July 2024
Good Morning from Kenya,
We are so thankful for you. Thank you to each of you who pray for us and encourage us. Thank you to those who support our ministry financially. Blessings to each of you. Together we can accomplish so much.
I returned to my “other” home in Kenya a few weeks ago. It is always an emotional time to say goodbye on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean but I am so incredibly thankful for the opportunities I have to spend with my kids/grandkids/family/friends. When I know that I am only there for a few weeks I am super intentional about getting as much time with family as possible. I also was able to spend some time with friends and supporters and lovers of our ministry. When I returned to Kenya, I did not travel alone. My daughter Cassandra accompanied me. Together, we are building a literacy program in our schools. It has given me so much joy to see her reach out beyond her comfort zone and get to know these students. They really are loving their time with Cassandra and I know the feeling is mutual. It has been so wonderful to have her here with me in ministry. Cassandra is going into both schools twice a week. One day is committed to Bible lessons and the other day she is helping with reading. Please continue to pray for her as she gets situated and finds her place in ministry. Cassandra is staying with Nelson and I.
Last Saturday, Cassandra and I visited the home of a family from our church who just had a beautiful baby girl. Their older 2 girls are students at Path4Life Academy. There was so much joy and laughter as the girls watched videos we have taken of the time that Cassandra has been in school. The smiles on the little girls' faces were just as cute as the parents as they enjoyed the videos.
Over the past few weeks there has been some insecurity here in Kenya. The government wanted to increase taxes on things and people would not agree with that. Kenya is full of corruption starting with the very top and flowing down to the people in the villages. It has been a learned thing and people are so tired of the increased corruption so when the president wanted to raise taxes the youth started demonstrating against it. Soon, there were riots breaking out everywhere from others who wanted to destroy property. The police got involved also and became part of the problem also. Other officers were a huge help. There were days that Cassandra and I had to just stay home or close to home for safety reasons. It appears that over the past few days things have calmed down and started to get back to normal. The president is listening to the people thankfully. Praying he starts to put things into place to make positive changes that help the people.
Kenyan schools were on a half term break for 2nd term and have now resumed school. There are so many students on the roads that have been sent home from school because of owing school fees. Our schools are also in the same situation. Today, we sent home around 20 students in one school and the other school will be sending even more on Wednesday. It is difficult to send them home but we are really struggling to pay teachers, staff, food and rent on both schools. The schools are around half hour drive apart and in vulnerable areas. We are thankful that some of you saw the need and stepped in to help with the schools. These kids are so precious. In order to break the cycle of lack of education these students need to continue with their education. Many of the public schools in the area have 100 students for 1 teacher. Some of the teachers' desks are sitting outside of the classroom with no teacher in sight. We want to set a different example.
While I was in the USA Nelson continued to lead the ministry. He preached in our main church and had crusades in both of the other churches. I love his commitment to our ministry and seeing people's lives change. The title for our church land came also while I was in the USA also. It is exciting!
The work on our mission home continues slowly. We are continuing to do the small things that need to be done to get ready for the septic, water and electric. The electric and water lines are in the house already leaving the outside to be completed. We are really longing to be living in our new home as soon as possible. Once these things are finished, we can move in and finish things as we have money. It sure looks beautiful already.
There are many financial challenges we are facing here in Kenya. The demands for ministry as well as the needs we have for our own personal finances are overwhelming at times. We are thankful to God that He has walked this road with us. Nelson and I continue to trust God to supply. Path4Life ministry is now a registered 501c3 non profit. All donations are tax deductible and there are two different ways to give:
- PayPal
- Or mail a check to:
Theresa VanderArk (Path4Life treasurer)
℅ Path4Life
305 Talon Drive
Coopersville, MI 49404
Blessings to each of you,
Nelson and Michelle
