Shalom Christian Missions
Shalom Christian Missions

March 2016 Newsletter

Life at New Beginnings

It is a very hot day here in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although I am not sure what the temperature is, you know it is hot when you find several children waiting at the infirmary with headaches. Usually I tell them to drink a full cup of water and then wait about 15 minutes and see if they feel better. Typically they do not return. Dehydration is something that can affect their bodies without them realizing what is happening. Each day here brings its own challenges. And it is always a comfort to know that I do not deal with any of them alone. God knows just what is needed for each circumstance.

Yesterday we were dealing with some theft issues. When you work with orphans you realize that some have come from backgrounds where they had to steal to survive. Breaking that orphan spirit from a child is not an easy task. Then we have many who have come from families with a long history of theft. This area where God has placed us is in a community that was started by thieves.

During the days of Colonial rule, their own tribes did not want them because they were thieves and so they sent them away. To here. Even the local people feel that many suffer from generational curses. Of course their idea of dealing with a curse is more witchcraft/black magic. We try to help them realize that you cannot drive out darkness with darkness but only with the power in the blood of Jesus can you bring light to the darkness. Just another of our many challenges we face each day.

 

This morning our youngest child to New Beginnings came to see me shortly after the sun came up. I asked him why he was not in his uniform for school and he told me he was sick. I could feel he had a slight fever but he said he was given medicine. He was asking to color, his favorite pastime. I got him some crayons and a coloring book and he was happy and singing. Within an hour he began to convulse and I could feel he was burning up with fever. I tried to cool him down with a wet wash cloth and then we sent him off to the clinic to find out what was happening with him. He is now doing well and being treated for malaria and typhoid.

Each day has enough of its own challenges. One day I can find myself teaching a class, the next day I am the nurse. Everyday I play the role of mom to the many children that call New Beginnings home.

Everyday I thank my Father for His miracles that never end. Each day has new challenges and each day has new miracles. What an awesome God we serve.

Come and join us on this remote hill in far away Kenya. Experience the miracles. Make a difference in a life.

"He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." Job 5:9

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

A Year of Giving - Calendar

January and February
This month we are still collecting underwear and bras. When you make that next trip to Walmart, consider getting a pack of underwear to donate. Or become a donation location where you can get others involved in donating at your church or organization. We need sizes from children's size 6 to 14 and also adult size small and medium. Donations of gently used or new bras of varying sizes and tube tops are also needed and slips. Can you help us make their life a little easier?

March
We will be collecting socks. The children need the long tube socks to wear with their school uniforms. Help us sock it to them!

April
Donations of small gifts will be collected so that our July team can distribute a special gift to each child.

May
Donations of sweatshirts, jackets, etc will be collected.

Christmas in July Gifts

We are accepting Christmas in July gifts for the children you sponsor. Please have your gift in a gallon size ziplock baggie with your child's name and case number written on the outside. Enclose any small gifts you would like to give to them. You might want to remember a small amount of candy, they love that. (If you send chocolate, please choose M&Ms as they don't melt easily!) Also, a picture and letter are cherished. Please have all gifts to our office no later than May 10th. We will be packing later in May.

This year we will NOT take a bundle of clothing for each child but instead we are asking you to consider donating $15 to buy each child a sports/casual uniform and sleep clothing that we will purchase for them. These are very practical and most schools require them for the children. We are seeing a great need to have all items the same at New Beginnings to decrease theft and this is one way you can help us do this.

Each uniform will have the school's name and child's number on them. A complete casual uniform and sleep clothing will cost $15 per child. We are also hoping to obtain sports shoes (running type shoes) for each child. These can be donated.

Please remember to have your Christmas in July gifts to our office by May 10th.
Thanks so much for giving to the Lord in this special way!

Guest Speakers Available!

Would your small group, church, Sunday School, VBS, or organization be interested in hearing about the work of serving orphans in a remote part of Africa? Please contact us to schedule a date.

Mission Expedition 2016

"What will I do on a mission trip?"
That is often the question people ask.
The answer:  What is God calling YOU to do?
From construction work to Bible school, 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 beautiful, remote area of Kenya.
Spend time immersed in the culture and lives of those who call New Beginnings Children's Center HOME.

Show the love of Jesus to the community.
Change their lives AND change your life...FOREVER!

Come for them!

Summer 2016
July and August trips for 2016 are now taking applications!

July 21- August 6 (2 weeks) is $1500 + airfare
August 5-August 21 (2 weeks) is $1500 + airfare (this will be a medical mission trip)
July 21- August 21 (1 months) is $1900 + airfare

Summer trips include a Safari to the world famous Masii Mara game reserve-often during the migration season.

2017 Applications being accepted!
January 23 - Feb 7, 2017 (2 weeks) $1500 + airfare(Airfare during the winter months is generally less.)
January 23 - February 23, 2017 $1900 + airfare
(Winter trips include a Safari to Nakuru National Game Park OR a game drive at a local park with some of the New Beginnings children)

Travel as a group OR travel alone and make new friends who will travel with you.
Make plans to bring your whole group!
Discounts for leaders and we do all the training/planning.
Set up the dates now while there is plenty of space open.
Check out our Missions page for an application or call 717-586-6945.
All dates are tentative until airfare is booked.
Applications being accepted!!

Want to stay longer?

1-3 month internship ($1000 for first month and $500 for each month thereafter) and long-term mission opportunities are available!  Read more about these opportunities at our missions page or contact our office for details!

Missionary News

New Beginnings welcomed 3 missionaries this past January. Two were serving for a 1 month term and one will remain on for some time. It has been a very productive time for all of them.

John worked very hard at managing the books and training the financial staff on just what is needed each week/month for our record keeping.

Meeghan also worked to train staff on using the computer to do the record keeping and then send the information to the USA. What a blessing they have been and we know we will see the fruits for many years.

Gaye has been working to find the holes in our program that need fixed (there are many) and is working with the staff to bring about a clearer picture of what is expected to make New Beginnings run more smoothly.

It is always a blessing to have those who desire to serve longer than the 2 weeks and become involved in the day-to-day operations of New Beginnings. Thanks be to God for all who come!

School News

Both primary and secondary schools are up and running. We are excited to see the positive changes that have taken place with both schools as they work to secure the staff and gather the supplies that are needed for both institutions to operate and provide a better education for our students and those in the community. Our staff continues to weed out those who have ulterior motives, so that our school is a safe place for both boys and girls to attend. We also strive to get better qualified teachers to give our students the best education possible. Please join us in praying for both our teaching staff and students.

Primary School

Our primary school recently finished their mid terms and continue to study hard to improve before it is time to take finals. This is a sports semester for the primary school and our school will take part in games at several locations.

The primary school was very happy to learn that a school in the USA raised money for them for books. PRAISE GOD for Christian School of York who raised over $600 for books for the primary school! Here is a picture of what was purchased:

Christian School of York now has a prayer partner school in remote Kenya Thank you CSY! If your school or organization would like to help support this school in remote Kenya, please contact us.

Secondary School

This is the semester for sports. We have sent a track and field team to a local competition. It is also time for mid-term exams and many of our students are very busy studying to do well in the exams.

The new secondary offices are almost completed; they only await a roof. This stretch of building will include a science lab and computer lab/library for the students. Pray with us to see this completed. An anonymous donation was given to purchase science lab equipment. What a special blessing for these high school students. Here is a photo of the supplies purchase:

Thanks so much for giving to the Lord in this special way.

Building News

There are many building projects on the table right now and we need your prayers to be able to secure the finances for each of them. It seems that one is just as important as the other.

Currently we are working to finish our secondary offices. Right now our secondary school offices are taking the much needed space of our administrative offices. It will be a real blessing when we can move them into their own space closer to the secondary classes. We need to finish the roof, at a cost of $1,200.

We also need to finish another room for the secondary school that will house our boys' dorm. Recently we finished one room for the girls but have come to realize that we need to move our secondary boys away from our primary boys sleeping quarters (according to Kenyan law we cannot have those over 17 years of age living on the grounds of the children's center.) We have the girls moved but need to make another room for the boys. The cost to finish this room is approx $1,500. We need this ASAP!

Then we have the sheet metal primary classrooms that we hope to replace with brick classrooms to come up to what the codes in Kenya are now requiring. We were ready to start on the addition of two brick classrooms but have now been delayed by the government asking for a project plan and then blueprint plans for the classrooms. We are working on the project plan and that should soon be complete. Then the blue prints. All this at additional costs and delays. Please help us pray this through.

Other things that we need to do this year include moving our kitchen from its current location to the middle of the grounds. This will make it easier for everyone to access and will also place it where it is much more visible and make it harder to steal from. Our kitchen seems to be one area that is our highest theft loss. Placing it where it is most visible will help drastically.

We hope to completely replace our sheet metal kitchen with a brick kitchen but only if the funds become available. We will also need to move our dining hall to make it accessible to the kitchen.

Then there is our night security living quarters. These guys work so hard each night to make sure things are secure and that the children are where they need to be. Their living quarters at New Beginnings are right next to our primary school playground. We need desperately to move their house to one of the far corners of the compound so that they can sleep during the day without being interrupted.

So much to do and the need is so great on each one. Can you give just a little to make a difference for them? If we each give a little God will multiply it to do a lot.

Building Phase II has been COMPLETELY FUNDED for $38,000!!!
First primary classroom is completed. Construction of 2 primary classrooms is beginning in 2016.
The boys dorm is completed.
Secondary improvements for classes are finished.
Praise God to all who gave to complete this phase!

We are excited to say that we are now collecting donations for Phase III of our building!

Phase III Projects Cost  Donated  Still Needed
Primary Classrooms (2) at $10,000 each $20,000 $0 $20,000
Permanent Kitchen Building $10,000 $0 $10,000
Secondary School Offices $3,000 $200 $2,800
Classroom 5 for secondary school $2,500 $0 $2,500
Medical Clinic Renovations in big house $2,500 $0 $2,500
Office Renovations in big house $2,000 $0 $2,000
Girls' dorm and bath house for secondary $2,500 $0 $2,500
Water Harvesting needs (tanks, gutters, etc) $2,500 $0 $2,500
  $45,000 Needed $200 Donated $44,800 Still needed

Future projects

Phase IV:
Dining Hall/all purpose room
Finish Primary Classrooms (6 classrooms and office)
Permanent Guard house
Secondary Boys Dorm

Phase V:  
Smaller Housing to accommodate children in family settings
Medical Clinic/Pharmacy/Store
Staff housing

Can you help us Build for their Future?  To donate online visit our One-Time Gift page (choose Building Fund!)  Online donations are processed through Paypal.

Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness. 2 Corinthians 9:10 

Please join us in praying for all these projects!

Child of the Month

Meet Norah!

Norah is 13 years old and is in grade 8 and a candidate to sit for this year's national exam in November. She is studying very hard so that she will do well in order to be able to proceed on to secondary school.

Norah's family donated land to New Beginnings although they live in poverty. Recently her family experienced a kitchen fire that destroyed part of their home.

Please pray for Norah to be able to study and not let the things of her home life upset her. She is also asking for prayers to find a sponsor. Without a sponsor, she not sure she will be able to continue into secondary school even if she does well.

Norah needs a full sponsor at $80 per month or 2 shared sponsors at $40 per month.

New Beginnings News

So much is happening at New Beginnings. Our secondary school is making great progress and working with other schools in the area to challenge our students by working alongside other secondary students when they take their finals for this semester. Please pray for the students to stay focused and do well. Their future is depending on it.

New Beginnings recently welcomed some new staff members. Judith has joined our financial department. She comes with a diploma in bookkeeping and continues to work on her accounting. She has already proved to be valuable in handling the computerized accounts that will be sent to the USA each week.

Listrer has joined as a new House Parent. Listrer is currently attending college and her new position will allow her the time to attend for two weeks and to work for two weeks each month. Listrer will work with our younger girls.

We also welcome Andrew as a new House Parent. Andrew is from the community and a local pastor. He will work with our boys.

Elizabeth has also joined our kitchen staff. She is from the community and will work 2 weeks out of each month.

We will also welcome Betsy who will take on the role of Administrative Assistant beginning in early March. Betsy has a diploma in Social Work and has also taught social work to students in college, working as the head of her department. She has briefly worked for World Vision and some other NGOs in the past, on short term contracts. Her life's dream is to make a difference in the lives of communities in her nation. We pray for Betsy to help make a difference in this community and the lives of the children of New Beginnings.

Three new teachers have been added to our primary school. We welcome Kennedy, Lydia, and Pasaka to our primary team.

In secondary we welcome Rodgers, as he will step up from our primary school to begin teaching secondary. He will soon finish his degree in secondary education and we are excited to see him make this move in his career and with New Beginnings.

Please keep all of our staff in prayer as they serve in this remote, dark area of the world.

Children in Need

Meet Clinton!

Clinton is 11 years old and is a partial orphan. His mother died during the birth of his younger brother and his father has neglected him after taking another wife. Clinton lives at New Beginnings but has lost his sponsor.

Can you help us keep Clinton in his home at New Beginnings? Clinton needs a full sponsor at $80 per month or 2 partial sponsors at $40 per month each.

To become a partial sponsor or full sponsor to a child, check out our Sponsor a Child page.

You can sponsor Clinton or another child by sending $20-$60 for partial sponsor or $80 for a full sponsorship per month.

A child is praying...are you the answer?
100% of all sponsor donations go to help the children.

 

Meet Corozyn!

Corozyn is 9 years old  and is a partial orphan. After her father's death, her mother was unable to support her. Corozyn lives at New Beginnings but has lost her sponsor.

Is God calling you to help Corozyn remain with us? Corozyn needs a full sponsor at $80 per month or 2 partial sponsors at $40 per month.

To become a partial sponsor or full sponsor to a child, check out our Sponsor a Child page.

You can sponsor Corozyn or another child by sending $20-$60 for partial sponsor or $80 for a full sponsorship per month.

A child is praying...are you the answer?
100% of all sponsor donations go to help the children.

Meet Kevin!

Kevin is 14 and is a partial orphan. His father is deceased and his mother is severely crippled. She is unable to support Kevin. Kevin has been living at New Beginnings but has lost his sponsor and desperately needs a new one to remain. Can you help Kevin?

To become a partial sponsor or full sponsor to a child, check out our Sponsor a Child page.

Kevin needs a full sponsor at $80 per month or 2 partial sponsors at $40 per month.

You can sponsor Kevin or another child by sending $20-$60 for partial sponsor or $80 for a full sponsorship per month.

A child is praying...are you the answer?
100% of all sponsor donations go to help the children.

If you would like to sponsor a child, you can do so at our Sponsor a Child page.
You can BE THE DIFFERENCE in the life of a child!

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.

Special Thanks to:

A & R Rental Center - York, PA
Freedom Wireless - York, PA
H & R Block - USA
Test Products Inc. - Exton, PA
Veleska Jewelry - Lancaster, PA
Ann Downing Ministries - Hendersonville, TN
Christ American Baptist Church Youth - Spring Grove, PA
Christ American Baptist Church - Spring Grove, PA
Crestline UMC - Crestline, OH          
Eagle Christian Ministries - York, PA
Elisha's Home and Ministries - Montrose, PA
First Baptist Church - Smithville, TX
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