october 2021.

What an incredible, ministry-filled month! I don’t know about any of you, but October seemed to fly by for me! Even though the month was filled with activities, it felt like I blinked and it’s already November! I’m not complaining though because that means my parents will be here in only a month and a half! I have been planning some fun adventures for them when they come. It will have been a year and a half since I last saw them, so I can’t wait for our sweet reunion!

This month, I had the opportunity to volunteer with a ministry here that I have talked about before called Rejesha. Rejesha is a ministry started by a good friend of mine named Eunice. The mission of Rejesha is to provide dignity and support for women in Nairobi who are in prostitution. I was able to volunteer two Saturdays this month to go with a ministry team downtown to meet some women, hear their stories, offer prayer, food and hot coffee to them. This experience really opened my eyes to the huge industry that sex-trafficking is in this country. This month, the 10 pm curfew lifted, so there are many women out on the streets looking for work. I am thankful to be a part of God’s kingdom work here and I look forward to partnering with this ministry. I am scheduled to help out bimonthly. Next week, by the providence of God, we are able to start providing full meals for these women! Please consider lifting up these women in prayer. Many of them have children to support and are faced with so many complex medical issues.

This month at school was packed with celebrations! It was definitely a fun month. My third grade students completed their first novel study of Charlotte’s Web, so we were able to have a class party to watch the movie. It was so fun to shower the kids with love by preparing fun party-themed snack and decorating the classroom. I also got to praise the children for their hard work these past few months to learn all of their multiplication facts. We celebrated by having an ice cream party to reward their efforts. I am so proud of their dedication and determination.

The highlight of my month was the opportunity I had to visit Creation of Hope, a children’s orphanage a couple hours outside of Nairobi. This trip was completely God-ordained. There is a Canadian author whose books I have in my classroom. He has many children’s books about Kenyan culture and traditions. As I was reading one to my students, I noticed in the back of the book that the author, Eric Walters, had partnered with a Kenyan family here to start an orphanage in 2007. After school that day, I looked up the centre on the internet and found a contact for Eric and Ruth (the center coordinator). I decided to send them both an email asking if I could come visit their orphanage and literally within 2 minutes, I received a reply welcoming to come visit the center! How amazing is God?

My amazing teaching partner and friend, Rachel and I planned for a weekend where we could go and what an incredible experience it was! The centre has about 80 children between the ages of 5-16.

Another fun adventure that was had this month was a road trip with some coworkers and friends to the equator sign 4 hours north of Nairobi. We were able to have lunch in a beautiful tree top restaurant on a trout farm, swim in a beautiful waterfall, and see some more of Kenya I had never explored before. I am thankful for some of the days off we had this month to make memories like this.

Lastly, just this past Sunday, my friend Susan came to church with me again. Praise God! This time she not only brought her two kids, but also her brother’s three boys! It was so fun to be with them on this particular Sunday because it was the church’s third birthday, so there were bouncy castles for the children, cake, and a picnic lunch. The kids had a blast and so did Susan. She even braced the bouncy castle slide with her 5 year-old! I am thankful for the relationship that we share. Despite some of the language barriers we have, our friendship is dear to my heart. I know that Susan is a hard-working mother with a good heart. My desire is that she would come to know the deep, unending love that the Father has for her and her family.

& that’s a wrap on October. I hope you had a good month too! I continue to thank the people that choose to support me in work here. I appreciate your support in all facets, whether it be emotional, financial or spiritual. Thank you for investing in my life here in Kenya. I am so thankful for this opportunity. In saying that, I want to let you know that I have agreed to stay here in Kenya for the unforeseen future as I just signed another two-year contract. I am excited for what the Lord has in store for me here and I really feel like I’m just getting started.

Until next month,

j.