I want to tell you about Kenny, an 11 year old boy who attends Open Arms Academy on scholarship. Kenny lives with his younger siblings and mother, who struggles with alcohol abuse.
His mom has been unable to maintain a steady job and works as a day laborer, when possible, to care for her children. Kenny has often been left to care for his younger siblings, though he is still a child himself.
For most of his life, Kenny and his family have lived in a one room house, where they slept on the floor and had no furniture or bathroom. But one year ago, Kenny's mother began to attend fellowship meetings organized by Church at the Village. Her heart and her mind began to change.
She shared “I know I still have a long way to go. But I have decided to take small steps. Open Arms always thinks of us whenever there is a food drive and they invite us to their community devotions at "chebaibai" (fellowship meeting). I feel that the best way to show my gratitude would be to do a better job raising my children. I don’t want them to live the life that I have.”
Kenny's mother took down the old, dilapidated house and built a new mud house that better protects her family. They now have a mattress, chairs, and even a battery operated TV. She even started a little garden where she planted some vegetables for her family.
This is the power of the Gospel! Learning about God's love led to a new life of hope for this mother and her children.
Thank you for continuing to bring hope to the hopeless of Kenya. Your partnership is making a world of difference!
God bless you,
Kaytie Fiedler
Executive Director, Open Arms International US