The Deborah Foundation & The Sophia Fund

I have been home a week and had plenty of time to process my visit to Kenya.  Things are not good there at this point in time.  There is a severe drought, which has led to a severe famine.  I saw many men like the one pictured here peddling water on the streets and I have never seen that in Nairobi before (click on any picture to get a better look).  This makes our work with The Sophia Fund even more important, and I had a chance to visit one of the orphanages supported by The Sophia Fund to verify the importance of your giving at this time.

I visited the Each One Touch One Orphanage, located close to the Nairobi International Airport.  This orphanage was founded by Alice Kwendo and a group of widows who wanted to do something to help their people.  They started their home for children and have paid for everything out of their own pockets and have done what they could to get started.  The Sophia Fund has been giving them $250 per month to feed the children and as you can see from the photo the children look bright and well-fed.  During my visit, they showed me their complete financial statement for the home, the children's school report cards and other documents to let me know they were doing what they could to bless and care for the children. I was very happy with what I saw.

Without any hesitation, I authorized that my friends at the SARAH Network, who oversee The Sophia Fund monies in Kenya on our behalf, to continue the monthly support and to increase it as the number of orphans increases at the home.  There are also two other programs The Sophia Fund is supporting at this time and both of them are fulfilling our request to put our money into nothing but food for widows and orphans.

Now for the next step.  Effective immediately, I am launching a Christmas promotion to begin what I am calling The Deborah Foundation that will help establish learning centers at this orphanage and two others in Kenya -- those two being in Tenwek and Bushianala-Shisende.  These learning centers will have one purpose:  Instill a love for books and learning in the minds of these young orphans. 

So what can you do to help?  You can do a lot.

When you do your Christmas shopping this year, I am asking that you buy an educational toy or book for the kids in Kenya, ages 8 and under.  I am asking that you be creative, so don't be limited by my list below, but here are some ideas of what you can send to me and we will figure out how to get it over to the Kenya in February on my next trip (no baby dolls, please):

• Balls - soccer or small rubber
• Wall hangings of any kind that will decorate or educate
• Games
• Puzzles
• Kid's books of any kind (in English)
• Children's Bibles
• Shoes of any size, boys or girls
• Jump ropes
• Bubbles
• Pencils
• Crayons
• Coloring books
• Pens
• Chalk, white or colored

And do you know what else they asked me for, and I'm not even sure they make them any more?  The founders asked me for an abacus to help teach the children how to count!  You can send used toys and books but please don't send junk!

Of course, we will also need cash for The Deborah Foundation and ongoing monies for The Sophia Fund to feed the children and widows.  You can give to PurposeQuest either through my website via PayPal or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA  15221. Just let me know to which of the two projects, Sophia or Deborah, you are giving and I will make sure it is used for that purpose. You can send all donations of toys and books to my attention at 12 Morningtide Court, Monroeville, PA 15146, USA.

Kenya needs our help now more than ever and the orphan problem isn't getting any easier with the impending famine and drought.  Please remember the orphans and widows this Christmas and write me if you have any suggestions or questions. I thank you in advance for your help. 

You can see more pictures of my recent visit here.

Comments

[Mary Ngechu]

This is good work John, and I trust by God's grace I will participate in providing some of these things for the Orphans school. Blessings for now

[Deanna]

Great report. Powerful photos. Are all of the children at this orphanage pictured? Does the $250 cover all their food and water needs for a month?

[Marshall Seaborn]

John I whole-heartedly concur that this is a good work that you are doing. I am deeply touched and inspired. As the Lord increases my ability to give, I will give on a continual basis to support this work as I have already done. I'm grateful to the Lord to have a place where I can give confidently knowing that those in need will indeed be served.

[Deborah Wenning]

John, I spoke with you on Sunday at ACAC and told you I would bring you books from our classroom for the Deborah Foundation. Well I have decided to take it one step further and involve my children in my classroom as well as the parents to support your efforts in Kenya. I will be asking parentsfor items to send and my children (ages 3,4,5)will be drawing pictures for the children. I will keep you informed as to our progress. Please send me any other pictures you may have other than the ones on this page so I may teach and explore with my class.
Thank you

[Kentice Tikolo]

Hi John! You have no idea how important the Deborah Project is, especially to rural Kenya. It is a fact that the foundation laid during early childhood mostly determines ones progress in life. I am an example of that. The quality of education that I received is what made the difference between abject poverty and what I am now now. My classmates from the rural school I attended can attest to this - 99% of them live in abject poverty! My teaching parents plucked me from the school and took me to a missionary boarding school at a very early age: that's why I am what I am. I would love to help those rural kids, too. I want to make a difference in their lives. I know the toys, books, and all those brain-stimulating games WILL make a difference. Thank you for what you are doing, and God bless you! I hope we can spread it beyond your current scope: the need is GREAT and fundamental to shaping futures. Education WILL make THE difference...quality education will!