Your prayers are amazing and we have witnessed miracle after miracle as God moved mountains in Kenya and here in the USA during 2014. Here are a few of the miracles of 2014. May you be blessed by what God is doing.
At New Beginnings we saw the addition of 35 children as sponsors stepped forward to provide for them, making a total of 155 children who are now sponsored at New Beginnings. Most of these children live on the compound and a few live with family but are served daily by New Beginnings. We have seen another child born at New Beginnings and a seriously malnourished 9 month old HIV+ child receive treatment and nourishment through finding a sponsor. We also had another child from a defilement case rescued and come to call New Beginnings HOME.
We have seen New Beginnings Secondary School successfully complete its first year in 2014, with more than 50 students in attendance in grades 9 and 10. We have seen 30 students from our grade 8 in primary school successfully complete their primary education and take the KCPE (national exams). We have seen our primary school rank 61st out of over 900 schools in HomaBay County. We had 350 students attended our primary school last year. We saw our primary students compete in the athletic and music festivals and our 'Sacred Song' took third place at the county level.
New Beginnings was invited to and recognized at the World Orphan's Day Celebration in HomaBay. Several of our children attended.
We saw UNICEF visit and administer Polio vaccines to the children.
We have seen the addition of 3 more parcels of land to New Beginnings, giving us much needed space to grow with better classrooms, more dormitories, etc. One piece of land will hold the future site for a medical clinic that we hope to be able to place in this community by the grace of God.
We have seen a fence placed around the entire compound of New Beginnings and a main entrance gate put in place. We have established an office and reception area at New Beginnings. We have had various building projects take place, such as the rebuilding of a collapsed wall at the secondary school and walls repaired and a roof placed on another section. We have seen our mission housing expand as the need for more space for long-term and short-term missionaries has increased. We saw a new brick structure begun for our boys dorm after the original metal building was torn apart in a storm. We saw 2 new latrines built. We saw a new office built for our primary school after the original office blew down. We have seen more water harvesting systems put in place to collect precious rain water. We saw the excavation begin for the new permanent primary classrooms to be built.
We have seen more staff hired to care for the children. Two social workers and four house parents added. Plus two more grounds keepers to help with the gardens and repairs.
We have seen many garden areas started on the hill in order to help meet the growing needs of providing nutritious food for the children.
We have seen parents and guardians to the children become more involved in what is taking place at New Beginnings, both with the schools and with the children who live at the center. We have seen local officials come alongside New Beginnings with the District Children's Office taking the forefront. We have seen the local World Vision Office become involved with what is taking place on the hill.
We saw four long-term missionaries at New Beginnings, with one becoming an important part of our English education at the primary level. Another devised an accounting system for the food for the children. We saw 15 short-term missionaries and 1 intern at New Beginnings this year. During the time when the mission team visited we saw 72 children choose to be baptized as followers of Jesus. We also had another US missionary friend go out of his way to visit New Beginnings during the year.
It was with sadness this year that we said a final "See you later" to our beloved head cook, John, better known as 'Talo" (leader). He was a true leader and a blessing to New Beginnings. His 3 orphaned children found a safe haven at New Beginnings and have become part of the family.
On this side of the world we saw a few more churches become involved with Shalom Christian Missions. We were blessed when Ann Downing Ministries step up to show their support. We also had a few other ministries begin to offer support for Shalom Christian Missions.
This is just a small snap shot of the miracles God has been doing on the hill in remote Kenya and here in the USA. You can see that your prayers are moving mountains (sometimes literally as new construction takes place on the hill). To GOD be all the glory for what only HE can do for the children in Kenya. Our God is an awesome GOD! Keep praying and praising during 2015. We appreciate your prayers!
Keep watching for and expect the miracles!!
"Believe in me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves." John 14:11
Contact us to have someone share about the miracle that God is doing on a hill in remote Africa. A missionary would be happy to share. How great it is for young and old alike to hear about miracles on the mission field in Africa.
Schedule for 2015 TODAY.
Praise God!! Operation Christmas Shoes was a success!
We met our goal for Operation Christmas Shoe and every child was given a new uniform, shoes, and socks. A BIG thank you to all who gave for the children!
January: Down under - we will be collecting under garments for the children of New Beginnings. This includes underwear for boys and girls, bras, slips, camis, and pajama bottoms. We need sizes from children's size 6 to adult med for both boys and girls. We have a growing number of teens who call New Beginnings home.
February: Sock it to us - We will accept sock donations for the children. The children prefer tube socks so they can be worn with their uniforms. Children's size 6 through adult med, both boys and girls.
March: Shorts and Skirts (long skirts that are past knee length are best)
Please send all donations to our headquarters at:
Shalom Christian Missions
1255 Mill Creek Rd
York, PA 17404 U.S.A.
Airline prices are the best they have been in years!
Kenya is Ebola free!
What will I do on a mission trip? That is often the question. The answer...what is God calling YOU to do? From construction to VBS, to medical care, to sharing the Gospel. Our teams have done it ALL. What is God calling you to do? Not sure...take a step of faith and see what God shows up to do. It will be more than you ever dreamed or imagined.
Our missionaries stay in missionary housing of brick construction on the secure grounds of our children's center in a very remote area of Kenya. Spend time immersed in the culture and lives of those who call New Beginnings HOME. Show the Love of Jesus with the community. Change their lives AND change your life...FOREVER!
Summer 2015:
July 6 - July 20, 2015 (2 weeks) $1500 + airfare
July 20 - August 5, 2015 (2 weeks) $1500 + airfare (this trip is filled first)
July 6 - Aug 10, 2015 (1 month) $1900 + airfare
Summer trips include a Safari to the world famous Masii Mara game reserve.
Winter 2016:
January 10 - 24, 2016 (2 weeks) $1500 + airfare
January 10 - February 10, 2016 $1900 + airfare
Winter trips include a Safari to Nakuru National Game Park.
Visit our Missions Page for more information about each trip and to download an application.
All Dates are tentative until airfare is booked.
NOW is the best time to apply and start planning!
Airfare is always best in December & January.
Internship Opportunities
Would you like to spend more time living in Kenya and experiencing the culture?
Consider an internship (1-6 months) or long-term mission opportunity. These trips are tailored to the individual applying, so please contact us for more information and get ready to GO!
Our missionaries are back in Kenya with a renewed spirit and prepared to continue the work the Lord has placed before them. Although they enjoyed their time in the US during the holidays, they missed the children and their friends in Kenya. Upon arriving back at New Beginnings, one missionary posted, "We're HOME!"
Keep them in prayer as the serve the Lord at New Beginnings Children's Center. If God is leading you to support them financially they would be truly blessed. You may send your support through SCM's paypal link. Choose 'General Fund' and include the missionary account number in the 'Add special instructions to recipient' area on the Paypal page, or mail a check to our headquarters.
Cody & Lynnea #KE 1495
Christa #KE 1497
John #KE 1499
(John will be returning to Kenya in February and would appreciate any support.)
Help us keep them in the field!
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me." Acts 20:24
School is back in session and all of New Beginnings is bustling with excitement again. The primary school has 250 children already enrolled and it is promising to be a fantastic year. New Beginnings Secondary School already has 45 students enrolled in grade 10 and 11. Grade 9 will not start until the beginning of February. This year, the secondary school will have a new lab along with grade 11. With some improvements to the school building itself and some new staff, this will be a great year.
We are extremely excited to announce that six of our secondary children have already exited our sponsor program. Because of the help that was given to them earlier in their lives and the great progress they made, their families are now able to carry the responsibility to pay for their children to continue on at another school of their choice. We will miss these six fine young men and women who were part of the New Beginnings family, but we are so very happy that they are now able to move beyond New Beginnings and open the opportunity for new children that need our help. This is what it is all about! May God bless them and may they always feel that New Beginnings was a special home to them when they needed us. Who knows, maybe some will one day seek employment with New Beginnings.
Go Forth!
Lynnea heads to her classrooms for another day of school.
Consider becoming a 'New Beginnings Defender of Education'
We continue 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'!
The boys' dorm is getting close to being finished. This did have to take precedence over the classrooms when our former dorm structure was destroyed by a wind storm in November. Currently our boys are very crowded in a tiny dorm that once held our girls. We have found it necessary to divert some of the money that came for building classrooms in order to build the dorm. Now we need your help in covering this cost so that construction can continue as planned for the classrooms.
A latrine is also being finished for our secondary school.
The final mission house will be added in the spring and more water harvesting tanks/gutters.
Excavation for the new permanent primary school classrooms is almost complete and building will hopefully begin in February.
Currently we need help to finish the cost of our boys' dorm. Can you help us cover this emergency expense?
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New bricks cause a celebration because it means progress.
There is so much building that needs to take place at New Beginnings.
Below is what we need as we build for their future.
| Phase I Projects | Cost | Donated | Still Needed |
| Fencing & Temporary Gate | $1,500 | $1,500 | COMPLETED |
| Gutters, Windows, and Water Holding Tanks | $5,000 | $5,000 | COMPLETED |
| MIssionary House Renovations | $5,000 | $5,000 | COMPLETED |
| Roof for 3 classrooms | $2,500 | $2,500 | COMPLETED |
| Two final missionary houses | $5,000 | $5,000 | COMPLETED |
| $19,000 | $19,000 | COMPLETED |
Phase I Funding Completed and Under Construction!
| Phase II Projects | Cost | Donated | Still Needed |
| Rebuild Primary Classrooms and finish Secondary Classrooms | $21,000 | $21,000 | COMPLETED |
| Finish floors, windows, and desks for Form 3 (Grade 11) and laboratory for Secondary School |
$2,000 | $2,000 | COMPLETED |
| Permanent Boys' Dorm (Emergency) | $10,000 | $0 | $10,000 |
| $33,000 | $23,000 | $10,000 |
Permanent Dining Hall/Kitchen & Guard Building
Rebuild Primary Classrooms-phase 2 of rebuild (8 classrooms and office)
Staff housing
Final Classroom for Secondary/Office/Library/Laboratory building
Medical Clinic/Pharmacy/Store
More Girls' Housing
More Boys' Housing
Amina is 10 years old. She attended New Beginnings Primary School in grade 4 last year and hopes to be able to attend again this year. She is very bright but her mother struggles to keep her in school. Amina has 5 siblings and her mother depends on small odd jobs to provide for them. It is a difficult life for Amina and her family. Pray for her family to have the tuition for her and her siblings to attend school and pray for Amina to find a sponsor.
If you would like to sponsor Amina, please visit our Children in Need page.
A group of volunteers from the community and some from New Beginnings worked together to make some great strides to improving the road leading to New Beginnings. It is always a challenge to keep this road in good passable condition since it is still dirt and can be easily washed out when the heavy rains come. Pray for good drainage to help keep the road in place.
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The new solar well pump at the community well was broken down for a while, causing everyone, including New Beginnings, to travel to a distant well to get our needed drinking and cooking water. Pray for the well pump to remain in operating condition.
The weather in Nyasoti has been very hot and dry. This is their summer. Asking for prayers for some rain.
"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these my brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40
Polycap is 10 years old. He is a total orphan who lives with his grandmother. He needs help!
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.
Visit our Sponsorship page.
Faith is 15. Since her father's death a few years ago, her mother has struggled to care for the family. Her mother has donated land to help New Beginnings and needs our help.
By sponsoring Faith 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.
Visit our Sponsorship page.
Austine is 13 years old. His parents donated land to help start New Beginnings. Currently his father is very ill and cannot provide for his family. Austine need a sponsor!
By sponsoring Austine 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.
Visit our Sponsorship page.
Shalom Christian Missions is a 501(c)3 non- profit organization,
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
Freedom Wireless - York, PA
H & R Block - USA
TPI Test Products Inc. - Exton, PA
This Little Light of Mine - York, PA
Ann Downing Ministries - Hendersonville, TN
Christ American Baptist Church Youth - Spring Grove, PA
Christ American Baptist Church - Spring Grove, 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 Evangelical Lutheran Church - Chambersburg, PA
First United Church of Christ - Schuykill Haven, PA
Harvest Chapel - Abbottstown, PA
Helping Hands Ministry - McAllen, TX
Hope For Women - Tempe, AZ
The Worship Center - Lancaster, PA
May God bless you as you pray and 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
(717) 586-6945
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
