Jambo!
I hope this newsletter finds you and your families well.
This is the inaugural edition of the Nakuru 3:16 e-Newsletter, and I plan to send new editions on a monthly basis. Each newsletter will give you updates on current events in the program, personal milestones among the girls and staff, urgent needs, and any other news of interest. Much of the information in the newsletter will be a summary of the weekly posts on http://fpcmissions.org… if you can’t stand to wait a month, go ahead and visit the blog on a regular basis, or register for the RSS feeds.
(I am still getting used to this newsletter system, so I apologize for any strange or mysterious emails you may have received while I was testing the software. If you have any problems reading or receiving these newsletters, please let me know. Likewise, please forward this to anyone you think might be interested, and encourage them to sign up for the newsletter.)
Before I get into the details, I want to thank you all for your support, and tell you that your support is having a huge impact on the lives of the girls and their children. To put it in stark terms, it’s almost certain that two of the girls and one of their children would have died in the last couple of months had you not been there to help. Three lives. Three people who will have the chance to live and thrive and to improve themselves, their community, and the world. It is not often that we have the opportunity to have such a direct and dramatic affect on our neighbors. Again, thank you.
As part of the holidays, I encourage everyone to send Christmas greetings to the girls. Please email them to 316@fpcmissions.org by 12/20. I will package them all up and send them on to Regina so that she can read them to the girls on Christmas day.
Program Update
Since the team left in early October, great progress has been made on a number of fronts. In terms of facilities, Regina used donations from the team members to not only acquire enough mattresses so that the girls could sleep one family per mattress, but she was also able to get some bunk beds and get the girls off the ground. She is still working on a number of other items, including mosquito nets.
On the self-sustainability front, the girls have started a garden under the tutelage of a local farmer. Visitors from Great Britain donated some chickens last month, and these are starting to produce eggs. A number of people have expressed interest in providing funds for livestock as Christmas gifts, so we hope the new year will see cows and goats providing milk as well (both for internal consumption and for sale).
On the personal development front, Regina spoke with the local government about the program, and they were so impressed that they’ve provided a government paid school teacher full time to work with the girls. The girls have taken both to the teacher and their studies, and many of them are going to try to take their “exams” next year. This has been a huge positive step in the overall program.
On a broader note, food prices are steadily rising in Nakuru, putting stress not only on the program but on the population as a whole. I am not sure exactly what is causing the spike in prices, but I assume that it is somewhat tied to the recent high oil prices and the current economic crisis.
Personal Updates
Lydia became very sick after the team left. When Regina took her to the health clinic, she was diagnosed with TB and HIV… combined with her pregnancy, young age (15) and low weight, she was at considerable risk. With care, though, she is recovering and her spirits are high.
Two of the girls (Esther and Ann) also suffered serious illnesses, but are both recovering.
Most or all of the girls have developed stomach ulcers due in large part to the monotony of the diet. As a result, we’ve adjusted the diet per the doctor’s orders, but this is putting additional stress on the budget. We’re hoping that the new garden and livestock will largely offset this burden.
Regina herself has had a very challenging couple of months. First, her mother’s restaurant (and livelihood) were demolished during a third party landowner dispute. And just this week Regina lost her nephew. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers… or feel free to send her a note at: rwatetu@yahoo.com.
Giving
Current Program Needs:
- Increased variety of foods
- Regular (proactive) medical checkups
- Classroom supplies for the schooling
- Vocational training supplies (sewing, tailoring, beauty)
- Christmas gifts for the girls and their children
A common question is, “How do I send these things?” The short and unsatisfactory answer is, “It’s best to not send them directly.” Because of the cost of shipping and the risk that items may be stolen in transit, it’s usually better to earmark funds for these items, and let the project purchase them in country. This has the added benefit of injecting cash into the local economy.
We are actively working on the ability to accept online donations through http://fpcmissions.org. Until that’s in place, you can send donations through First Presbyterian Church, Missoula, at:
235 S. Fifth St. W.
Missoula, MT 59801
or ROCK Bridge Ministries at:
25 Stone Creek Trail
Alpharetta GA 30004
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me at dan.cripe@gmail.com or 406.251.5262. Thanks again, and I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. (If Christmas is not your tradition, please accept the spirit of my wishes and apply them towards your holiday celebration.)
Cheers,
Dan Cripe
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Dec.17,2008
