October 2024
Hello from Kenya! It is a beautiful afternoon here in Western Kenya today. I have seen many pictures on fb of the fall colors and makes me miss the fall season in MI. As you start to prepare for winter, we in Kenya are preparing for summer. It is raining outside, that is how we know it is around 4:00pm (haha).
In Western Kenya, we have 2 growing seasons. We have planted for our second season like many others around us. We decided this year to plant different crops to see how things grow. There are 16 banana trees, corn, beans as well as potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, carrots and other local vegetables. I always enjoy watching the crops grow not only in our land but those around us. The rains come almost daily mainly in the afternoon making it perfect growing weather.
This month of October has been full of so many smiles from the students as they prepared for the end of the school year but also brought added stress for us as we had to make difficult decisions concerning the schools. Both of our schools have now closed for the 2024 school year. There are still several bills to be paid. This year, we decided to join both schools for a field trip to Kisumu. Students had to pay an extra charge for the trip where we rented a bus, toured the airport, went to Impala park (small zoo) and then a boat ride on lake Victoria. The students were so excited as well as the teachers as we spent the day together. We really enjoyed watching the students experience so many things for the very first time. Most had never rode a bus or seen an airplane take off or land and had never imagined a lake so big that they could ride in a boat on. The same week as the trip, both schools had their graduations and schools were closed. In one of our schools there is a special needs girl named Blessing who was graduating from PP2/ Kindergarten. Blessing always has a smile but the day of graduation her smile never stopped. It was a great day.
There was a small team of two ladies from Michigan who came to see us this month for a few weeks. While Theresa and Dianne were here, we spent time visiting with people and took part in the graduations. We also had a day of retreat for our pastors and wives in a restaurant nearby. It was a day of encouragement and love as we learned a few new things, played funny games and had a nice lunch together. This is something we try to do twice a year. Growing our leaders in our churches helps them to lead better. Many ministries do not include the pastor's wife but we usually bring them together to help with unity and love. We love our pastors/wives and want them to be encouraged and be the best they can be.
Before the team came, we had invited another ministry into our pastors meetings to talk about the abundance vs poverty mindset. The purpose of this training is to help them see that when we can see the possibility instead of the lack of, we can go far. This will help the pastors' families personally but also will spill into their own churches and ministries. It is so easy to see the negative but we need to intentionally look at the positive things that are around us to use.
Our home has seen some progress the past few weeks. The electricity on the inside of the house is completed and the plumbing inside and outside is ready for the toilets/sinks and shower. This week the water tower was delivered and now needs to be put on site. We have managed to tile the kitchen and started one of the bathrooms. Our biggest challenges now are the electricity from the pole to the house and finishing setting at least one bathroom. We also need to have a gate at the front of the entrance that is secure. Nelson and I would really like to move into the house before the end of this year and start the new year in our new mission home.
Nelson is going to apply for his visa to the USA in the next few weeks. It is quite a process to jump through as well as financially. Please be praying for this process. When he went last time, the decision was made who was going to get their visa before they walked in the door. It was so discouraging but we need to continue to walk through this process for him to come to the USA with me.
We are requesting your prayers and financial support:
1. Our monthly support has gone down. We need people to commit to a monthly giving to help us.
2. The mission home still has a ways to go to be completed. If we have $ 3,000 we can get a few crucial things finished to be able to move in. We are ready to be finished paying rent.
3. The visa for Nelson is around $1,000. We would like to have him come with me when I come to the USA early next year.
4. There are still many bills to be paid for the schools.
5. Nelson's shop has been struggling. He has good men working for him but very few things are selling.
Every financial gift helps us not only with our personal needs as well as the completion of the mission home, other needs and Nelson’s visa. Your gift of $50-$100- or $200 - $500 helps us more than you know. You can give easily online through:
Or mail a check to:
Theresa VanderArk (Path4Life treasurer)
℅ Path4Life
305 Talon Drive
Coopersville, MI 49404
Blessings,
Nelson and Michelle
