Alex was born in 1999 and as for most children born in poverty in Africa, life was always hard. Although Alex was born in Kenya, his mother moved to Uganda when he was young. She succumbed to an AIDS-related illness in 2006. Alex was 8 years old. Alex's father moved him backed across the border to Kenya and they lived near Kisumu. Later they moved to Mombasa, a coastal town in Kenya, where they lived for about three years. In 2011, five years after his mother's death, Alex's father also died from an AIDS-related illness. At the age of 12, Alex faced life alone with nowhere to go.
After his father's death, Alex returned to the Kisumu area of Kenya in hopes of finding family that might help him. There he found two half-brothers, Patrick who was 15 and John who was 10. They were also now alone.
The three of them stayed together. Patrick found a job fishing so that they would have food to eat. Alex and John managed to attend public school for a short time. Patrick would work full days to support his brothers and the two younger boys would fish or make charcoal to sell before and after school so that they did not starve.
Alex and John attended school for three months, until it was time for exams. Exams meant money must be paid in order to take the exam. Even in public school, very little is free. There are always costs to be paid. The boys could not afford the cost to take the exams and had no choice but to leave school. Things looked very bleak.
As the boys discussed their situation, they could not help but remember that they had a kind grandmother who lived in Tonga (an area close to New Beginnings). They made a decision to try to get to their grandmother.
With no money for transportation, the boys began to walk to make the several-hundred-mile trip. After walking for a day and going as far as they could, they reached a police station on the other side of Kisumu. They decided to talk to the police and see if some how they could assist them. The police said they could do nothing for the boys. They slept outside the police station that night.
The next day, when the police noticed that the boys were still there, they made a decision to write a letter to try to get them transport on a bus to Nyandhiwa (about 10 miles from New Beginnings). When the boys arrived in Nyandhiwa late one evening in September of 2011, they once again had no place to go and it was very late.
As they stood in the street wondering where they would go for the night, a man came along and asked why they were there. They shared their story and the nice gentleman invited them to come and stay with him for the night and he would help them find their grandmother the next day.
It was a wonderful reunion the next day when they found their grandmother. She was very happy to see them. They could see that she was very old and knew she would not be able to care for them. Their grandmother told them about a children's center that had just opened the month before. The center was called New Beginnings. Perhaps God could help the boys find a New Beginning too.
Their grandmother brought the boys to New Beginnings the next day and begged for help. She had no way to care for their needs and Alex and John wanted desperately to go to school. The director of New Beginnings could see this was an emergency situation. The three boys moved in and people began to pray for Patrick, Alex and John to find sponsors.
God opened hearts and soon the boys each had a sponsor. All three boys were able to start a new life at New Beginnings. Just over a year ago Patrick, then 17, made a decision to leave New Beginnings. School was not going well for Patrick since he had such a late start, so he left to pursue the fishing career he once had to support himself and his brothers. Alex and John remain at New Beginnings. They are hard workers and always place in the top half of their class in school. During holidays they enjoy going to spend time with their grandmother, who is happy to have the boys nearby.
After a long journey of hopelessness, they are finally HOME.
Alex, a quiet young man. He works hard to get ahead.
Life is looking so much better for the boys now. Both Alex and John express how grateful they are to have wonderful sponsors who have given them the precious gift of HOPE. They are very grateful that God touched the hearts of those at New Beginnings and allowed them to stay. They are most thankful that God has a plan for their lives and they are determined to live it out the best they can for HIS glory.
Thank you to those who are giving to the Lord in this very special way. These are three lives that were changed because YOU gave.
This story could have ended very differently for these boys. Imagine if they had not found their way to New Beginnings. If the boys had remained in Kisumu, it is very likely that they might have ended up becoming street children. There are large numbers of street children in Kisumu and the other large cities of Kenya. Nairobi estimates that they have three generations of street children on their streets begging and stealing to get food and to buy glue. They sniff the glue to take away the hunger pains in their stomachs. They join gangs as a way to survive and to have a family. Eventually the glue sniffing hardens their lungs and they die. Thank you for helping these boys avoid this type of life.
If God is calling you to give the gift of HOPE to a child who is waiting, please visit our Sponsorship page or contact us at (717) 586-6945 (kindly leave a message).
For the next two months, we will be collecting school supplies for the children. Notebooks, filler paper, drawing pads, crayons, pencils and pens, coloring books, erasers, calculators, protractors, rulers, etc.
Why not make it a fun family or church project and see how much you can collect? Then send them all to us at the end of the month. Let's see who can send the most.
This year because of your giving, the July team was able to fill more than 21 bins full of supplies for the children of New Beginnings. Every child will be given a special gift and a bundle of clothes when we celebrate Christmas in July.
Thanks so much for giving to the Lord in this special way!!
July 2014: Mission Expedition to Kenya. Please keep this team in prayer!
Friday November 7, 2014: Mark your calendars for our Annual Benefit Dinner in York, PA. More information to follow
We would love to come and share with you and your group about what God is doing at New Beginnings in Kenya.
Contact us TODAY at 717-586-6945!! (Please leave a message if no answer)
The July team is in their final stages of preparation before they travel to a remote village in Kenya this summer. Please pray for this team as they finish the final preparations. Many are going for two weeks, some for two months, and several will remain at New Beginnings until Christmas.
Our January and July 2015 trips are now accepting applications. What an awesome time to join us in Kenya! After this past winter, what better way to escape some of the cold and spend two weeks or a month in the warmth of Kenya. Serve the Lord and feel the warmth!
Please visit our missions page for dates and more information.
The sooner you are ticketed the better airfare pricing.
Shalom Christian Missions offers 2-6 month intern opportunities. Contact us for more information.
We also have opportunities available for those who feel God calling them to long-term missions.
Contact us TODAY!!
Three long-term missionaries are preparing to depart for New Beginnings this summer.
Christa will arrive at New Beginnings in June. She is no stranger to New Beginnings since she spent five months there in 2013. This time she plans to reside at New Beginnings until Christmas, return home for the holidays, and depart with the January team for another six months. BUT Christa's plans for New Beginnings are much longer than that as she sees this as becoming her new home. Christa has a degree in Biology and will work alongside the Science teachers of New Beginnings Secondary School. She will also spend time in the evenings tutoring children who need extra help. What a blessing she will be to the children of New Beginnings. Please keep Christa in your prayers as she enters this new season of her life.
Christa
Christa's account number is KE1497.
Cody and Lynnea will arrive at New Beginnings in July. They also are not strangers to New Beginnings. Lynnea has been going to minister to the children in this area since she was 16. She has gone all but one year since 2007, often working the entire year to save the money to return to the children she loved. Lynnea recently graduated from Millersville University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She is excited to return to New Beginnings and work alongside the primary school teachers, teaching English. Lynnea will also help to tutor the children.
Cody has spent two months at New Beginnings in 2012 and 2013. He has a heart for God and a heart for missions, especially the children of New Beginnings. Cody will focus his time working alongside our groundsman to establish new garden areas and with other various jobs around the compound. Cody will also share messages with the children during Chapel service and is planning some small Bible study groups with the children.
Cody and Lynnea, who met on a mission trip in 2012, were married last month and will return to New Beginnings as husband and wife. They also plan to return home for Christmas and then join the January team and return to New Beginnings for another 6 months. Please pray for them as they enter this new season of their lives.
Cody & Lynnea
Cody and Lynnea's account number is KE1495.
If you would like to make a donation to support either of these long-term missionaries, you can do so here and include their missionary account number under the 'add special instructions to recipient' box of the Paypal page, or if you prefer you can mail a check with the missionary account number in the memo section to:
Shalom Christian Missions
1255 Mill Creek Rd
York, PA 17404
All funds donated under any missionary accounts will go to support that missionary.
We look forward to hearing all that God is doing in and through the lives of these three servants as they become the hands and feet of Jesus at New Beginnings Children's Center.
May and June are always very exciting times for the students of New Beginnings Christian School. For the primary students, this is the semester they have the chance to perform in the Musical Festivals as the school across Kenya work to bring the Arts into their education. New Beginnings children participated in the local festival and were able to take 1st and 2nd place in many categories.
They proceeded to the second level of competition that was held in Nyandhiwa (about 10 miles away). The students took 1st place in the Sacred Song category with a beautiful song that shares the story of Christ's life. They also took 1st place in a choral reading. They took 2nd place in the Traditional Dance Competition. This is the category they did so well with last year.
The traditional dance requires amazing handmade costumes using natural resources of Kenya. A neighboring widow donates her antique bull horn for the children to use each year. The costumes come under strict rules of what can be used and what will disqualify them. The children have made elaborate headpieces using chicken feathers and dyes made from local plants. They use sisal fibers to make a type of skirt and ankle and wrist bands. Underneath they wear their soccer uniforms so that it all looks very uniform and neat. I am excited to see the team perform this year.
While all this was taking place, our secondary school was invited to join other local secondary schools in a field day with competition in soccer and volleyball. While our first year team did not win a single match, they had a good time and will work harder for next year's day.
Keep praying for our students and staff!
We are praying for more people to become involved in helping with the costs of education for the children. This is an extreme need right now! We need to increase our teachers' salaries to above the poverty level. With the incoming president last year, prices of everything have been on the increase within the nation. This is not helping those who live far below the poverty level in this rural area. We also need to purchase more books and other supplies for our students. We cannot do this based on the tuition we are charging since our goal is to continue to keep our schools affordable for the people who live in great poverty within this community. Please join us in praying for people to join us in this effort.
Donor Defender If you choose to donate $20-$50 each month to our education fund, you can provide an increase for 1-2 teachers.
Patron Defender If you give $51-$99 each month to our education fund, you provide for 3-4 teachers to receive a raise and more supplies such as books to be purchased for a classroom.
Champion Defender If you can donate $100 or more each month to our education fund, you provide a raise for 5 teachers plus additional supplies. Please consider helping us in this very critical way.
Every person who becomes a 'New Beginnings Defender of Education' will have their name placed on a plaque that will be on display at New Beginnings Christian School. Our current goal is to have $1000 in donations for our education fund each month to supply our teachers with a fair wage above the poverty level in Kenya and to buy the needed classrooms supplies for the school. This is vital for the education of the children in this remote part of the world.
If you are a teacher or just care about seeing children in a very remote, poor area of the world have a chance at a better life, consider becoming involved as a 'Defender of Education'...'for the love of a child'!
This past month, the donations for building slowed and we were unable to accomplish very much building progress. However, we are believing God to open the flood gates so that we can see some great progress made in the near future. It is an exciting time with so much opening up for us to build and expand in Kenya, we just know that God must have plans for those whom HE has chosen to get involved in the USA through donations for building.
Our main focus at this time is to get the greatly needed water holding tanks and rain gutters for the buildings. Water is so very precious in Kenya and we do not want to see the water simply cause runoff problems but be collected to use in many ways at New Beginnings.
Here is our current focus. Please consider a generous donation to BUILD FOR THEIR FUTURE!
| Donated | Still Needed | Total | |
| $1,500 | $0 | Fencing & Temporary Gate plus additional fence for new parcel | $1,500 |
| $2,300 | $2,700 | Gutters & Water Holding Tanks | $5,000 |
| $1,000 | $4,000 | MIssionary House Renovations | $5,000 |
| $6,700 | $11,500 |
$6,700 still needed - Praise God for your generous donations!
Eric is 12 years old and lives in Kenya. His father died when he was young. Since then his mother has lived with the grandparents and struggles to care for Eric and his sister Velma.
Eric attends a public primary school for his education. Public schools are not always a good choice for rural Kenyan children. With little government supervision, often the teachers show up late and leave early. Plus even in public school the students are required to pay for books, pencils, uniforms, shoes, and any tests always cost extra.
Eric and Velma have a brother, Stephen, who lives at New Beginnings. Eric and Velma have been praying for two years to have the chance to join their brother at New Beginnings.
Eric likes to play soccer. His favorite subject is English and he likes the color red. Eric says that he would like to be a pilot when he grows up. An odd dream since in this part of Kenya he has barely ever seen a plane fly overhead, let alone up close. Please pray for Eric to do well in school in spite of the challenges. Pray that he will soon find a sponsor.
The biggest news in Nyasoti has been that Simon Ochola was recently released from prison. It is very sad to see that the courts that are supposed to protect the victims in Kenya (especially women and children) are so compromised that after 6 months in jail (of a 15 year jail sentence), filed documents came up changed and a man found guilty has been set free.
Please join with me in praying for justice to somehow prevail in this nation. A victim should not have to continue to remain a victim because a guilty man is set free to once again become a menace her and other children and women of Kenya. When will Kenya see JUSTICE FOR ALL?
A Kenyan friend of mine recently stated that there is so much corruption in Africa that they (all African nations) do not deserve a democracy. I am not sure that I can agree with that statement but for a man who knows the Ochola family very well, he was angered but not surprised by what has taken place.
While we did not expect this turn of events, we do know that God knew and HE is in control. ALL glory to God in EVERYTHING and ALL CIRCUMSTANCES! We stand on HIS promise and the truth cannot be hidden from God. One day every knee WILL bow. Pray for protection for the many children who know the truth about this person and what he did to them. Also, pray for protection for Winfreda and her mother who testified against Simon, plus the staff of New Beginnings.
Syprose is 9 years old. Since her father's death, her mother has struggled to provide for her and her sons. She has donated land to New Beginnings in spite of her struggle. Syprose needs a sponsor!
By sponsoring Syprose or another child for $38 a month, you will provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care and an education.
100% of all sponsor donations go to help the children.
Polycap is 9 years old and a total orphan. He lives with his grandmother who is growing old and struggling to care for him. Can you help Polycap?
By sponsoring Polycap or another child for $38 a month, you will provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care and an education.
100% of all sponsor donations go to help the children.
Velma is 9 years old. She lives in Kenya. Her father is deceased and her mother struggles under the load of caring for her family. Velma needs a sponsor!
By sponsoring Velma or another child for $38 a month, you will provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care and an education.
100% of all sponsor donations go to help the children.
Shalom Christian Missions is a 501(c)3 non- profit,
dedicated to serving children in need throughout the world.
All donations are tax deductible.
A & R Rental Center - York, PA
Bon-Ton Dept Stores - York, PA
Flying Feet - York, PA
Freedom Wireless - York, PA
H & R Block - USA
Imagineered Signs - York, PA
This Little Light of Mine - York, PA
Ann Downing Ministries - Hendersonville, TN
Christ American Baptist Church Youth - Spring Grove, PA
Provident Presbyterian Church C.R.E.W. Youth Ministry - York, PA
Eagle Christian Ministries - York, PA
Elisha's Home and Ministries - Montrose, PA
First Baptist Church - Smithville, TX
First Evangelical Lutheran Church Youth - Chambersburg, PA
First United Church of Christ - Schuykill Haven, PA
Harvest Chapel - Abbottstown, PA
Hope For Women - Tempe, AZ
The Worship Center - Lancaster, PA
May God bless you as you give to help the children!
Donations may be made through paypal or you may send your donation to:
Shalom Christian Missions
1255 Mill Creek Rd
York, PA 17404
These two children are at the top of our list of children needing sponsors. Click one of their pictures to read more about them.
Meet more children in need
