New Year, New Direction for the Kamau Family

The Mandate

1 The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on me; because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble.  He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to those who are bound;

   2 to proclaim the year of Yahweh’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified.  4 They shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations

   Isaiah 61:1-4 (World English Bible)

Greetings to you dear ones,

The Lord has commanded us to go and proclaim the good news throughout the world.   In obedience to this call, our church released us to go to Zambia five years ago to be involved in orphan rescue. 

There was not much when we first arrived, but right now at All Kids Can Learn, Villages of Hope in Zambia, 42 boys and girls are receiving loving care through godly care-givers, hearing the message of God’s love and salvation regularly, discipleship, a school, productive farm and businesses (takeaway, bookstore, and boutique) have been established to help generate income for financial sustainability of the orphanage.    In May 2009, a church was planted which is even now growing (approximately 75 children and adults). The membership is drawn from the children, caregivers, including people in the surrounding villages who attend the church. 

  

New Direction 2012 -- Transition to Nairobi, Kenya / Ministering in Mukuru Kayaba Slum

Kimberly is pointing to the shack where Kamau and his family once lived for ten years.

Why is this necessary?

When our church sent us out as missionaries five years ago at the invitation of All Kids Can Learn International, in part, it was in answer to the question that our mission’s committee had asked.  “How does a small church go into another country and begin children’s home for orphaned children?”  This time at the Villages of Hope has been an invaluable time of learning about establishing a home for children from the ground up and seeing God at work in amazing ways.  This has given us the courage to step out and trust Him in a new venture.

Since the work in Zambia is now established and growing, our hearts are burdened to reach out and rescue more children.  These are the children who live in the hovels and the shacks of mukuru Kayaba slums in Nairobi, Kenya.  My wife and I have been seeking the Lord through prayer and counsel from our church leadership regarding the way forward. They have also given us their approval to proceed with the transition to Kenya. 

    We discussed at length what the transition to Kenya would entail and how this may impact the children at AKCLI.  Our church leadership was encouraged to learn that the Zambian and International Board including the Executive Director of All Kids Can Learn International and his family will continue to provide leadership during this time of transition and our subsequent departure. 

Children looking for food to eat or something they can sell to get food.

The Need

“He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted…” There are thousands of children who live in the hovels and the shacks of Mukuru slums.  This is the place where I lived for 10 years as a teenager.   These children live in hopelessness, spiritual darkness as well as physical deprivation due to hunger and neglect. 

Very often families in slums eat just one meal a day, a supper, and maybe have something small for breakfast.  Sometimes they go without food. The average income is about 150Ksh or $1.50cts a day if a mother is able to wash clothes for her clients; however this is not always reliable.  The coping strategies are to skip meals or have a late breakfast instead of breakfast/lunch etc.

Inside one of the shacks in the slums

What is our plan to address these needs?

  “To proclaim liberty to the captives…”; This will entail proclaiming the truth of word of God, with the goal being to bring light into the darkness so as to address the spiritual, mental and emotional hopelessness and despair. 

The first stage will involve creating a safe haven for children to come for Bible clubs, study, tutoring, and recreational activities.    Towards this end, a building will be identified in the Mukuru slum, the plans are to renovate or rebuild it for this purpose. As the Lord provides, a meal will be provided on a regular basis to the children in need. The name of the ministry in the slum will be Hope Anew Children’s Center.

Mukuru Kayaba in Nairobi.  One of the many, many alleyways to manuever within the slum.

The second stage will involve acquiring 20 acres of land on the outskirts of Nairobi.  The purpose for the land will be to build Hope Anew Children’s Home and also grow farm produce to sustain the children and provide food security.  The children home will cater for the very needy such as double orphans including abandoned and neglected children who will need to be removed from the slum.

What will be the result?

The Scripture below describes the ministry focus that we believe God has given to us:

“For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel.  He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them---- even the children not yet born and they in turn will teach their own children.  So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.  Then they will not be like their ancestors—stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God. 

( Psalm 78:5-8 New Living Translation)

Our prayer is to reach children such as these with the Good News of Jesus Christ!

Our prayer and hope is that as the children are exposed to the truth of the word of God, they will know that He loves them and wants them to come to him, that though they live in abject and grinding poverty, that Jesus cares for them and has a divine purpose for their lives. 

This is what happened to me when someone cared enough to point me to Jesus in my moment of despair when I lived in the same slum, knowing that God created me and purposed for me to be here, knowing he understood my sorrow and inner pain and that he was able do something about it, liberated me. Jesus lifted me from the dunghill of quiet desperation and hopelessness; He made me clean on the inside and gave me an abiding hope for living. My wife and I believe that He has now sent us out to this area of the world to proclaim this message of hope; that He has come to set the oppressed free and to break every yoke, spiritual and otherwise; to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke.

We believe as the children are instructed in the truth of the word of God, they will come to know Jesus in a personal way and this in turn will transform their lives to grow up to become the men and women God created them to be.

When will this move take place?

 At this time we do not have an exact date when will be relocating to Kenya but we will continue to keep you updated on new developments.  Meanwhile, we are continuing our work at the Villages of Hope while Kamau travels back and forth between Zambia and Kenya to make arrangements for work permits, housing, transport of our household items, etc.

Where should I send my donation to your ministry?

Many of you have currently been sending in your financial support for our family to Partners Worldwide through a partnership with All Kids Can Learn International that had been in effect for several years.  This partnership ended in June of 2011; however, they graciously permitted donations for our family to continue to be handled by their office until we could locate another sending agency.  We have accomplished this undertaking and so it is no longer necessary to send your gifts to Partners Worldwide.

  As of November of 2011, we are now missionaries with Go Ye Fellowship, which is an interdenominational, international, evangelical mission sending agency formed in 1932, whose offices are located in Pasadena, California.   We are delighted to join this special group of people in fulfilling Christ’s command to make disciples in other nations.

There are several ways that you can make a donation.  Whichever method you choose please indicate that your donation is for “Francis & Kimberly Kamau – acct# 190001 if it is for our personal family support.  If you would like to make a donation to Hope Anew Ministry specifically as a special project please indicate “Hope Anew Ministry” with your donation.

1.  By Mail

To begin supporting us you may make your check payable to “Go Ye Fellowship” and send it to:

Go Ye Fellowship

PO Box 40039

Pasadena, CA 91114-7039

2.  Online—by credit card or electronic check

Go to the Go Ye Fellowship website – www.goyefellowship.org

Click on “Support GYF.”  Under “Secure Donations,” Click on “click here” and follow instructions.  You will find our name listed under “missionaries”

3.  Direct Deposit Program

This is a means whereby your authorize Go Ye Fellowship to process debit entries to your bank account once a month, on or around the 10^th of each month.  Contact the office for a form if you would like to make an automatic donation once a month.

4.  Online through your bank’s website.  Once you have signed in to your account on your bank’s website you can make your contribution through Bill Pay.

5.  By calling the Go Ye Fellowship office (626)398-2305

They can accept either credit card or electronic check donations over the phone.

We are very appreciative of your support and encouragement over the years and we are extending our hands in welcome for you to continue to partner with us in what the Lord has invited us to do:  “…caring for orphans and widows in their distress.”  James 1:27

May God’s grace & peace rest upon you,

Francis, Kimberly, Kimani & Malaika Kamau