As a little girl, I always wanted to be a teacher. I would sit in my bedroom and teach my dolls, stuffed animals and my little sister if she would stay long enough. I knew from a very early age that teaching is what I wanted to do when I grew up. I have taught in public schools for 11 years and when Chris felt like we needed to lead a team of students and adults on a mission trip to Kenya I was so excited to go and minister to children. We have been to Kenya for several years now and one of my most favorite parts of the trips is visiting primary schools with our pastors and teams and going to church in the village churches. Children in Kenya seem more eager to learn than those here in the states. There is great sacrifice for each family to send their children to school to learn. School fees and uniforms can be very expensive for a Kenyan family, something that those of us in the USA take for granted some times.
This last year Chris and I have been praying about out how we could help our friends in Kenya. We have formed great friendships with the pastors that we serve with every time we go to western Kenya. They interpret for us in the villages and schools and spend every day with our teams. We began praying about how we could partner with them in ministry and Chris dreamed up an idea of starting a feeding program in their churches after reading about a similar ministry program in eastern Kenya.
One of our church partners in Kenya has an early education school that meets inside the church. I have been to this church on a school day and seen all of the small children there to learn. Children in Kenya walk home for lunch each school day. We thought it would be awesome if the children could stay at the school and receive a hot meal during the lunch hour. We wanted to encourage school attendance and this is one way we can do that! There has been a severe drought and food shortage in Kenya and some families in this area were suffering pretty badly. We wanted them to see that the church is caring for and loving their children and hopefully they will be open to hearing the gospel message because of the physical need being met for their children. Currently, we are feeding children 3 days a week in one church and will soon begin feeding students in another church in the coming weeks. More than 100 students will be receiving lunch at the local churches and the pastors will have the opportunity to share the gospel with these children and their families. We have already seen an increase in school attendance and overall improved health of children receiving meals in the first church. We have also seen some family members come to Christ because their child is being fed during the school day.
Will you consider how you can join this ministry? For $25, you can feed an entire school full of children a hot lunch for a day! That is the equivalent of one fast-food meal here in the states! For $300 you can feed an entire school for the month! What a blessing to these families to have their children receiving a nutritious, hot meal during the school day! Please join us in loving on these children and their families.
Leesa
“Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.” Matthew 19:13-15
Nourishing the Nations Kenya 