Hope for the Next Generation

When we were recently traveling in South Africa, Judy was sharing the passion she and Phil have for ministry in Africa. One of the tourists in our car skeptically asked, "Do you really think it will make any difference?"

Through God's help and grace, it will make a difference for this little boy. He will have a mother to raise him, instead of becoming a street child. Our HEART motto is on the back of the shirt of Dan, our team member from CO (a young single man). Can you read it? Knowledge=Power=Survival. Double click on the photo for enlargement.

Prayer Request

On Thursday through Saturday, we are going to be in Mombasa with a medical team (doctor and 3 assistants) from the US. The team is helping HEART by giving physical exams and basic care to women and children of the Mombasa WEEP (Women's Equality Empowerment Program) center. Please pray for us and the team as we minister to 8 widows and about 25 children at this center.


DID YOU KNOW? You can enlarge all photos on the blog by double-clicking on them.

Phil at Olive Branch

On Saturday, 31 Jan, John Parit met us at the Daystar Nairobi campus and then took us to see the Olive Branch Mission, where he is the director. As you can see from the sign, the mission is operated by the Free Methodist Church. The date 1867 on the sign refers to the founding by the FM Church of the original Olive Branch Mission, still in operation in Chicago. The mission here has several projects going. More than 200 women in the poverty areas in and around Nairobi are employed making jewelry and other items. John is from the Masai tribe and one of his projects involves helping the Masai to be more successful with their cattle. John is a very busy man with a big responsibility in the FM school near the mission, and as a lay leader in the Karen FM Church.

John & Dorcas Parit

Here you see John with his wife Dorcas. We haven't yet met their 3 children. Dorcas manages a shop in Karen where they sell jewelry and other items from the mission. After our tour of the mission, John and Dorcas took us to the Nairobi Java Junction for lunch. We had a great visit with them, and are impressed with all that they do.

WEEP Center in Muthare

Women's Equality Empowerment Program (WEEP) is a HEART ministry that concentrates on giving training (operating sewing machines and a loom) to 15 women in Muthare who have AIDS. There are 6 WEEP centers around Nairobi. In Muthare, these 15 women give care to 40 children. Along with taking their ARV medication, having good nutrition, and the hope that comes along with learning a trade while being employed, these women's lives are much better now than before coming to WEEP.

The previous week one of the women in this group lost her shack in a slum fire that wiped out a row of shacks. We (Phil, Judy, and 3 women from the U.S. HEART team) were going to this center to take her food, clothing, and supplies. We also spent a time of teaching and encouragement for all the women.

When Phil and Judy went up to Nairobi this week, they stayed at the home of Humberto (Beto) and Teri Paz. Beto is the Foursquare missions coordinator for all of Africa and the Middle East. Judy and Teri have been friends for awhile. Beto travels a lot and is right now away for 6 weeks. Teri graciously offered their guest bedroom as Phil and Judy's Nairobi dwelling.

Community Transformers

On Friday, 30 January, Phil and Judy joined 3 women from the U.S. (a small HEART team) to go into Muthare, one of the slum areas in Nairobi. We went with the purpose of supporting and giving training to about 30 young people who volunteer for a group called Community Transformers. This group was formed by a Muthare pastor during the turmoil in Kenya following the Dec 07 presidential election. These young people have pledged to be part of the solution instead of the problem.

We provided lunch consisting of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, along with pop and biscuits (cookies).

Little Girl in Muthare

The slum of Muthare is extreme poverty with massive crowds of people of all ages. This beautiful little girl was sitting outside her lean-to shack, along with her mother and 4 siblings. Thank God this family is one of those ministered to by the group Community Transformers.