storage room, where there were bags of rice, flour, etc. He said that because of the sponsorship money coming in, they now had something to store and they no longer ran out of food. As he showed us the childrens rooms, he was thrilled to report that each child now has their own bed. This is directly attributable to the school sponsorships being provided. Since each child can now go to school, he was able to take the rooms that he previously used for classrooms (for those he could not afford to send out to school) and make them into dorm rooms.
Most importantly, please know that you are someone very special and personal to these children. They know your name, and when a package of letters from you arrives at the home, the children gather around Joseph with overflowing excitement and anticipation. In fact, one of the most touching moments came when we realized that one of our sponsored kids was calling us “Mum and Dad.” That was almost more than our hearts could bear!!
This was a Christmas to remember for our family and we are grateful that God blessed us with the opportunity to serve alongside Joseph, Salome and the amazing children at Havilla Children’s Home.
The Difference $39/month Can Make 2008-01-18
Written By: Jennifer Poteet, Sponsor of a child at Christ CompassionTrinity Vineyard recently partnered with BrightPoint for Children - a child sponsorship program which focuses specifically on the communities The 410 Bridge partners with in Kenya. This focused approach to sponsorship enables the individual sponsors to have a closer connection with the children they support. It was truly an honor for the 2007 Trinity Joska team to be a part of this new connection.
Shortly after all the children at Christ Compassion Rehabilitation Center (CCRC) were sponsored, I had the idea to take a letter and picture of every sponsor to each child at the center. Together with BrightPoint, we contacted the sponsors to let them know of our plans to hand deliver letters and pictures to their sponsored children. It was encouraging to see the sponsors enthusiasm and excitement about making personal contact.
In addition to the letters and pictures from each sponsor, the Joska team put together care packages filled with pens, pencils, erasers, pencil sharpeners, rulers, scissors, folders, crayons, colored pencils, markers, note pads, drawing pads, stickers, and candy. Also included were paperback Bibles, one for each child. Many children already possessed copies of a New Testament, but did not yet have full Bibles of their own.
When we announced that every package contained a Bible, and in each Bible was a letter and picture from their sponsor, the entire room exploded with applause and shouts of joy. There were literally kids jumping up and down. The kids smiles, which never left their faces for the rest of the day, were worth every effort the team made in preparing for this trip.
As we walked from room to room and watched the kids open their packages and read the letters from their sponsors, we were overwhelmed with the sights we saw and the comments we heard. Many of the kids had never colored with crayons before. Some had prayed for God to give them colored pencils.
The most touching scenes involved the kids opening their Bibles and their letters. Several of the kids were seen kissing their Bibles and holding them close to their chest, cherishing the fact that they now had their very own copy of the Word of Life. As they opened their letters and studied the pictures that were sent, joy and relief spread across the kids faces. Receiving a letter and seeing a picture of the person(s) who support them each month seemed to make it more real that God knows their needs and cares for them.
It was mind-blowing to hear John Mutahi explain the difference $39 per month makes in the lives of these children. That small amount of money, by our standards, means the children can focus on schoolwork because they have full bellies and assurance that it is not just for one day; it means they will no longer have to see the fence around their property be taken down, one post at a time, for firewood; it means they will not have to go back to living on the streets, and will be able to get a good education. Ultimately, it means that they know God, their Creator, made them and loves them. Through sponsorship, God becomes more real to them with each passing day.
For us, $39 is not a lot of money. Perhaps it means giving up eating out once or twice a month, or cutting back on entertainment. For some of us it is not a sacrifice at all. But in Gods economy, $39 per month makes more of a difference than you or I will ever be able to comprehend. It is a difference that will extend into eternity.
Note: if you would like to read more about the trip Trinity Vineyard Community Church made to Joska, go to http://web.mac.com/trinityvineyard/iWeb/trinity%20vineyard/joska%20newsletter.html
Parker Hill Helping Children in Karogoto, Kenya 2007-12-01
The support of Parker Hill Community Church (Clarks Summit, PA) is giving 35 children in Karogoto, Kenya the opportunity to earn a degree. The children – who otherwise would not be able to attend Secondary School – will have their school fees paid and be provided with uniforms and learning materials.
Thanks to everyone from Parker Hill!
Opportunities to Help in Kwambekenya 2007-11-15
Primary School ProgramImagine the reaction in the U.S. if only 25 percent of Middle School students learned enough to go on to High School! That’s the situation in the Kenyan community of Kwambekenya. Working with the leadership in this community to improve the quality of education in their Primary School, we’ve designed a program to provide needed teachers, desks, learning materials, after-school programs and more.
We’re excited to launch this new program, giving sponsors an opportunity to impact an entire class!
Secondary School Program
Out of the few children who make it into Secondary School in Kwambekenya, there are seven who are about to drop out because they are unable to pay the fees to complete their education.
Thanks to Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church (Marietta, GA) for their efforts in finding sponsors for these children.
A Message from John Mutahi at the Christ Compassion Rehabilitation Center 2007-11-13
John Mutahi, founder of Christ Compassion Rehabilitation Center in Joska, Kenya, has sent this message to all sponsors of this children’s home:
It continues to humble me every time that you stretch your hand on that end to touch the life of a child who would otherwise have been desperate eating some rotting left-overs in a litter bin somewhere. You are truly obeying the commandment of our Lord of feeding the poor and feeding the hungry. What you are doing on that end has an eternal reward and God surely shines His face upon you and all the Sponsors down there.
John Mutahi.
Thanks to everyone from Trinity Vineyard Church (Atlanta, GA)!
News from Havilla and CCRC 2007-09-21
Steve Smith from BrightPoint and Kurt Kandler from The 410 Bridge returned from two weeks of visiting the 410 Bridge Communities in Kenya including the Christ Compassion Rehabilitation Center (CCRC) and Havilla Children’s Home.
Steve on CCRC: For the first time in my 5 visits here, I saw the children eating! Food was plentiful and the children looked healthy. They were so relieved and appreciative to have monthly support for their basic needs. With this burden lifted, their staff can now increase their focus on child development and rehabilitation. It was wonderful to see the Program working.
Steve on Havilla: Everything was put in place to launch their Basic Needs Program on October 1st. It was clear from a tour of present conditions that this support is desperately needed. Joseph has done incredible things with these beautiful children and it was an honor to share with him that sponsorship help was on the way.
New Opportunities to Help in Havilla!
The children’s education situation is bleak in Havilla. The free public schools nearby are of very poor quality. Home schooling has been challenging with limited results. There are quality schools in the area, but all have fees and Havilla can send only a few children.
As a result, BrightPoint is launching a Primary School Sponsorship Program that will ensure that every child in Havilla has an opportunity to attend a quality school!
Please visit our Havilla sponsorship page to help these children.
Meeting Children’s Basic Needs in Kenya 2007-08-30
The Daraja African Children’s Choir says Jambo (greetings) and Asante (thanks) to all of their new friends. And – having sung their way into our hearts during visits to Florida, North Carolina, Alabama and Georgia this past summer – they have many new friends. With the help of many of those they touched, all the children in the choir – as well as all the children in the Havilla Children’s Home – will be sponsored and have their Basic Needs met through our program in Kenya!
Children of CCRC Sponsored 2007-08-12
It was a glorious Sunday at Trinity Vineyard Church (Atlanta, GA). Church members quickly committed to sponsor all 55 children at the Christ Compassion Rehabilitation Center in Joska, Kenya. The center – a home for former street children – will now receive monthly support for food, clothing, healthcare, adult care and education. With these needs being met, the center can put additional focus on rehabilitation and education.
The plan was to offer sponsorships at all five Sunday services, but commitments were made to sponsor all 55 children by the start of the second service! Thanks to everyone at Trinity Vineyard!