Kenya: "It's All About the Babies!"

It's all about the babies! And that means lots of strategy meetings and today was the meeting day. Jamie, Dan, and I spent the morning with five of the lead Africa Gospel Church leaders in open and honest on our partnership. It was refreshing and had a book of Acts feel.

After lunch three World Gospel Missions leaders joined the conversation. WGM is a lead partner in the project. We are all on the same page and that's exciting!

Tomorrow is the Dedication Celebration - it's a thrill to see a dream come to reality.

Here is a wild story - at the end of our meeting one of the national leaders told me that he has attended NMC for ten years - I thought I had misunderstood him. He then shared that he has listened to every service via LifeTrac tapes.

NMC is making a gigantic difference. My word for you is "you labor in the Lord."

Tonight our friend and partner Peter Onyonga from Kisumu is coming.

Blessings. Pastor Dave.

Kenya: Busy, Busy, Busy...

What a day! While things are buzzing here at the Baby Center lots was happening everywhere. Here's the list of today's activities:

• An early morning visit to the graves of Abigail and Moses. Dan, Jamie and I had a special time of prayer there.
• I spoke on a Chapel Service at Kabarak University. It was a great opportunity.
• I spent 3 hours with a group of 13 AGC pastors. The Holy Spirit moved in a great way. My heart bleeds for pastors.
• The ladies went shopping with Margie to help furnish her new apartment here.
• Jamie and Dan worked on helping with the finishing touches preparing for Friday's big event

Thanks for praying for us - God is at work!

Blessings. Pastor Dave

PS - I'm doing all of this with text messaging. My fingers are sore. :)

Kenya: Pictures

Kenya: The Wreck

It just happened! I got wrecked! It was far more than I thought. When I walked into the room with babies, picked up a couple and looked into their eyes, something inside happened to me. Christy held a little orphan baby, unknown father and a mother that died a few weeks after birth - no family - yet every child is loved, well cared for and being prepared for a loving home. Two more babies will be coming from the hospital tomorrow.

NMC - thanks for stepping up big time! Your gifts are "loving the least of these." I will write much more later - and some pictures will be coming. Right now I have to deal with the wreck.

Kenya: We're There!

Partnerships happen when people come together, bringing their gifts talents and abilities. Terry Duncan was field Chairman for WGM in Kenya when the Baby Center was launched. The Baby Center was birthed in Terry's heart. It's thrilling to see how a dream has become reality.

We had a great (but short) night of sleep and now in 15 minutes we head to Ngata, the home of the Baby Center.

It's going to be fun!

Blessings!
Pastor Dave



Here's a picture of our Hosts here in Nairobi:
Robyn Moore, Brent, Karen and Terry Duncan, and Tony Fuller

Kenya: The Landing

Houston, we have landed in Nairobi. Good flights and on the last leg we all had an empty seat beside us. Good sleep. Tomorrow after breakfast we head to the Baby Center. Can't wait.

Pastor Dave

Kenya: Almost There

It's 4:30 AM and we are in London getting ready to leave in one hour for Nairobi. I'm getting ready to give lots of hugs for you.

While the dedication service is on Friday, we'll have lots of meetings during the week.

One of the goals of this trip is to finalize the water project. Right now the center is paying nearly $1000 a month but with the new water business a great savings can happen.

Get ready for the next post from Kenya.

Blessings.
Pastor Dave

Kenya: Heading Out

We are just moments from starting the first leg of our journey to the Baby Center - a flight to London. All journeys start with a first step - that's the way it was with the Baby Center - a big first step - a great one. By the way the profits from our new premium coffee carts go to the Baby Center - that's why I was pleased Christy paid $10 for that cup :)



Here are my travelling buddies - Jamie and Jolinda Lengacher, Dana and Dan Jacobs, Margie Helmuth and Christy

Kenya Trip: The Preface

It's getting late on Saturday night and I've been reflecting on what God might have me share when I speak at the Dedication of the AGC Baby Center in Kenya next Friday. What a ride! NMC's involvement in the Baby Center was birthed through the simple words of a southern belle who after hearing me speak in Florida came up and said, "So what are you going to do about the HIV-Aids crisis in Africa? What are you going to do about the orphans?"

Melody Dearman's words cut straight to my heart. I knew one thing - "doing nothing was not an option!" From that meeting NMC's involvement started with small steps and now it's at a fast run! Thanks to Tom and Terry Richmond for leading the first teams, thanks to Jamie and Jolinda Lengacher along with Dan and Dana Jacobs for picking up the charge and pouring their lives into the cause. Thanks to an incredible body of believers "in the middle of an Indiana cornfield" that in a single day gave over $300,000 to complete the facility. Thanks to a group of people that were farsighted enough to start the "ABIGAIL ENDOWMENT" in memory of the first baby that died. That endowment already fully funds two of the babies.

The adoptions are starting to happen! Hope is alive! Christy and I just can't wait to pick up those precious little ones that have been touched by your generous spirits. I love them (and even kiss them) for you - I just can't wait.

And yes, for these precious ones - "THEIR GREATEST DAYS ARE JUST AHEAD!"

Pastor Dave

The Abigail Endowment - Hope in Kenya

The following article appeared in the July 2008 Priority Newsletter:

By Eric Smith, Director of MCIF (Missionary Church Investment Foundation)

With MCIF celebrating 50 years of ministry this year we've asked for examples of how MCIF has helped make a difference for Missionary Churches. Here's a moving example of a simple and basic way MCIF has played a small part in an important ministry for NMC (Nappanee Missionary Church):

It's a short story written by Jolinda Lengacher, a ministry volunteer for NMC called, THE ABIGAIL ENDOWMENT.

"The members of Nappanee Missionary Church have had their hearts stolen by a group of small children that most of them have never met. They are the babies of the AGC Baby Center in Ngata, Kenya, East Africa.

In 2003, Pastor Dave Engbrecht was asked by missionary Melody Dearmon what NMC was going to do about the AIDS problem in Africa. After hearing his answer, she shared another way NMC could be of service. Partners were needed to help build an adoption center in Kenya for orphaned and abandoned babies between the ages of birth to two years old. The need for this age group is especially great as they require much more individual care than many of the traditional orphanages in Kenya were able to provide. They also plan to adopt out the babies at a very young age. In September of 2004 the first NMC work team was sent to help pour the foundation. Several work teams were sent in the following years to continue the work on the building. Then in early 2007 NMC became even more heavily involved when we were led to take an even bigger role at the center. A work team sent in March of that year confirmed God's leading to take charge and finish construction of the building. That team was also priviledged to meet a very special little angel named Abigail. Although she was very ill while the team was there, she exuded a sweet spirit that everyone was drawn to and fell in love with. Abigail recovered after we returned home. Then another illness later that summer was too much for Abby's tiny body. She went home to be with Jesus on September 8, 2007. Abby's death moved our congregation to tears, but also to a stronger determination to help those who are the most weak and vulnerable in Kenya - the babies. After holding, feeding and loving these children, we knew we had to do everything in our power to help them grow to lead the lives God intended for them. This need would continue not just today, not just tomorrow, but for years in the future.

One of the ways we are able to support the babies at the Baby Center is through the Abigail Endowment at NMC. Invested with MCIF, now a monthly interest check comes to NMC which then goes on to the Baby Center. It is currently enough to endow not only one life, but nearly two, for years into the future. The endowment is also providing funds through MCIF to finance church building. Those churches can further impact the world for Christ. James 1:27 says "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and foultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..." Because of the endowment, Abigail's brief life will be remembered and honored for generation after generation."

Current News

Many people have been asking if the situation in Kenya has settled down. So I thought I would try to update everyone with what we have heard from the missionaries. Since the two political parties have come to a power sharing agreement, the rioting has almost completely stopped. The missionaries have said there have been no problems in and around the baby center. In fact things seem very much back to normal. They are having no problems getting the water and other supplies they need. They feel safe to travel to Tenwek and other areas of the country. And the caregivers feel safe to come to work. We are planning to send another team again soon and continue the work God has called us to. We appreciate everyone's diligent prayers during Kenya's time of crisis. And ask that you continue to pray that the country's stability will return and that the people of Kenya will continue to adopt the beautiful babies God has placed in our care at the baby center.