HAVEN
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This is Pastor Simon and his beautiful wife, Liz.
If I could write out and share both of their amazing testimonies with you all, I would. But, for lack of talent and a way with words to express just how amazing they are, lets just say that these are two of the most legitimate servants of the Lord I have met thus far in my life.
After quitting their jobs, and founding this church and school associated with the ministry, teaching the children the foundations of Christianity, as well as educating them according to public school standards of cirruculum, they have dedicated their lives to esentially rescuing, and continually serving the children at Haven.
As well as founding churches in Northern Kenya, and ministering to unreached communities in the desert, Pastor Simon and Liz are on fire for the Lord and have a unique desire to serve His children. It has been a great honor to do the Christ's work, along side the two of them this month.
Francis, grade 5; Haron, grade 4; Lilian, grade 1.
Francis, Haron and Lilian’s father died a few years ago, so they lived with their mother alone. An unbeliever and without the support of a present father, one night their mother packed her belongings and left, abandoning the children inside the locked house. Haron managed to escape by crawling out of the window. He knocked on a neighbor’s door, pleading to open the door and let his siblings out of the house. The neighbor figured out what had happened and decided to take the three of them to their grandfather’s home. Shortly after, their grandfather got remarried. Unfortunately, the woman who became their step-grandmother wasn’t saved and when their grandfather died, she began to mistreat them. They, by the grace of God, were able to escape their situation and the three of them now live at the orphanage where they go to school. Frances, Haron, and Lilian have some of the highest scores in their grades and are happy, healthy and safer than ever, thanks to Haven.
Meshack (preschool)
This is my little baby Meshack! He stole my heart on our first day at Haven with his soccer skills, not to mention his sweet smile!
Sadly, Meshack's father was shot one year ago. His sister has epilepsy, which resulted in the villagers persecuting the mother. They believed that the mother was responsible for her daughter’s condition. The situation became so intense that she left the village, abandoning Meshack and his sister.
Haven is a place where Meshack can be free. He is always smiling, running around, and of course playing soccer!
Wycliffe, grade 2,
This is Wycliffe. His father was from northern Kenya, but died several years ago, and unfortunately his mother is an alcoholic. A fears back, Wycliffe's mother kicked him out of the house, she sent him to town to beg for money. He was to bring everything he earned back to her. She told him that if he couldn’t get money not to come home. He feared her so much that he decided to stay in town instead of going home. (Most children who end up on the street have similar stories. Most are the victims of abuse, neglect, or abandonment.)
Liz and Simon befriended Wycliffe and got to know how good of a kid he is. They brought him to their home, cleaned his clothes and bathed him. When they gave him a bed, he refused it at first because he didn’t believe he was worthy of such a meaningful gift.
Liz explained to her kids how to love him, regardless of where he’s from. He has since become part of the family and Liz and her husband are now his guardians. He is happy, healthy and off the streets thanks to Pastor Simon, Liz & HAVEN.
Moses, grade 6
This is Moses. He is in the 6th grade and has a smile that will melt your heart. Unfortunately, Moses hasn’t always had a reason to smile. A little over five years ago, Moses’ clinically insane father left the family and went to a nearby town. He was dying from his condition, and having lost the will to live, left to die. Moses’ mother was ashamed of her husband, so one day she decided to leave the kids and run away. His aunt (dad’s sister) became Moses, his brother Stanley, and his two younger sisters, Syvlia and Davine’s guardian. She mistreated the kids, especially Sylvia, who was responsible for household chores. Moses was responsible for taking care of the cattle. He used to cry because of the abuse at home, and was fearful of even the smallest mistakes because of the beatings that followed.
Sylvia, grade 5
One day, the kids were left alone and Moses slipped and fell into an empty well. He broke his leg and unfortunately it was never treated properly. To this day, he has one leg that is significantly shorter than the other. When the kids were eventually taken to the orphanage, Moses was able to receive shoes that were special-made at a missionary hospital in Nairobi. They operated on his joints, which should occur each year to keep up with his growth. Further, he needs new shoes each year to keep up with his height. He was also afflicted by terrible ringworm that was treated at the orphanage.
Davine, grade 4
These days, Moses has friends and classmates who cheer him up, a “mother” and “father” in Liz and Pastor Simon, and excells in school. His siblings are also happy to be receiving an education in a friendly environment. They are finally in good hands, and Moses, Stanley, Sylvia, and Davine are being LOVED!
These are the children who have stolen my heart
..These are the children of HAVEN..
[Thanks J.Dale for lending me your english skills and your camera!]
