Welcome
to Living Waters Intl.
Out
of Africa ~ Kenya Project Update 2012 |
Currently
we are working in Kenya, Africa where we assist
the small communities of Kaswanga and Wanyama,
two fishing villages on the eastern shores of
heavily polluted Lake Victoria.
When
we first came here these people had no clean
drinking water, no clean water for medical
care and due to heavy drought conditions they
had no practical way to water their small gardens.
These
communities are home to approximately
1000 orphan children who are living
in "child-run" homes which
had no clean water or adequate food.
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There
are no orphanages, as there are no adults
to care for or supervise them. Living
Waters has been working here since 2006 and
is committed to reducing the incidence of orphaned
children and providing them with health, food
and educational needs.
Living
Waters operates a feeding center in Kaswanga
Kenya that provides weekday meals, school uniforms
and medical care to 135 orphan children. There
are 8 full time staff employed to manage and
operate the center and provide security and gardening
in the two acre garden. Twenty eight of the children
attending the feeding center have been baptized.
Living Waters is also the major sponsor to Living
Waters Kaswanga Academy where 56 students attend
grades 1-4. While the team was in Kenya they
erected the steel frame and roof for the new
school. |
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Update
for April 2012 |
Picture
Coming |
In
February 2012 Daryl, Mary Jo, and Daryl’s brother,
Rusty, traveled to Kaswanga to move forward with
the construction project of the medical clinic/guest
house. But first let us tell you about the children
at the feeding center.
Drought,
Disease and 150 Orphaned Children: Due
to ongoing drought, disease and death the dynamics
of the feeding center population changed dramatically
this year. |
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We
are now caring for 150 orphaned children
with food, school uniforms and medical care.
Our child population has changed in ways
we did not expect. Seventy
five percent are total orphans; which means
they have no mother, father or guardian to
care for them. They live in child-headed
homes and because of the three year drought
most are totally dependent on the food they
receive from the feeding center. Living Waters
was providing one hot meal on week-days. |
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We
have discovered that for many of these children that
was the only food they were getting and that the school
uniform is the only clothes they have; so they wear
them seven days a week. For many there is no mat to
sleep on so their school uniform is the only thing
between their bare flesh and the cold hard and dirty
ground. This has left the uniforms in shreds and the
self-esteem of the children has also been affected.
Our budget for 10 uniforms a month is seriously lacking.
The children however are looking much healthier even
though 50 percent have been confirmed to have the AIDS
virus passed along at birth. The food provided at the
feeding center and the medication provided by the government
has made a big difference in the lives and outcomes
of these children. |
New
Changes: Our
assessment led to the following changes which have
been taken on in faith. Starting in April, the
feeding program was expanded to provide a daily
meal to the
total orphans on week-ends. We are also providing
breakfast for approximately 40 total orphan children
ages 4-7 that attend the Living Waters Kaswanga
Academy. These children have not been getting the
10 am breakfast
provided to the other children who have parents
who can pay for this meal. |
Picture
Coming |
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Picture
Coming |
In
addition we provide lunch at the feeding center for
the three volunteer teachers who teach at the school.
These teachers were going without lunch due to lack
of food. There has not been a normal harvest for three
years and the food prices are not only extremely high,
but often food is hard to find. This new objective
increased our monthly food budget by 22 percent and
the money is simply not there, but we believe God’s
hand is over this new objective and that He will provide
through our loyal donors. |
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New
Believers: The
children at the feeding center were delighted with
having Mary Jo play her guitar at meal time. Musical
instruments are rare on the island and they really
opened their hearts up to us through the music ministry.
Over sixty of the older kids have been baptized over
the period the feeding center has been opened and
we praise God for their commitments to serve Him. |
Your
Contributions at Work: The
medical clinic/guest house building was nearly
completed when we left. We ran short on both
time and funding to complete the building project;
however, we would like to thank those who participated
in the matching funds program. $1550.00 was raised
and matched for a total of $3000.00. As you can
see from the pictures, much was accomplished.
The building is wired for solar electric since
there is no reliable electric available, plumbed
for water that includes a flush toilet, running
water in the bathroom, a shower and hot and cold
water in both the kitchen and clinic. A solar
hot water system in planned to provide hot water. |
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The
2 bedroom guest house will provide lodging and accommodations
for those interested in short term mission trips to
provide medical, dental or humanitarian evangelism/aid.
This is a huge cost savings as the price of lodging
in Mbita has become cost prohibitive. The interior
walls are in and plastered, the doors and windows are
installed and the front veranda is screened. Still
needed is approximately $6000.00. to complete the installation
of the total solar which includes: a solar refrigerator
and 85 gallons of hot water. Also needed to complete
the project is the interior electrical fixtures and
exterior lighting, painting, window screens, medical
supplies and furniture. We hope to have the necessary
funding to have this available for use by next year.
We
met some wonderful friends who have committed time
in Mbita helping those who are less fortunate and truly
believe God is continuing to inspire those who support
Living Waters to continue to do so in these hard times. |
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Overview of Projects Presently Underway
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Medical
Clinic/Guest House Project: The
medical clinic/guest house building was nearly completed
when we left. We ran short on both time and funding
to complete the building project; however, we would
like to thank those who participated in the matching
funds program. $1550. was raised and matched for
a total of $3000. |
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Kenya
One Day Church Project
One-Day
Church project is well underway and now providing places
of worship, schools and medical clinics for more
than 15,000
people.
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Darciella-Feeding
Center
The
feeding Center continues to provide week-day meals,
school uniforms and basic medical care to over One
Hundred and Fifty orphaned children.
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Living
Waters Kaswanga Academy -Teachers
getting dolls: With
56 students in four grades the six volunteer teachers
work very hard to provide an education for the
children.
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Evangelism
Living
Waters main objective is to share the love of Jesus
Christ to those who do not know Him.
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Vehicle-Blessing
In
2010 it became apparent that Living Waters was needing
to purchase a vehicle in order to efficiently continue
ministry in Kenya.
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Twyla
McKinney with Diana, a girl at Living
Waters orphan-feeding center in Kenya
who wanted to be taken to America.
McKinney visited the center during
her trip to Kenya as part of her senior
project to study the barriers to AIDS
education and prevention.
Preventing
illness not so simple
Personal experience helps Gresham nurse understand how
hard it is to stop spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa
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News
Updates
Written as they are Happening
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She
was wearing a dirty little blue dress
the first time I noticed her and took
her picture. She was looking at the
mzungu’s (white foreigners) from
a distance. There were lots of little
ones who seemed to be wandering around
without their mothers, but she was
the littlest. She must be somewhere
between two and three years old...She
didn’t run towards me with the
others and beg for attention. She didn’t
giggle or run and play or sing. Usually
she didn’t even look at me.
............................................................For
more click here.
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