Mcedo school expansion

Every year Rosslyn Academy, my former school in Nairobi, does a Christmas Project to bless local ministries in Kenya. This school year, they chose Mcedo school as the main recipient. Mcedo is a school in the Mathare slum that my family and I have worked closely with for the past 8 years. We have seen God mightily bless and provide for this school. Mcedo has a heart for orphans and provides housing and schooling for children that attend the school. They also have very good sports teams, specifically girls soccer team. These athletic teams provide scholarships and education when they otherwise would not be in school.

Rosslyn raised over one million Kenya shillings (around $11,000USD) to go towards expansions in the school. These include building new tables and chairs for the preschool and kindergarten class, building more bathrooms and raising the water tank, repairing the kitchen, and providing water faucets inside the school grounds.

Here is a picture of the assembly when the money was presented to Mcedo as a large check. All the students at Rosslyn gathered together to present the Christmas Project donations. In the middle are Pastor Benedict, the school principal and a few of the Mcedo students who came to perform a dance as a thank you to Rosslyn. Pictured on the right is the Rosslyn Christmas project committee.

I have made several visits to the Mcedo school since they received their money for renovations. Mcedo is now finished with the additions to the school. It has been very neat to physically see where the money has gone and the difference it has made!

On the right are pictures of just a few of the changes. The first picture is a few of the young kids drinking the water out of the new water faucets located outside of the kitchen. Because of this new water installation, Mcedo is now able to have running water accessible inside the school grounds. Previously, students and teachers had to walk outside to retrieve water.

On the bottom right is a picture of the kindergarten classroom with brand new wooden desks and chairs. Those children are so eager to learn and the cutest little students.

A huge thank you to Rosslyn Academy for their large donation of money from their Christmas Project. You made a huge impact on the Mcedo school and in the community of the Mathare slum.

Benson speaking

Yesterday we had Rev. Benson come speak to us about business from a Christian perspective. All the James 127 foundation trainees and teachers, Jimani employees, and Judith & James employees came together to learn. We also invited our Kenya committee members to join us. In addition a few women from the Mathare slum came to join us also. A full house of more than 30 women! It was a great time learning about things like tithing, budgets, and borrowing money. Throughout the whole morning Benson incorporated Scripture into his teaching. He did a great job, speaking mostly in Kiswahili so the women could understand and interacting with them with plenty of discussion questions. At the end of his talk, he gave each of the ladies a Bible. 

I love that not only can we provide training or a job for them but also teach them practical skills they can use. It was especially geared towards the sewing and jewelry students. When they graduate from our training program, we hope they will either find jobs or start their own small businesses using the skills they have learned. I hope teachings such as this one will help them as they look to their future beyond graduation, planning about their future businesses.