Fall 2024 Program Updates
All four branches of Grace4Kenya are growing and many needs are being met. Check out some exciting news below about our work in health, education, faith, and opportunity.
Health
Bible Faith Medical Services is thriving as a outpatient clinic and primary care hospital thanks to funding from you and mentoring in hospital administration from Grace4Kenya. The staff has grown from 5 people in 2012 working in the clinic to over 50 staff including 3 doctors for 24/7 coverage of the clinic, ER, and hospital. Over the past three years Grace4Kenya has equipped the laboratory, pharmacy, emergency room, clinic, maternity ward, surgical suite, general wards, and administrative offices. The hospital is accredited as a 24-bed inpatient hospital capable of performing surgical procedures, including c-sections, and has been approved by multiple insurance companies.
Outreach, which is made up of the Mobile Medical Clinics and Community Health Evangelism (CHE), has been reaching new villages and opening the door for church planting. The mobile clinic's goal is to serve a village until the government establishes a local dispensary and Bible Faith Church (BFC) can plant a new church. This past year after serving the very remote Chepoghin village for 15 years, the government built and staffs a dispensary and BFC purchased land to build a church and school. The mobile clinics have taken on 3 new villages and work alongside Community Health Evangelism (CHE) and the church to provide a holistic approach to community health.
Recently, Grace4Kenya provided grants for an ultrasound machine and ambulance for the hospital and a 9-seater Land Cruiser for the Outreach programs. We also funded the purchase of the lot next door to expand the hospital, add ancillary services (Ultrasound, Optical, and Dental), and drill a well for the hospital to access clean water.
Future MEDICAL funding needs include: a new larger generator for the expanding hospital to back up the unreliable municipal electricity, equipment for a dental unit, and expansion of the laboratory.
Education
The students of George Kendagor Christian Academy (GKCA) started the 2023 school year in the newly constructed primary school. Construction over the past three years, totaling $385,000 has been possible thanks to generous donors like you. Included in the school is a state of the art computer lab with a station for each child in the class. First through 8th graders use the lab several times a week with a specialized IT instructor.
In 2023, Jane Kendagor, manager of GKCA, assited Grace4Kenya in encouraging Opportunity International to expand its highly regarded EduQuality program that started in Nairobi slums to the rural impoverished setting in western Kenya. The program is run by trained Education Specialists who train school proprietors in school management and mentor teachers in best practices for implementing the new national competency based curriculum (CBC). Participating schools do an annual assessment and then work in clusters to encourage, educate, and hold each other accountable for meeting their yearly school assessment goals.
Recently, Grace4Kenya provided grants for partially furnishing and equipping the school, hiring a Bursar, setting up QuickBooks online, and mentoring the bursar and manager in best accounting practices.
Future EDUCATION funding needs include: completing the construction of a well, water system, and connection to the already installed plumbing fixtures; grading and retaining walls for the sports field and a perimeter fence for safety; and completing the furnishing and equipping of the school.
Faith
Motorcycles and church plants are expanding God's kingdom. Shown above, four pastors are presented with their new Honda motorcycles along with driving lessons, helmets, insurance and reimbursement for gas. In the rural areas they serve, a few people might have bicycles but rarely does anyone have a motor vehicle. Church members walk miles to attend worship and pastors cover even more miles reaching out and caring for their church families. With the addition of motor cycles, it is easier for pastors to attend denomination meetings in their area for encouragement, collaboration, and training. To date, Grace4Kenya has provided 13 of 30 pastors with motorcycles.
Last year, Grace4Kenya contributed to a building fund for churches that are being planted or growing. When Jill and Tom went to Kenya for a site visit in November 2022, they attended church in Sila that was held under a tent and in Senetwa that met under a tree. Both villages requested funding to build a structure out of sheet metal that cost $2,000 each for them to worship in until they can raise the money to build a permanent structure.
Future FAITH funding needs include: completion of existing building projects and the addition of new church plants; replenish the scholarship fund for 2025 tuition; and to fund motorcycles for the pastors who don't have one yet.
Opportunity
Small holder farmers are finding opportunities for additional income thanks to the Community Health Evangelism. Here you see a pastor's wife harvesting avocados from the mature tree on their small plot of farm land. The CHE program promotes community development while sharing the gospel. Initial projects include building latrines, teaching about hygiene and the importance of clean water. Next they move on to nutrition, how to supplement their diet with produce from a kitchen garden, and market their surplus. After starting "Table Banking Groups" to pool the group's savings, individuals take turns withdrawing funds to start poultry keeping as a source of income and protein.
Recently CHE began partnering with BioFarms to teach best practices on how to plant and raise avocado seedlings. Hass avocado seedlings can grow into a mature tree and start bearing fruit in 3-5 years. BioFarms then agrees to harvest and buy the fruit from the small holder farmers, packages it, and ships it to markets in Europe. One mature avocado tree can yield as much as 30,000 ksh (about $230) which will pay for a child's annual school fees to High School.
Future OPPORTUNITY funding needs are primarily to cover operating costs. The annual funding for Opportunity and CHE in 2024 totaled about $23,000 covering the salaries of 5 staff people, transportation, materials, and training seminars. CHE purchased 500 avocado seedlings at $2 a piece for small holder farmers to plant, thereby launching the partnership with BioFarms. Also, this year your donations enabled Grace4Kenya to fund the purchase a new Landcruiser to be shared by the CHE program and the Mobile Medical Clinics.