Christa and Heather Head to Kenya

2017 Kenya trip with Melissa Sanchez and Christa Horst handing out goodies at our big supply distribution event for the children of Give Amore. 

In her latest update, on the upcoming trip to Kenya, Give Amore’s vision bearer and C.E.O, Christa can’t wait to arrive in Kenya for the fourth time.

Alongside Heather, they will land on Kenyan soil on 9/20, less than two weeks off, and take to their itinerary schedule head-on for the next seven days from their arrival date.

Their itinerary is thronged with an array of business, fun, teambuilding and prayer activities inclusive of:

·       Blessing and commissioning of our 8th well for use by the community.

·       Getting down to shopping for African fabrics for Made with Amore tote bags in the open air market.

·       Distribution party and reunion networking with our sponsored children and their guardians.

·       Capacity building talk with Heather.

·       Attend a church service at Ebulechia village cornerstone Church.

·       Inspect previous projects supported by Give Amore in Ebulechia Village.

·       Safari trip at Maasai Mara game reserve in Nairobi

·       And much, much more!

To keep tabs with the trip and its daily unfolds, like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/amoreministries and follow us on Instagram @giveamore for on the go updates and don’t fail to catch our October Newsletter for the whole story. 

Success of our 8th Clean Water Well!

Despite all the challenges, setbacks and stall reported in the previous weeks, Give Amore’s 8th well is headed to its successful completion phase.

The process, that saw the stalling of a well and the starting of another in a different spot in the same location, was marred with multiple collapse scares. Fortunately enough, the walls held steady for the entire digging and building process and finally due to be commissioned is a secure, firm well ready to for its huge task of flowing its clean safe water down the consumption canals of the eagerly waiting thirsty villagers nay community.

The well will be commissioned and blessed in a wonderful celebration slated for 9/25 and which will be graced by Christa and Heather.

The diggers reported sufficient water found and the sixty feet deep well is remarkably placed to stand drought without drying up or even scaring to.

Bishop Titus Inspiring Success

Bishop Titus Khamala has ascended to the helm of the highest constituency office as the Member of Parliament for the next five years, a similar office to that of America’s congressmen.

He was democratically elected on 8/8 and won with the majority vote to be the first elected clergy into public office in the constituency’s history.

Prior from a poor,  humble background, Bishop Khamala conceived and exuded greater will to help alleviate the people in his constituency from the fangs of poverty, political injustices, and immoral influence, a role he so embraced even before joining politics. 

Give Amore nonprofit resides under the Cornerstone umbrella and thus, this success story means a lot to us and motivating to our children that “their dreams are valid no matter where they are from.”

We wish him the best of sagaciousness as he leads this great constituency into Godly reverence and developments that directly improves the lives of the people. 

Christa's Corner

“So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. I Corinthians 3:7”

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17”

As I prepare for my upcoming trip in a little over a month, these verses have jumped up off the pages of my bible during my morning reading. I’m certain God wants to remind me that it is all HIM and not me. I need this reminder often as I sometimes feel the weight of caring for all the children in our program and our sewing students and our computer class students and our well workers and my Kenyan team and the communities we serve through our wells… It’s a lot for ME to try to carry. But God doesn’t want me to carry the weight of all of this. He is in control and as long as I’m willing, He is able.  He has brought so many generous supporters and prayer partners the past 2.5 years and I pray for continued favor and for Him to continue establishing the work of our hands. It is through God that all things grow, so I will trust that God will stir in others the desire to join us and continue to support us as we bring hope and joy and love to our brothers and sisters across the globe.

Please read on for a brief glimpse into a few of the ways God is using us to transform lives in Kenya. 

Kenya Trip Coming Soon!

Heather Duncan and her husband Jesse, son Brody and daughter Scarlett. 

Like the sand in the hour glass, Christa and Heather’s visit to Kenya is closing in and many hearts and smiles are all set to welcome them and warm their stay.

They are expected to land in Kenya, after two days of traveling, on 9/20 and begin their work and fun stay for 12 days before departing for home.

Their schedule focuses on:

·       Meeting with our sponsored children and their guardians

·       Home and school visits

·       Distributing “Shoes that Grow”

·       Working with sewing and computer classes

·       Heather to work with both Give Amore and Cornerstone school children on crafts with a gospel message

·       And much more that the Holy Spirit will direct them to do while having the great African experience only Kenya can provide.

Also, follow us on our social media handles on Facebook and Instagram for on the go updates and keep up with our monthly Newsletter releases for the whole story. 

Progress On Our Newest Well!

Work on our newest well is underway and the standing update is that it has reached 40 feet deep.

The work however, was halted for a few days due to a collapse scare after lumps of soil started falling from one side of the well walls due to heavy rains that fell in area.

A way forward has been suggested and is being implemented thus, the walls will have to be bricked first to hold them firm before further deepening is done to avert any possible dangers.

The wells are dug by hand and the workers descend with every foot dug until they reach the water table.

Give amore is currently working on its 8th well with four of the eight done this year alone.

Our quest is to help provide clean safe water for drinking and domestic use in the communities within and off our jurisdiction as an enduring solution to the numerous water problems in Western Kenya.

How Free Computer Training Changed Oscar’s Life

The first students of the free TGD Computer Class. Oscar is located in back center. 

Somewhere in Emusanda Village in Kakamega, Kenya, lies a humble abode that bred the now aircraft engine technician in the Kenyan air force, a coveted position in the Kenya Defense Forces (K.D.F).

Before rising the ranks, Oscar Amanya joined the free computer training program as a student after failing to enroll incollege due to lack of funds and scholarships despite scoring wonderful grades in his high school finals.

The ‘broken’ Oscar worked so hard to later be hired by then Trinity Global Development (TGD) organization as a volunteer computer trainer, a leeway that led him to advance his skills in computer programming and database management then offered in the organization.

His breakthrough materialized after four years at TGD when he beat 300 young village men to be the one selected to the air force in a hotly contested army recruitment process.

Oscar emerged the preferred recruit after he produced his computer certificate and demonstrated his computer skills in a test, thus had an extra advantage over his peers.

He is currently serving in Nairobi Airbase and still admits that his computer skills, earned by grace, is instrumental in his daily operations and tasks and that without them he would have been somehow professionally paralyzed or even not in the army at all.    

Christa's Corner

“Love is the most effective form of evangelism. ”

Dearest Partners,

Thank you for taking a few minute to read just a snapshot of what we have going on at Give Amore! There’s a lot going on in our community in Kenya and our newsletter is how we can keep you informed with at least some of it.

Among the highlights this month is the completion of our 7th well! And our 8th well will get started in the next week or so!

The lowlight has been a recent break in to our Give Amore offices. The thieves stole our large computer screen we use to teach our students in the computer training program. The cost to replace it is $600 and unfortunately, we don’t have any funds designated for this. We, however, did purchase new locks and lighting to try to prevent further break-ins. We are thankful that the thieves didn’t take any of the new computers!

So, we have an immediate need for funds to replace this large screen so we can continue to effectively teach adult students computer training. So far, over 1500 students have completed our program in the past 5 years and hundreds have gone on to secure great jobs because of this free community class. Would you please consider making a one-time donation of any amount toward this need?

Our needs are great but our God is greater so we will continue to trust Him to stir in the hearts of others to support us. He hasn’t let us down yet.

Thank you all for your support through prayer and giving.

God bless,

Christa

“A new command I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35
”

More Clean Water!

With the 7th borehole complete and flowing with clean safe water for general consumption, Give Amore is up to its next task of digging yet another well, the 8th in her accomplishments of wells.

The blessing this time will be situated in Elvis’s home (one of our sponsored children), a location whose close proximity to the village’s all-weather road distinguishes it as a better option to render the well to the village and therefore also bless the lager community.

The women in this village make multiple two mile treks to a single open underground water source to fetch this fundamental livelihood commodity and thus risk contracting waterborne infections like cholera, bilharzia, etc. and also perilous bites from snakes, mud crabs, centipedes etc. as they wade in the muddy waters with bare feet whilst trying to access the main water collection point.

Therefore, the 8th well like its predecessors, will not only be just another borehole, but the 8th well of wellness via providing myriad of solutions to the numerous water needs in the village and the vast community. 

Break in at Give Amore Offices

A few days ago, Give Amore’s resource building was broken into and our large screen used to teach computer skills to our students was stolen.

The thieves accessed the building via its incomplete roof and then proceeded to break the door locks to commit the heinous act. However, none of the computers used for training was tampered with nay stolen; something that raises questions as to why the tutorial television monitor was circled as a target.

The monitor was an LED 40 inch LG television which was mainly utilized in free community computer training as a rendering resource, televising video tutorials on myriad of topics on life skills etc. and has served the latter purposes for a record period of five years.

Give Amore and the entire Cornerstone Church fraternity condemns this act in the strongest of terms and appeals for any donations (funds or a used television) to help restore and keep the free computer training project on course.

The Program boasts of over 1500 students from the community and beyond having passed through it and hundreds from the output having secured prestigious jobs as well as started computer services businesses that are doing well and giving back to the community.

It can be recalled that there have been various fruitless attempts to break into the premises in the past and this is the only successful attempt and we hope and pray it is the very last. 

Henry’s “I do” Moment

Henry Anjeje, Give Amore’s chief accountant, exchanged wedding vows with his wife Eunice of 14 years on 6/24. While the couple has been married for 14 years, this beautiful ceremony was a rare and joyous event for the entire community to enjoy!

The wedding graced by family and friends of the couple was conducted at Cornerstone Mission Church and if the African energy of song and dance is anything to go by, the event equaled Eunice’s dream wedding.

Among the witnesses to account of this wonderful union were Mona and her family who were in Kenya for the annual Cornerstone church Christian convention and therefore had first-hand experience of how an African Christian wedding can be so much fun!

We speak blessings over the couple and their five children plus many more marriage memories to come.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Anjeje!

Christa's Corner-Love is the Most Effective Form of Evangelism

Thank you dear ones for your support of Give Amore! We have been able to accomplish so much in just two and a half years! While God has done mighty things through us, there is much work to do! I don’t want to limit our goals and dreams for these communities to what I think I am capable of accomplishing. A scripture I read this morning jumped out at me off the pages of my Bible-”…If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But, if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”-Acts 5:38-39. This scripture reminded me that if Give Amore’s purpose or activity is from God, than nothing is impossible!

If we are to tackle the global giants, we need a global vision. Global giants include extreme poverty (as a result of which 30,000 children die each day), preventable diseases for which we have easy cures, the need for education and the need for clean water (which could be funded by the amount of money that Americans spend on ice-cream every year!). 

There are two possible attitudes when facing a giant. One is to say, it’s too big, there’s nothing I can do. The other is to say, it’s so big, I can’t miss.

Please help us continue to tackle these big giants-we can’t miss…especially with God on our side, we will not fail! Just like David when he faced Goliath. Instead of seeing the giant who overpowered him, he saw a large target that he knew, with God on his side, he couldn’t miss. 

Join me as we fight the global giants one sponsored child, one clean water well and one Made with Amore tote bag at a time. 

God bless,

Christa Horst, Give Amore Founder & Director

The Chapatti Factor by Paul Mukani, Give Amore Director of Communications

Chapatti, a Kenyan delicacy, is similar to a tortilla (but better says Christa). 

General items distributions get our sponsored children excited but, did you know the zeal to always attend more of these functions is Chapatti?

If you have visited Kenya in the past, you are familiar with the popular unleavened pan-grill bread dubbed Chapatti and apart from them being a popular favorite to many, most children in the rural Kenya reserve the delicacy for special functions such as parties, weddings, funerals, circumcision, childbirth celebrations etc. while to some, it is a luxury beyond their daily reach and thus, save it for Christmas celebrations only.

Our sponsored children on the other hand however, have a chance eating chapatti every two months and this gives them something to talk about with pride to their peers whenever the popular food subject comes up on their lengthy treks home from school.

Different from Indian Chapatti, these are made with white or all-purpose wheat flour and are coiled up. They also have a distinguishing element of fat (either ghee or oil) to them.

The purpose of the coil is to make a light flaky chapatti and the outer layers are brushed with oil giving it a crispy edge.

Chapatti is supper simple to throw together, just five ingredients, a little bit of patience and you would be enjoying the tantalizing feel and taste of homemade chapatti; even better served with either chicken or beans and vegetables.

On the lighter side, a part from the call and passion of changing and blessing lives of many in the community, Christa comes back to Kenya for Chapattis too!

So next time your child mentions Chapattis as the favorite meal in his/her letter, you can gauge in your mind what it is and the fact that they have it every two months matters! 

Why water, food and education are our main focus in Kenya

Low school enrollment has become a growing concern in Kenya in the recent years, while governments play politics with subsidizing the cost of living, just to get their feet in the hall of power and immediately afterwards forget even mentioning easing the burden in the first place.

‘Subsidized primary school education costs’ was quite a statement, first heard in the year 2002 after a long wait and when it was thereafter implemented, Kenya registered the highest number of children enrolled into public run schools in her history.

However, this was short-lived when other factors came into play and either partially or totally impeded learning thereby forcing many learners to dropout of schools in order to help their parents/guardians curb them to survive.

The two main factors were insufficient water and food that were in meager supply due to children’s resort to be in school and the task of fending for daily bread and water left for a few to perform.

For Nixon Eshiundu, life has never stayed the same after his father’s death from asthma in 2014. His mother and his five siblings had to figure out how to redraw the vectors of their new life without their sole breadwinner.

As Gladys (Nixon’s mother) narrates, it is never enough to feed, clothe, and keep her six children in school from the uncertain $1.5 she makes a day from working in people’s farms and homes. Therefore, to increase their income, her children worked out a school skipping schedule in order to help their mother fend for their daily needs as well as ensuring water is fetched for their daily domestic consumption.

Further as we came to discover during this piece, Nixon, 9 and a 3rd grader, has been added to the schedule and skips school at least twice a week to help in the income generation activities and to this, he has no choice but to, because to them, it is either food or school or, as they worked it out, both.

‘Today is a weekend and only Nixon and his mother have been left behind; the rest have already left in search of menial work and with the pot of boiling mixture of corn grains and beans, the family of seven is certain of at least a munch today.’

With sky rocketing costs of living in the Kenyan economy such a reality, hopes of staying in school for Nixon are fast fading and only the assurance of the morning sun keeps him and his family moving on in the dissents and assents that come with it.

Finally as we prepare to leave, we notice a blanket on a rugged mattress on their living room floor and this he confirms as his sleeping place.

‘We all nod to the fact that education is the key to a brighter future, but with challenges such as these, there is very little to look forward to for Nixon and many othersalike; and this is where we come in!’

7th Well of Wellness

Our number of wells dug keeps growing and currently a seventh well is on course and should be completed soon!

As a blessing to Lydia and Elizabeth’s community (sisters in our sponsorship program), the well will quench thirsts and solve numerous water problems and risks in the vast community that solely depends on running water from a wide river traversing the valleys of the village.

The river is well known to flood during the rainy seasons and is even named after its devouring dangers such as sweeping away of bridges, and deaths courtesy of people (mostly children) drowning in it.

The well is a boost to our water provision venture and the communities we touch and much more a dream come true to the inhabitants of the communities who have for a long time been searching for an alternative source of clean safe water for drinking and other consumptions.

The well is located at Lydia and Elizabeth’s home, a strategic location and easily accessed by the villagers.

Christa's Corner-May 2017 Newsletter

“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.-Proverbs 11:25”

I am beyond thrilled to let you all know that I’ll be going to Kenya in September with an amazing woman and young mother, Heather Duncan. It’s funny how God clearly told me September back in February and when we checked in with Bishop Titus to see when we should come he said September! So, September it is!

Heather Duncan with one of her two beautiful children, Scarlett, age 2. Not pictured is Brody, age 4. 

A few updates:

• We are close to being able to start on our next well! God is so good!
• All of our children are sponsored! Praise Him!
• We received a batch of over 100 bags and another batch of 150+ Made with Amore tote bags are en route. We could use help selling these tote bags so if you have any events coming up that we could have a table or if you’d like to take 10 or so each to try and sell, that would be amazing! The proceeds from our tote bags go directly to support our programs
• Kenya is currently in a food and dry goods shortage and prices are soaring. We could use prayers for our children who will feel the effect of the prices by receiving less food than they currently receive. In order to keep their supply the same, we need additional funds. Please pray for more general funds so that we could increase budget as needed.
• As we prepare for our trip to Kenya, we need the following:
  • We are in desperate need for a new/used Canon T3 or T5i camera and lens. Our current one is on its last leg. 
  • My team each needs a smart phone, preferably an iPhone 6 or newer. We need 3.
    • All donations are tax-deductible
• Lastly, if you have any speaking opportunities locally (or even elsewhere in Texas), please let me know. I’m available and eager to tell our story directly to groups of people whether it be MOPS groups, churches, Bible Study groups, women’s clubs…whatever. If I can sell our tote bags on-site, even better!

Thank you to all our generous donors who make this all possible!

God bless you. 

Christa Horst

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in ever situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7”

Our Photography Concern

“Photos are how we tell our story across the globe so our camera is our most valued tool. -Christa Horst, Give Amore Director”

With school and home-based sponsorships, provision of clean safe water for consumption and adult tailoring training being the core focus of Give Amore’s activities, continued quality pictorial update on these and more is a fundamental reliable channel of keeping up with our activities in Kenya.

However, our photography department has been disadvantaged with the sudden performance troubles of our old DSLR camera, the only camera the organization relies on for quality pictures.

Being your “eyes” in Kenya, we are looking for used Canon camera and/ or lenses for a Rebel T3i for our organization. We also require a long lens for quality pictures. We could purchase inexpensively or it would be super amazing if donated.

For details on the same, message us on Facebook via www.facebook.com/amoreministires or www.instagram.com/giveamore or visit our website www.giveamore.org . We are a 501c3 so we can provide you with a tax receipt as well!

Kenyan Economy Struggling, How Can We Help?

Soaring food prices characterize the Kenyan economy with the fundamental staples like corn, sugar, beans, rice and vegetables retailing at double prices compared to how they did two months ago.

Economists blame this on the inflation that has hit its all-time high of 12% and the persistent drought that has rocked most of the food producing parts of the country.

This concerns us as most of the children under our care; their families and many more live below poverty lines and largely depend on the staples we provide them with, on a termly basis, for survival. Prayers needed!

On a rather skewed lighter note, it is almost mothers’ day and the humongous question weighing on everyone’s mind is; “What gift befits a mother?”… Well, we have the answer for you! Give Amore’s fourth batch of tote bags are now on sale and 150 more have been dispatched from Kenya to supplement the stocked variety so that we have enough for everyone.

Remember you can now place your orders online by clicking www.giveamore.org and your favorite fabric patterns will be shipped to you.

Proceeds from the sale are injected in our charity activities, one of them being; feeding poor families and keeping their children in school.

2017 Trip to Kenya

“ “People who don’t travel cannot have a global view, all they see is what’s in front of them. Those people cannot accept new things because all they know is where they live.” Martin Yan.”

 In September all roads lead to Kenya for Heather and Christa and in as much as Christa has made three of these trips in five years, it will be the very first for Heather.

Last year she was accompanied by Melissa and just like in the previous visits, Kenya received them in the best way only Africa can.

Song, energized dance, bumpy earth roads, rains, fellowship, singing of birds, nature trails, gigantic smiles and long hearty laughter, safari tour and so much more branded their visit giving them that much needed homely feeling.

Further, the many setbacks in their itinerary offered teachable moments and also a spectrum of opportunities to meet and bless many lives.

If you would want to join them for an amazing life changing trip, message Christa on www.giveamore.com and Give hope! Give joy! Give Amore!

Christa's Corner-April 2017

We are so thankful for everyone’s support this year! 2017 has already delivered:

•  Two completed wells and a third almost funded!
• 100 New Made with Amore tote bags en route to USA
• 40 children sponsored and educated (we’ve added one new child to our program but we have many in line and waiting, we just need sponsors! 
• A growing team helping plan fundraising events
• Planning our next trip to Kenya (Fall 2017)
• Community involvement and more! Our community garage sale raised over $675!

I’m excited to feel the momentum building for even bigger things in store! My pastor, Randy Phillips, always says that if something is not growing, it’s dying and I’m happy to report that Give Amore is growing! It is alive and thriving and God has big plans in store…better than we can even ask or imagine!

We thank you for your prayers, your financial support and your giving of your time and treasures! If you haven’t already joined us in any of these ways, please consider answering the tug on your heart to make a difference, use your talents and support a ministry doing mighty things in the name of Jesus!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.-Ephesians 3:20-21”