Daily I feel God challenging and stretching us. Sometimes it feels exciting, sometimes – terrifying, but all the time I know
that He is refining and
preparing us for the next part of this journey. You see as I read His word and spend time with Him in prayer I am
more convinced than ever that this life is so
much more about His glory and so much less about our agenda. We want to know Him, to hear His
voice and to join Him in what He is doing so all may know and experience the
good news.
Our passions, priorities and
desires have so changed over the past 18 months as we have seen God moving in our lives and are amazed at how that is rippling
through our family. I have
seen firsthand the desperately
poor, lonely and needy. I have
held children
in my arms that were
nothing more than a skeleton covered with skin.
I have seen a widow struggling to know how to feed the many mouths crying
out because they are literally starving to death. I have watched naked children playing with
trash because they have nothing to resemble what we know as a toy. And I have put my arms around dirty, filthy,
disease ridden orphans who have just been swept off the street because they
have no home, no food and no one to care for or love them. 
My heart aches and tears
fill my eyes as I even sit here writing this now. Because you see, once we have
seen and felt and touched and loved even one of these children… we CANNOT forget
or ignore their plight. There is no going back to
‘life as usual.’ God LOVES them – each
one of them, and He commands us to “look after widows and orphans in their
distress.” God’s heart breaks for the
orphan child and He is calling each of us to be His hands and feet to a dying
and lost world.
My agenda is becoming His. It is as if I have put on a pair of glasses that I cannot
nor
want take off. What used to matter so much, what
used to consume … is fading.
God is challenging us… stretching us in every direction. He is calling us to
sacrifice and serve the least of these.
He is calling our family to once again lay down our time, energy,
resources and safety at His feet
… to show His love, and give HOPE to the hopeless.
This summer we will be working
with the same Christian non-profit organization, Visiting Orphans that Bret, Liz and I served with last
year. Our family (all five of us) will be joined by 22 others in July as
Bret and I lead a team to Nakuru, Kenya to serve at several orphanages. Our mission will be to invest our time and
earthly treasures and BUILD HOPE in those we encounter there. During our time in Kenya we will be based at an orphanage named FIWAGOH – a
mission, home and school to over 180+ amazing kids. We will have the privilege of living in the
orphanage for 12 days - cooking, cleaning, singing, studying God’s word, going
to school, playing, loving and completing several projects … right
alongside of these children who have become ‘family’.
At FIWAGOH we will be constructing a playground for
the children to enjoy some much needed exercise. We will
also be
partnering with two smaller, nearby orphanages. Haven
of Hope is home to over 30 infant – 6 year olds. We will be
brightening up their nursery with fresh paint and wall murals. We also have the opportunity of taking shifts
holding, bathing, playing and rocking little ones so that Nelly (their mama)
can get some much needed rest! In
addition, we will be providing and installing a new water holding-tank at VISOI
Children’s Home located in a village where there is no running water. 
PRAYER – this is our first and
foremost need as we go. We see God at work comforting and
drawing these children to Him. Pray that
above all they will come to know the hope that defies explanation . . . that
despite their present circumstances they can know and be adopted by a heavenly
father. Pray for us as we step out in faith … that we will grow in our
knowledge of Him as He works through us for His glory. We humbly ask that you join us in prayer as
we focus on trusting Him and obeying what He is calling us to do.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT – for our family and for the
projects the team will complete while in Kenya.
In order for Liz, Ethan and Emma to join us we need to
raise support to cover
the cost
of their travel. As trip leaders the costs for Bret and I are covered
by Visiting Orphans, but
as the Lord continues to draw our family towards greater involvement in this
work we believe the next step is for our children to join us and see firsthand
the calling He has for our family.
We need to raise approximately $8000 for the kids to join us.
DONATIONS – can either be made specifically
toward our kids or you can designate your gift to the projects
the team
will be completing.
- Playground at FIWAGOH – all building material, delivery and additional labor – approx. $8,000-$10,000
- Painting Project at Haven of Hope – all supplies and equipment – approx. $500
- Water holding tank at VISOI Children’s Home – approx. $500
ALL
donations through Visiting Orphans are tax-deductible and can be made one of
the following ways:
You can donate by CHECK made out to: Visiting Orphans 449 Metroplex Dr., Nashville, TN 37211. Please make a note in the MEMO line designating where you would
like the funds used:
Diana Perkey – family
support and/or July - Kenya Projects
You can also donate ON-LINE at:
- visitingorphans.org
- FUND CATEGORY choose our trip “Kenya - July 2012”
- SPECIFIC TEAM MEMBER OR MINISTRY enter one of the following:
Diana Perkey – family
support and/or July - Kenya Projects
"Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and holds us responsible to act." Proverbs 24:12
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