PCEA Tumaini Children's Ministry - June 2019 Update
Nyeri, Kenya
Dear friends of Tumaini children,
On behalf of Tumaini/Huruma children, we want to bring you this update concerning the current situation of the homes. The Outreach Foundation is very grateful for your generosity that allowed the PCEA Riamukurwe parish to start and operate Tumaini and Huruma homes. As we write, the Ministry is struggling to maintain high-quality care for the children who are served by the homes. As we work with other close partners to help the parish in Nyeri to carry on its witness for Christ by serving the needy in their midst, we have been actively engaging the local board, encouraging them to find solutions to several issues and challenges facing the homes. In the meantime, Eunice Kago, known to some of you, resigned as the manager for the homes, and Nancy Wachira is no longer employed by the Riamukurwe Parish. Any request for money on behalf of the home from them should be declined. Anne Wandimi has been appointed by the Parish as Interim Manager for Tumaini. We hope that the situation will be more stable soon. Please join with us in praying for the board, the parish and its leaders, the staff and, of course, the children.
It was a joy to have many of you travel to Orange County, CA to participate in our biannual Nyeri Friends meeting on February 8. The Outreach Foundation began this initiative in 2006 to help us connect and share experiences and good practices in our mission to care for the children and to strengthen our relationships.
This year’s meeting was hosted by Laguna Presbyterian Church in Orange County and was convened by Rev. Dr. Gareth Icenogle, interim minister, with music from Beth Pinney and Abigail Garcia of the praise and worship team. Several members of Laguna PC attended the meeting as well as representatives of Canyon Hills PC, Yorba Linda PC, Malibu PC, Meadows PC, Eastminster PC, Learn for Life Kenya, Touch of Love International, and Rev. Dr. Eve and Cary Tolley, long-term friends of Nyeri children. We missed those of you who were unable to come but we know you were spiritually present. We look forward to being with you in 2021, although we have not determined the meeting location yet.
In March, a group from Outreach traveled to Nyeri to meet the Tumaini board and visit with the children.
• There are currently 118 children at Tumaini and 46 at Huruma. Due to the situation prevailing at the home, several children have been expelled from the home and returned to their guardians. The social welfare has been informed.
• We want you to know that many children made a remarkable improvement over last year on their exams. There were no E’s or failures. Outreach provided funds to equip the Tumaini library with review books for many subjects and we will continue providing tools to help the children to learn better and feel confident during exams.
• The board expressed appreciation for the support received from The Outreach Foundation and churches. Prayers and financial support are appreciated and always needed.
• Two staff positions have been filled. We welcome James Ngubia Kinyunye (dorm father figure) and Susan Nyakairo Ngunyi (social worker). They are a great addition to the existing staff.
• There have been some other staff changes and terminations: Matron Kathryn Wangari has left the home and been replaced. Nancy Wachira (formerly the Huruma manager) has also left and is no longer associated with Tumaini ministry. As mentioned above any request for funds for the home from any of the staff who are no longer at the home should be declined.
• Huruma is doing well with a better start to the year and all staff and caregivers in place. We continue to pray for land issues.
Reflecting on the Legacy of The Very Rev. Bernard Muindi
We cannot think about Tumaini without remembering the vision, compassion, and friendship of The Very Rev. Muindi who is now with the Lord. During his time here on earth, Rev. Bernard envisioned a vocational training program connected to the home to equip the Nyeri children with skills. The Outreach Foundation embraced the vision and raised thousands of dollars to provide training for the children in sewing, tailoring and computer skills. Outreach also invested a large amount in the construction of the vocational building which will house all the training when completed. We are so grateful for Learn for Life Kenya, an organization co-founded by Anne Muindi-Shemenski, for assisting in raising support for completion of the vocational training building. Anne is Rev. Muindi’s (and Eunice’s) daughter. Anne reflects on her dad’s legacy and compassion:
“Since my dad’s passing, I have sensed his presence in many ways. The most significant and visible impact has been with the project he entrusted me to see to fruition – the vocational training center. I faithfully adopted the project as my third child, and it has brought me many blessings that show me glimpses of the fulfilled life my dad led and the one that I aspire to lead. My dad was deeply committed to his friends, and they were deeply committed to him. Learning about the support they provided to one another over the decades has been a source of inspiration to me.”
Additional funds are needed to make this vocational training center dream a reality. Even though Rev. Muindi finished his race here on earth, his legacy lives on and we are all part of its unfolding.
Supporting Tumaini Children
We are grateful that many of you give through sponsoring a child. This effort is very connectional and helps sustain the ministry with monthly donations. Led by Ken and Daryle Lynn Cornelison, the sponsorship program brings together Outreach partners from three U.S. congregations. Several sponsors have expressed the desire to increase their giving or to be provided with levels of sponsorship, which will be communicated soon by your direct program administrator.
• The Muindi-Meredith Scholarship Fund was established to honor friendships and is now making a difference by paying tuition for Tumaini students in various colleges in Kenya.
• The Tumaini e-learning program grew out of the desire to help children acquire their degrees online from great universities including the Presbyterian University of East Africa and Kenya Methodist University.
On behalf of the Tumaini and Huruma children, we say Asante Sana (thank you so much)! Mubarikiwe (be blessed)!
Ebralie Mwizerwa
The Outreach Foundation
Read more about the PCEA Tumaini Children’s Ministry HERE.
THE NEED
We are seeking to raise $80,000 a year for operations which feeds, houses, clothes, educates and cares for these children; $2,200 per scholarship for e-learning and an additional $20,000 for the vocational training center. Make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.
