So blessed to be back state side for a little while. It was great to spend time with my family at New Beginnings to see what God is doing on that remote hillside in far off Africa.
A crazy thing happening before I left Kenya. Some of our community were told that a cult bishop had a vision that there was treasure on our hill. This prompted some of the cult followers to go treasure hunting. It became wild at one point with people going into a frenzy with "gold rush fever". They were doing outlandish things all in the hopes of finding a treasure like threatening people who got to close to their dig site with physical harm. These people kept someone on guard day and night, rain or shine for over a month. In fact, I think some are still searching and talking about what they would do once they found the treasure and where they would hide their treasure, etc.
The treasure morphed from being mercury, to gold, to something the colonists left hidden during World War II. Since our hill is an extinct volcano, when you dig down you hit old volcanic, which looks a bit like decomposing cement. This fueled the rumor that someone had been there and buried a treasure in a cement vault. Older people from the community who were alive during WWII were not able to talk sense into these people who became very determined to finding this treasure.
Many of us laughed at the nonsense these people exhibited, but for them it was a source of hope in their lives. I have to admit that it made me think about how so many people put their hope in so many things of this world that are frivolous and mean nothing. Our hope should be in our Lord. When we don't have hope in Jesus Christ, we truly have nothing and can easily be swayed to search for treasure in many other places.
For this community, it happened to be a treasure on the hill. For people in America it might be the treasure of our jobs, our homes, ourselves. Although the treasure on the hill seemed like silly nonsense, how many times do we place our treasure on things that are pure nonsense to our Lord?
The whole thing gave me a chance to try to explain to some of the community that there is a treasure on the hill. The treasure is the hearts of these children. Our goal has been to rescue and uncover that treasure and turn it to the Father.
Praise be to God for those who are supporting this ministry of hunting for heavenly treasure through a child's heart. Consider making a commitment to help find heavenly treasure by becoming a child sponsor.
"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:34
Friday May 18 - Sunday May 20: Middle Tennessee Women's Retreat in Murfreesboro, TN
July/August 2018: Mission Teams to New Beginnings in Kenya
January/February 2019: Mission Teams to New Beginnings in Kenya, accepting applications
YOU can help!!
Please consider hosting a small group dinner in your home to share about what God is doing in far off Kenya. We will provide everything and you will receive a special gift from Kenya for hosting. All you need to do is invite 6-10 friends to join you to hear about the miracles.
Help us help them!!
Say I WILL and schedule us TODAY by sending us an email or calling us at (717) 586-6945!
We continue to collect undergarments of all sizes.
We have a particular need for bras, slips, pajamas of all sizes.
We are also collecting gently used and new sneakers and soccer shoes.
Children through adult sizes needed.
Children's Bible Lessons
If you or your church have any old VBS or Church School lesson books that you would be willing to donate, they would be greatly accepted and appreciated.
Donations can be sent to our headquarters in York, PA.
Now is the time to submit your application and start planning for 2019 January and July.
All of our missionaries will enjoy an overnight safari on the world famous Masai Mara. Our July/August teams, will experience the migration season.
Our missionaries stay in missionary housing of brick construction on the secure grounds of our children's center in a very beautiful, remote part 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 through home visits in their modest mud houses.
Change their lives AND change your life...FOREVER!
Youth groups, families, singles, are all welcome.
How much does it cost? When is the trip? How do I apply?
Visit our Missions Page for trip dates, prices, and to download an application.
Travel as a group OR travel alone and make new friends who will serve 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.
All Dates are tentative until airfare is booked.
This is a unique opportunity to experience life in a very remote part of the world.
Don't pass it up!
Applications are being accepted for 2018/2019!!
2-6 month internship ($1000 for first month and $500 for each month thereafter)
Our intern program at New Beginnings Children's Center is growing and changing. This opportunity is available to both Kenyans and those from other nations to learn and grow at a vital, operating children's center. Our Kenyan interns learn how to handle a job as they are assigned to various jobs around the center, and they learn to be role models and mentors to our children as they help the children learn and study outside of school. They learn about servant leadership as they attend and hold weekly Bible studies.
This program is also open to those from outside of Kenya as a learning experience. You will be immersed in the culture and lifestyle of this remote area and you live within the secure grounds of our children's center. Your personal faith will grow as you attend the weekly Bible studies and team up with our Kenyan interns to hold Bible studies for the children. You will be assigned various jobs around the center as well as serve as a tutor for children. This is a chance to serve and live in a foreign culture within the safety of our children's center.
Is God calling you to journey with Him to this remote part of the Africa and experience His world? Visit our Long-term Mission Opportunities page for details! Must be over 18 years of age to apply.
April has been a quieter month while both schools are on break. About half of the children have gone to visit family This gives our staff a chance to break the children into smaller groups and have some fun and special time with the children that remain. The mornings are spent doing work around the center and then studying. The afternoons were spent doing special games, nature hikes, and just lots of fun. For many children it is difficult to be one of those who remains behind when the others leave to visit family, but we are working to make those who remain have a great experience with their family at New Beginnings.
A new house parent has come on board. We welcome Beryl to New Beginnings. Please pray for her as she serves the children at New Beginnings.
We also welcome 2 new interns to our program. Mildred has come as part of her school requirement. She is seeking to earn a certificate as a social worker. Mildred shared with the children how she is also an orphan and was raised in a children's home. We also welcome Moses as an intern. Moses was a student at our secondary school last year and wants to give back to our program. Please pray for both as they serve at New Beginnings.
Both our primary and secondary schools are on school break for the month of April. Please keep our children in prayer as many have gone to spend time with their families.
We have started our 4th brick classroom. The foundation is finished and we are currently trying to raise funding to build the walls. Once the walls are in place, the roof will go up. Then the finish cement coat will be put on the walls as the windows and doors are added.
We are in need of funding before we can move forward. Any donation, BIG or small will be greatly appreciated. The end of the year is our deadline to make the needed improvements to comply with the government requirements. The full breakdown is below.
Building for their future!
Primary and Secondary School Goals
Total Donated Balance needed
Full Classroom $5,000 $2,500 $2,500
Science Laboratory $11,000 0 $11,000
Renovation of 3 classrooms $9,000 0 $9,000
$25,000 $2,500 $22,500
Can you help develop their Future?
Donate TODAY!
"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 finances for all the developmental projects!
Meet Sharon!
Sharon is 12 years old. She is a total orphan who was left in the care of her uncle, who has 10 children of his own. She is in 6th grade and because school was not always available to her, she is struggling academically. She is working very hard to learn what she has not grasped by sitting with our tutor almost every day. She is asking for prayers to learn what she has missed in order to be successful in school. She is also asking for prayers to find a partial sponsor for $40 a month, so that she will be secure in our program.
Please pray for Sharon!
Currently we have 6 students in our scholarship program.
This year's recipients are:
Brighton and Stephen (who are currently in university and colleges and were our interns in 2017)
Brighton is studying Industrial Chemistry and Stephen is completing a course in Social Science.
David has successfully completed our scholarship program. Currently he is employed by New Beginnings Primary School as one of our preschool teachers. He also helps tutor some of our elementary students. This is his way to give back to something that made a difference in his life. He plans to continue his education in the future to receive his certification as a teacher. Thanks to those who have given to make a difference in David's life.
His is a life that was changed!
2018 Interns
Jescar, Moses, Geoffrey, and Vincent are our current interns at New Beginnings through the scholarship fund.
Our interns spend 9 months to a year after secondary school serving at New Beginnings. Some assist in our primary school, some in our secondary school, some in our office, and some in other areas of service at New Beginnings. Their main job is to help our younger children during study times in the mornings and evenings.
They receive a small income while living on campus. They learn to have good job ethics, to be servant leaders, and to spend and save for their futures. It is an intense program and not everyone accepted will last until the end. It is a great way to insure that we have good scholarship recipients going on to universities and colleges when they leave New Beginnings.
Please keep them in prayer.
Interns attend a weekly Bible study.
These students never dreamed they could go on to college/university, but God has made a way.
Donate to our College/University Scholarship fund to help give them an amazing future.
Currently we have several children living at New Beginnings who have lost their sponsors or are not fully sponsored. To remain in our program, we need your help to find them sponsors.
Please share this great need with your family and friends.
Everest is 15 years old. He is an AIDS orphan. He is praying for a future. He needs a partial sponsor to remain at New Beginnings. Are you the answer to his prayers?
You can sponsor Everest or another child for $40 for partial sponsorship 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.
Stracy is 12 years old. She was born to an inherited father who has abandoned her. Her mother has struggled greatly to provide for her family. Stracy needs a partial sponsor. Can you help Stracy?
You can sponsor Stracy or another child for $40 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.
Kevin is 17 years old and in 10th grade. He is a total orphan who calls New Beginnings his home. He has lost his sponsor and needs help. Is God calling you to help Kevin?
You can sponsor Kevin or another child for $40 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.
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
Bob Evan's - Mansfield, OH
Cheddar's - Mansfield, OH
Brown Derby Roadhouse - Mansfield, OH
Freedom Wireless - York, PA
Kroger's - Bucyrus, OH
O'Charlie's - Mansfield, OH
Sleep Inn - Galion, OH
Ann Downing Ministries - Hendersonville, TN
Christ American Baptist Church Youth - Spring Grove, PA
Christ American Baptist Church - Spring Grove, PA
Crestline UMC Children - Crestline, OH
Crestline UMC - Crestline, OH
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
Harvest Chapel Children's Ministry - Abbottstown, PA
Trinity Lutheran Church - Crestline, OH
Zion Bible Church - York, PA
We would like to add your business or ministry to our list! Contact us to become a supporter!
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
