What's your purpose?

What’s the purpose of your life? Why do you exist? These are some of the questions that we usually ask ourselves (at least I hope you do) concerning life.

One of my favorite quotes on the purpose of life is by Ralph Waldo Emerson who was an American Essayist and Lecturer. He said the purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to make some difference that you have lived and lived well.

I have found this quote particularly true when I look at Margret Aim. She is the co-founder of Afri-Lift and also the leader of the Children’s Workers Training. The training is also part of the ministries here in Afri-Lift.

Margret has been teaching children’s workers for the last 30 years. Her passion for children’s ministry started while she was a teenager. She realized the need of equipping children workers after having children of her own. When she came to Kenya she saw an even greater need to equip the children’s workers and hence she found her purpose.

Margret Aim

Children’s Worker Training is based on a model created by the Petra Institute for Children’s Ministry in South Africa. The institution is focused on building capacity for children’s ministry within partnerships with denominations or organizations. It also offers consulting services such as assisting theological training institutions to compile curriculums for children’s ministry.

A group session during the training

Margret uses the model for training the workers. The model is skilled based as much as it is knowledge based. The main targets for the training are Sunday school teachers and orphanage workers. The trainers are normally volunteers who have been trained previously.

The training takes place for four weeks. The program usually takes a week at a time or even two weeks per month depending on the schedules of the trainees and the communities. Currently, Margret is training children’s workers in Mlolongo (outskirts of Nairobi) that takes place every 2^nd Saturday of the month.

The program starts out with devotions where they (the trainees) read a portion of scripture and they ask God to speak to them personally. They later share with the small group what God has put in their hearts. Throughout the program they are encouraged to build a concept, from what they learnt earlier, for teaching the children using the skills they have acquired during the training. The basis of the training is to build relationship with the children and God.

Training in Rwanda

Margret’s vision for the future of Children’s worker ministry is for Petra to walk with the wounded children especially after the Westgate attack here in Kenya.

She believes that nothing in our lives is wasted by God. After the death of her daughter at 17 years of age, a seed was planted in her life to produce more fruit. Margret believes that from that experience God planted a deeper understanding of hurting people and children.

So, what’s your purpose in life?

News From Riziki Programe

The Riziki Child Assistance Program is the sponsorship arm of Afri-Lift. Headed by our social worker Mathew Muema, there are currently 25 children in the program. Because of our partners children in primary and secondary school have their school fees paid. As funds allow we also assist with textbooks and uniforms. With the assistance of an international partner some of our children are able to go on to vocational training.

The Riziki Child Assistance  Program Logo

At Riziki we have a number of goals:

-       Give children an opportunity to attend school

-       Enable them to acquire employable skills

-       Give them an environment each month where they can receive Biblical teaching, food and a chance to meet up with fellow Riziki students

On the third Sunday of each month we hold a 2 hour program at the Olympic Centre that Robin and Margaret Aim founded many years ago. We have a theme (hold on to the promises of God, prayer etc) and use songs, stories, object lessons, testimonies, plays and games to teach the principle. Towards the end of the meeting we break off into small groups based on age for a time of prayer. It is a wonderful thing to see young people praying for each other and our nation. At the end of the Riziki Club each child receives a snack which includes a drink, fruit, cake and small item of food. Each month we celebrate birthdays with a cake, candles and card. We always have extra children attending the Riziki Club, those who hope to be sponsored, those who come off the street and those who just like the meetings!

 

 Riziki leaders  during a leadership meeting

This year we have been developing a leadership team for the Riziki meetings. The team meets a week before the Riziki Club for training and to go through the program. This month, all leaders received a team tee shirt, designed by them. There was a sense of pride as the leaders wore their shirts. They have also been learning how to do a 3 minute testimony, leading games effectively and different ways of presenting memory verses. We are aiming to get to the point where each leader can function in all the different roles from a sound technician to meeting leader. We are believing God for a bigger team as our numbers increase.

Some of the Riziki leaders in their new tshirts

Those who are in the Riziki Program have huge challenges in their lives. Some are orphaned, others with HIV, girls who need to go to boarding school before they are married off early and for all – the day to day struggle for survival. If they get sick, families struggle to get the money together to pay for medication. With a huge unemployment rate many cannot find work. Even getting a $5 textbook is a huge task.

Each Monday, the Riziki Team (Margaret, Mathew, Joy & Sharon) meet to go through the challenges and successes of the program and the young people involved. Mathew is on the cold front of the work with most of his week spent paying school fees, sorting out family issues, visiting students in schools and counselling. His main role is to be a messenger of hope to the families he works with.

Joy is the Riziki Administrator. She has a variety or roles but if you are one of our partners she will be the one who you will receive mailouts and emails from. Joy visits families periodically with Mathew but mainly focuses on all of the administrative areas of Riziki. Since she has come on board the level of excellence has sky rocketed. She is innovative in her thinking and has brought in many new idea into the program. Joy has a real heart for the young people and has seen first hand the great needs of those living in Kibera.

Sharon is always on the hunt for new partners in our work. She also has a desire to train up new leaders to get ready for an increase in the number of children. Each month she hosts the leadership team at her apartment but always insists on a good meal beforehand, which goes down well.

Margaret loves children. She has years of wisdom acquired through 30 years of working in Kenya. Margaret goes beyond the call of duty sometimes taking people for hospital visits, food parcels to needy families and counselling in difficult situations. Margaret is always the encourager in the team, she is valued and appreciated.

Beyond this initial team are Pete, Liz, Flavia, Kelvin, Martin, Christabel, Tinga and a new generation of young people who make Riziki happen.

This year we’ve also held tuition days, special events for secondary students and a volunteers cleaning day.

We are believing God for a great future for all of our Riziki students. Will you join us in the call to give every child in Africa an opportunity to reach their God given potential.

The Riziki Children and staff members

Contact riziki@afrilift.com for more information.

What Good Is Peace?

On September 21^st the world will mark 31 years of International Day of Peace. The day was set aside by the United Nations General Assembly in September 1982. On that day all nations around the world are encouraged to cease fire and commemorate it through education and public awareness on issues related to peace.

The global peace sign

 I imagine two or more countries in the middle of a civil war all year and on this particular day they get to put down their weapons (now wouldn’t that be a site to behold). In those 24 hours the soldiers and their commanders leave their camps and go around creating awareness on the importance peace (which would be much better).

Back in campus, Daystar University, during my 1^st year we read a book called Peace Child by Don Richardson. The book is about missionaries Don and Carol Richardson who were sent to the Sawi people of New Guinea.  

While there, the couple tried their best to learn their language and customs. They also tried sharing the story of Jesus and His death on the cross however the Sawi people couldn’t understand. Maybe it was because the part of the story that the tribe loved most was the betrayal of Jesus by Judas to the Roman soldiers. Treachery was the highest virtue of the Sawi people.

The tribe was constantly in war with the neighbourhood tribe. Don and Carol threatened to leave their village if the war continued. Since the tribesmen loved the medical care and steel implements provided by the couple, they decided they would maintain peace.

One particular day the warriors from the warring tribes formed a line opposite each other. Then the Chief from the Sawi people took his own child (despite the wailing in uncontrollable grief of the mother), walked down the line of his warriors as each placed their hands on the child. Then the Chief took the child and gave it to of his enemy chief. The enemy chief also did the same-walked down the line of his warriors as they all placed their hands on him. Next the warriors turned around and disappeared with the child.

The Sawi People were known to be treacherous

It was earlier agreed that as long as the child was alive the two tribes would live in peace and harmony. However once the child dies the two tribes would resume to war and if anyone kills the child, they would be killed on the spot. The child was always termed as the Peace Child.

The Peace Child

This reminds me of the love of God to all humanity. He loved us so much that He gave His own Peace Child-Jesus. The scriptures define Jesus as the Prince of Peace and the giver of peace.

In John 14: 27, Jesus says to his disciples 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid'.

The question is what has robbed you of peace? Are the pressures and turbulence of life constantly overwhelming you in terms of finances, wayward children, separation, unknown future or even terminal illness?

I have come to learn the beauty of fixing my eyes on Jesus even in the tempest of all storms. In there you will find the beauty of His gracious peace exhibited in and always through you. Till we learn to trust in Him and lay aside our ‘weapons’ for His peace we can never really understand what peace means.

Have a peaceful 21^st

The Latest From Osiligi

The Osiligi Training Centre is one of the ministries of Afri-Lift. Currently we have 22 boys aged between 15 and 18 who are going through the 2-year program.

 

View of the farm in Kiserian

Thanks to our Dutch donors we are in the midst of building a home for Dick, our farm pastor. Accommodation for our staff is one of our challenges. Right now we have two married staff whose families live in another town. We hope that as we build further homes they can be moved onsite. It will also enable our Level 3 students to have special accommodation before they move to a job placement offsite.

The students have been learning about Earth Science through one of our volunteers. They’ve been making volcanoes, artwork about scenery, creating tornadoes and clouds in bottles and seeing on DVD about the many disasters around the world.  Our students are very practical learner so we have created an interactive way for them to learn. One of the highlights was learning how to create lava using vinegar and bicarbonate of soda.

The business clubs are where the students are divided into groups of 4/5 and they create their own gardens. They have a secretary who keeps the accounts and as a group they decide what vegetables they want to grow and sell to neighbours. It’s a way for them to earn funds so that when they leave they may have enough funds for a mattress or bicycle. The clubs are names Neema, Baraka, Faith and Hope, with the new intake of students the newest club is called Zion. Two times a week the students spend an afternoon at their business club to develop them. It is also a good opportunity to work together as a team and see that dedication to a project can bring about good results.

Osiligi often gets visitors. As of late we have had a number of New Zealanders, Australians and Kenyans. The students sometimes perform musical items for our visitors but there is always a tour. A tour is led by 3 of the students and includes the dormitories, pig shed, cow shed, shamba (gardens), business clubs and the sports field. As tour leaders it’s a great opportunity for the students to show their work and also practise their English skills. Many of the older students show the younger ones how to host visitors.

A tour at the farm

It’s only 8 weeks until three of our students sit for the KCPE (Kenya Certificate of Primary Education). This is the national exams for those who have completed their primary schooling. For our students it’s a great achievement just to get to this point. Remember, they’ve come from a slum setting, haven’t finished school, are not employed, involved with gangs and have no future. Some of those who come to Osiligi are malnourished, but when they start getting three meals a day they begin to grow both up and out! Any achievement, any short course they complete, any time they have a birthday, is a time to celebrate.

We have a lot to be thankful for about Osiligi but there is also a lot of work to get done. There is the need for classrooms, a training centre and definitely more staff housing. Our aim is to get Osiligi to the point of self sustainability. We are well on the way with our greenhouses and animals. While this is all important, the most important thing is that Osiligi is a good vehicle as a discipleship program for young men.

Those who have completed the program are now employed which is phenomenal in a country where the unemployment rate is over 40%. Many have come to Christ and developed their relationship with Him. All are grateful for the opportunity they were presented with.

Why not come and visit our training centre in Kenya – you are most welcome!

Where are the men of honor?

How God can use men of honor to change a life

Last Sunday our Australian and New Zealand brothers and sisters celebrated Father’s day. The day is usually set aside to celebrate the men (not necessarily fathers) who have provided, protected and cared for their loved ones.

I find fatherhood a really important part of this society especially here in Kenya. Sigmund Freud, an Australian Neurologist, says “I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection”.

Man of honor

What comes to your mind when you hear the term man of honor? Maybe, like me, you tend to visualize a man in uniform about to go to war or a main contender at the World Wide Wrestling Federation Championship. Sometimes we think people of honor are those who look like they have it all together,great family, nice car and they live in a wonderful neighborhood.

Honor means to pay respect, to have high respect for or to esteem someone or something.

As I look around me I see many great men of honor who have sacrificed a lot to change the community around them.

The first name that pops in my mind as I write this article is my colleague and friend Leonard Nganyi popularly known as Ayub. I have had the privilege to work with Ayub for the last few months and I have learnt a great deal.

Once you get to meet Ayub, the very first thing you will notice is the positive aura he constantly has around him. He never complains and is always in good terms with everyone around him. One can clearly tell he is a believer just by the way he relates to his neighbors around him.

Leonard Nganyi also known as Ayub

So what makes him a man of honor?

In Ayub’s world, family always comes first. He has a lovely wife Lenser and two beautiful daughters namely Joy and Joan that he treasures a lot. This is always evident by the way he speaks about them every Monday morning during devotions, always blessing the Lord for his faithfulness.

Joy and Joan

Ayub is also involved in ministry at his home church- KAG Olympic  Church. He is the treasurer and also oversees some of the projects around the church. He is also part of an outreach team that goes around Kibera to spread the message of love and hope to others.

Here in Afri-Lift, Ayub part of the of the Touch a Family Program. This is a ministry whose main mission is to help the needy amongst us. This is usually in form of a food package that feeds families that have nothing to eat.

Ayub may not be the man in uniform, he may not be driving a sleek car or living in a posh neighborhood but to me he is the real definition of a man of honor.

What about you? Who is your man of honor?