Hearts4Kenya

Hearts4Kenya is a humanitarian-centered, Louisville-based, non-profit organization focused on the people of Oyugis, Kenya. There goal is to empower the local community to address the critical needs of poverty, hunger and disease through education and demonstration projects. Members of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church were instrumental in starting Hearts4Kenya and are still very active in its projects.

Click here to go to the Hearts4Kenya website.

SUMMER 2009 TRIP TO KENYA

Heart4Kenya made a recent trip to Oyugis, Kenya and they visited the St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church’s orphans in Rongo.

While we were there the team heard many songs, played volleyball, talked with the orphans, and also built a playground. The Outreach Community from St. Matthew’s gave part of the funds to build that playground.

Thank you for your support.

John Willingham, Hearts4Kenya

Here is Daniel’s response to the playground:

What a wonderful play ground, it is drawing children to the center, like vultures to the place of meet, the orphans are really enjoying the playground, day by day they are bringing their friends from school to have a text of swinging. Some children from the community are sacrificing their lunch time to come and swing, at times we are forced to remove the swinging gears and keep for the children to have time for doing their home work, they are really enjoying the play ground courtesy of the good work done by Hearts4Kenya 2009 Team led by John Willingham.

The Teachers from the neighboring schools have visited our Center asking if it is possible for them to make the same, some have gone out to look for materials, am not sure whether they will find them in our local shops.

We are really proud to be associated with St. Matthew’s EPI and Hearts4Kenya, they have done for us a lot of tangible projects, that can be seen even with the blind, we give thanks to our God for making us to know them.

Our sincere thanks to all who sacrificially gave the funds for this project, and those who worked physically in building the playground, may our God richly bless you all.Yours in Christ love.

Daniel for ECC family

First Mission Trip to Kenya
Here are some pictures from our first mission trip to Kenya. Parishioners from St. Matthew's have made many trips back to Kenya with Hearts4Kenya since this first trip.

The current church	What it will look like when we are finished!

Bricks used to build the church
Our second project will be the building of pews and pulpits. We will be building them for the mud brick church we are building, and also for many other churches in the area. Most churches in this area have between 60 and 80 members, and have only 5-6 pews. Many people therefore sit on the mud floor – not a good thing during the rainy season. The cost of these pews and pulpits will be $5,000.00.
	Our third project will be working with schools in the area. We will have an opportunity to teach Bible stories, crafts, songs and games and we will do some small construction work and painting. These pictures show a typical school and its students in Kenya. Many schools teach occupations, since only about 5% of the students go on to high school. They teach such occupations as woodworking, sewing, cooking, catering and agriculture,. will be an excellent opportunity to share Christ with those who teach.

Photographs by John Willingham

St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
330 North Hubbards Lane
Louisville, Kentucky 40207
502.895.3485 (voice)
502.895.3486 (fax)
webmaster@stmatt-ky.org

Bricks used to build the church

Our third project will be working with schools in the area. We will have an opportunity to teach Bible stories, crafts, songs and games and we will do some small construction work and painting.