Celebrate with Us!🎉We are very excited to report that every single one of our eighth-grade students passed the national exam!! How incredible and miraculous is that?!!!
All 25 will be assigned to high schools in the coming days. Please pray for their assignments. We trust God will be involved in that process, He cares about the details of our lives. Their placement will impact their future, from the teachers they’ll interact with daily to the special programs available, to the new classmates they will meet. We are grateful to Moments of Hope Church in Charlotte, NC for generously sponsoring 15 students! We need 10 more to be sponsored! Pray for sponsors for each of them.🙏🏼 Won’t you sponsor a student and change a life? 😇 http://www.bringingmiracles.com/giving
Stacy’s Heart, “Fusion Girls”
Stacy: Meet ” Fusion Girls”, a girls mentorship program under the management of Bringing Miracles, that empowers young girls to be the best versions of themselves as they make the transition to being young adults. The program was started by the founder of Bringing Miracles Cindy Baucom, back in 2019. It helps young girls and young women stay out of trouble after school. The program is still in its founding phase but it mainly helps the girls reach their full potential in every field of their strength. It currently has 18 girls who come to connect, talk, and engage in other activities among themselves. Most girls grow up experiencing domestic violence in their homes, therefore which takes a toll on their mental health. Some or most of them lack access to basic needs such as sanitary towels and even clothing. This program allows them to access clothes donated for the same purpose. We do a sanitary towels drive every month to help them be comfortable and live their lives as teenagers and go to school. Here we also nurture different talents and encourage them to pursue every area of their interest. The girls meet up every day in the afternoons, they start each meeting with a word of prayer and worship. On Sundays, they get a word of God from our very own Monica. We encourage them to grow spiritually because we firmly believe in the power of Christ to save us. We are still growing and are hoping to achieve so much more and also see an increase in the number of girls as time goes on. Thank you and may God bless you. Cindy: We wanted the girls to know their worth as a child of God and to receive support from their peers and godly women, aware of abusive situations. A place to share their hurts, sorrows, dreams, and a place of prayer. I am so grateful for Stacy, for her vision to make an impact on these girls, to be a godly mentor that will point them to Jesus, and to advocate for their needs. I would soooooo love to be there with them singing, dancing, and praying with them. There is nothing like the fellowship of believers in this community!! I’m thankful for Monica being an integral part of this group and how she uses wisdom and discernment to guide these girls and the whole school. Pray for them, that they will grow and mature in Christ and be a witness in their community. God is so good. We are grateful for this thriving group of young ladies!
Sponsor a student (PRAY!!!!)This is our 25 candidates raw scores from their national test. We have 10 more new candidates needing sponsorship! There are only 63 others that need partial sponsorship! What may seem impossible to us is possible with God! He has done great things. He has been their provision since 2007 and I don’t doubt that He will see them through! Thank you for responding to His nudge. You ARE how He is able to do it all. cindy@bringingmiracles.com
http://bringingmiracles.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/logo.png00bringDesignerhttp://bringingmiracles.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/logo.pngbringDesigner2022-04-04 03:54:422022-04-04 03:54:45Celebrating Our Students
Psalms 100:4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. 5 For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.
This scripture is the lifeblood of our school, the very reason it continues to have pulse and life. It exists and continues to run because of God’s great faithfulness! It is only because of God’s provision through His people being moved, that the children have a place to come for school, that these 15 teachers have been paid salaries, that enough food is provided for the little ones, big ones and those that also glean in Kibera community. There are times when fear has tried to grip my heart and mind and tell me that there is NO WAY that the school can continue to run. I haven’t been able to visit churches or speak in groups this year about the great needs facing the children of Kibera, Kenya. Personal challenges will never negate the huge needs present at Miracle Victory Children’s Centre. Will you consider making a monthly commitment to our school? Or maybe you have never been able to contribute a financial gift, will you please consider making a one-time gift? Of any amount. Would you or your group consider sponsoring a teacher salary? It is $100 per month. Would you be able to buy a sack of rice or beans? $40 or $60 We will rejoice with whatever amount you are able to give!
Here are some pictures of the work that was completed during the school break in August. Some extensive finish work, flooring, and repairs and kitchen exhaust work needed some immediate attention. A friend from Charlotte and her family were in Kenya for a couple of weeks, visiting the hospital in Kijabe Hospital, where their daughter provided some beautiful artwork, bringing joy, encouragement and the love of the Lord. They have been instrumental in helping us at the school over the years in committed prayer and support. I really wanted her to have a chance to visit at the school while her family was in Kenya. Thankfully, the timing worked out and they were able to spend a day at the school, loving on children and engaging with our teachers. She said that is was difficult to breathe in the school and her eyes were burning due to the heavy smoke all over Kibera. It permeates the whole area due to multiple charcoal cooking fires every 10 to 20 yards. We had purchased and fashioned a nice cooking area for the school, but poor ventilation caused the smoke to pour into our building during lunch service. Generous donors blessed us and we were able to address the poor ventilation, flooring, walls and other needs.
This is one of our 2nd story classrooms
New flooring, new chalkboard and paint to brighten this room.(above) Love these bright and smiling faces!! This is our stairwell and 2nd story hallway between classrooms.
Our kitchen has had many improvements! A table has been built, providing work space for our cooks. A flue now vents the smoke to the outside, rather than spilling into the building.
The pipe outside of the kitchen now vents smoke to the outside.
Please continue to pray for our children for health, protection, family stability, minds to learn and become all that God has desired them to be.
Pray for our teachers, health in them and their families, creative ideas, good time management, provision.
Pray for leadership that they will continue to have a vision and desire to serve their community for God’s glory, that the snares of the enemy will be revealed, that their spiritual life will be active.
Pray for all staff for provision, health and protection.
Pray for fresh ideas for the school to make it more self sustaining.
Pray and ask God what your role is in helping these children become future missionaries, teachers, pastors, pilots, etc Help this child!
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We have been blessed by God’s faithful love and care for our students & the building where they receive instruction. A generous friend has agreed to fund the completion of the school and is also helping to repair some damage from moisture. Previously, we had been told that students were using the 2nd level, but the level was not finished and totally unsuitable for children and teachers.
Please pray over the coming weeks:
1- Provision has been made to finish the school where our original contractor quit. George, our new contractor will complete the 2nd level, shore up the roof to prevent future rain damage, repair floors and walls from 1st ctr., paint, install chalkboards, complete kitchen with table and flue to direct smoke out of the building & away from our teachers and children, install better flush system for bathrooms. Praise God for His provision!! Pray that George is able to complete this in the 3 weeks the children are out of school.
2- Pray for the health of the children, teachers, other workers, and parents.
3- Pray for the church assisting us during the building completion phase, bless them, encourage them. Pray that volunteers will rise up in the community to take care of the feeding of children, clean up, etc That they will work as unto the Lord and be blessed for their desire to serve God in their community.
4- Pray for leadership as they are dealing with other life issues that are requiring total focus, as well as the school.
5- Pray as the Lord leads.
THANK YOU!!!
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The upper-level classes are now meeting in the second story of our school building! We are SO HAPPY for them and their teachers! They now have some breathing room. Even more important than the extra space, these teachers can now focus on teaching their children! The children can now listen to their teacher without the distraction of 5 others teachers trying to simultaneously teach seventy-five other children. Don’t get me wrong, it was amazing to witness this happening in the one room available to the upper grades, but what relief to know that the children who are easily distracted now have only 25 other students and not the competition of 5 teachers talking at once. They are so ready and eager to learn and soak up all the knowledge being poured out! I am convinced that our children are the future of Kenya! God has great plans for them! Within the walls of our school, some of our children will become teachers, preachers, doctors, scientists, lawyers, and even a politician may be among them. I am so very proud of our teachers, that work so hard. They take their work home with them, just as teachers in the US have to do. They are planning lessons, grading papers, supervising after school clubs, mentoring caregivers, walking children across Kibera settlement to other schools providing sports and recreation facilities. Please pray for our teachers! It really is a special calling to work so hard and have a positive impact on children. Pray that they will continue to be committed to the calling, that they will use creative ideas, teach the subjects well, with clarity of instruction, that they will be blessed with health as individuals and in their families. Pray also that we can continue to provide a competitive salary so they will remain at our school and not want to go to greener pastures. God has been so good and such a faithful provider. Thankful to donors who respond to the needs of the children. We could not continue without your generosity, kindness and prayer support!
We were able to purchase tracksuits for the children, hopefully enabling their daily uniforms to last a bit longer. The tracksuits will be used on their activity days. They look so sharp! Enjoy seeing this slideshow of the children, their new suits, a swimming field trip and the 2nd story of our school. Keep in mind, they are still doing the finish work, so plaster work, windows and painting still need to be done.
Many of you know that Monica’s daughter contracted tuberculosis, thankfully, she responded well to treatment and has returned to her school. TB is one of the top infectious disease killers in Kenya and most of the 3rd world. We are doing our part to instruct and create awareness to prevent the spread of TB.
http://bringingmiracles.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/logo.png00Cindy Baucomhttp://bringingmiracles.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/logo.pngCindy Baucom2017-03-24 02:43:322017-03-24 02:43:32Getting There (2nd level of the school)
Silent Images was able to visually express the things I shared with them about the ministry in a beautiful way. Please share this video and help us tell Rose’s story. We have 300 children that each have their own story, just as gripping and real as hers. Sharing this video will help reach other folks that could help us continue the support of our school. Big hugs, big thanks to each of you!
Immense poverty and suffering is seen here in Kibera, Kenya. One of our students, Rose Aoko, is featured in this video, you will see the ministry that takes place to over 300 children and families. Many of these children are total orphans, Rose being one. We provide all they need to enter school, they pay no fees, they can’t pay when they earn less than one dollar a day, many less than 30 cents. Please help the children have a future! Thank you! bringingmiracles.com/giving
Filmed by Silent Images http://www.silentimages.com
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A team of seven from Lakeview Baptist in Monroe, North Carolina spent 15 months meeting monthly to prepare spiritually through bible study and prayer, cultural sensitivity lessons and practical training. (demonstration of how to take a bucket shower 🙂 ) Lakeview Baptist and other supporters helped by collecting and sending multiple items that were on a needs list. Money was raised at several events enabling us to buy bibles, meet crusade expenses and provide for other critical needs. We collected so much that it was necessary to take 2 extra large suitcases along on the trip, for a total of 26 suitcases! Thank you to EVERYONE that helped us be the hands of Jesus! You played a huge part in making this trip a tangible blessing to the Kibera community. When it all comes down to it, prayer and trusting God was the crucial aspect of this mission trip. Breaking the fallow ground and combating the intense spiritual warfare that comes with huge leaps of faith for individuals, church, the community dynamics we were entering and physical safety. The enemy does not want the gospel to be shared and tried many different angles to disrupt and bring fear, but by God’s grace, we arrived in Nairobi, Kenya! Amazingly, the customs agent gave us favor and waved us through without charging any fees for all the goods we brought. That was really a miracle and needed encouragement after having to pay close to $1000 for the 2 extra bags we brought. (NEVER EVER TAKE MORE THAN YOU SHOULD, I tried for weeks to get those baggage fees waived, to no avail) It was so great to see the smiling faces of Monica, Cindy & her neighbor and Rose! Rose was the official representative from our school and greeted us holding a beautiful bunch of flowers, it really touched my heart to see that she had come to welcome us!
The team piled into the van with our tower of suitcases tied down on it’s roof and then got to experience the joys of Nairobi traffic. Our driver navigated the tangle of cars, matatus, buses, vendors selling all manner of goods and pedestrians darting through tiny wedges of space between vehicles. Over the years, it amazes me that no pedestrians have been hurt during these trips. The vendor selling sugar cane was hard to resist because we were unable to fill our water bottles at Jomo Kenyatta Airport. The small bag was enough for everyone to sample and whet our thirst until getting to Monica’s home in Jamhuri.
Monica and her team of helpers were very hospitable and prepared delicious, hearty meals while we stayed in Kenya. They extended a kind and generous welcome, often preparing things for us that they would never afford for themselves. They blended fresh fruit juices, cooked sausages & eggs, tons of wonderful fresh vegetables, fruits; along with typical Kenyan fare of chapati, ugali, mandazis, lentils, potatoes, etc. Our first venture out to Kibera was made somewhat difficult due to our arrival during the rainy season. While our summer fits well into school schedules, for making a mission trip, it is actually cool, rainy and overcast during the Kenyan winter, making traversing the muddy paths to the school sort of treacherous.
Over the course of the last 15 months or more, our team was asked to prayerfully consider what gifts they felt like God might want to use on the mission trip. We discussed the length of the trip, most saying they felt like a 10 day trip would be about perfect for their first (most) trip out of the country. Kibera has been on my heart for years and I strongly felt urged pray and declare that the churches there would come together in unity. After sharing with Monica, we began to believe and pray to God, for this to somehow come together. We also began praying for a crusade and all aspects of the mission trip, for God to aid us in planning. The next team meeting the vision was shared and how we were trusting God to help us with a crusade in Kibera. A rough draft of plans was developed for our trip. Gene wanted to help the children plant a garden, Phil would teach/preach, Jody would mentor and instruct the teachers, Kaden and Emily would paint a mural and play with the children, Jacquelyn wanted to work with the deaf and I would teach hygiene and infection control- with all of these things being entwined with biblical teaching, songs and as much love of Jesus Christ draping over each activity. It was thrilling to see the crusade actually becoming a reality! We had the pastors from 7 churches in Kibera come together and pray and plan for several months before we arrived. By the end of the crusade, there were more than 20 churches from all over Kenya and one from Uganda, that were involved in the crusade! That was God!! For that many churches, from different tribes and denominations, to come together for the purpose of repentance (main theme) and salvation, it was a miracle indeed. Phil had been praying and believing for 2000 salvations and shared it with us a couple weeks before leaving. Bold faith!! We know that hundreds came to salvation throughout the course of the crusade and we are still waiting on the final
numbers, but we trust that God will use the Word that was spoken during the crusade, to continue impacting lives for His glory and we do believe that at least 2000 and possibly MANY more will come to Christ! Not only were many lives impacted and changed, but many were drawn to a closer walk with God. Scores of folks stood out in the pouring rain, on their knees, crying out to God. Our team left early that night, no translators after Phil preached, having always been indoors before nightfall in Kibera. But those folks had church and much was accomplished for the kingdom of God!
Phil and Gene each had opportunities to preach and teach God’s Word. We all had opportunities to sing, read scriptures, pray with people, love on folks, take the children on a field trip to Nairobi Arboretum- it was so much FUN, teach children, plant seeds, plant a garden, build a shelf, paint walls, make a beautiful mural, attend the sick, prevent spread of disease, teach how to lesson plan, organize some areas in the school…the list goes on 🙂
We were able to do most of the items on our list, plus some other unplanned things ( Jacq played basketball with about 20 boys after school one day, that was a highlight!! and God even provided a basketball for us on the way to the playing field- HE is SO GOOD!!)
We want to introduce you to some of our school leaders and let you know what they do to make our school great! This is great training ground for them and we are so proud of their service. They were voted on by secret ballot by the our students. Our teacher, Joshua Ochieng, was kind enough to provide information about their duties, thank you!!
President, Emily Achieng
Deputy President, Thomas Obonyo
The president, Emily Achieng, is the overall leader who makes sure that the Ministers perform their duties and also ensures that the needs of the children are being met. For example, the lunch schedule and if the food is well cooked. If the children have any issues, they report to their president, who will address concerns and bring it to a teacher’s attention. This is working well, allowing the children to feel free with one another knowing they can share anything safely. The work of the deputy is similar to that of the president. Thomas Obonyo will take the responsibility if the president is not available.
Student government leaders, as described from left to right. (they all are wearing their TOM’s shoes)
The minister for peace, Jeff Ochieng (3rd from left), works to make sure that whenever there is a conflict between the children, he is able to talk to them and bring understanding among fellow students. This is possible because the teachers have taught him how to handle any misunderstanding between his fellow students. I.C.T (information in computer and technology) was created (as we believe by God’s grace we’ll one day have computers in the center) and he will be in charge, but at the moment what he does is to pass any information to the children like the debates motion which we normally hold every Friday afternoon. Minister of Education, Emily, is to ensure that teachers are in the class on time and whenever a child lacks learning material, like pens or books, she takes the matter to the teacher. The speaker’s (Joan Anyango) function, is to chair the debate and with the help of the teacher, come up with a motion to monitor debates. The minister for health,Rose Aoko, works to make sure that the general cleanliness is observed within the school. Of course, our teachers are the ones ultimately responsible, but this gives a voice and opportunity for growth for these special students.
Employees of Miracle Victory Children’s Centre
Environmental Club
Environmental club at work
Three of our teachers recently were given training to introduce environmental clubs in our school and how to select the board. They were also taught basics of home gardening, rabbit keeping and chicken keeping. They were also shown a method to teach the school pupils how to keep the environment clean. The main objective was to show teachers how to set up an environmental club and how to instruct the children. They also learned how to develop micro projects which can generate food or income to the school. This is something I tried several years ago, but it failed. We rented land and planted crops, hoping that the proceeds would help sustain the school. It was a good plan, but without complete buy-in from the entire school (teachers and students) it was difficult to be successful. God has answered years of prayers, for sustainability, for training of teachers, for provision of the tools to make the school successful. All glory to Jesus for this!!
A preacher recently reminded me that we really should not be living our lives waiting for “that” to happen…since when “that” happens, “then I can…” . Having that kind of mindset can lead to just ticking off a list of things and moving on the the next goal without taking time to be grateful for where we are right now. It is easy to be consumed with the goal of completing the school, without reflecting on God’s grace and kindness that has been evident in the in between time.
Let’s reflect on that goodness and take account of all the positive things that have taken place.
The end of September, the school obtained a certificate of registration. This is a stepping stone, that shows just how far the school has progressed! It is recognized by the Kenyan government. This is pretty huge, considering when we started in Kibera slum, there was NO government support. Most of the slum residents did not have access the basic needs of water and electricity because they were not even acknowledged as a town. We are thankful for governmental recognition and hope that this “favor with man”, will provide aid and assistance when needed.
We have 3 bathrooms! This pictures is about 4 weeks old, so picture them fully assembled, functioning, with toilet paper and not being used as the storage room. For anyone without the experience of a typical third world toilet. These are beautiful, sent from the good Lord above. Our school children, have in the past, navigated the hilly , twisted paths, just to find a local outhouse- dark, dank, smelly and usually charged a small fee to boot! At times they had to cross the railway to get to a toilet, not safe for ANYONE, let alone a small child. Later on, we were able to use poo/pee disposable potties on site…right next to our cook, preparing the rice and beans. (sounds appealing, yes?) So, we are VERY THANKFUL for God’s kindness! Thankful for a leap forward in sanitation and safety!
Classroom with poo/pee stored at the front.
There are many school clubs , recently started, providing fun, exercise and ways to develop personal interests. That is very exciting! Over the years, I’ve talked to Monica about using the talents of their community. We have talked about the possibility of planting a garden to supplement the children’s diet, the possibility of raising chickens for eggs, sewing our own uniforms or having a store to supplement and make the school more self sustaining. The beginnings of these activities is taking shape. There are now multiple clubs in which the children can become involved! There is a garden club, a debate club, environmental club, a chicken raising club and the always popular soccer/sports club! Below is a short snippet of our children playing during a recent match with another school. They are the ones that are bare chested. I am so glad they decided to play, even without uniforms. They are making use of their talents and developing skill sets for life. Not to mention, they are having a blast!!
There are more things to celebrate. More children are under our care, receiving an education, ready to go into the world and impact their community for God’s glory. More teachers have been hired to teach the additional classroom of children, providing income for another Kenyan family. We thank God for all these things! These blessings mean increased budget needs for the school. Miracle Victory Children’s Centre is also making a plea for donations, to meet the multiplying needs. God is faithful, He is good, He is Our Provider, a Father to the Fatherless, Our Strong Tower… He is Our Everything!
Genesis 22:14New International Version (NIV)
14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
Patience is a virtue. Love is patient…that is what my bible says in Corinthians ,anyway. I am way past the praying for patience stage. There was a time, was when my children were tiny and I did not want to snap at them, due to parental exhaustion- I did pray for patience then. But, it seemed as though more opportunities to practice that virtue were availed to me, too many more times and I stopped asking for patience and began praying for rest. Why am I talking about patience? Because, building in Kenya has been very tedious. Everything moves in slow motion. Things that were bought and paid for more than 2 years ago, are just now being set in place to be used. We have been blessed by some sweet, generous donors and the things they have purchased have not been pictured yet, due to the slow process of everything! Our Kenya contractor, Paul Obia, has gone upcountry on multiple occasions and no construction takes place while he is away. Please be in prayer for the construction process, the workers, Paul- that he will do his work with excellence and not take any more trips. Pray for the school children, as they are meeting in another facility until school completion, the teachers for strength and insight to teach in the middle of chaotic times.
Would some of you consider praying daily for us? We need prayer coverage more now than ever! Cry out to God for us and with us. Thank you for praying.
“And the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?’ (Luke 18:7-8).”
Here are the most recent photos (this week). They show some of the completed areas. They also show some of the incomplete areas, where tons of work needs to take place before the children can return. Currently, we are checking into safety inspections. The upper level has a long way to go before it will be safe.
So very thankful for the opportunities we have to make an impact for God’s glory. Though it may be painfully slow in some ways, in other ways I stand amazed at the way that support has come in for Miracle Victory Children’s Centre. Since Jauary of 2014, the original budget of $98,000 has been met in full. It was disappointing learning that rainy season caused damage, necessitating the replacement of timber and some steel. After a wire today, the total amount needed will be $13,440.
Thanks for your prayers, support, encouragement and love!
Praising God for:
Lakeview Baptist Church and their fundraising efforts in 2015
for their kindness and generous donations, thank you!!
Thanking God for keeping our children healthy!!
New City Church of San Diego made a donation for classroom furniture and supplies, Thank You!!
Tommy and Janis Burch and their generosity and kindness, for the roof money and many other timely donations. Thank you!!!
THANK YOU DONORS!!
We will post new pictures as soon as the 2nd floor and roof show progress!
Celebrating Our Students
/0 Comments/in News /by bringDesignerAll 25 will be assigned to high schools in the coming days. Please pray for their assignments. We trust God will be involved in that process, He cares about the details of our lives. Their placement will impact their future, from the teachers they’ll interact with daily to the special programs available, to the new classmates they will meet. We are grateful to Moments of Hope Church in Charlotte, NC for generously sponsoring 15 students! We need 10 more to be sponsored!
Pray for sponsors for each of them.🙏🏼
Won’t you sponsor a student and change a life? 😇
http://www.bringingmiracles.com/giving
Meet ” Fusion Girls”, a girls mentorship program under the management of Bringing Miracles, that empowers young girls to be the best versions of themselves as they make the transition to being young adults. The program was started by the founder of Bringing Miracles Cindy Baucom, back in 2019. It helps young girls and young women stay out of trouble after school. The program is still in its founding phase but it mainly helps the girls reach their full potential in every field of their strength. It currently has 18 girls who come to connect, talk, and engage in other activities among themselves. Most girls grow up experiencing domestic violence in their homes, therefore which takes a toll on their mental health. Some or most of them lack access to basic needs such as sanitary towels and even clothing. This program allows them to access clothes donated for the same purpose. We do a sanitary towels drive every month to help them be comfortable and live their lives as teenagers and go to school. Here we also nurture different talents and encourage them to pursue every area of their interest. The girls meet up every day in the afternoons, they start each meeting with a word of prayer and worship. On Sundays, they get a word of God from our very own Monica. We encourage them to grow spiritually because we firmly believe in the power of Christ to save us. We are still growing and are hoping to achieve so much more and also see an increase in the number of girls as time goes on. Thank you and may God bless you.
Cindy:
We wanted the girls to know their worth as a child of God and to receive support from their peers and godly women, aware of abusive situations. A place to share their hurts, sorrows, dreams, and a place of prayer.
I am so grateful for Stacy, for her vision to make an impact on these girls, to be a godly mentor that will point them to Jesus, and to advocate for their needs.
I would soooooo love to be there with them singing, dancing, and praying with them. There is nothing like the fellowship of believers in this community!! I’m thankful for Monica being an integral part of this group and how she uses wisdom and discernment to guide these girls and the whole school.
Pray for them, that they will grow and mature in Christ and be a witness in their community.
God is so good. We are grateful for this thriving group of young ladies!
There are only 63 others that need partial sponsorship!
What may seem impossible to us is possible with God!
He has done great things. He has been their provision since 2007 and I don’t doubt that He will see them through! Thank you for responding to His nudge. You ARE how He is able to do it all.
cindy@bringingmiracles.com
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God is Faithful
/0 Comments/in Frontpage Article, Images /by bringDesignerPsalms 100:4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. 5 For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.
This scripture is the lifeblood of our school, the very reason it continues to have pulse and life. It exists and continues to run because of God’s great faithfulness! It is only because of God’s provision through His people being moved, that the children have a place to come for school, that these 15 teachers have been paid salaries, that enough food is provided for the little ones, big ones and those that also glean in Kibera community. There are times when fear has tried to grip my heart and mind and tell me that there is NO WAY that the school can continue to run. I haven’t been able to visit churches or speak in groups this year about the great needs facing the children of Kibera, Kenya. Personal challenges will never negate the huge needs present at Miracle Victory Children’s Centre. Will you consider making a monthly commitment to our school? Or maybe you have never been able to contribute a financial gift, will you please consider making a one-time gift? Of any amount. Would you or your group consider sponsoring a teacher salary? It is $100 per month. Would you be able to buy a sack of rice or beans? $40 or $60 We will rejoice with whatever amount you are able to give!
Here are some pictures of the work that was completed during the school break in August. Some extensive finish work, flooring, and repairs and kitchen exhaust work needed some immediate attention. A friend from Charlotte and her family were in Kenya for a couple of weeks, visiting the hospital in Kijabe Hospital, where their daughter provided some beautiful artwork, bringing joy, encouragement and the love of the Lord. They have been instrumental in helping us at the school over the years in committed prayer and support. I really wanted her to have a chance to visit at the school while her family was in Kenya. Thankfully, the timing worked out and they were able to spend a day at the school, loving on children and engaging with our teachers. She said that is was difficult to breathe in the school and her eyes were burning due to the heavy smoke all over Kibera. It permeates the whole area due to multiple charcoal cooking fires every 10 to 20 yards. We had purchased and fashioned a nice cooking area for the school, but poor ventilation caused the smoke to pour into our building during lunch service. Generous donors blessed us and we were able to address the poor ventilation, flooring, walls and other needs.
This is one of our 2nd story classrooms
New flooring, new chalkboard and paint to brighten this room.(above) Love these bright and smiling faces!!
This is our stairwell and 2nd story hallway between classrooms.
Our kitchen has had many improvements! A table has been built, providing work space for our cooks. A flue now vents the smoke to the outside, rather than spilling into the building.
The pipe outside of the kitchen now vents smoke to the outside.
Please continue to pray for our children for health, protection, family stability, minds to learn and become all that God has desired them to be.
Pray for our teachers, health in them and their families, creative ideas, good time management, provision.
Pray for leadership that they will continue to have a vision and desire to serve their community for God’s glory, that the snares of the enemy will be revealed, that their spiritual life will be active.
Pray for all staff for provision, health and protection.
Pray for fresh ideas for the school to make it more self sustaining.
Pray and ask God what your role is in helping these children become future missionaries, teachers, pastors, pilots, etc Help this child!
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Thank you!!!
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Go, go, go! It’s going to get done!
/0 Comments/in News /by bringDesignerWe have been blessed by God’s faithful love and care for our students & the building where they receive instruction. A generous friend has agreed to fund the completion of the school and is also helping to repair some damage from moisture. Previously, we had been told that students were using the 2nd level, but the level was not finished and totally unsuitable for children and teachers.
Please pray over the coming weeks:
1- Provision has been made to finish the school where our original contractor quit. George, our new contractor will complete the 2nd level, shore up the roof to prevent future rain damage, repair floors and walls from 1st ctr., paint, install chalkboards, complete kitchen with table and flue to direct smoke out of the building & away from our teachers and children, install better flush system for bathrooms. Praise God for His provision!! Pray that George is able to complete this in the 3 weeks the children are out of school.
2- Pray for the health of the children, teachers, other workers, and parents.
3- Pray for the church assisting us during the building completion phase, bless them, encourage them. Pray that volunteers will rise up in the community to take care of the feeding of children, clean up, etc That they will work as unto the Lord and be blessed for their desire to serve God in their community.
4- Pray for leadership as they are dealing with other life issues that are requiring total focus, as well as the school.
5- Pray as the Lord leads.
THANK YOU!!!
Our children sitting in Burch Hall.
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Getting There (2nd level of the school)
/0 Comments/in Frontpage Article /by Cindy BaucomStudent concentrating while teacher lectures
2nd story opens
The upper-level classes are now meeting in the second story of our school building! We are SO HAPPY for them and their teachers! They now have some breathing room. Even more important than the extra space, these teachers can now focus on teaching their children! The children can now listen to their teacher without the distraction of 5 others teachers trying to simultaneously teach seventy-five other children. Don’t get me wrong, it was amazing to witness this happening in the one room available to the upper grades, but what relief to know that the children who are easily distracted now have only 25 other students and not the competition of 5 teachers talking at once. They are so ready and eager to learn and soak up all the knowledge being poured out! I am convinced that our children are the future of Kenya! God has great plans for them! Within the walls of our school, some of our children will become teachers, preachers, doctors, scientists, lawyers, and even a politician may be among them. I am so very proud of our teachers, that work so hard. They take their work home with them, just as teachers in the US have to do. They are planning lessons, grading papers, supervising after school clubs, mentoring caregivers, walking children across Kibera settlement to other schools providing sports and recreation facilities. Please pray for our teachers! It really is a special calling to work so hard and have a positive impact on children. Pray that they will continue to be committed to the calling, that they will use creative ideas, teach the subjects well, with clarity of instruction, that they will be blessed with health as individuals and in their families. Pray also that we can continue to provide a competitive salary so they will remain at our school and not want to go to greener pastures. God has been so good and such a faithful provider. Thankful to donors who respond to the needs of the children. We could not continue without your generosity, kindness and prayer support!
We were able to purchase tracksuits for the children, hopefully enabling their daily uniforms to last a bit longer. The tracksuits will be used on their activity days. They look so sharp! Enjoy seeing this slideshow of the children, their new suits, a swimming field trip and the 2nd story of our school. Keep in mind, they are still doing the finish work, so plaster work, windows and painting still need to be done.
Many of you know that Monica’s daughter contracted tuberculosis, thankfully, she responded well to treatment and has returned to her school. TB is one of the top infectious disease killers in Kenya and most of the 3rd world. We are doing our part to instruct and create awareness to prevent the spread of TB.
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Bringing Miracles in Kibera, Kenya
/0 Comments/in Frontpage Article, News /by bringDesignerSilent Images was able to visually express the things I shared with them about the ministry in a beautiful way. Please share this video and help us tell Rose’s story. We have 300 children that each have their own story, just as gripping and real as hers. Sharing this video will help reach other folks that could help us continue the support of our school. Big hugs, big thanks to each of you!
Immense poverty and suffering is seen here in Kibera, Kenya. One of our students, Rose Aoko, is featured in this video, you will see the ministry that takes place to over 300 children and families. Many of these children are total orphans, Rose being one. We provide all they need to enter school, they pay no fees, they can’t pay when they earn less than one dollar a day, many less than 30 cents. Please help the children have a future! Thank you! bringingmiracles.com/giving
Filmed by Silent Images http://www.silentimages.com
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Lakeview Baptist Sends Team
/0 Comments/in News /by bringDesignerA team of seven from Lakeview Baptist in Monroe, North Carolina spent 15 months meeting monthly to prepare spiritually through bible study and prayer, cultural sensitivity lessons and practical training. (demonstration of how to take a bucket shower 🙂 ) Lakeview Baptist and other supporters helped by collecting and sending multiple items that were on a needs list. Money was raised at several events enabling us to buy bibles, meet crusade expenses and provide for other critical needs. We collected so much that it was necessary to take 2 extra large suitcases along on the trip, for a total of 26 suitcases! Thank you to EVERYONE that helped us be the hands of Jesus! You played a huge part in making this trip a tangible blessing to the Kibera community. When it all comes down to it, prayer and trusting God was the crucial aspect of this mission trip. Breaking the fallow ground and combating the intense spiritual warfare that comes with huge leaps of faith for individuals, church, the community dynamics we were entering and physical safety. The enemy does not want the gospel to be shared and tried many different angles to disrupt and bring fear, but by God’s grace, we arrived in Nairobi, Kenya! Amazingly, the customs agent gave us favor and waved us through without charging any fees for all the goods we brought. That was really a miracle and needed encouragement after having to pay close to $1000 for the 2 extra bags we brought. (NEVER EVER TAKE MORE THAN YOU SHOULD, I tried for weeks to get those baggage fees waived, to no avail) It was so great to see the smiling faces of Monica, Cindy & her neighbor and Rose! Rose was the official representative from our school and greeted us holding a beautiful bunch of flowers, it really touched my heart to see that she had come to welcome us!
The team piled into the van with our tower of suitcases tied down on it’s roof and then got to experience the joys of Nairobi traffic. Our driver navigated the tangle of cars, matatus, buses, vendors selling all manner of goods and pedestrians darting through tiny wedges of space between vehicles. Over the years, it amazes me that no pedestrians have been hurt during these trips. The vendor selling sugar cane was hard to resist because we were unable to fill our water bottles at Jomo Kenyatta Airport. The small bag was enough for everyone to sample and whet our thirst until getting to Monica’s home in Jamhuri.
Monica and her team of helpers were very hospitable and prepared delicious, hearty meals while we stayed in Kenya. They extended a kind and generous welcome, often preparing things for us that they would never afford for themselves. They blended fresh fruit juices, cooked sausages & eggs, tons of wonderful fresh vegetables, fruits; along with typical Kenyan fare of chapati, ugali, mandazis, lentils, potatoes, etc. Our first venture out to Kibera was made somewhat difficult due to our arrival during the rainy season. While our summer fits well into school schedules, for making a mission trip, it is actually cool, rainy and overcast during the Kenyan winter, making traversing the muddy paths to the school sort of treacherous.
Over the course of the last 15 months or more, our team was asked to prayerfully consider what gifts they felt like God might want to use on the mission trip. We discussed the length of the trip, most saying they felt like a 10 day trip would be about perfect for their first (most) trip out of the country. Kibera has been on my heart for years and I strongly felt urged pray and declare that the churches there would come together in unity. After sharing with Monica, we began to believe and pray to God, for this to somehow come together. We also began praying for a crusade and all aspects of the mission trip, for God to aid us in planning. The next team meeting the vision was shared and how we were trusting God to help us with a crusade in Kibera. A rough draft of plans was developed for our trip. Gene wanted to help the children plant a garden, Phil would teach/preach, Jody would mentor and instruct the teachers, Kaden and Emily would paint a mural and play with the children, Jacquelyn wanted to work with the deaf and I would teach hygiene and infection control- with all of these things being entwined with biblical teaching, songs and as much love of Jesus Christ draping over each activity. It was thrilling to see the crusade actually becoming a reality! We had the pastors from 7 churches in Kibera come together and pray and plan for several months before we arrived. By the end of the crusade, there were more than 20 churches from all over Kenya and one from Uganda, that were involved in the crusade! That was God!! For that many churches, from different tribes and denominations, to come together for the purpose of repentance (main theme) and salvation, it was a miracle indeed. Phil had been praying and believing for 2000 salvations and shared it with us a couple weeks before leaving. Bold faith!! We know that hundreds came to salvation throughout the course of the crusade and we are still waiting on the final
numbers, but we trust that God will use the Word that was spoken during the crusade, to continue impacting lives for His glory and we do believe that at least 2000 and possibly MANY more will come to Christ! Not only were many lives impacted and changed, but many were drawn to a closer walk with God. Scores of folks stood out in the pouring rain, on their knees, crying out to God. Our team left early that night, no translators after Phil preached, having always been indoors before nightfall in Kibera. But those folks had church and much was accomplished for the kingdom of God!
Phil and Gene each had opportunities to preach and teach God’s Word. We all had opportunities to sing, read scriptures, pray with people, love on folks, take the children on a field trip to Nairobi Arboretum- it was so much FUN, teach children, plant seeds, plant a garden, build a shelf, paint walls, make a beautiful mural, attend the sick, prevent spread of disease, teach how to lesson plan, organize some areas in the school…the list goes on 🙂
We were able to do most of the items on our list, plus some other unplanned things ( Jacq played basketball with about 20 boys after school one day, that was a highlight!! and God even provided a basketball for us on the way to the playing field- HE is SO GOOD!!)
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Meet Miracle Victory Student Leaders
/0 Comments/in News /by bringDesignerWe want to introduce you to some of our school leaders and let you know what they do to make our school great! This is great training ground for them and we are so proud of their service. They were voted on by secret ballot by the our students. Our teacher, Joshua Ochieng, was kind enough to provide information about their duties, thank you!!
President, Emily Achieng
Deputy President, Thomas Obonyo
The president, Emily Achieng, is the overall leader who makes sure that the Ministers perform their duties and also ensures that the needs of the children are being met. For example, the lunch schedule and if the food is well cooked. If the children have any issues, they report to their president, who will address concerns and bring it to a teacher’s attention. This is working well, allowing the children to feel free with one another knowing they can share anything safely. The work of the deputy is similar to that of the president. Thomas Obonyo will take the responsibility if the president is not available.
Student government leaders, as described from left to right. (they all are wearing their TOM’s shoes)
The minister for peace, Jeff Ochieng (3rd from left), works to make sure that whenever there is a conflict between the children, he is able to talk to them and bring understanding among fellow students. This is possible because the teachers have taught him how to handle any misunderstanding between his fellow students. I.C.T (information in computer and technology) was created (as we believe by God’s grace we’ll one day have computers in the center) and he will be in charge, but at the moment what he does is to pass any information to the children like the debates motion which we normally hold every Friday afternoon. Minister of Education, Emily, is to ensure that teachers are in the class on time and whenever a child lacks learning material, like pens or books, she takes the matter to the teacher. The speaker’s (Joan Anyango) function, is to chair the debate and with the help of the teacher, come up with a motion to monitor debates. The minister for health,Rose Aoko, works to make sure that the general cleanliness is observed within the school. Of course, our teachers are the ones ultimately responsible, but this gives a voice and opportunity for growth for these special students.
Employees of Miracle Victory Children’s Centre
Environmental Club
Environmental club at work
Three of our teachers recently were given training to introduce environmental clubs in our school and how to select the board. They were also taught basics of home gardening, rabbit keeping and chicken keeping. They were also shown a method to teach the school pupils how to keep the environment clean. The main objective was to show teachers how to set up an environmental club and how to instruct the children. They also learned how to develop micro projects which can generate food or income to the school. This is something I tried several years ago, but it failed. We rented land and planted crops, hoping that the proceeds would help sustain the school. It was a good plan, but without complete buy-in from the entire school (teachers and students) it was difficult to be successful. God has answered years of prayers, for sustainability, for training of teachers, for provision of the tools to make the school successful. All glory to Jesus for this!!
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Celebrating His Goodness (right now!)
/0 Comments/in Images, News /by bringDesignerA preacher recently reminded me that we really should not be living our lives waiting for “that” to happen…since when “that” happens, “then I can…” . Having that kind of mindset can lead to just ticking off a list of things and moving on the the next goal without taking time to be grateful for where we are right now. It is easy to be consumed with the goal of completing the school, without reflecting on God’s grace and kindness that has been evident in the in between time.
Let’s reflect on that goodness and take account of all the positive things that have taken place.
The end of September, the school obtained a certificate of registration. This is a stepping stone, that shows just how far the school has progressed! It is recognized by the Kenyan government. This is pretty huge, considering when we started in Kibera slum, there was NO government support. Most of the slum residents did not have access the basic needs of water and electricity because they were not even acknowledged as a town. We are thankful for governmental recognition and hope that this “favor with man”, will provide aid and assistance when needed.
Classroom with poo/pee stored at the front.
There are many school clubs , recently started, providing fun, exercise and ways to develop personal interests. That is very exciting! Over the years, I’ve talked to Monica about using the talents of their community. We have talked about the possibility of planting a garden to supplement the children’s diet, the possibility of raising chickens for eggs, sewing our own uniforms or having a store to supplement and make the school more self sustaining. The beginnings of these activities is taking shape. There are now multiple clubs in which the children can become involved! There is a garden club, a debate club, environmental club, a chicken raising club and the always popular soccer/sports club! Below is a short snippet of our children playing during a recent match with another school. They are the ones that are bare chested. I am so glad they decided to play, even without uniforms. They are making use of their talents and developing skill sets for life. Not to mention, they are having a blast!!
There are more things to celebrate. More children are under our care, receiving an education, ready to go into the world and impact their community for God’s glory. More teachers have been hired to teach the additional classroom of children, providing income for another Kenyan family. We thank God for all these things! These blessings mean increased budget needs for the school. Miracle Victory Children’s Centre is also making a plea for donations, to meet the multiplying needs. God is faithful, He is good, He is Our Provider, a Father to the Fatherless, Our Strong Tower… He is Our Everything!
Genesis 22:14New International Version (NIV)
14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
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Construction Phase 2 Pictures
/0 Comments/in News /by bringDesignerWould some of you consider praying daily for us? We need prayer coverage more now than ever! Cry out to God for us and with us. Thank you for praying.
“And the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?’ (Luke 18:7-8).”
Here are the most recent photos (this week). They show some of the completed areas. They also show some of the incomplete areas, where tons of work needs to take place before the children can return. Currently, we are checking into safety inspections. The upper level has a long way to go before it will be safe.
Monica, at the entrance to the school.
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Progress
/0 Comments/in Frontpage Article /by bringDesignerHi Folks!
So very thankful for the opportunities we have to make an impact for God’s glory. Though it may be painfully slow in some ways, in other ways I stand amazed at the way that support has come in for Miracle Victory Children’s Centre. Since Jauary of 2014, the original budget of $98,000 has been met in full. It was disappointing learning that rainy season caused damage, necessitating the replacement of timber and some steel. After a wire today, the total amount needed will be $13,440.
Thanks for your prayers, support, encouragement and love!
Praising God for:
Thanking God for keeping our children healthy!!
Tommy and Janis Burch and their generosity and kindness, for the roof money and many other timely donations. Thank you!!!
THANK YOU DONORS!!
We will post new pictures as soon as the 2nd floor and roof show progress!
Please continue to PRAY. WE NEED YOU!!!!
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