Mercy Ministries Minute No. 5
Thank you for taking the time to keep up with that is happening here in our tiny village in Western Kenya. Thank you for your prayers, love, sharing what God is doing here, and your financial support. I wish you could all visit and get a glimpse of the impact you are making here. Here’s what we have been up to the last couple of weeks and some prayer requests that we have.
Praises:
General
Our transformer has been fixed and our power has been restored! We are so thankful to not be depending solely on our generator for power now. While the power has already been out a few times since it has been fixed, it is good to be back on power most of the time. Praise God for providing funds for all the extra fuel costs and because our power has been (mostly) back on!
We have had several smaller financial needs met recently. It is hard to have so many needs and we are always thankful when y'all continue to stand in the gap for us.
The need for formal and “specialty” items for the new dish washing are have been purchased, boxed up, and have started their journey to us!
This need for towels has been met and they should get to us any day now! I am excited about adding these to our normal everyday life!
Church
Church attendance has been growing over the last few weeks. Many adults and children are hearing the Gospel on a weekly basis. Last week we had 410 children and adults attend church from the village, which means we had over 500 in attendance when you add in Mercy Home and our staff that also attend.
Home
The longer we are here, the more I feel confident in getting more systems in place. Managing a home with 120+ people living in it is a lot to think through and process. This week Karson added a couple of shelving units, mostly to accommodate for all of our baby needs. While we still have several areas to refine/fix/organize we are making progress and seem to have a better idea of what will truly work for us which is amazing because it stinks to think you have a solution, only to realize that was all a waste of time because it doesn't work the way you wanted/thought it would.
These 2 shelving units will get custom baskets similar to the two brown ones you see in the picture as funding allows. Adding these two shelves to our bathroom has added a lot of storage space that is desperately needed with all these babies and their things.
Prayer Points:
General
Please pray for funding...I know I talk about this a lot, but it is a huge need for us. It takes a lot to keep things running here and we constantly have needs outside of our normal daily needs. Recently a visitor made a comment about us having "half a million dollars worth of needs" (in addition to our normal daily life budget) and it has been circling around in my brain and heart since in a very overwhelming way. The weight of all the needs here are overwhelming and while some of them can wait they are still needs and on the never ending list of "to do" that is logged in my brain. Many days I feel like we are drowning in needs and I often feel like we are failing our kids/staff/village because we can't do ___________ because we do not currently have the finances. While I know the Lord does and will provide it is a huge weight to have pressing on you and by you I mean me.
For God to put together and send us a few working/construction type trips who can help us get ahead. We have SO many projects (building, repair/maintenance, desks, shelving) that really need to be done, but not enough skilled hands to get it all done. It feels like we are constantly eating an elephant in this area, except the elephant keeps growing because we have so many people using our spaces. This is partly due to growth, but also because Karson just doesn't have enough hours in the day, enough funds, and/or enough skilled help.
Jeff has been sick for the last several days. He is teaching half of the conference sessions this Friday and Saturday. Please pray that as he is recovering he can focus and finish preparing the sessions he is teaching. This is his first year to actually teach at the conference so he has A LOT on his plate.
There is a man in our village living with a mental illness who is currently suffering from a jigger infestation. These little sand fleas dig into your skin and lay eggs. They are very painful and while they are generally easy to get rid of it does take some work. We have know this man for a couple of years now and helped him with jiggers before. Please pray that we would be able to continue to help him as he has many needs and not a lot of support.
Church
The conference is at the end of this week. Please pray that hearts would be softened and that all is said and done during the conference would glorify God. Michael Maura and Jeff will be teaching 7 sessions on the Glory of Christ. We are raising funds ($3,000) for this free conference, any help will be a blessing to those in attendance. The attendees (we are expecting 400) will be served 2 meals each day and will be provided with a conference booklet with hymns, notes, and a free book.
That the hearts of our church attendees would be softened and more would come to know Jesus. Jeff faithfully proclaims the Gospel each week.
Home
Our twin girlies are completely adorable and NOT great sleepers which means I am not getting any good sleep. Nighttime seems to be the worst for them and I'm trying all the tips and tricks I know and they are still not sleeping. Please pray that get on a same and predictable schedule so my body can adjust. I don't have to have a lot of sleep, but some nights I'm only getting an hour and a half to two hours.
Emmie and Ellie matching is my favorite!!
They do sleep sometimes!
Ellie and Emmie, sweet girls!
Several of our younger kids are sick and on antibiotics. Thankfully they all seem to be bouncing back quickly, but we've been to the hospital several days in a row now. While medical care is less costly here it adds up when you have several who are sick. Please pray for the health of our home and for finances for medical treatment.
True salvation of our children. They are hearing the Gospel and learning about God daily, multiple times a day. I can assure you that the children who live in our home cannot say they did not know.
School
Endurance for the end of this school year. We have a lot of extra work at the end of a term and at the end of a school year. Lots of exam grading, entering grades, and creating report cards. All of that is done in the office, not by our teachers. We only have a few days of school left and it is easy to get tired and just "skate" by for our staff and students.
Please pray that God would bring qualified and loving teachers to MCA. We have had to release a few of our teachers recently and will be interviewing and looking for replacement teachers during the upcoming break.
Happenings:
General
Karson has been working hard on welding the new trusses for our dining hall. I think this has been a bigger project than he expected, but he is really enjoying welding and the knowledge he is gaining. He is hoping to be done with the 6 trusses by the end of this week. Then he will work on removing the roof and replacing it.
Church
The 2 day Bible conference is this Friday and Saturday. We are busy finalizing the conference booklet, menu, and sleeping arrangements for all of those who will be staying here.
Home
The boys returned to a home in our village to add another layer of mud. This family is so thankful for the support of a new home and we are thankful that our kids not only get to see God provide for them in this way, but that they have opportunities to serve others like this.
School
We are busy grading exams and entering final grades so we can print report cards and close school for this year. After all the exams and grading we are always ready a little break. We are planning to continue doing some reviewing/tutoring during the break, but we will not have students attending 5 days a week.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for continuing to stand with us and for us. Thank you for petitioning the Lord on our behalf. Thank you for giving from your heart and allowing us to share the Gospel with many, love, rescue, and care for so many. We are so blessed to have the beautiful team that God has put together for His Glory. Thank you for allowing God to use you in the lives of so many others, including mine. I am beyond grateful.
General giving page-you can donate towards the Bible conference here. On the second page it will allow you to make a note so you can designate where you would like your gift to go.
Specific fundraiser page-we have a Village Christmas party fund and a Mercy Ministries work truck fund posted here.
Sponsorship page-we have many Mercy Home kids and Mercy Christian Academy students who need monthly sponsorships. Sponsorships help us cover food, clothing, staff, and medical needs. Sponsorships also help us plan better when we have bigger needs.
Athletic shoes and Amazon wish list page-We are getting low on athletic shoes again we have over 250 kids to keep shoes in since we provide shoes for the home and school. If you are able to donate new or used athletic shoes we can ship them over the ocean and get them in our kids feet. When I have to purchase shoes locally I usually have to buy a croc style shoes due to cost and availability which isn't great for running and playing in.
Zari and Myra (Dottie, our Assistant Director’s daughter) are besties and always together.