Kenya Kids at Rongo

Click here to view a PowerPoint presentation about our work with the Kenya Kids at Rongo, Kenya. (Allow a few minutes for the presentation to load.)

In June 2007 Rongo, Kenya a group of St. Matthew's Parishioners went to Rongo, Kenya Rongo, Kenya to help construct a dorm for the boys at the orphanage, install a water purification system and other things. Since then St. Matthew's has been sponsoring orphans in Rongo.

Email from Rongo, Kenya - August 2009

We really appreciate what you did for us, by sponsoring Emily and Tukiko to Tanzania, this was very great, they are back safely with good stories, and news, they really enjoyed every bit of their time in Tanzania. We pass our sincere thanks to all those who gave funds, planned and participated in one way or the other to make this program a success.

The trip was also enjoyable for them, this being their first time out of Kenya, preparing and planning was a bit of challenge, getting the passport was an issue. I was told they will get the temporary one at the Border, but they failed, although they made it without any problem this is a miracle. Our system in Kenya is still very corrupt, people in Government offices wants a bribe for every thing. It becomes hard for us as we are not ready to bribe.

Pray for us.

Our Education system is also corrupt as most of public schools get funds to buy the books for students, but they do fail to buy the books, and most teachers are not teaching well, they have given private schools advantage to charge high fees for the students who goes to this school. Our prayer and Target for 2010, is to buy enough books for our students as God provides, we have managed to buy enough for those in high school, so now we want to buy for those in primary as God provides, Tukiko shared this with Sheila Yule, a St. Matthew’s parishioner! Our aim is to give the orphans a future, hope and voice through Education, join with us, it is sad but the truth is some subjects were not taught last term in the public primary school, in grades 5 and 6. We really value your prayers and support. the cost of living here is up, following the post election violence things have not gone back to normal, last season the harvest was very poor, following rain failure, in some parts of the country people are really suffering, due to lack of water and food, animals and people are dying, thanks to God here in Nyanza we are not badly off.

Greetings from all the orphans, they are happy because you care for them. May our God richly bless you all. Thanks for your love and prayers.

Rongo Board Kenya Kids.

– Daniel

Email from Rongo, Kenya - August 2009

Greetings in Christ,

We really thank God for your love and prayers, as members of Ebenezer Family we are all rejoicing in the Love of God, we are seeing his faithfulness day by day. This year we have seen many blessing from the Lord despite some challenges.

Blessings
1. Many of our orphans have been in good Health.
2. Many of the orphans have been able to be in School.
3. Many of the orphans have done well in their classes, 2 that is Overton
and Sharon have been the best in their Classes.
4. One Boy Harrison Ooko has done well, and he is due to join the
University for a degree in food Science, the Government will give him
a loan, but we will have to supplement.
5. We have been able to complete the building of the girls dorm, and they
are now using it, with little finishing remaining like, beds, nets, blankets,
and Mattresses.
6. We have a play ground courtesy of Hearts4Kenya.
7. The Government has given us more land for building.
8. The Bank Kenya Women Finance Trust, gave us food,
Books and water tank when they were opening their
Rongo branch. The money we saved on food, as they gave us eggs,
bread, beans, maize and rice, we used on building the toilet, which is
now in use with few work remaining.
9. We are working together as a family.

Challenges
1. The rain distribution was not good, so we did not get good harvest
from the farm.
2. The cost of food and basic needs went up by between 20 to 30 percent.
3. We have not been able to pay the nurse as she wanted, a lot of money
than we were able to pay her, so she has let for greener pasture.
4. Our workers have request for an increament in their honorarium,
by between 20 to 30 percent but we have not been able as the cost of
food is up.
5. Some of our old building needs, repairs and painting but we have not been
able to do this due to lack of enough funds, as we have not made any
allocation for our repairs and maintenance.
6. Our cook house is in bad shape, we are trusting God to provide as this is
our Project for 2009.

Prayer Needs for the Year 2009
1. God’s provision for our year Project which is a kitchen with dining hall.
2. 12 double beds metal at 5500 each which is, 66,000 about 900 dollars.
3. 40 Mosquito nets at 340 each which is 13,600 which is about
200 dollars.
4. Repair boys Latrine which is about 73,000 which is about
1000 dollars.
5. Completion of Ladies latrine, which is in use now is about
12,000 about 200 dollars, we need pipes, and some manhole.
6. 37 Blankets at 550 each which is 20,350 about 300 dollars.
7. 40 bed sheets at 200 each which is 8000 about 110 dollars.

We are in prayers for the above needs.

Yours in Christ love
Daniel for ECC family

Email from Rongo, Kenya - March 2009

We have been praying for you and all the donors, as we know we are living in hard time economically. We are having it hard here as the cost of food has gone up, and we are supposed to be weeding now, and having rain, but to date we are not having rain and most people have not planted.The orphans are doing well, on one Caren was very sick , admitted in hospital for 2 days but now she is out, and improving pray for her, all the students who did Government Exam last year have passed except one , we thank God for them as they can now compete well with others in the Job market,The Girls dorm is slightly bigger than the boys, as we are planning to have more girls than boys as Girls are more vulnerable, than boys, every thing is complete apart from painting, it has to dry a bit before painting, Here is the picture , I will send one after painting, thanks for your support in building this dorm, may our God bless all those who gave sacrificially towards this noble project, we are trusting God to provide money for the toilet, beds and mattresses.We will miss meeting somebody from the church, but we thank God for your love, and sacrifice, Oh what a name, Kenya Kids at Rongo , oh what a name. The orphans here knows that they have some people who care about them, far a way, they are daily praying for you.Here attached is the picture of the dorm.

Yours in Christ
love Kenya Kids at Rongo Board

Letter from Daniel Ochieng in Rongo, Kenya

Daniel Ochieng is the director of the orphanage in Rongo, Kenya, where St. Matthew’s supports over
60 children (most orphaned by AIDS). Please remember as you read this that English is not his first language!

Thanks for your love for the orphans here in Kenya, you have really helped us a lot to give this children, hope voice and future, now they can dream of a better future, now they have hope that they had lost. Now we can count on them for future leadership of the Church and Country. Those who are doing Tailoring and carpentry can compete in the Job market with other who have their parents, what a gift that you have given us, what you are doing to us here is great.I have seen this children having many changes, their health, their physical appearance, their academic performance, the teachers have also given testimony to this, on enrolment they perform poorly, but they improve bit by bit as time with time, some end up toping the class, an example is Harrison ooko who topped his school in form 4 exams, and now he is looking forward to join the public university, to study law.

Sharon Akoth. Sharon tops the class. Class 4 (grade 4)
Sharon writes "My name is Sharon Akoth. I am 10 years old. When I grow up and finish my Education, I would like to be a Nurse, to treat people in the World.I like to be a nurse because they know a lot of science, with me I like sciences, and that is why I like to be a nurse. My hobby is football, I like football because it makes my body to be strong, and people like to watch it while it is being played" ...

Overton Omondi - Overton is 2 best in Class 5 (grade 5 )
He writes " I am Overton Omondi, I am 10 years old in class five. I wish to be a teacher, God willing. In school my favorite subjects are Math, English, and Science, and I also like to play football and Vollyball. I am praying that God will help me to fulfill my ambition. I trust that all will be well with me, God willing"

Jane Adongo .- Jane is in Class 3 (grade 3) she is among the best 5 in class.
She writes "My name is Jane Adongo, I would like to be a nurse. I am at Winyo in standard 3. I will go to class 4 next year if God allows.Secondly my favorite game is netball, and my favorite subject is English. I know how to communicate using that language. I like seeing animals, and Zebra is my favorite animal. I am now 9 years old. God willing, I will continue with my plans .."

Thanks for your love and prayers. Yours in Christ, love DanielThe Rongo Committee will be asking for your support January 25 – February 15.

A letter from the orphanage in Rongo, Kenya that St. Matthew’s supports

WE ARE BECAUSE YOU ARE;

We really thank God for your love for Him, we have come this far because of you, pass my love and greetings to your family and friends.

We are a beacon of hope to the society and community, because of your love, and prayers. We began in a small way, but we have come this far because of YOUR LOVE, CONCERN, SUPPORT, AND PRAYERS.

As a Pastor, I had the heart to help, but I had no means of helping, I buried people, am still burying them even now, many people are dying leaving behind, young orphans with no one to take care of, many times there orphans do look to the church for help, but the church can do very little, as the church is equally composed of needy widows and orphans.

As a result of your love, support and prayers, we have transformed the life of many orphans who would now be working as house girls, and farm boys. Some should have been sexually abused, or married at an early age. These orphans are now in school preparing for a better future in the will of God. "We are because you are".

We are giving the orphans, voice, hope, and future. I am proud of you, and it is great to be co-workers in this noble ministry of helping the most deserving who can say nothing but thank God for the help.

The rate of new Hiv/Aids infection is reducing, but the rate of death is high from earlier infection. As I write now we are mourning a man here who had lost his wife, and now he is also dead leaving behind four children who cannot help themselves. They need somebody like you to give them future, and hope.

May our gracious God continue to richly bless you, as we continue to partner in this noble work.

Thanks for your love and prayers.

Yours in Christ!
Love,
Daniel

Below are some of the pictures taken by Jack Geary who took them with a digital camera that was given to Daniel Ochieng so that he could take and send them back from time to time. some of the pictures are pictures Daniel took after the trip. The Kenya Mission Committee also purchased and left a laptop computer with Daniel. Click on thumbnail to see a larger version of the picture.

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