EQUIP1 Ministries purpose in Kenya is to come along-side the
FIWAGOH Mission Orphanage in the construction of their new vocational school to
equip the older teen orphans with skills they can eventually use to support
themselves. EQUIP1 support is not limited to the construction of the
building, but also includes outfitting the various classrooms with equipment
and supplies to teach each trade as well as conducting training workshops in some
of the trades that will be taught at the school.
The EQUIP1 team that recently traveled in June went to jump start training
in the areas of culinary, sewing and medical/first aid. Our goal was to
provide beginner classes in these trades as well as provide some of the initial
equipment/supplies the school would need to start classes once the building is
complete next Spring.
For the sewing workshop we went armed with many of yards of
fabric, spools of thread, bobbins, needles, pin cushions, patterns, scissors,
measuring tape and two VERY talented seamstresses! We also went with the
assumption that the 4-5 electric sewing machines that had been donated to the
orphanage in the past were in good WORKING condition. Sadly, they were not.
So on our second day on the ground in Kenya, sewing classes
started while I headed to town in pursuit of sewing machines and an iron.
Kris and Doneva (our sewing instructors) began their classes with things
they could teach without sewing machines.
They explained the basics of measuring, laying out patterns and choosing
appropriate fabric for the projects we planned. The girls in the class
were very attentive and eager to learn. The teachers were beyond patient
and understanding as they explained and worked individually with the girls.
Meanwhile I was in town going from shop to shop in search of
sturdy, functional sewing equipment. After much searching I was able to
find ONE heavy duty manual/electric Singer sewing machine and table for $650.
I had hoped to purchase more than one, but at that price the girls would
have to take turns learning and sewing on a single machine. It felt good
to know that we now had a reliable machine to be able to teach the sewing
classes we had planned. Little did I know, God had a much bigger PLAN in store than
our simple lessons.
Over the coming days the girl’s sewing projects
turned out wonderfully. They were each
very proud of what they were able to learn and then “wear”.
While I was in town shopping some of the team had been searching
through the storage room in the basement of the orphanage's main building.
They were looking for additional supplies to be used in our various projects
and instead found stacks of brand new mattresses, pillows and blankets sitting
unused. We had heard that a previous mission team visiting the orphanage
had purchased these items for the children and were puzzled as to WHY they remained
in the storage room and were NOT on the children’s bunk beds in their dorms.
When I asked Pastor Benson why these items remained in storage, he shared
that they HAD the fabric to make mattress covers, but did not want to use ANY
of the mattresses until they could purchase the necessary plastic material to
cover those beds of the children who were still prone to wet (or
"rain") at night. Since funds
were not available, the mattresses sat idly in storage.
And just like that . . . I knew our PLANS were about to change.
But before I committed the team to take on such a large project, I
decided to discuss it with them over dinner and share the need. The
challenge we faced was that our trip funds were limited and I knew we would
have more material to purchase and we could NEVER get it all done with just ONE
sewing machine! The team quickly agreed that we need to get the
mattresses OUT of the storage and ON to the beds. Many of the team had been in
the children's dorms and had seen that they were sleeping on very thin foam
mattresses or just a blanket directly on the metal wires of the frame. Knowing
that our funds were limited, the team felt strongly that we should SHARE the need
with friends and family back home and leave it to the Lord to provide.
So that night I typed a short message outlining our request for
additional funds. I explained that we
needed to purchase a second sewing machine as well as some personal hygiene
supplies for the children to meet another need of which we had become aware.
All in all, we asked for about $1000. I tagged everyone on the
team, posted it on Facebook and the team headed to bed. While everyone
else slept, I was online talking with Bret and uploading pictures from the day.
Within minutes funds started pouring in and before we knew it, almost
$4000 had been donated in just a few hours. Tears flowed as I sat there
watching God provide in a BIG way. I was overwhelmed with the realization
of HOW much He LOVED these ORPHANS and was moving to meet their need. How humbling to see him USE us to accomplish
His PLAN.
Recently my personal Bible study time has been in the book of John. I am learning over again how MUCH God LOVES
us. In the quiet of the wee hours of the morning in Kenya . . . I opened
my Bible to John 15 and read out loud...
"I am the vine; you are the
branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit,
apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is
like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up,
thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain
in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my
Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."
John 15:5-8
I went to bed with my
heart full and overflowing. I hoped to
get a few hours of sleep before sharing the news with the team at breakfast.
In the morning I read to the team from the passage in John 15 that
I had read in the middle of the night. I
shared with them how very important it was that we remain in Him . . .
and how He has promised that if we do, we can ask and He will provide. Then I share that He HAD. Needless to say, there was not a dry eye in
the room. We all sensed that we were now
caught up in what He had planned all along and we had much to do . . . some of
it still yet to unfold.
We headed into the day with a renewed sense of calling and
purpose. God had a plan and we had a
small part in it. How humbling . . . and
what a privilege!
