A Tidal Wave of Love

Dear Partners,

We are embarking on our 7th year of ministry in Kenya! Who could have ever imagined when God gave me a vision to help my brothers and sisters across the globe over 10 years ago that we would be here! It started with purchasing chairs for the Cornerstone School. That’s it! That was how God works. Don’t ever underestimate the power we have to make a difference when we follow God’s prompting! 

2020 was a crazy year for us all. It was no different in Kenya. But, we are resilient and God is good and we made it through to a new year. School has resumed in person and all of our children just received much needed school supplies, shoes, uniforms and more! We’ve also added a few new students to our program! We finished 2020 with 25 clean water wells (and a huge clean water project-sanitation stations in over 50 communities), our sewing program graduating over a dozen students and a few jigger clinics! 

As we head into 2021, we have funds for 2 clean water wells that will be starting soon! We have students graduating from our sewing program in March and April and all of our children are funded! Our biggest need currently is in general donations to cover miscellaneous expenses (motorbike repair/maintenance, medical expenses as they come up, supplies, facility repairs, etc.) and any future jigger clinics. Please pray that God will continue to provide through the generosity of His people! He gave me a vision of 100 clean water wells and I know He will see it through! 

We appreciate your faithful support whether you are a new partner or if you have been with us from the beginning. It’s incredible to see how when we come together our ripple effect is a tidal wave! When we all do what we can, God uses it and multiplies it! As I always say, it’s an honor and privilege to have a front row seat to this. Thank you for your trust and partnership!

Your Sister in Christ,

Christa Horst 

It is Back to School in Kenya

With the dawn of the New Year, it is back to school for all learners in Kenya and despite the ragging pandemic world over, the government has carefully crafted a return to school plan to help protect the students against Covid 19 both while at home and school.

Josephine, as well as all our sponsored children is excited to resume learning after months of staying home due to the global pandemic that led to all schools closing indefinitely. Also given that Kenya has no homeschooling plan in its education system, there is no way she could have kept up with her syllabus. 

Armed with books, stationery, full school uniform, and more, Josephine is ecstatic and eager to go back to school, meet her peers and dig in, in the buffet of education she so missed.  We pray for their safety!

A 25th Solution to Water Problems in Kenya

 Well #25 is completed, commissioned and is now serving the community around it. Clean water is hard to come by in western Kenya and thus it is not lost on us to acknowledge your vital role in helping to get us at this point in our mission. Thank you for your dedicated support! 

The well is strategically located at Gizel and Khalid’s home and open to everyone who would wish to draw from it. Our mission over the years has been to rid western Kenya of water scarcity and waterborne diseases and our efforts are greatly paying off.

In rural Kenya, most households have snags accessing clean safe water for consumption leaving them to long treks in search for this precious item in unsafe open water sources. Therefore, this well boosts our essential objective of helping eradicate waterborne diseases while easing access to clean safe water.

As the year begins, we cannot wait to see what 2021 has in store for all of us.

An Ever Blossoming Family

Moses W. is now part of our ever growing family of love coming in at a paramount time that schools are reopening in Kenya after a long stay at home courtesy of lack of school fees as well as the global pandemic. This is an exhilarating second shot at education for him. 

As a welcoming gift, he received a set of new clothes, undergarments, household utensils, full school uniform, and books among other school items. 

Moses was abandoned by his mother for another marriage when he was little and his father remains unknown to date. His frail grandmother took up the parental arms and has since looked after him, his sister and four cousins.

His granny does menial work in people’s farms for less than a dollar wage and at times even begs just to feed her grandchildren. Therefore, this is a huge blessing nay breakthrough for Moses and we wish him all the best as we help shape a brighter future for him.

Let it Be Christmas

It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you…yes, it is Christmas every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand. –Mother Teresa

Dearest Partners,

 As we wrap up an unprecedented year, it was so wonderful to wrap it up with a beautiful Christmas party with everyone together in Kenya! When so much has felt out of our control this year, to realize that we have the power to help our brothers and sisters across the globe is unreal.  We have the power to change lives and use our gifts and talents and our time and treasures without ever leaving the comforts and safety of our homes! What a blessing! 

Just a few of the year-end blessings are as follows:

·      Every child in our sponsorship program received a new outfit for Christmas!

·      Every child in our sponsorship program and their guardian families received a DOUBLE portion of monthly food provision!

·      Everyone associated with our Give Amore programs (staff, sewing students, computer training students, children, guardians, well workers and more) was able to enjoy a rare buffet meal with their fill of rare treats-chicken and chapati to name a few!

·      Clean water well #25 just hit water and will be ready to bless another community very soon!

·      Clean water well  #26 is funded for the New Year!

·      Our Made with Amore sewing program is fully funded through April 2021 despite not having any tote bags to sell!

·      And so much more!

When we reflect on all the ways God has provided, especially during an extremely challenging season, it astounds me. It strengthens my faith and should strengthen yours! We’ve all just been obedient to His calling on our hearts and He works it all out. When so much feels out of control, He reminds us He’s still in control! 

What an absolute privilege it is for me to head into 2021 strengthened in my faith, strengthened in my resolve to continue being obedient to God’s calling for me to lead Give Amore and His mission to use us to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Thank you for joining us and supporting this monumental effort. Together we really are giving hope, giving joy and giving love!

And the angel said unto them,  “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. –Luke 2:10-11

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Give Amore Team!

Another Gift that Keeps on Giving

Currently in progress in the Give Amore’s list of projects is a well whose sinking has begun and should be completed soon. The well is strategically located at Gizel and Khalid’s home and brings the total number of wells dug across western Kenya to twenty five.

Clean water well #25 is under construction! WOW!

Being a dry season in the country, clean safe water is hard to come by in rural areas hence women and children have to traverse far and wide in search of this precious commodity, hence, much needed help is on the way via this project for tens of families. 

With the dawn of a new year, we hope to launch a well that will leave a mark of satisfaction, joy and community in the lives of its beneficiaries. Plus it is not lost on us that its role in fighting Covid 19 is fundamental and much anticipated.

More Love through Christmas

Christmas came early and big to our sponsored children and the good news is, it was one impactful gifting ceremony all made possible by your hearty giving. The gifts included double portions of food and toiletries, clothes and a party that left quite an impression.

With the pandemic’s pangs raging and many families economically destitute, this life saving intervention not only provided necessary provision, but also revived the much needed Christmas spirit in all of us given that 2020 is a tough year. 

Clothes are a huge deal in African Christmases given that they represent newness and assert the feeling of care and love especially in children given that hardly do they get such attention and this did just that, Thank you. 

More Reasons to Be Thankful

Thanks to Valery’s sponsors she’s been able to have to rare opportunity to continue her education and will become a teacher!

Valery is soon set to be a teacher and start giving back to the society as an elementary school educator, a passion she has held close since her childhood days. According to her, her love for children shaped her interests and she hopes to give the profession her all.

Having grown right before our eyes, she has blossomed into a beautiful modern woman with a knack for benevolence and charity. Speaking to her, she is thankful of how far she has come and hopes to be a better teacher and mentor to many who look up to her.

By educating girls, not only do you empower an individual, but the entire community.  While exuding great excitement, she is prepared to take on the next chapter of her life. We wish her all the best.

Attitude of Gratitude Especially During this Challenging Year

“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. ”

— Proverbs 11:25

Dearest Partners,

May I start with wishing each of you a wonderful Thanksgiving. We are so grateful for you and your commitment to help us be the hands and feet of Jesus to our brothers and sisters around the globe. We could not do what we do without your support and we are forever grateful.

I’ve learned the best gifts are not bought in a store! The best gifts are helping and serving others. Those are better than any jelly of the month club. The joy we receive from helping someone else is amplified 10X. By giving, we transform from reservoirs to rivers allowing love, joy and hope to flow from us into others! It’s a beautiful process!

This Christmas season, we have an opportunity to expand our river. We have a remaining need of $2050 in order to provide the children in our program a new outfit and a Christmas meal. Would you please consider donating any amount toward this? We can provide you with a gift certificate you can mail/wrap if you’d like to make a donation in someone’s name/honor. We have tote bags available for sale online and soon we will have limited edition face masks made from beautiful African fabrics!

Here’s some pricing if you’d like to consider gifting any of these items:

• A Clean Water Well-$2500 (serves hundreds of people clean water for years to come)

• Sponsor a child-$600/$1200 per year ($600 provides food, education, school uniforms, supplies, hygiene items and more to an elementary aged child. $1200 provides the same for a high school student)

• $1500 provides a jigger clinic to a school/community that includes treatment, prevention and new shoes for dozens of people

• $400 provides an adult 6-month tailoring school, a sewing machine and tools upon their graduation and fabrics to make their own outfit

• Our wish list for other items is available here: http://www.giveamore.org/wish-list

As always, we thank you for your support and can’t wait to see how God provides for each of you and our family across the globe this Christmas season!

God bless,

Christa Horst

Give Amore Founding Director

Back Together!

 With no government initiated stimulus package nay plan in taking care of the overly deprived in Kenya during these Covid-19 trying times, your contribution towards providing food among other vital supplies  is keeping tens of families fed and alive. 

 Socially distanced, this month our beneficiaries gathered to receive their monthly food supplements in person at our community resource center as opposed to our recent past’s door to door home delivery. 

Further, our dedicated team continued to emphasize the need to wear masks at all times and frequent washing of hands with soap especially at this crucial time that is witnessing an exponential surge of infections worldwide.

The most incredible take away from the celebration was of how well aware and informed our children were about Covid-19, something that comes in handy in this great fight against an invisible enemy. 

It's Never Too Late to Change the World

2020 has been quite a difficult year but we are super inspired by your unfathomable exhibition of great love that has helped transform many lives to the better. Still, together this festive season, we can give ourselves the best gift of giving.

Our immediate goal is to gift each child in our sponsorship program with new clothes, a special Christmas meal and other essential supplies that will go a long way in enhancing their lives.

Therefore, via www.giveamore.org/donate  we can serve better in the lives of our brothers and sisters who long for a beautiful day of hope, joy and love in Kenya.

Kindness is the perfect picture of a world we believe in and through the example of your compassion, we are certain today and many others to come will be just as beautiful.

What Are You Thankful For?

Emmanuel has greatly transformed since joining Give Amore and we are proud of the man he is becoming. The following is an edited copy of a letter to his sponsors exuding hearty gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving!

“Dear Sponsor,

I hope you are doing well! 

I am so happy to write to you today.  How is your family during this pandemic? Are schools open there? In Kenya Covid -19 cases are on the rise and schools are partially open.

I feel sad that we recently lost Brian, one of us, but am glad he rests in eternal peace.

I am thankful for you and your support and may God bless you!

Yours,

Emmanuel” 

A Rollercoaster of Emotions

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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 minds in Christ Jesus.”

— Philippians 4:6-7

Partners,

My words seem to be failing me as I try to update you on so much that is going on with our ministry. Our highs have been so high! We’ve resumed our sewing program and have students graduating! We’ve finished another well (5 clean water projects so far this year)! Schools are resuming and life is slowly returning to a “new normal”. Praise God! But our lows have been incredibly low. We’ve suffered our greatest tragedy yet with the unexpected loss of one of our precious children, Brian, last month. Most of the Give Amore team members have also lost close family members in the past few weeks so we are all grieving the loss of these souls on earth with us. However, we rejoice with knowing Brian, and others that have passed, knew Jesus and we know we will be reunited as if no time has passed.

When it comes to the loss of Brian, God really put it on my heart that though his life was short he knew he was loved, special and chosen. He had hope! He had joy! He knew he was special to be a part of our Give Amore program and saw so many people around him be the hands and feet of Jesus to him. Though he was without a father on earth, he KNEW his heavenly father.  What a gift!!!!

I am fiercely determined to continue to do what we can with our sponsorship program! We need MORE people to join us! We have lost some sponsors and our donations are suffering in the wake of COVID hhough the needs have increased. We need to raise $2000 immediately as the children are all needing additional supplies for safety reasons as schools resume-masks, sanitizer, personal products (not sharing as they have in the past) and more! The team let me know this just yesterday and my heart sank in fear that we can’t provide this. But, I’m trusting God and I get to be their voice and ask on their behalf.

Please help us spread the word about what we are doing! 

• If you are able, please consider making a one-time donation in any amount toward this. 

• Please like and share our posts on social media. 

• Please ask your friends and family to help us.

• Please ask your church, your businesses and any organizations you know to support us! There are often employer match programs available!

Though I worry, I trust. God has not failed us yet. 

Thank you for sharing our joys and our heartaches with us. Though the work is hard, the investment and pay-off is so worth it!

Trusting in Christ,

Christa Horst

Give Amore Founding Director 

Commissioning our 24th Well

The community celebrates clean water-a necessity denied to most Kenyans!

Give Amore’s 24th well is complete, commissioned and already serving its worthy beneficiaries with unlimited supply of clean water for their domestic needs. The well located at Emmanuel’s home has a vital responsibility of taking care of tens of families in its village and beyond. 

During its inauguration, the ecstatic multitude present was brimming with appreciation and contentment terming this venture a blessing, timely and most appropriate. 

Just like its predecessors this borehole is a special significance of hope, joy and love that God desires to be reverberated throughout the world among all mankind. Further, it suffices as the most viable in its jurisdiction as the only dependable avenue in the fight against Covid 19 due to its consistent reliable supply of clean water for all.

Graduation with a Purpose

Our newest Made with Amore graduates are confident in the dresses they made for themselves as part of the completion of their 6 month training. These single mothers now have a skill and the tools necessary to start providing for their families! Now that’s how we break the cycle of poverty and despair!

Made with Amore, a dynamic segment within Give Amore, marked its very first tailoring school graduation after the onset of the deadly global pandemic, Covid 19.  This was made possible via government’s eased restrictions and well-practiced social distancing rehearses among other required proposed measures.

This time we had five women graduating after successfully completing a six months training on everything embroidery. Each of them was awarded with a sewing machine and a sawing kit to kick-start their journey in business. 

Almost all of these women are single mothers looked unto to care for their families nay village. Therefore, their graduation and awards trickles down to the very last person who depends on them in both the short and long run of their business successes.*

We wish them all the best. 

Tribute to Brian

Our beloved Brian, gone too soon, but we rejoice that he is with Jesus and we will see him again one day!

About a month ago our Brian went to be with the Lord after a long battle with anemia that s. shook him to his last breath notwithstanding our great efforts to keep him alive and thriving. Despite being a rock to his grandmother (and only family) and to his friends and extended Give Amore family, he was an endearing joy, glimmer of hope and most of all love, to us all.

His demise caught all of us with a huge surprise and ominous grief but understanding that he knew and embraced Jesus by living according to his ways makes heaven even more fun than we could least comprehend. 

So much to be said about our boy but we can boldly liken him to our appealing values of joy, hope and love given that we watched and molded him into a fine teenager that he was; strong, empathetic, loving and visionary. We are glad, proud and blessed to have known him for the better part of his life.

We are thankful to our generous givers who came alongside us in our moments of grief with love, prayers and financial support for a beautiful send off for him.

Water the Meaningful Things in Your Life

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, wether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. ”

— Phillipians 4: 12

2020 is absolutely epic. It will be an unforgettable year like none other-for everyone! While it’s been an absolutely challenging year for most everyone, it’s also been a year of growth in unexpected areas-IF you are watering those areas! What we focus on grows. We can focus on our challenges OR we can focus on helping others. We can focus on what we’ve lost OR we can focus on what we’ve gained. We can focus on despair OR we can focus on hope. We have a choice and that choice requires effort and strengthening of the muscles of gratitude!

While 2020 has been so hard for us blessed and privileged Americans, it’s been unfathomably hard for our brothers and sisters across the globe who struggle to receive education, a meal in their belly, medical care and clean water on a good day! This pandemic has shaken them to their core and yet they are filled with gratitude for what they do have! We can all learn so much from those who are used to clinging to Jesus for their daily needs!

We are blessed that while our sponsorship program has taken some losses, overall, Give Amore is still going strong making a difference in the lives of so many with a new clean water well, jigger clinics, additional food provisions for our children and their guardian families, resuming of our computer and sewing schools and so much more!

We continue to water the meaningful things in the lives of other and focus on what we CAN do! While much is out of our control, we can continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus! This is exactly what Jesus would do! Read on for just a few positive stories of how we are continuing to make a difference. We are so thankful for our donors who make this all possible!

May God bless you and keep you safe!

Christa Horst

Founding Director, Give Amore

No Chance for Jiggers

Jack tends to a woman whose feet were highly infected with jiggers.

Jiggers have freshly been on the rise in most parts of rural western Kenya, a profanity that compelled Give Amore to carry out two emergency jigger clinics to help ease the agony of the affected population. So far dozens of people mostly children are pain free from these vicious bugs.

Part of the population treated included Give Amore’s Violette, Queen and Moses who were among the hardest hit individuals and at the time of their diagnosis, they could not walk properly nay sleep peacefully due to the excruciating pain from the jiggers. However, our dedicated team treated, educated and decontaminated affected homes.

So far, reports indicate our timely intervention is bearing fruits and most of the patients soon will be jigger free and back to ther normal lives. The treatment method was painless and everyone that turned up received the best care possible.

24th Well in Process

Our well workers begin the challenging test of hand digging our latest clean water well.

Give Amore’s 24th well is on course and is due to be accomplished in less than two weeks. This new baby is situated at Emmanuel’s home and from its strategic placement will serve dozens of families at its disposal and beyond.

With the raging Covid-19 threat that is growing exponentially in Kenya’s rural areas, this well suffices as one of the vital source of clean water that is paramount in the fight against the deadly Corona virus. Also, it comes at a vital moment that most people trek far and wide in search of clean water for drinking and domestic consumption.

Give Amore so far has 23 wells to its name serving hundreds of fammilies in tens of villages across western Kenya and the dream isn’t stopping at that. To be part of this life changing quest visit our website for this and more projects.

Monthly Round Up

Thomas receiving additional food and toiletry supplies due to the effects on his family of Covid-19 quarantine measures.

Covid-19 cases are soaring in Kenya and though western Kenya is not one of the hard hit provinces, fears still lurk of a possible outbreak given that existing control measures are hard to abide by due to inadequate education on the subject and economic disposition of the locals.

Give Amore upped its response to the pandemic by distributing food and toiletries once again to our sponsored families whilst ensuring that they stayed in line with set procedures to control the spread of the virus. Further, the team emphasized effective hand washing with soap and daily sterilization of reusable face masks.

Also, both our computer and sewing classes have resumed successfully. However, all students and staff are required to strictly observe social distancing, wear a face mask at all times, regularly wash their hands and observe other set regulations to control the spread of Covid-19 long term.