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Grace Ministries' Newsletter
Volume 8 – Issue 1 • January - April, 2008
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GRACE MINISTRIES DIRECTORS IN THE US
Rev. Samuel Wambugu and his wife Monica visited the US for six weeks from 10th Feb to 23 rd March. The goals of the mission were four:
- Touch base with old friends of Grace who have supported it since its beginning in 1997.
- To try and get new partners as the initial work has expanded with time.
- To get Medical care for both Samuel and Monica.
- To get in touch with Peter our son whom we have not seen for four years.
We thank God for the many people of different professionals who came together to make our trip a success. It is not possible to narrate every experience and to thank every one in a brief letter like this. You are so many. Take this as our heart felt gratitude not only from the two of us, but from the Staff, children of Grace School and the Members of Community Presbyterian Church.
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| SAMUEL SPEAKS TO STUDENTS, FACULTY AND MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY AT PELLISSIPPI COLLEGE. |
We had many speaking opportunities in Churches, Ladies groups, Men’s groups, Bible classes, Colleges. Mention it and we were there. It was not possible for us to arrange and execute this. This was humanly possible through the efforts of many people who were coordinated by a very dear couple Ron and Jean Mayer with the help of people and resources of 1st Presbyterian Church. The trip was planned with great precision. Where to go, where to sleep, how to get there and what to eat!!!! Thank you Ron and Jean.
We were able to get significant financial support to our children through an adoption program which Ron took very passionately. It cost $ 600 to adopt a child at Grace School. This means that you have fed, Educated, bought books and Uniforms to the child. About 50 children were adopted by Churches, Individuals and groups. Some new churches came on board to support the work of Grace School while other old partners increased their monthly support.
We got Physicians and Dentists who checked on our health. We finally got four days to travel to Kansas to visit our son Peter.
WE JOIN HANDS AND SAY THAT OUR SUCCESS WAS NOT THE WORK OF MAN AND ECHOES THE REFRAIN "TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!"
POST POLITICAL VIOLENCE
The year began on a very sad note as most of you are aware of the violence that hit Kenya due to the hotly contested election results. As always women and children bear the greatest pain. There is a camp holding over three thousand internally displaced people ten minutes walk from Grace School. Apart from the physical pain that the people bore they have physical, emotional, psychological and emotional needs. This is more so to children who have gone through unexplainable trauma.
Our School counselor Anne Njeri volunteered to offer the much needed Trauma Counseling, but with very few competent helpers. We thank the lord for her as we also got a first hand experience of what was really going on.
We continue to feel the effects of the violence through food scarcity and the high prices when they are available. Putting food on the table at home has become very difficult and we expect it to reflect on the School feeding program.
How Grace School has helped
We have been calculative as to how we can effectively help in this an overwhelming situation like this. We have considered reaching out to the persons at the camp through offering learning places for the extremely needy children at Grace School. We are only doing this to families who have decided that they are settling in Limuru. Rahab aged five is one such child who has joined Grace School. Rahab is humble intelligent and hardworking. She has a baggage of very sad experiences which the School Counselor is assisting her to deal with. We love her and we are happy that Grace School was able to assist in practical ways like getting her a Uniform.
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Left:
Rahab in her Old School Uniform |
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Right:
In her Grace Uniform |
GIFT OF BOOKS
Thank you to the two people who graciously responded to our appeal of Text Books. They bought all the text books needed for grade eight which is the top class. The books will help them get good grades in their examination in November and hence get a good High School.
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| Teacher's help to cover the books |
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Mercy and Albert grade eight |
Our aim is to buy School Text books for each class. The cost is $1500 to buy all these books for twenty children. We have our grade seven and six next in the waiting list.
CONSTRUCTION CHANGING FACES
During this year we almost gave up as we planned for the tour but we lacked funds and amazingly, we had central Baptist- Bearden being God sent and they catered for all the costs.
We had the younger children visiting the animal orphanages and the game parks and they really enjoyed.
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| FRONT VIEW OF THE HALL |
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CHILDREN INSIDE THE HALL |
We will not be rained on again while eating. “God bless you.”
(Grace School Children) |
Uniforms
Five children had a blessing of being the first recipient of new uniforms. The funds came from their sponsors. We cannot buy new uniforms for all needy children at once. This is because of the way we receive the funds at $ 50 a month per child. We will finally get every needy child a pair of uniform before the year end.
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| Jane the head teacher giving out the new uniforms |
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| From left: Caroline Wangare, Margaret Njambi, Michael Mungai, Joseph Njenga and James Okwayo in their new uniforms |
FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE PERIOD
JANUARY – APRIL 2008
| ITEMS |
USD |
| OPERATING INCOME/EXPENSES |
| Balance Brought Forward |
(276.00) |
| Income – Local |
6,240.00 |
| Income – International |
23,067.00 |
| Total Income |
29,031.00 |
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ONGOING EXPENSES
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(27,890.00) |
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SURPLUS
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1,141.00 |
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| CAPITAL ACCOUNT |
| Balance Brought Forward |
3,085.00 |
| Building and Computer Funds |
11,208.00 |
| Available Capital Funds |
14,293.00 |
| Work Done Befoe January 2008 |
3,800.00 |
| Roofing |
5,640.00 |
| Additional on Windows/Doors |
2,850.00 |
| Other Related Construction |
1,250.00 |
| Cost of Printer |
500.00 |
| TOTAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURE |
14,040.00 |
| SURPLUS ON CAPITAL ACCOUNT |
253.00 |
USD = United States Dollar
CONCLUSION
I gave a number of hosting couples trouble in getting me a diet that was sugar free. Thank you for putting up with our weaknesses. Let me give some felt prayer needs which are emerging as a result of our natural growth:
- There is growing need of desks as the children are increasing. We are so far coping with what we have and buying a few from the surplus on the ongoing account mostly funded by children sponsorship program.
- We still have one computer to be shared by Director, Secretary, Administrator and the Head Teacher. We got some money for a computer, but was enough for a printer which we have already bought. It can Scan, copy, print and send faxes.
- The Ministry of Grace School has grown to the point that a Van is a real felt need.
- We are optimistic that we might get funding to complete the Dinning Hall from a foundation that we talked to and it has helped in the past.
We love you and God bless you.
Samuel, Monica, Teachers and Children of Grace School.
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Please know that your donation can help, not only to save the life of a child in Limuru, but to guide that life in such a way as to loosen the stranglehold of despair and death that threatens so much of Kenya's population. Thank you, in advance, for your compassionate support!
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