The Christmas season this year at Nakuru 3:16 was not only a celebration of the birth of our Savior but also of family. Instead of spending the holidays at the center the women and children made their way home to families, many of which would be able to see grandchildren for the first time. The women and children departed on the 5^th of December and returned on the 28^th.

The idea sprang from the story of Monica Wanjiru, a woman at the home whose mother had been consumed by alcohol and destructive relationships. Due to such a lifestyle, Monica and her siblings were often reluctant and ashamed to go home. However, with the assistance of Nakuru 3:16, a change occurred and now Monica’s mother is sober and has returned to be with Monica’s father. She has a small bit of land and uses this for raising crops. Ann Nyambura’s mother has a similar story. Ann seeks to be a positive influence in her mother’s life in hopes that one day she too will be such an influence to her family.

Good things are expected to come of this special Christmas celebration as it allowed families to reunite and provided these women the opportunity to serve as a light to their families as their lives have been transformed.

Birthdays and a passing

Pauline Nyambura’s birthday party was on the 5th of May, 2010. The party was held on a Tuesday night and the children were very excited as usual at the mention of a party. Pauline (Nyambu) as her nickname goes was dressed up and to her everyone seemed to be dragging their feet either to prepare the food, snacks, balloons, etc. She was so eager to cut her cake and the other children were envious of her. She looked so pretty in her orange dress; normally Nyambu is a well known tom boy!

When everything was laid in place every one gathered and singing and dancing for the Lord ensued, then the delicious food was shared and finally she blew the candles.
The magic candles relit every time she blew them off!
While everyone wished her happy birthday, she cut the cake with the help of her dear mum Ann. Then the snacks were shared among the children, joyful noises came from the house that night. It was really a magical moment for Nyambu.

On the night of June the 13th, Josephine Kaveza, was rushed to the hospital as she was in labour. On the 14th of June at around 12.00 noon, little angel, Stephanie Musimbi was born to the 3:16 family. She was welcomed by some of our mission team members from the USA, who were also with her in the delivery room. That evening they were brought home the doctor having confirmed that they were ok.

On Wednesday night, the matron realized that the baby was not breathing normally, she was rushed to the General Hospital where she was checked and some drugs were prescribed and the mother too was examined since she was in great pain. The drugs were bought and they were taken back home. The drugs were administered immediately and the baby slept. At around 3.00 am, when the matron checked on them, she had passed away.

There was confusion, fear and loud screams from the house that night. Everyone went on their knees in prayer and tears. We could not get anyone on phone then. In the early morning we called Evangelist Ngugi from PCEA Nakuru West, Suburb church, who came to our rescue. He immediately gathered a committee which organized for the burial, a service, buying of casket, flowers, transportation, etc. Some of our girls were picked from school to attend the burial. All this was done in a period of one and a half hours. By 11.00 am the burial was on going and it was a beautiful service for the 2 days old Stephanie. At around 1.30pm, she was laid to rest at the cemetery. The mother was left in great pain, she cried for days! She is recuperating progressively. Everyone was so supportive towards her.

On the 19th of June, 2010, Sean Njuguna and Virginia Wangare were celebrating their 4th and 7th birthdays respectively. There was a big party for them that weekend, so many

people attended the party. Preparation started in the morning, all the kids wore their Sunday best and were excited to see the event unfold. The goat was slaughtered and food prepared and cleaning

of the house. The guests started arriving at 2.00pm. The children sang and danced as everyone else joined in. The food and snacks were shared. Candles were blown and cakes were cut as songs and words of encouragement lingered on and on.

It was Virginia’s 1st birthday party and it was special!

School time

The 26th of June, 2010, came and the boarding school girls at the Jitegemea Schools were eagerly waiting to be visited. We woke up very early to prepare their favorite delicacies; chapati, fried chicken, stew, etc. Everyone got ready and we left in the Directors vehicle which had to take two trips. They were excited to be with the whole family once again. We sat and prayed and we shared the food and drinks while catching up. The picnic was perfect though there will never be enough time to chat. Time came for academic follow up; class by class, one teacher to the other, they commented on the positive progress of the girls. From the previous exam compared to the current one (mid term), four of them had greatly improved but two had dropped in marks. They were advised accordingly by the teachers and we also chipped in our suggestions. The progress made by the two class seven girls is impressive, Margaret Njeri is highly motivated by our new girl Joyce Mwikali, the competition is totally positive as they continue working hand in hand.

Mission Trip

The mission trip from the USA to Kenya was a success at 3:16, for the week that the team spent here was a blessing to women and their children especially little Stephanie and the mother who gave birth as they held her hand, strengthening her. The little time was so much fun.

New Friends

Nellius Wairimu, who was from Elburgon, had come in as a volunteer but she was depressed because of the terrible things that the stepfather was taking her through. She was allowed to stay at the centre as she heals. Staying with the women there as she continued to volunteer, really helped her to realize that her problems were only minute. She came out of her depression and stepped up to making the other women’s pain bearable. She has gained enough strength and realized she can make it at this point without concentrating on the father. It was time for her to go back home and set out in search of a job so that she can strengthen and empower her mother and her other seven younger siblings. We released her confident that she is ready to move on.

Jane Murugi, 15 years old, is an orphan who lived with the grandmother who stopped Jane from going to school 2 years ago. Later on she sent her out in search of a job claiming that she was old

enough to fend for them. She was lucky to get a job as a house help in Nairobi. She went there and worked for 6 months even though her employer was not paying her regularly as agreed, she persevered. One day she was all alone in the house as her employer had travelled, a male visitor came in the house and locked himself in. He raped her and left the house in a hurry. When the employer came back in the evening she told her what had happened. She was threatened that if she told anyone, she would suffer the consequences. From the description, the woman knew who the visitor was and started urging Jane that he is a good man and would marry her if she agreed. She was scared and did not know who to talk to. When this woman realized that she was showing signs of pregnancy, she sent her away.

She went back to the grandmother and narrated the story; the grandma was furious and told her that she cannot accept her back unless she came back without the pregnancy. She even suggested that it was least risky if she aborted in her 7th month. Even worse she told her that she will not be the first to do that since she had aborted two pregnancies. She threw Jane’s clothes outside and drove her away. She walked for miles looking a job or someone who could help her, evening came and she was still walking without food or water. She was at the verge of breaking and contemplating suicide. The last homestead she entered, the woman felt pity on her, gave her food and water. Since her house was full, she looked for a place in a neighbor’s house for her to sleep.

The next day she narrated her story and they decided to help. They got her a job but when the pregnancy was almost due, she came back. She gave birth at the good Samaritans place, who bought her everything she required. When the woman tried to take her and the baby back to the grandma’s, they were all thrown out like dogs, saying that Jane refused to take her advise now she never wanted to see her again.

The woman sought so many places for help until she met someone from PCEA Nakuru West, Suburb church, who told her about Nakuru 3:16. Since w e took Jane like two weeks now, she seemed not to like the baby much, dint even flinch when her baby cried. She is learning a lot from the other mothers, she even spending time now staring at her baby, Joshua Jonathan who is 6 weeks old.

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