It is almost time for our Light Up the World campaign (March 1- April 30). Do you know anyone that could use a little bit of love and kindness in their life? With so much “stuuuuff” going on out there in the world, sometimes we just need to slow down, breathe in and cherish the present. Having some quality candlelight would not hurt either.
I am back to familiar surroundings in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. In a few hours I will be on my flight back to Grand Rapids, Michigan. It has truly been a season to remember and the Presence of the LORD has been undeniable. We are so very grateful for all the prayers offered for provision, for guidance and for our safety. Thank you.
At our last school visit, Cardinal Otunga Girls’ Secondary School in Kibabii, Patricia K. overcome with emotion stood up to give a vote of thanks. One of the things she said has stuck with me. She stated, “I wish there was a “happy meter” so you could measure how happy we are. Thank you for loving us and thank you for supporting us. I promise you, we will all make it. We are working hard, and we will not let you down.” These words are meant for you! Your donations and your sacrifices are yielding eternal results.
As I think about her words, I am reminded about an obsession I had as a young girl. I loved the purity and simplicity of smocked dresses. My greatest longing back then was to grow up, get married, have daughters (as if this were up to me), and then dress them up to the nines in the prettiest smocked dresses I could find. I thought they were the cutest things I’d ever seen. God in his wisdom, blessed me with a strapping young son who is content to wear plain jeans and a T-shirt.
However, as I read the emails arriving in my inbox from all the precious young girls that God has put in my life through Esther’s Hope, I see a deeper blessing. Each email begins, “Dear mummy… (this is the Kenyan reference for mom).” I have become the mother of many spiritual daughters and as I watch them develop and mature in Christ, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Instead of perishable smocked dresses, God is clothing them with faith, with strength, with perseverance, with dignity, with honesty, with deep gratitude and with humility.
Your dream may not turn out exactly as you envisioned it either, but he, our King of Glory, does all things well.
See you in the vineyard, on the other side of the ocean as we eagerly await the imminent return of our loving Savior, Jesus Christ!
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin…
Zechariah 4:10a
In 2016, we at Esther’s Hope took tiny, tentative steps of faith to impact the lives of young women through Christian discipleship and life-transforming education. We believed that by changing one girl’s life, we could change outcomes for a family, for a community, and even for the world. Our efforts seemed pitiful, (they still do) and there were times we doubted that we could make a difference; and then there were those times, when others doubted that our efforts would amount to anything. But God!
Have you ever wondered what the little boy was thinking as he handed his five small barley loaves and two small fish to Jesus (John 6: 1-13)? Perhaps he thought, “This is too little to feed such a huge crowd, but it’s all I have,” or he may have thought, “If anyone can multiply this food, Jesus can.” I guess we’ll never know what the young man was thinking that day. What we do know are the critical thoughts of the adults around him, “…, but how far will they go among so many?” That crowd was huge, five thousand strong, and the little boy’s offering painfully small. But God! This was the perfect setting for a miracle.
We are seeing plenty of miracles at Esther’s Hope, especially at Kolanya Girls’ High School, in Busia district, where this dream began with ten timid young women who were painfully uncertain about their futures. How different things seem in 2020. On this visit, we marveled at the confident and extremely grateful young students we interacted with, and then marveled some more as we perused their school records. This year’s graduating class from Kolanya, 31 strong, all posted A’s and B’s in their final exams of 2019; meaning they have been working extremely hard and are all destined for admission into a university. Our fresh, incoming class of 20 students had similar grades. Rahab and I had a tough time deciding who we should turn down. This is what hope in Christ can do in the classroom (Isaiah 40: 31)! The girls have embraced this hope that only God can give and are working really hard to realize their God-given dreams. There is no stopping them now.
As we were celebrating the impact that Esther’s Hope is having on these young girls, the school coordinator, Mr. Dismas Kiboi, revealed that the top candidate in the county last year, and fifth overall in the country (gasp!), was an Esther’s Hope Scholarship recipient, Micell Cheruto. She has now been awarded a 100% university education sponsorship by Equity Bank-Kenya, a paid internship and job assurance after graduation. Even more important, Micell is an ambassador of Jesus Christ, and she’s about to enter the workforce with Christian grit, grace and gratitude…only God!
So, whatever you are in the process of building right now, do not neglect or scoff at humble beginnings, and do not let the dream stealers get in your way. Look to him and trust him (Proverbs 3:5-6). Involve God in everything you do, and allow his provision of grace, fortitude, favor, wisdom and power to multiply and grow the little offerings in your hands. Only he can!
We thank you most sincerely for your support of our mission to give girls a chance at a life-changing and life-transforming education.
To learn more about the mission, to donate or to volunteer at our next event, visit: www.esthershopeministries.net.
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Colossians 3:7
With God’s help Esther’s Hope Ministries has expanded into a fourth school in Kenya, the AIC Churo Girls’ Secondary School in Baringo County. A trip to Churo, Baringo County is not for the faint of heart. Parts of the road are almost impassable. We held our breaths as our expert driver, Kevin, navigated a portion of the long journey, 27 kilometers of treacherous deep ravines and sharp rocks. Every now and then, the grating sound of the exhaust pipe rubbing against those rocks caused us to wince, as we desperately prayed that our vehicle would remain intact for the duration of our trip. Thankfully, it did!
In sharp contrast to the road conditions is the divinely designed natural beauty of Baringo County. All around us, we saw deep, rich, lush green vegetation, and naturally growing breathtaking landscapes. The roads curve through the mountains climbing to heights of 6640ft above sea level. It’s a feast for the eyes.
After almost 10 hours, we finally arrived at our destination in the late evening, utterly exhausted but grateful for God’s protection. We were particularly thankful for the Christian love, care and hospitality extended to us by the school and local community. Rev. Amos Lomoto had made the long trip the day before to Nakuru, a large town about 6 hours away from Churo to help guide us safely to our destination. He helped us avoid a dangerous area where the locals had blocked the main road as they sought revenge for one of their own who had been killed by an opposing tribe.
As always, the highlight of our trip, was the time we spent with the amazing young women who attend Churo Girl’s Secondary School. Despite the heartbreaking stories we heard, these young women passionately desire just two things; assurance that God cares about their plight and a good education. Together, and with God’s help, we can give them both. They are so hungry for the opportunity to learn, that they are willing to travel through treacherous terrain to get it. At the end of our recruitment exercise, the school honored us with local Pokot regalia. Our hearts are filled to overflowing as we move on to our next stop, Kolanya. We received more than we gave. To God be the glory! Thank you for your willingness to support these courageous young girls.
We thank you most sincerely for your support of our mission to give girls a chance at a life-changing and life-transforming education.
To learn more about the mission, to donate or to volunteer at our next event, visit: www.esthershopeministries.net.
Our God is faithful, and we thank him for journey mercies. It’s been a week since Jill S. and I landed in Nairobi, Kenya. Upon our arrival, we teamed up with Rahab, our Program Manager, and Kevin, our dedicated and extremely patient driver and budding photographer, and gradually made our way through the awe-inspiring Great Rift Valley to Narok. Narok is a little town west of Nairobi with a population of about 40,000 people, mostly Maasai.
