Partners,

Wow! What a year it has been already! We apologize that this newsletter is so late in going out but we’ve had quite the technical and logistical challenges the past few months and continue to…but the obstacle is the way so we are persevering and doing our best to communicate all the good news we have going on!

Our world is in need of love, compassion, support and empathy now more than ever! And, some days it takes more effort to find the good news!

Well, we’re going to make it easier on you as we have 3 incredible, short articles below with what God’s been able to accomplish the past few months based on seeds that were planted long ago! We’re bearing more fruit!

As always, if you’d like to send a letter/message/photo to any child in our sponsorship program, please email them to me at christa@giveamore.org at any time. I’ll make sure the team can print them and deliver to the children at our next distribution event! The children love receiving letters! And, as a reminder, photos of the children are updated a few times a year and you can find them on our website with information about your child at http://www.giveamore.org/children-profiles.

While some days are hard, I’m always grateful for the front row view I have to all the good people using their gifts, talents, time and treasures to be the hands and feet of Jesus to this world! Read on for some examples!

May God bless you and keep you safe. Thank you for your partnership!

Christa Horst

Give Amore Founding Director 

Highly Anticipated Made with Amore Tote Bags are Back!

Made with Amore’s signature tote bags are back after years of wait due to the Covid 19 pandemic. The bags are handmade from carefully selected African fabric with a touch of love in every stich by our sewing students.

Apart from offering financial support to this program, our students get a firsthand experience in making them and as witnessed before, some of our alumni have specialized in tote bags making and they aren’t backing down.

Stylish and convenient, these bags are easy to carry around while their conspicuous beauty adorn your favorite daily look. With every bag sold, the proceeds ensure that girls and women in Kenya get sewing training without spending a dime from their pockets. Visit www.giveamore.org to purchase your favorite prints.

Well #31-Our Most Challenging Well To Date

As the year began, so was our well #31, the deepest of all our previous wells. The well is over seventy feet deep and soon the community around it will enjoy lasting clean safe water, a luxury they never had before and least dreamt of.

After weeks of intense digging by hand, along with many prayers, water has been found eventually and now its building is underway with its completion and commissioning expecting soon. This well is located in a very remote location further from the nearest water source.

When accomplished, women and children will be eased from the burden of searching for water for miles and also do away with common waterborne diseases characterized by water from open sources.

On the other hand, we are thankful that our well digging team is safe and sound given that such depths can be deprived of oxygen which is fatal. Hand dug with no modern day equipment, not even a flashlight, as our well worker goes deeper and deeper into the earth’s surface. This is truly not for the faint of heart or the claustrophobic! We are thankful we hit water and everyone was safe!

Give Amore Happenings

Another four of Give Amore’s sewing students graduated after completing six months of training successfully. The four ladies were later awarded each a sewing machine, a stool, and beautiful dresses they designed and made themselves.

Ecstatic as they were, they could not believe the next chapter of their lives was right before them and with the right tools to shape it. On the other hand, our two-month distribution exercise went down well with families receiving food and toiletries to supplement their supplies.

A section of our school going children also received their school uniforms after missing out on the first batch. Distributions are not only vital in supply of much needed essential items but also provide an environment to interact with our children and their guardians and also convey and emphasize much needed covid 19 prevention guidelines especially in these times of multiple variants.

Let There Be Hope for Every Nation

Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel (God with us). Matthew 1:23

Merry Christmas! We have wrapped up 2021 beautifully with every child receiving a new outfit, a wonderful extravagant meal of meat, vegetables, chapati (yummy) and so much more! Their shoes are on backorder (just like we have distribution issues here too!). 

Last year, I mistakenly had a “brilliant” idea of having homemade soaps made and mailing those to all of our ongoing donors. Well, much to my shock, each one coast over $7.50 to ship, along with a card, a bubble mailer, and a lot of time (only to have about 25 returned to me), I vowed to NEVER repeat my expensive (I paid for it not our donors) mistake again! :)

So, this year, I made a digital gift! It took me way longer than it should have but I had so much fun putting it together! I tried hard to capture photos (from Facebook) of our ongoing partners and I heard this beautiful song while out for a walk and God gave me this idea! 

 Please watch this short video and read these few short articles to see how we treat everyday like Christmas around our parts! :)

We are so thankful for you and wish you and your families a very, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May the God of hope be even closer in 2022! 

Christa Horst and the Give Amore Team

In the Spirit of Christmas

Joy and abundance filled the air this Christmas season at our resource center in Kenya as Give Amore spread love through gifts, teaching and celebration of the eminent birth of our savior Jesus Christ. Our children had the time of their life, some indulging in their favorite meals and beverages, something that isn’t as common in their homes and daily routines.

Topping the list of gifts this time and every other year was new clothes for all our sponsored children, a tradition so popular in the African culture, as well as extra food and toiletries. Coming in third and fourth in a row were livestock and bibles for select families. 

Apart from all the gifts, meals and merry making, our children were taught the significance of the birth of our lord Jesus Christ and how it impacts our lives today. They were further reminded that Christmas is a time to reflect about others, especially the less fortunate and how sharing unconditional love goes a long way in changing lives immensely. Merry Christmas!

Vivian's Big Leap

Vivian finally is set to embrace her dreams after successfully graduating among the top of her class with a bachelor’s degree in education. Scooping a first class honors upper division, this beautiful Give Amore alumni told of how hard she worked, prayed and hoped she would be where she is today.

Having grown right before our eyes, she has blossomed into a beautiful modern young woman, now a wife and a mother of one, with a knack for benevolence and charity. In her own way, she is thankful of how far she has come and hopes to make a better teacher and mentor to many she believes will look up to her.

By educating girls, not only is an individual empowered, but also the vast community nay society. While exuding great excitement and hope, she is prepared to take on the next chapter of her life. We wish her all the best in her maiden career. 

2021 in Perspective

2021 has been undoubtedly an extension of 2020 and despite all the downs coupled with it, there were many blessings that came with it as well. And as we prepare to turn a new leaf into the loading 2022, were are thankful for all we have achieved so far and hopeful for many more to come.

Despite hitting our 31st well target, we saw quite a number of women graduate from our tailoring school and set up sewing businesses that are thriving and greatly changing their lives for the better. Further, our sponsorship program churned out high school graduates who are out now chasing after their dreams.

From our fruitful partnership we hope and believe 2022 will be full of mightier achievements that not only change lives for the better, but also bring glory to God. Kindness is the perfect picture of the world we believe in and we are certain today and many others to come will be just as beautiful.  Happy New Year folks!

Gratitude Abounds

We pray you are feeling the joy of the season as you reflect on all your blessings! We reflect on you-our generous partners!

For almost 7 years, you have been faithful to support us and we could not be more grateful! At timesit seems overwhelming, but God never ceases to amaze me with who he stirs up to support us. If you’re reading this, you’re likely one of our loyal and faithful supporters! THANK YOU!

While some of our prayers have not yet been answered we wait with expectation that He is not finished! To look back and see all we’ve accomplished together, it’s quite overwhelming and it would not be possible without YOU stepping out in faith, taking action and giving to others who will never be able to repay you this side of heaven. 

If you are looking for opportunities for year-end giving, please read below! 

•  Christmas is coming and that’s always a struggle to raise additional funds on top of current donations needed. At time of this newsletter, we are in need of $2650 additional donations to provide an outfit, shoes and a Christmas meal to our children.

• We have goals to provide more clean water wells. We’re in the process of repairing two wells to ensure they continue to provide safe water to communities.

• Unfortunately, we are still dealing with a pandemic of Jiggers in Kenya. These tiny creatures wreak havoc every single day. We have not had any funds to treat, prevent or educate the communities in quite some time.

• General donations are down significantly. General donations help bridge the gap on unexpected expenses (motorbike repair, well repair, medical needs, etc.).

We trust God to provide what we need as He always has but He does it through His people! Please help us share what we are doing and let’s get others on this journey with us! It’s so fun!

Please read on for some good news! We are so thankful for you!!!

Christa Horst and the Give Amore Team

“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever. Psalm 107:1”

— Psalm 107:1

We are thankful for You

Give Amore is gearing up for the festive season and it is not lost on us how big an asset your support has been this year and over the years. Together we have transformed many lives and are motivated to even do more through our unwavering partnership. 

Thirty wells and counting, dozens of children educated, tens of women empowered and more fed are just but indicators of what we can do when we come together under the wings of love to impart joy and hope to our brothers and sisters in Kenya.

As we prepare to wind up 2021 it is our prayer you continue with us through this transformative journey and we couldn’t be any prouder of your sustenance especially through the pandemic. Thank you and happy holidays. 

Volenshell Transformed

Born out of wedlock in a tiny remote village in western Kenya, little could be thought of little Volenshell turning out as great as she is today. With a mother in high school and a deprived grandmother surviving on less than a dollar a day, you’ve helped shape this beautiful child to who she is currently. 

Her love for hide and seek with her peers every distribution day is exhilarating and sometimes such a sight to see. Speaking to her mother Gladys, she describes her as the greatest gift whilst acknowledging the vivacity of the help she has got over the years in raising her.

Everyday, she grows, smiles and play, we see hope, joy and love in her eyes courtesy of thoughtful generosity sponsored by you and we hope and pray she grows to become the best young woman God intended her to be.

Jingle All the Way

From the peaks of snowy heights to the plains of warm savanna, it’s Christmas time! United by a unit bond called Jesus Christ, we join hands whichever our cultures, color or any other factors in a campaign of love, concern for others and above all thanksgiving.

Just like snow crystals, Christmas comes in unique forms, shapes, feel and beauty every year. It sprays our hearts with warmth like a cup of hot chocolate on a freezing evening after a hard day’s work and revitalizes our love sinuses to continue flowing with liquid love to reach the unfathomable depths of souls thirsty for affection.

Remember Christmas is no Christmas unless we exhibit one of life’s paramount dimensions: having that outward concern for others. As we all celebrate, let it be stencilled in our mental sheets that those around us make up who we are and who we become. They could be family, friends or even total strangers. Let us be total ambassadors of God’s love, love in our hearts and love in our deeds.

Praying a wonderful Christmas season for you and your families!

Humbly Asking in Expectation that God Will Provide

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  Mathew 7:7

Dear Partners,

We can’t believe we’re wrapping up our 7th year as a ministry! God has shown up mightily over the years and what a privilege it is to have the view that I’ve had to see how God uses each and every one of us to weave this beautiful tapestry!

As we prepare to head into the giving season, we kindly ask that you pray to see if you can stretch your generosity a little (or a lot more) and help us do more than maintain our current levels but increase them! The cost of everything has increased and the dollar is not worth what it used to be, yet we have not decreased what we are providing to the children and families we serve. A few generous donors have been helping us bridge the gap but we’re finding ourselves still behind. 

Our specific needs are:

General Giving ($2500+ more per month)

Made with Amore Sewing Program ($10,000 per year)

7 Clean Water Wells ($2500 each/$17,500 per year)

If you are led to support any of these additional needs or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me-christa@giveamore.org

In the meantime, please read our newsletter to see just three highlights from this past month (though there are many more). 

We are blessed to have you on this journey with us and we thank you for your generous support, prayers and hearts to help those who will never be able to repay you for your kindness! Well done good and faithful servants!

Christa Horst

Give Amore Founding Director

30th Well Finally Completed

Thirty wells before now we couldn’t comprehend how far we could get but it’s outstandingly clear anything is probable. Six years on, our thirtieth well was sunk and handed over to the community realising our consolidated goal of providing clean safe water for consumption to those who most need it.

This new gift comes to the community at the most opportune time when many are in dire want of clean water and not only does it appease their thirst but also bring them together as a community believing in unity to go further. 

As earlier reported, it was anticipated this borehole would have taken two weeks but as things turned out it took four weeks after our builders hit a snag courtesy of a bedrock that slowed down activities. However hard work and prayers paid off in the end. 

Right now, tens of families somewhere in western Kenya are adoring safe water, due to your continued thoughtful support. Thank you.

Covid response Update

After the onset of covid 19 and the first case reported in Kenya, our efforts to keep our sponsored children safe have paid off immensely. Our rapid response effect not only impacted our children and their families but also reverberated through the communities they reside in.

So far, we have been distributing to them extra soap every distribution month and alongside it effective information to help keep them safe from the deadly pandemic. No infections as well as fatalities have been reported and that holds up well with our efforts to keep everyone safe.

With more cases of the delta variant surging across the country, everyone is vigilant and in balance with the government laid direction and we greatly hope no harm comes to anyone.

Another Life Transformed

As a little girl sitting on her favorite’s seamstress’ workshop, Little Sarah wished and hoped she would one day be just like her, and now all grown and married with two children, her dreams are hinging even closer after successfully graduating from our sewing class. 

Ms. Sarah views her achievement as a great transformation and she’s glad she was part of a life changing program that not only equipped her with valuable skills but also charged her up with determination and hope for a better tomorrow. 

And just as she looked up to her favorite seamstress and mentor, she hopes her beautiful little girls do the same to her knowing that no one is limited and every dream is valid. Sarah hopes to some day own a shop of her own and mentor many others to greatness she hopes to achieve someday.

Thank You for Your Steadfast Support

“They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. ”

— Psalm 112:7

In times that feel extra dark and heavy, I’m thankful to know that we are doing what we can do to make it a better place for some of our brothers and sisters across the globe and share with them the love of Christ. 

2021 has been an extremely challenging year for our family and our Give Amore family. Though we can focus on the many blessings and many praises, we also can’t ignore the real challenges we all face. I’m reminded of a scripture that jumped off the pages recently when I read it…

”They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord”. Psalm 112:7

While the world spins faster and faster and feels increasingly out of our control, we will not fear for our hearts are steadfast and trusting in the one who holds the world in His hands. We will not be shaken. 

We are so thankful for your steadfast support during these challenging days. I pray God’s peace and strength rest on you and your family!

Christa Horst

Give Amore Founding Director

Well #30 in Progress-So Exciting!

As this newsletter issue goes out today, Give Amore’s 30th well sinking is on course and should be completed in less than a fortnight. This was made likely through your thoughtful sacrificial donation that now will allow tens of households’ access to clean and safe water for daily use possible.

In a community where each drop of water immensely counts, it is not guaranteed that water fetched from distant rivers and streams is safe for consumption. This is due to rampant pollution in and around these sources, a fatal disaster to most families.

Cholera and typhoid are the most prevalent infections from such cases and in their attacks, many are left critically ill and in some sad cases dead. Therefore, this heaven sent water source provides an array of solutions people here are in dire need of. 

Joy Fueling Hope in our Tailoring Graduates

Since the inception of Give Amore’s Free tailoring training program in Kenya, hundreds of women have benefitted from this training than we can keep up with. Again, another lot graduated recently after successfully completing six months’ worth of training in everything embroidery.

These beautiful women showcased their sewing mastery and creativity through neatly custom tailored dresses that they made and get to keep as both gift and souvenir of the hard work dedication and sacrifice they inputted in their training. Additionally, they received certificates acknowledging their much treasured achievements. 

Their happiness exuded by their smiles is a clear indicator of how grateful they were, terming it as “An incredible way of arming them for their future through loving thoughtful hands that gave towards this worthy cause.” We wish them all the best.

Encouraging Achievement

For years you have helped nature our sponsored families through dietary supplements and toiletries, the only thing you may not know is how far greater this sacrifice is. Our sponsored children have grown into impeccable young men and women courtesy of this program and continue to thrive through it.

This venture contributes immensely in our efforts in eradicating food insecurity in our community with the full knowledge that eradicating hunger isn’t an easy task. Hunger causes suffering and poor health and further slows progress in many areas of development like education and employment.

Bearing all these in mind we couldn’t be prouder of our achievements through the pandemic to date in keeping our sponsored families fed and safe and hopping that our continued partnership bears more fruits that bring glory to God through hope, joy and love.