Sarah's laugh

This short video of Sarah in the nursery is one of my favorites. This was taken our last night at the baby center with the team from New Life.

If you would like to follow the current team's updates please click on "Meet The Babies" link on the right.

Generous Donors

The generosity of people, some of whom are complete strangers, always amazes me! As a team from New Life Fellowship prepares to go to Kenya in June, supplies are being amassed to take with them. The baby center is in desperate need of boys size 3T to 4T clothing. When I stopped at the New To You children's resale shop in Wakarusa, I was a little disappointed because all they had out was summer clothes. Great for around here but not so much in Kenya where they are in their winter months. I found a few things that would work and took them up to the front. When Sharla asked me if I found every thing I was looking for, I explained that it was going to be hard to find what I needed because Kenya will be cold and rainy! She then took me to the back and told me to pick out whatever I wanted from the leftover winter clothes - FREE OF CHARGE! There were quite a few things we could use and I so appreciate her willingness to give these to the babies in Africa. I know she would have been able to sell most of those things next fall, but how wonderful that in a few weeks, a cold little child in Kenya will receive warm and comfortable clothes! She also told me she didn't have any plastic pants to fit over diapers but Calico Point just outside of town did. When my husband went to check it out, the salesperson told him she could order the 200+ pants he wanted and she would give them to him at price! He told her she needed to make something because we would more than likely be back many times over the years! God's people responding with their gifts to babies they don't even know makes my heart sing! Thank you to both of these ladies and to the many, many unnamed donors who share so freely. May God bless you richly!!

Moses (Mo Mo) - March 2009

Dana Jacobs took these pictures of Mo Mo when she was at the baby center with the NMC work team. Mo Mo continues to be a joy to all who are around him. He is mischevious but he also has a loving heart and a content personality! He is surely one of the baby center's true blessings! (The top photo is Mo Mo with team member Mike Thompson).

Go God!

God is showing up in an amazing way again in regards to the Kenya Baby Center. We just received a letter from Jeff Stanfield, current director of the baby center, that said they were running dangerously low in funds! It was a little over a month ago that the "adopt-a-baby" program was started at our church. And just this week the first check was sent over to the baby center. His timing is always perfect! Often we worry about things that are in the future, but God doesn't often give us what we need way ahead of time. He wants us to rely on Him and He will provide what we need just when we need it! I understand that more needs to be done! But I praise God for all of you who listened when God called you to give to His little ones in Kenya. You came thru at just the right time! YOU are a part of HIS perfect timing and a blessing to the baby center. God has big plans for the children in Kenya and He wants YOU to play a big part in the history of this place! Thanks for giving from the heart!

"For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.
He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death."

Psalm 72:12-13

Joshua - March 2009

Dana Jacobs from the NMC Work Team took these pictures of Joshua when they were in Kenya in March 2009. Joshua can't help himself - he is always smiling! The parents who adopt Joshua will be delighted with his happy-go-lucky personality! The picture above is Joshua with his best bud Daniel O.

John - March 2009

These pictures of John were taken by Dana Jacobs when they were there with the NMC Work Team.

New Comment on Sarah

Sarah, you look so beautiful and grown up! I can't believe how much more gorgeous you are now! ((not that you weren't gorgeous to begin with!))

I love you, sweetie,
-Auntie Kaylyn

Paul - March 2009

Dana Jacobs took these pictures of Paul while with the NMC work team. He even was a model for some of the new clothing donations!

Learning Center Fun - March 2009

The March Work Team from NMC spent time with the babies in the learning center at the baby center. It was a great time for the babies to get some much needed structured play time. They colored, played with play-dough, read books, played with toys, blew bubbles, etc. An activities director is one of the needs of the AGC Baby Center in the near future.

Looking back and praising God

The following is an article written for the July 2008 NMC newsletter. It is fun to go back to the beginning and see how God has lead us thru this project. Very soon we will deliver our first load of our own water to the baby center! I would encourage you to click on the water project label on the right to see this journey.

June 2008 - Water was a big deal to Jesus. In fact his first miracle involved turning water into wine at a wedding feast. He walked on it to teach his disciples about faith. He offered “Living Water” to the woman at the well. The Old Testament is also filled with miracles involving water. And followers of Jesus continue to be baptized by water to this day.

Water is also a big deal to the baby center. They use it to bathe the babies, to wash their clothes and diapers, to cook their food and to satisfy their thirst. Yet there is no water to be found on the baby center property. We continue to pray that God would miraculously fill the well that has been dug. Until then, all of the water is trucked in daily from nearby Nakuru. The team members who were there during the riots in December can tell you, not receiving that daily shipment is a BIG DEAL! Quickly it can become a serious situation when the trucks are unable to deliver. It is also a significant expense to the baby center to purchase the water. Because of this, several NMC’ers (Verle Hochstetler, Bernie Lambright, Dan Jacobs and Jamie Lengacher) have been working to come up with an alternate solution. Property about 7 km from the baby center is available for purchase. This property has a viable well. The plan is for the baby center to purchase this property as well as a tractor and tank. The center can then provide all of the water they need from their own source. Not only would this save them the cost of purchasing water, it might also become a source of income for them. They could possibly sell extra water to the surrounding community. They might also be able to rent out their tractor and driver to surrounding farmers. These plans continue to be finalized but all of those involved are excited about the possibilities. When Chuck Christner and Steve Cross from New Life heard about the project they wanted their church to become involved also. New Life Church has committed a significant amount of money towards the purchase of the tractor which is one of the biggest expenses in this project. Anyone who is interested in learning more about how they can help provide water for the babies can contact any of the men above for more information. The biggest obstacle to adding more babies to the baby center family is being able to provide for their needs. Just think how many more babies can be saved by solving the water situation!

The baby center is now at 27 babies. Baby Mary W. went home with her adopted Kenyan mother during the second week in June. Everyone will miss her beautiful smile and sparkling eyes but rejoices that she has found her own family. We were deeply saddened to hear that Baby Moses Kiptoo, who came to the baby center earlier this year, went home to be with Jesus on June 17, 2008. When he came to the center, they became aware he had a heart problem. The cardiologist felt it was something he would outgrow. Earlier this month though he became very sick and was admitted to the hospital. He seemed to improve but then took a turn for the worse. After many prayers, God chose to heal him completely in heaven. This is the second baby lost in less than a year at the center. Baby Moses will be buried next to Baby Abigail on the baby center farm. Please continue to pray for Staci and the staff as they grieve. And continue to pray for this ministry as they work to provide health and a home to the smallest and most vulnerable of God’s children in Kenya.

“Brothers, we do not want you to…grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.” Thessalonians 4:13