Stu Ross - November 2020 Update
East Africa Mission Consultant
Based in Kikuyu, Kenya, Stu Ross is responsible for partnering through the Mission Projects Committee of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) in a ministry of building schools, churches, and girls’ rescue centers as well as managing water projects. Stu helps link U.S. congregations with East African partners to strengthen the church for God’s mission. We recently received the following update from Stu:
Everything in Kenya has been shut down since March 23. Kenya has a dusk to dawn curfew which is strictly enforced. There is no movement allowed between counties. This has affected our church construction work in Kenya since that would involve moving from one county to another. Consequently, construction has stopped on ten churches that were in the process of being built.
We are, however, able to continue work on a large school project, the PCEA Ongata Rongai Booth Girls’ High School of Excellence. We are able to continue building this school for two reasons: all of the work is being done in one county and all of the suppliers are located in one county. The workers are even housed on the construction site. We are hoping that we can complete this project by the end of the year and welcome students at the beginning of 2021.
The other big project that we are working on is our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have made two large food distributions to needy families and are distributing food to 100 additional families soon. The food we are distributing includes staples that will last for three weeks. By mid-June, we will have provided much-needed food for about 300 families. My wife Annie has been doing this work, buying the food in bulk and distributing it. Families are in greater need because people are not able to work so they don’t have money to purchase food. Additionally, the government has shut down the vegetable and fruit markets because they don’t want people to congregate. So, the farmers can’t sell their produce and people can’t buy. The food chain has been broken.
The COVID numbers have not plateaued yet. Confirmed cases of infection are growing by about 10% per day. In early June, there were 2,340 confirmed cases and 78 deaths. I feel that it will be several more weeks before we see a plateau and the government lifts restrictions. So, I am anticipating we will have at least one more food distribution. I also think that until restrictions are lifted we won’t be able to start building churches. On October 18 we dedicated our 350th church in the Northeast quadrant of Kenya. This area is very heavily Muslim. Now Presbyterians have a presence.
Highlights include:
· Between now and year-end we will complete and dedicate seven more churches.
· We are completing our biggest project by the end of the year - PCEA Ongata Rongai Booth Girls’ High School of Excellence for 320 girls. The girl child is the last to be educated in Kenya. This high school will allow her to catch up.
· For the last four months, we have been feeding 100 needy families. These are families predominantly headed by single mothers with no means of support. The situation here is slowly improving.
· We continue to do our work safely despite the COVID pandemic.
Grateful for your partnership and prayers,
Stu
Read more about Stu’s work in Kenya HERE.
THE NEED
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts totaling $50,000 for support, travel, and ministry funds for Stu Ross. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.