Announcing the Child Sponsorship Program

David’s Hope International (DHI) has launched a child sponsorship program where donors can select and sponsor a child from Camp Brethren School in Eburru, Kenya. Camp Brethren School is the education arm of Camp Brethren Ministries, DHI’s sister organization in Kenya. Currently, Camp Brethren School has five classes ranging from preschool to 4th grade and has 170 students enrolled. The students at the school live in the surrounding villages and many walk long distances to receive the high-quality teaching and development offered at Camp Brethren School instead of attending other nearby government run schools. In addition to providing a certified Kenyan primary education, the students at Camp Brethren School receive two nutritious meals a day as well as bible based guidance and spiritual encouragement 5 days a week.

With a $30/month donation, each sponsored child will receive a Christian education, a school uniform and shoes, school supplies, medical check-ups and two nutritious meals every day. Your contribution and support will help a child overcome extreme poverty and give them hope for a better life.

To learn more about sponsoring a child, please email Sponsorship@davidshope.org. To sponsor a child, please click here.

Year End Giving Ideas

December is a great time to donate to David’s Hope International!  Whether you’re looking for a creative gift idea or for a year-end tax donation, there are multiple items you can purchase to help Camp Brethren Ministries (CBM) as they continue offering vital services in Eburru, Kenya and strive for a self-sustainable community.

DHI is a registered 501(c)3 and all donations are tax deductible.

	$20 – School Uniforms Purchase 2 new sets of school clothes for one child

$50 – Bench Purchase a bench for a newly constructed classroom or the soon to open dining hall

$250 – 1/3 Month Supply of Medicines & Bandages Purchase the supplies essential to keeping the CBM clinic stocked & functioning

Be a Monthly Donor

Monthly donations of any amount help fund routine costs such as staff salaries, livestock feed, generator fuel and more!  You can set up an automatic donation through PayPal or through your bank’s online bill pay option.  (Paying with a check through your bank is preferred, as this eliminates the money lost to PayPal’s fees).

Mail a check, payable to David’s Hope International, to:
c/o Nancy Waskey
7200 Third Avenue, U-412
Sykesville, MD 21784

Do you know someone else who is seeking a year end giving option? Send them this page’s link.

Disclaimer: DHI reserves the right to redirect your funding to a different CBM project in Eburru if a specific need is already met.

2010 Year in Review – Feeding Services

The feeding program at Camp Brethren Ministries (CBM) is designed to provide each student with one well balanced meal every school day. As the 2010 school year draws to a close, there are currently 126 full time students attending the Camp Brethren Ministries (CBM) school in Eburru, Kenya. These kids receive a hot lunch everyday around 1:30 PM prepared in the CBM school kitchen. Typically the meal is a stew of sorts consisting of a combination of various locally grown vegetables like spinach, tomatoes, corn, carrots and cabbage as well as a protein such as red beans and a starch like rice or potatoes. Today, the kids eat outside as there is no indoor area to dine. However, with the completion of the dining hall in 2011 the students will have a “cafeteria” to enjoy their lunch in for the first time. The dining hall will be large enough to support 250+ students at one time.

CBM owns farmland both on the school campus and in various areas of Eburru and the nearby town of Naivasha. Many crops have been planted on this land throughout the year and with the aide of local farming expertise and significant rains, the Lord has provided quite a harvest of food to help support the feeding program. Today much of the food for the program, but not all, is provided by the CBM farms. Some food still has to be purchased from local markets. However, with the procurement of livestock this year (2 “super” cows, 4 goats, 200 chickens) coupled with better utilization of the farmlands, the goal is to fully support the feeding program from CBM resources while also providing a new source of income for the ministry as a whole by selling excess food.

2010 Timeline (view larger)

2011 Goal

Some Feeding Services projects DHI is raising funds for next year include:

• Enlarging the kitchen
• New large wood burning stove and two smaller supporting stoves
• Furnishing of the dining hall with tables and benches
• Charcoal bread baking oven for kitchen

2010 Year in Review – Medical Services

With the nearest full-scale hospital one hour away, locals in Eburru have very limited resources when it comes to quality medical care. Camp Brethren Ministries (CBM) has helped fill this gap for the last few years by offering medical assistance to the local community. Today, the staff at the medical clinic consists of two nurses who volunteer at the clinic when they are not covering their full-time nursing shifts at hospitals and one onsite lab technician.

Word is getting out in the community about the CBM medical clinic and as a result we saw the total number of patients increase in 2010. With the medical supplies DHI was able to provide in 2010 as well as the 10 maternity beds procured for the maternity ward, the CBM medical clinic is a reputable facility providing a range of quality services not readily available to many locals in Eburru. In 2010, CBM saw an increase in expecting mothers coming to CBM to give birth. October was the highest number of births to date with 6 and we anticipate that number increasing along with the number of daily walk-in patients if we can provide a full-time nurse to meet the demands of the community.

2010 Timeline (view larger)

2011 Goal

Some Medical Services projects DHI is raising funds for in 2011 include:

• Hire one full-time salaried nurse
• Restocking of medical supplies and medication

2010 Year in Review – Education Services

In 2010, the local Kenyan ministry, Camp Brethren Ministries (CBM), saw their vision for delivering quality education in the name of Christ to the children of Eburru realized when they opened their first schoolhouse. Previously, they had been teaching a select number of children in existing, makeshift buildings. In January 2010, the first official CBM schoolhouse was opened and education for kindergarteners and 1st graders commenced. During the 2010 school year, the need for a preschool class and 4th grade class were recognized. Both classes were added and are temporarily housed in existing structures. By December 2010, the total number of students enrolled in the 4 grades at CBM school had reached 126. Supported by 4 full-time Kenyan teachers and a cook for lunch, the CBM campus has become a bustling area of activity between 9am-4pm Monday through Friday.

2010 brought a lot of ongoing construction to the CBM school campus. As the new school year begins in January 2011, returning students will experience many new changes to their education environment. One of the changes will be an increase in overall students at CBM as two new classrooms will be opened and 2nd grade and either 4th or 5th grade will be conducted in those new classrooms.

2010 Timeline (view larger)

2011 Goal

Some Education Services projects DHI is raising funds for in 2011 include:

• Build a playground similar to a western playground with a playhouse, slide, swings, etc…
• Additional classrooms to support 3rd grade in 2012
• Additional boy’s and girl’s restroom
• Opening the Boys and Girls Orphanage (on the CBM school campus)
• Furnishing of the Boy’s and Girl’s dorms with bunk beds, lockers, mattresses, and more
• Furnishing new classrooms with desks, chairs, etc…
• Hiring of an additional full-time cook
• New uniforms for students

Katie & Kari in Eburru: What’s the big deal about DHI?

Many of you maybe be asking, “what exactly is DHI?” So I thought I would take the time to give a little background information on it.

December 2008 was the first time I visited Eburru along with a team of 14 others.  About a month before we left someone came and talk to us about poverty. She wanted to prepare us for what we might see.  She told us not to be too concerned with the poverty because it was just the way of life here and there is nothing that can be done about it. “Just focus on their Spiritual needs but don’t worry about their physical needs.” In my opinion that is exactly the wrong attitude to have. The Bible is full of verses commanding Christians to give to the poor.  Yes, their spiritual needs are more important but we still need to help them physically as well. In fact I think reaching out to those in extreme need is an amazing way to witness by showing Christ’s love.

Well, that is exactly the vision and mission of David’s Hope International (DHI); “to create lasting solutions for the physical, educational, emotional, and spiritual needs of abandoned children in the poorest communities of the world” Our team decided that we would not be Americans that saw the need and went back home and forgot about it. Instead we started David’s Hope underneath the leadership of fellow team member Jeff Trexel. I remember us all sitting in Jeff’s basement shortly after returning, trying to come up with a name for the new organization. Since then, God has truly blessed it. We have been able to raise funds to send to Pastor Steve for him to buy a water tank, land to grow crops and farm animals for the feeding program, classrooms for the new school and the start of constructing an orphanage. Pastor has also decided to plant another church (this will be his third in Kenya) down at the edge of Morgan since many walk miles and miles to go the church in Eburru.

As I am writing this, David, our namesake, is sitting next me so I can help him with some homework. He is 15 and in third grade and weighs about half of what a child his age should because his grown was significantly stunted when he was very young due to malnourishment. We hope to place him in the orphanage once it is open so that we can monitor his progress. However, we still need help in funding it. Please consider giving by going to www.davidshope.org/give.

Live from Kenya: Blogs from the Field: Team Kenya 2009/2010

This just in! Team Kenya was somehow able to get internet access and sent along a few blog posts for us to have a look into what the trip has been like for them so far. Take a look at their stories and stay tuned as we hope to have even more to share later in the week!

December 28: Team is on its way to Kenya.
By Phil

Nine members of David’s Hope are en route to continue the service to the people of Eburru Kenya. As we write we are in the Paris airport resting from a long flight in from Dulles and resting up for 2 weeks of loving kids. We have taken over a small section of gate F55 with bags strewn on the seats and sound asleep bodies covering the floor. Monty has been traveling the longest, her journey began early Sunday morning as she flew from her home in Augusta, GA to Atlanta to DC and then met up with the rest of the team for our 7 hour flight to Paris. In a few hours Monty will get on another plane headed to Nairobi, Kenya. Angela has already been putting her photography skills and brand new camera to good use snapping pics of John as he sleeps seemingly lifeless on the floor. Fortunately John, one of our co-leaders did awake and is currently doing some pre-trip bible study. Brother and sister Nathan and Becca are sitting side by side trying to stay warm and hydrated, not a cheap task given that bottles of water cost $7.50. Always organized and encouraging Jillian has passed out little bags of goodies to everyone, which people pull out from time to time to much on. Denise made our trip through security more fun by quoting verses from James with a hilarious accent. Francis, no stranger to travel, growing up in Brazil, Canada and the U.S., now working for the World Bank, found a delicious pastry shop here in the airport with delightful ham and cheese sandwiches. Phil, who cannot figure out why he is not tired, has been spending some time coming up with activities for the business seminar.

December 29: We’re Here!
By Denise

Wow! We are only a few days into the trip, but yet there is already so much to share. First off, our journey to Eburru has been long and quite eventful. Three days after we stepped foot in Dulles Airport, we are finally settled in our cozy mud huts in the beautiful, green land and spotting zebras, baboons, and screeching large birds overhead. What an answer to prayer to see a green Kenya! After 10 months of drought, Kenya has been blessed with a few months of rain. Things that I will remember from the last few days include: walking through the slums of Kibera and seeing the most beautiful children living in absolute filth, meeting a dentist from NC who has lived 23 years of his adult life in Kenya and considering it “without sacrifice”, singing songs in Swahili with children, and sleeping in every airport and van ride that I could. It’s been full. It’s been blessed. And I can’t wait to see what lies ahead.

December 30: No Regrets
By Francis

Today we visited the hospital in Kijabe founded by Africa Inland Missions. It was quite an amazing experience to be stepping into one of the mission agencies that I studied in Perspectives class. While in that hospital, we met a missionary dentist. Dr Richard shared with us his story of how he came to Kenya with his family. I was strongly touched by something by his words: “I have no regrets”. I could see his conviction of his words in his eyes. This man came to serve in Kenya and lived a life with no regrets. How can you live such a life without regrets yourself?

David’s Hope Prayer List-November 17 th 2009

David’s Hope Prayer List-November 17 th 2009

Thank you for being committed to praying for God’s work in Kenya through David’s Hope International. Here are some specific prayer points that you can lift up to the Lord on behalf of DHI.

God’s wisdom as to His priorities for Eburru
Food, health, clothing, water, spiritual growth and education for the children of Eburru and Kenya as a whole country
Successful ways to fund the projects-letters, fundraisers, donations etc.
Needs in Eburru be seen and dealt with on a timely basis, for people to communicate when they are in need before it’s too late
Future sustainable resources so the people can live independent of outside help
For money to continually and successfully be transferred to Eburru
Mary and Pastor Steve to get vistas Dec. 8th interview goes well. and they can come to the US for both sharing their work, vision and to get some rest
Wisdom about Morgan house and its future uses

Praises

• Over $24,000 that has been raised
• For the ministry of Pastor Steve, Mary and Jonathan his brother and o
• For all the willing workers and volunteers in the U.S. and Eburru
• For our web site that shares the dream and heartaches-check out the videos by pressing on vimeo section on the present video

FROM PASTOR STEVE IN EBURRU

1       Rains have come to our country and Eburru. Although it will take time before any harvest is realized, we thank God that green has started to show up once again after a long time of drought.

2.       We have been able to complete the building of the 2 classroom and they are remaining to be furnished with desks and chairs  so they can await to be commissioned for use.

3.       Kids in the camp Brethren mission school has been improving in their lessons, health and behavior change. The feeding program has been a key blessing to them.

4.       Feeding centre remodeling is ongoing and 2 (10,000 liters) water tanks have been ordered for the centre. They will be arriving soon.

Prayer requests

1.       Continuing construction for the feeding and community center.

15 Dollars Goes a Long Way in Eburru

Now that Jeff is back from Kenya, with new videos and photos from Eburru.

This video shows, at a very high level excatly whats going on in Eburru, a few interviews with the in country ministry directors, Pastor Steve and his brother Jonathan, as well as some clips of the property we are attempting to finance that will be converted into a community care center, with the long term vision of having schools, dorms, medical facilities and more all on 10 acres of land 8000 feet above the Great Rift Valley.  The property needs a ton of work, and this video shows a little of that.  But the best part of the video is the closing shot of about 17 children who David’s Hope International sponsored this past week.  For only 15 dollars these kids have school paid for this year, guarenteeing them clothing, food, and education… for only $15 bucks! Not only that, by being in school these kids are being saved from entering a litnany of horrible situations including a life or prostitution for the girls and being recruited as child soldiers for the boys.

Jeff says that he saw the real Eburru on this trip.  Now its time for David’s Hope International to get to work and do our part to help!

A little goes a long way in Eburru.

The Beginnings of Hope House, David’s Hope International from AnnieLaurie Walters on Vimeo.

“Faces of Famine”, Live from Kenya, Part VII

Towering above the Great Rift Valley at an elevation of 8,000 feet, the balcony view from the Morgan House is stunning. You can see for miles past volcanic rock formations, lakes and mountain passes.

Today I was excited because for the first time after two trips to Eburru, I was to travel down into this panoramic setting with Pastor Steve, Mary and a few others. The land was owned (pre-colonial) by a mean British aristocrat named Morgan, hence the name for the area, Morgan. Our purpose for the trip was to deliver several boxes of donated female hygiene products at the Thome primary school. Naturally, I stayed outside. Mary handled the delivery and education.

After a five minute drop-off turned into a 30 minute educational session inside the mud-walled school, Mary brought the 15 or 20 girls to the truck and started filling their backpacks, bandannas and plastic bags with maize. The scene was shocking and subdued. Many of the girls where taller than me yet had to be half my weight. How to describe? Dangerously thin, yes, malnutrition, not really, because that word implies the human is eating enough food – however unbalanced – to have a bloated stomach. Not a single kernel of corn was left in our bags. Anything that fell to the ground was quickly snapped up.

I had asked to see the “real Eburru” and this was it. Teenage girls teetering on the edge of starvation. I could not help but think they were vulnerable because of the drought, yet wondering if in part the problem was being born into an uneducated culture that does not plan or adapt very well. “These girls may eat one meal per day. If not, they can only hope for a better tomorrow,” Pastor Steve said, face ashen. Several hours later silence dominated the dinner conversation. No one felt much like eating.

All my talk of drought and famine and finding sustainable ways to fight starvation begs a few questions. “How often does drought strike Eburru? For every drought is there famine and death?

The short answers are very often, no and no. But understanding these answers requires more context:

–Geographical breakdown: Eburru is broken into six areas: the Eburru Town Square (the center of the community); Ex-lewis (back side of the mountain where the Ol Doinyo Eburru volcanic craters are located); Songoloi (where Mary often times takes her traveling medical clinic); Ex-major; Ex-peter; and Thome (the Morgan land viewed down the valley on the back side of the orphanage grounds).

–Location matters: The higher up the mountain you live, the greater your annual rainfall, moisture in the ground and crop yield. Land around the Ex-lewis craters and parts of the town square area are relatively green and healthy, while farmers living at the bottom of the mountain in Morgan are forced to farm in a dust bowl. How bad is it in Morgan? Well, from 2006 through 2009, drought has caused complete crop failure, forcing the people to work the fields up the mountain in exchange for just enough food to survive. A child going to sleep hungry in Morgan is about as common as one going to bed on a full stomach in America.

Catastrophe struck this year when the rains during the rainy season didn’t come. From January through May water fell from the sky twice. All Eburru was dry. All the crops failed. Now, everyone is scrambling for food and those living at the bottom of the food chain are starving.

Think of it this way: If Morgan is dependent on Ex-lewis crops, what happens if Ex-lewis crops fail and they have no food? Strike one is the dry volcanic soil. Strike two is the annual lack of rainfall. Strike three is not having a back up plan drought strikes everyone.

One of the most exciting aspects of Pastor Steve’s plan for the orphanage property is its proximity to Eburru’s poorest in Morgan and ability to make an immediate impact. God has given his ministry this incredibly beautiful property within eyesight of unimaginable human suffering – and a mandate to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the people. Where does David’s Hope fit? I believe it is right at the center alongside Pastor Steve and Mary, being their advocate back home, raising awareness and support from the body of Christ in places of the world where the Body can meet the needs of the weaker brothers and sister in this dry and weary land. But in saying that, let me emphasize with strong conviction, that when I refer to the part of the Body of Christ in Eburru as weak, I am referring only to the physical needs as I’ve described throughout my time here. The longer I work and live side-by-side with these men and women of God I am realizing more and more that, while these are a weak people from a physical perspective, they are stronger in the Faith, Hope and Love that comes only from a relationship with Jesus Christ than anyone I have ever met. Their sense of mission, purpose and calling is inspiring and I continue to be in awe of how God, in his most perfect timing, answered Steve and Mary’s prayers by sending our small team of 15 who would subsequently enter into a long term partnership with this ministry. Yes, if the Body of Christ truly spans the Globe, the brothers and sisters of Eburru must be extremely close, if not dead center, in the heart of the Body of Christ.

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