We are so thrilled to share with you an opportunity that we know you’ll be excited about.  Paideia Missions is going to Kenya, East Africa November 12^th through the 25^th to join Kenya’s Kidz with their efforts to support orphaned and vulnerable children!  Asher, Noel, and I (Scott) will be joining a team of missionaries to spend the majority of the time working at their project, Namayiana Children’s Home (meaning “the blessed” in the Maa language), in a remote area southwest of Nairobi in Maasailand. In this semi-nomadic region where the Maasai tribe lives, many still live the lifestyle of their ancestors in their colorful red plaid blankets and beaded jewelry. Like their ancestors, most of these Maasai are still herders of cattle and goats, however drought, loss of land, and a declining economy have dealt a challenging blow to these polygamous communities. Because of their remote location, they have limited access to resources and assistance found in the cities, especially in regard to health care, education, orphan care, and advocates. Children are often left orphaned, abandoned, and/or abused by family or other caregivers due to disease, loss of hope, and extreme poverty.

At Namayiana, we’re looking forward to helping with various work projects at the Home, conducting VBS style activities designed just for orphans, enjoying an early Christmas celebration with the kids (aka birthday party for Jesus), conducting health assessments, and sharing a Christmas craft with all the kids at the nearby private Christian school where the orphans attend. Our duffel bags will be packed with clothes, shoes, toys, soccer balls, vitamins, and books for the kids. We will also visit the elderly of the community with gifts of food and other essentials. Of course, we’ll spend lots of time just playing with the children, reminding them that they are not forgotten, but special children of God.

We will also visit a project in Nairobi’s Mukuru slum with donations of food, baby clothes, and medical supplies. Here, among the poorest of the poor, a Kenyan couple operates a preK-8 school for the street children (picture at right), a girls’ rescue center, and a health clinic for AIDS, TB, and maternity care. They do an amazing job given their resources (or lack thereof).

Would you consider partnering with us as we try to reach out to these children?  We desire your support through prayer.  Pray for God to go before us and prepare our way that He would enable us to accomplish all that He would have us do. Pray also for the children and adults we will meet, our preparations, safety as we travel, and good health.  We would also appreciate your financial support.  Many of you have supported our ministry efforts in Russia for years and the Lord has done great things with your contributions.  Andie and I feel that the Lord is opening a door for our ministry to bless another ministry’s work, and also for two of our children (Asher and Noel) to serve on a continent they have both longed to visit for many years.  Our expenses, including airfare, food, lodging, supplies, and in-country transportation will amount to about $8000 total for the three of us. We would be deeply grateful for any amount you can give and we promise to report all that the Lord does!