Lauren Scharstein — The Lady in Pink
The truth, even though I cannot feel it right now, is that I am the chosen child of God, precious in God's eyes, called the Beloved from all eternity, and held safe in an everlasting belief. Henri Nouwen
Dear Friends,
I want to thank you for your prayers and your support! It has been a busy season in ministry and in the life of our family: since the beginning of this year, we expanded both the infrastructure and staff at Mother Esther School; we hosted the Kenya Mission Conference for partners in ministry; we continued emergency food relief in areas where drought has taken a toll, and we trained 65 lay-pastors to return to their communities and share the love of God. With all that is going on, we also welcomed our son, Jeffrey Kariuki, to the family in February.
It is a gift to be part of the work God is doing in and through the Presbyterian Church of East Africa. I am reminded almost daily of the importance of this work by our daughter, Kris. Every time we go for a car ride, Kris looks out of her window and points to each person she sees.
Mama, did God make that lady in the pink dress?
Mama, did God make that little boy with the bicycle?
Mama, did God make all the people?
The roads of Nairobi are always alive with people walking in every direction, with people selling hot cups of tea and fried dough, with women carrying firewood, with children running to and fro. Kris likes to confirm that each of the people she sees was made uniquely by God. As her mom and as a pastor, I love her questions: it seems that Kris wants to confirm one of the most foundational proclamations of the Christian faith — that we are created by the Living God.
This is also the foundation of my ministry: each of us is created in the image of God. If we trust this promise to be true, then we are called to work for the well-being of the people and communities around us. That lady in the pink dress and that little boy with the bicycle and all the people belong to God and they deserve lives of dignity, joy, and possibility that God intends for every human being.
May God bless you and keep you,
Lauren
Mother Esther School: Reaching Even Higher
In January of this year, our second class of 8th graders received their national exam results. It is always a moment of trepidation since the Kenya national exam determines what high school a student qualifies to attend. When the results came in, we almost couldn’t believe the good news. One of our girls, Gladys Namaidu, scored the highest grade in the entire Kajiado West sub-county, just as Florence did last year. The girls of Mother Esther are not only growing and learning, they are thriving!
Gladys comes from Oloika village in Kajiado County. She is the second-born child in a family of eight children. In order to attend Mother Esther School, Gladys walked 18 kilometers from her village to Magadi town, then took a train 130 kilometers, then walked the final 4 kilometers to reach school. She loves singing and volleyball, and she hopes to be a teacher when she finishes school. Gladys qualified to attend a national-level high school, and she started at Moi Girls’ High School in February.
It is such a gift to witness the joys and successes of the girls at Mother Esther School, to watch their dreams expand as their confidence grows. These girls would not have had access to education in their home areas, and now they are attending the top high schools in this country. Thanks be to God!
Read more about Lauren Scharstein’s ministry HERE.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts to support the mission and ministry of Lauren Scharstein. All gifts of any size are welcomed to help fund training for vulnerable women and girls, as well as water and agricultural projects. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.