For years we’ve been in the process of expanding the boys’ dorm to accommodate our growing number of children at Challenge Farm. Unfortunately, lack of funds has slowed down construction. We still need nearly $8,000 to cover the cost for the ceiling and cabinets. Without a ceiling, the rooms get very cold, and dirt falls from the top floor to bottom floor. For this month’s challenge, please help us complete this project by donating whatever you can to our boys’ dorm building fund.

Go to Globe International to donate today – just type boys’ dorm in the comments section.

Boys’ dorm before the 2nd floor was built:

Boys’ dorm with 2nd floor:

Tin roof of the boys’ dorm – in need of a ceiling:

In chapel this week ten young adults came forward to talk about their commitment to become missionaries in the future.

Here is a picture of the ones who made the commitment:

 Emmanuel is one of the young boys. Here is his testimony:

“I am a 16 years old young man from Kenya born in a remote village in the rift valley. I am the First born in a family of two sisters. I spent most my early childhood with my grandparents where I could do many bad things that did not please God. My parents were irresponsible and did not show us the way to know Jesus, they passed on almost simultaneously when I was 8 years old.

My grandparents were not able to provide for us since the family was big and they never had a source of income, as a result I ended up being a beggar in the streets of Kitale town. Life in the street was very hostile and I ended up sniffing glue and doing other addictive substances.

All along God loved and had good plans for me. In the year 2007 God sent Mama Cheri to rescue me from the bondage of death and took me in a safe place. She taught me the love of God and I realized God loved me no matter what. My life has transformed ever since I joined Challenge Farm. My desire is to reach out to the rest of the world and spread the love of God through sharing my story and telling them about Jesus and through the gift of singing that God has blessed me with.”

Esther Amlango’s Testimony:

“I was born to a blind mother who is very poor and cannot support our family. My father passed away in 2004 when I was 9 years old. Most of the family members were non-believers and at that time I started encouraging them about the love of God.

One day we went together with my mom to visit my aunt who in turn took me in to be her house help.  I served there for some time until one day through her children I discovered that she was a devil worshiper. At that point I prayed for courage and decided to serve the Lord without any fear or intimidation. My mom became ill and my aunt attacked me because I was a believer and I kept calling the name of Jesus, which was not allowed, in her home.

I went to the streets of Kitale where I had not been before and I knew nothing about street life. Coincidentally Mama Cheri came and rescued me together with other children who had lived in the streets and had suffered a lot. She then took us to a small paradise where she ensured we were well fed and protected. I have ever since experienced an amazing love and care at Challenge farm and my spirituality has continued to grow in the faith.

One day Mama Cheri was talking about missionary work in regard to spreading the love of God throughout the nations and how children should pray and act about it. I felt strongly in my spirit to take the initiative of becoming one of those who can help spread the Love of God through my experience and testimony on what God can do to an individual. My urge is strong and I am dedicated to strive to be like Christ – no wonder my peers have nicknamed me ‘ missionary’ ever since.”

We are praising God and so thankful that the kids at Challenge Farm are responding to God’s call to reach the nations.  This has to be such an encouragement to the staff who see first hand the miracles that God has done in the lives of the children.  May God be glorified in all that we do!

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”  Romans 10:15b

As the children at Challenge Farm continue to grow, so does the number of transitional students – students who don’t qualify for high school and must transition into the next stage of their lives. In order to give these students freedom to pursue their God given skills in a nation with 40% unemployment, it is crucial that we set up a transition program for them to learn to live on their own and make an honest living. We’d like to purchase land near the Farm where they can set up residence, learn to farm and care for animals and create businesses. On part of the land off the main road, students could set up shops for the community, providing services like shoe repair and hairdressing, and selling crops, eggs and milk, to generate an income.

After two to three years in this program, the young men and women would hopefully be prepared to fully join Kenyan society to build their careers and start families on their own. In addition, moving these students off campus into occupational training frees up the space at Challenge Farm so that we can continue to take more abandoned children off the streets of Kitale.

Investing in this land means investing in our children’s futures. For this month’s Challenge, please donate to our fund to purchase land and establish this transition program today. Just go to Globe International and type “land” in the Comments box.

This month’s Challenge is to pray for peace during and after the 2013 election in Kenya.

Kenya’s election for the next president and other government offices is scheduled for March 4^th. In the last election 1,200 were left dead and thousands more became homeless. Just recently, Kenyan court cleared the way for Uhuru Kenyatta (son of founding President Jomo Kenyatta) to run in the election. He is one of four politicians accused at the International Criminal Court at The Hague of orchestrating violence.

Many Kenyans feel that the charges of crimes against humanity should make him ineligible to run for office. Uhuru Kenyatta is charged with displacing, torturing, persecuting and killing civilians during Kenya’s election crisis. If Kenyatta wins, his first foreign trip as president could be to appear in the dock in The Hague at a hearing scheduled for April. Kenyatta is running a close second to Prime Minister Raila Odinga, according to opinion polls.

Much of the election violence in 2007-2008 was carried out by youth. Some were paid to riot and destroy. Many others joined spontaneously as news of election irregularities and vote rigging became known. Competition for land and resources, youth unemployment and reliance on ethnicity are only a few on a long list of serious problems. Unemployment rate is over 40% with youth the most affected.

“The flawed election was a trigger,” said Ken Ouko, a sociologist at the University of Nairobi who specializes in youth, “providing youth with an outlet to vent their anger as well as a cause to rally around. It boils down to their frustration.” 67% of Kenyans live below the international poverty line of $2 a day.

Youth are the hope and future of Kenya. That is why Challenge Farm is not a feeding program – we are a home where street children who had no hope receive love, education, counseling, medical and dental care, employment and vocational skills and whatever else they need in order for them to return to their communities with hope, skills and an opportunity for a positive future. This transformation takes place because of the power and love of the Holy Spirit who is our teacher and encourager.

Please gather with friends and family to lift up the Kenyan nation in your prayers this month.

Sources: LA Times and NY Times

For this month’s Challenge, get together with several friends and send a valentine to a child at Challenge Farm. This is a great opportunity to share your love for Challenge Farm with others. The children are so excited and encouraged when they receive mail. Send us a picture of your valentine writing party – we would love to share what you are doing!

Send your cards to:
Light and Power Center at Challenge Farm
P.O. Box 3625
Kitale, Kenya 30200

After a month of three surgeries, an IV drip, and having pins put in his arm, Phillip has been released from the hospital. Please be in prayer that no infection will set in. The bill for Phillip’s stay in the hospital is $3,500. In Kenya you have to pay the bill before you can leave the hospital.  We paid this bill, but it is coming out of January’s budget. We do not have the money for this and we need to raise it now. Please consider helping us by going to Globe International and in the comment section putting “Phillip.”

For those who do not follow us on Facebook, Cheri was diagnosed with chiari one in December.  She had brain and spinal surgery on January 3 and is now recovering at home.  Cheri will have a follow up visit on February 11.  The recovery will be six-twelve months.  She will be taking it slow, but is not expecting it to affect her return to Kenya in March.

This month’s Challenge is to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. Without Him we wouldn’t have Hope for our Future. Because of Him lives at Challenge Farm are being transformed. Please be praying for our children at Challenge Farm as you spend time with your families this season.

Merry Christmas and God Bless!

Education is such an important part of what we do at Challenge Farm.  This week standard 8 students are taking exams to see if they qualify for high school and we very much appreciate your prayers for them.   For some students it doesn’t matter how much they study and how many times they take a test – they are just not going to qualify for high school.  These are our transitional students and this is the new CHALLENGE for Challenge Farm.  Right now we have 8 transitional students.  Two are in vocational training at a school in Kitale, four are living one mile from the farm, with a staff member commuting back and forth to work on the farm, and two continue to live in the dorms.  These six students continue to work on the farm at the Posha Mill – in the garden – in the kitchen- or repairing items on the farm.  As our students continue to grow – there will be more and more transitional students.  

Last week a three-acre parcel just minutes from Challenge Farm became available.  This parcel is in a great location being in such close proximity to the farm.  It is a beautiful piece of land and one acre is currently being used to grow coffee.  Coffee is planted once and for the next 10 -15 years, it reaps approximately $4,200 in an annual crop.  This would leave two acres fronting the road that could be used for a future business center for small businesses, and homes for the older children that would work there.

This property is being sold for $50,000.  It has a clear title and would be a good income producer for the farm.   As businesses are developed this would be a place where our older students could be trained to perform a job, learn how to live on their own, and hopefully transition back into Kenyan society becoming self-sufficient and ready to live on their own.

We have one $25,000 donor and we are half way there!!  Would you consider partnering with us by making a donation as we transition our children – who are becoming adults- as we seek to help them become self reliant and integrated back into their Kenyan culture?

WE NEED YOUR HELP! 

Christmas is right around the corner! With all of the new young children at Challenge Farm, we would like to upgrade our playground equipment as a Christmas gift for the little ones.  The equipment is run down and only has one slide. Please take this month’s Challenge by helping us raise $5,000 for a new playground. Together, we can give the children a fun place to play!

Go to Globe International to make your donation today. Just type “playground” in the Comments box.

Last summer, 30 small children were taken off of the streets of Kitale, Kenya and taken to Challenge Farm. Now these children are in school and most of them are in the ECD class. Their teacher, Rebecca, explains:

“The class was introduced with an intention of laying the foundation for the children and preparing them for primary education. The introduction of ECDE at Challenge Farm was important because some street children had never gone to school. Children who  are in the ECDE class are learning and can now write, read and speak clearly in both Swahili and English. At the moment, ECDE children in Challenge Farm are competing with other ECDE schools in the zone and they always lead in the zonal examinations.  Metrine and Ken are our best pupils, receiving 700 marks each out of 700 total marks in the last exam. Their friends call them “professors.”

These children have grown and changed so much in their attitudes and behavior. No one would be able to tell that they were street children. They each have a positive attitude towards education, and all are working hard to achieve their goals. They say that they are very lucky. While they were on the street, they wanted to go to school like other children but could not. Now they are in school, and they thank God. They love being in school all the time, and they sympathize with those children who are in the street as they were. They pray that God will rescue these children and give them the chance to come to Challenge Farm, just as they were rescued.”