May 15, 2012 by Katie
Last week I had the privilege of sharing at Living Springs Church in Garden Grove. This church was extremely special for me to share at, as it was the “birth place” of Empowering Lives International. ELI’s founder, Don Rogers, served at this church when God called him to start the organization, and Living Springs continues to remain a strong supporter of ELI’s work in Africa.
Being with junior high and high school students is always encouraging, and we had an incredible time of discovering together what it means to be a “light” in a dark world. In Matthew 5:14 Jesus calls us the “light of the world”. Will we be a passive light, much like a nightlight, that just sits on the wall and shines dimly only for the comfort of ourselves? Or will we go out as a light-saber that actively brings light to dark places and courageously contends for the sake of Christ? (more…)
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May 9, 2012 by dianahom
We can’t thank you enough for sponsoring our children and for increasing your giving. We had positive responses to the need to increase sponsorship fees to care for our children in both Children’s Homes. In Ilula, 84% of sponsors increased their giving and 78% in Kipkaren. What a tremendous act of sacrifice and love. Thank you!
With your sponsorship, we can continue to give these precious children an opportunity to live their lives with a hope and a future.
The children and our staff in Africa want to express their gratitude towards you in a special video.
Questions or comments? sponsorships@empoweringlives.org
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April 30, 2012 by Katie
It is a well-known fact that ELI could not operate as effectively or as vibrantly without the help, care and love of our amazing volunteers! Over the years we have had the most incredible people step in at crucial times and fill a special place at ELI. From mailing letters, to cutting sponsorship packets, to data entry, to video making, our volunteers have blessed us immensely.
This Sunday we held a special lunch to celebrate our volunteers. (more…)
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April 27, 2012 by dianahom
Mrs. Mushengenzi Zihalirwa with her second grade students
We asked our second grade teacher, Mrs. Mushengenzi Zihalirwa, from our school in DR Congo why she likes teaching at ELI’s School. Here are some of the things she said:
ELI gives the poorest of the poor children an opportunity to study.
We provide both intellectual and spiritual education
We hope that children and their families will know the love of God
Our school gives hope to the children, especially since the children come from poor backgrounds and many of their parents would not be able to pay for their school fees.
An education will help children be able to contribute to society in a useful way.
As teachers we receive training and attend regular seminars to ensure good quality education with results in the success of our children.
Our teaching methods create positive interaction between students and teachers which encourages students to participate in the lessons.
By providing food (porridge), ELI helps reinforce active participate of students during class because they are not tired.
We provide a good spiritual environment which is not only present in our school, but impacts the community and neighborhood; this makes parents want to send children to our school.
Thank you to everyone who is supporting our school!
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April 20, 2012 by dianahom
Jacob’s blood count is still low. He received a blood transfusion on Wednesday but still needs another, however, the hospital did not have the correct blood needed for the transfusion. The doctors are not completely sure what is causing Jacob’s nose bleeds and anemic blood. They are thinking about doing another bone marrow test. Please continue to keep Jacob in your prayers and for insight into what is causing this sickness in his body.
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April 19, 2012 by dianahom
Thank you to everyone who has been praying for our school in South Sudan and for our students. Our school is still temporarily closed during the time of disarmament in South Sudan, but, our 8th grade students continued to prepare for mock final exams that took place March 29-30th. These mock exams were in preparation for the final exams they will take in order to graduate from the 8th grade. Our 8th grade class consists of 17 students and all of them passed these mock exams! Please pray for them as they continue to prepare for their actual final examinations. Please also keep South Sudan in your prayers as they build the new country and avoid an internal war.
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April 18, 2012 by dianahom
Hello ELI Family!
Thank you for all your prayers for Jacob in our Kipkaren Children’s Home. Please continue to pray for him. He is back in the hospital in Eldoret after experiencing profuse bleeding from his nose. After consulting the staff in the clinic it was decided he needed to return to the hospital in town. Blood tests showed that his blood count numbers are dropping again. We are not sure if the recent set back is a result of having malaria. Please pray for healing for Jacob and for doctors as they work to determine the cause of Jacob’s low blood count. Please pray that Jacob would remain at peace despite his physical struggles.
Thank you!
CLICK HERE for the previous prayer update
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April 17, 2012 by Cathy
Destruction to the roof of the Kemei Girls' Dorm at Kipkaren Children's Home
On Thursday afternoon, a huge storm to arrived in Kipkaren. We have been eager for the seasonal rains to arrive but this storm packed quite a punch! Near the end of lunch, it started to rain. My husband and I were thankful we were inside and thought the storm would stop in a few minutes like most afternoon showers do. Quickly the light showers escalated to torrential rain, loud thunder, very close lightning, and freakishly high winds. It blew our heavy wooden doghouse over with ease. Several of our windows blew open and it was a struggle to get them closed with the high winds. While this was unusual we thought all was well and prepared to wait out the rains.
Interior damage to the girls' dorm
A few minutes later Veronica Busienei, the wife of the Kipkaren Children’s Home director, came to our door to let us know that the large tree behind the Kimei girls dorm had broken in the high winds, falling on to the dorm, breaking part of the wall and roof. Thankfully, the six girls inside weren’t badly injured. Faith was hit on the head by something (branch, debris?) and has a small lump but is otherwise okay. The other seven Kemei girls were in the gazebo finishing up lunch when the tree broke.
Kemei girls enter their dorm to look at the damage
While the rains continued to fall those of us at the children’s home gathered at the dorm to assess the damage. A major section of roof, ceiling boards, and bricks were damaged. Water entered the dorm and quickly a team went inside to inspect the interior. Outside several large branches obstructed the yard around the building. Pastor Peter Maru knew of someone nearby with a chainsaw so they were called to assist in branch removal. A few beds, under the hole, were disassembled and removed, and the dorm swept free of water. Within a short time all was cleaned up.
It was a BIG tree that fell on the girls' dorm!
We are thankful that this happened at lunch, rather than at night. All the girls are safe, which we thank God for.The Kemei dorm is currently being repaired by the contractor who helped construct the structures six years ago. While the dorm is being repaired we’ve divided the thirteen Kemei girls up to sleep among the other 3 girls’ dorms. We did have a long, heavy rainstorm on Monday night but the repairs underway seem to be holding up well. In a day or so the hole should be sealed, ceiling boards back in place, walls repainted, and furniture returned to the dorm. Please pray that the Kemei girls will be able to rest easy in their dorm once they are able to return. Generally the Kipkaren Children’s Home is a place of great safety and peace. That was disrupted for a few moments but the goodness of God continues to prove itself to the children – they know that their lives are in His hands and His love and care can overcome any circumstance that life brings.
Roof repairs began on Monday afternoon.
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April 13, 2012 by dianahom
Hi ELI family. We would love your prayers for one of the boys in our Kipkaren Children’s Home. Jacob Ayieko has recently been diagnosed with a very serious anemia. About three weeks ago he was taken to the emergency room because he was very sick. At one point they thought that it was a very rare type of anemia that could become life-threatening. However he has been able to see a hematologist (blood specialist) who does not believe that that is the case. Until recently he was sent home to rest.
On April 11th we received another update that Jacob went to the clinic with lots of headaches and high fever; he was also having trouble seeing. They tested him for malaria and it was positive. He was also positive for malaria when he was in the hospital a short while ago. We think his immune system is just so low that he is catching everything. They are giving him an IV drip and he is resting at the clinic. Please pray for his strength to improve. Evidently his blood count is improving but he is just so sick.
We would appreciate prayers for his physical and emotional strength and healing. We will keep you posted.
Thank you for partnering with us in prayer for Jacob!
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April 10, 2012 by dianahom
We received a request from our ELI South Sudan Director to join him and the people of South Sudan in prayer. The South Sudan army has taken measures to disarm villages of any guns. To protect the children from any potential harm if a fight breaks out during the confiscation of the guns, schools across the country have closed. They don’t want any children to be around or in school while this process takes place.
Normally our school takes a month holiday in May and again in August, however, to accommodate the current situation of disarmament of villages, the children will have a holiday this month (April) so that the normal academic year can be kept on track.
Please join us in prayer for the following:
- Peace for the nation. Wisdom for the New South Sudan leadership so as to avoid a return to war (this time an internal war).
- Conviction of rebels, that they will be saved and transformed by the grace of God.
- For protection over our school children (some conflicting tribe bandits sometimes move in quickly to steal children and cows)
- Protection for our school compounds and structures (safe from any military control or physical damage).
- Protection from emotional trauma for the villagers and children.
- For the Christian Church to grow in vitality in the midst of and in spite of this situation and threat.
Thank you friends for caring and for remembering a people who have undergone more than we can imagine.
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