LTRP Note: The following is two letters from two of the Christian widows in Kenya who are part of the Bryce Homes for Children missions project that is supported by Understand the Times and Lighthouse Trails readers. We launched this project in Kenya in 2011, and because of the donations from our readers and from Understand the Times, 15 homes (with over 110 children in them) are being helped. In addition to food and other household needs, UTT has used donations to build new houses for some of these families. More are planned for 2013. If you would like to learn more or donate, please visit www.missionsfortruth.com or http://www.understandthetimes.org/missionkenya.shtml. (Donations sent through UTT are tax deductible.) By the way, one of the most exciting aspects of the work over there is the agricultural project. Currently, one of the homes, Bryce Home #12, has begun to grow and harvest their own food. In time, we hope that all of the homes will have vegetable gardens and chickens to raise.
A LETTER FROM LEWNIDA, BRYCE HOME # 11
BENEFICIARY FROM – KENYA
Dear Donors,
I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. First I thank the Almighty God for enabling my vernacular language be interpreted so as to communicate to you.
I therefore have appreciative information basing on my improved living standards as a widow.
Picture of Lewnida’s family when UTT and LT first met them
MY LIFE BEFORE THE BRYCE HOME SUPPORT
In order to give the whole testimony, I have to focus on my early life which was characterized by
Stress and depression:
Based on the demand of orphaned children under my custody, I had found it so hard to put bread on the table for them. Their food, if not to mention education, left me in a stressed life. I grew thin and had no hope in life.
Malnutrition
It looked to touching to the onlookers how my family members looked thin, because of deficiencies such as marasmus and kwashiorkor [forms of malnutrition]. This was also due to the persistence starvation which I could not avoid as a widow since I lacked energy even to till the land for farming.
My children found their school life so hard at early stages of lower grade education. They found it hard to study in hunger and without key education items such as books. I became afraid as a mother since many young girls as early as age 10 begin to give in early marriages for a living because their families are poor. My younger girls could not be an exception. This is why I was afraid.
I had completely lost hope and used to think people who have breathed their last were better off than the starving living. However I fellowshipped with Pastor Achilla who helped me in prayers to press on in life by faith. He made me to know that Jesus is the hope of the hopeless.
LIFE AFTER THE BRYCE HOME SUPPORT
Today I speak of a big testimony. My life has seen light and can now talk of:
Food
My family has monthly received food including cooking fat, beans, rice, maize, sugar, etc. making my life to appear new. Glory be to our Lord Jesus
Hygiene
Provision of washing and bathing soap has miraculously relieved my family from health related infection such as skin diseases, parasites and cholera as well as other water born diseases. I can now wash my utensils with soap, wash my clothes and dress clean. My children have really changed hygienically.
Lewnida’s family today standing with Pastor Nelson
Improved bedding
I cannot fail to mention the kind of comfort I now find in my current bedding status. The blankets and mattresses have really changed my life. My children can now sleep soundly.
Life free from malaria infection
North Kadem Region, being a malaria zone in Kenya, posed a great health challenge but now we sleep under treated mosquito nets. My children no longer suffer from malaria due to prevention measures by the Bryce Home Project and Lighthouse Trails readers.
Improved skin care
Since I was borne, I did not know that our skin required some body oils to keep it smooth and prevent bacteria infection. I can now maintain my skin and this makes me feel a smooth flow of blood beneath the skin in my body.
I therefore urge fellow widows to remember God is the sole provider of the bread of life and those who remain in Him will never go thirsty. Keep on praying. I continue to pray for God to open more doors to LT and UTT and to have faith even that my house will be built by the Lord’s favor.
To Roger and UTT, Deborah and Dave of LT and all the readers/donors, I lack words to express my thanks but the Almighty God will tell it in your lives. Am so blessed.
May the Lord favor you to continue with such a noble task.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
LEWNIDA – BRYCE HOME #11 NORTH KADEM
A LETTER FROM TERRY
BRYCE HOME # 6 BENEFICIARY
Dear Donors,
Receive greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I take this God given opportunity to relay to you a thanksgiving information through this interpreted vernacular. My life as a widow with young children to take care of had been unbearable until when the UTT and LT intervened through the hand of God.
LIFE BEFORE THE BRYCE HOME SUPPORT
I would like to emphasize the level from which Bryce Home support project has taken me. My initial family life was characterized by:
Malnutrition
Poor feeding due to lack of food had hit my family hard, so hard that it robbed me of my beloved younger child. The high infant mortality rate swept across the village and my family was not exceptional. The major cause has always been measles.
Unhygiene
I could try to maintain cleanliness but the cost of soaps and detergents became a deterrent. My family clothes and utensils were therefore poorly cleaned leading to body infection and water born diseases such cholera, typhoid, etc.
Body discomfort
Our primitive family mattress (mat) indeed made me grow older than expected. I lacked comfort due to the hardness of the mat. My children could cry at intervals over night when the situation worsened.
Harsh weather conditions
The kind of house (hut) we lived in became unbearably during rainy seasons as I used to wake up at night with the children until the rain stopped. It became horrible during winter seasons, colds led us into a massive infection from Pneumonia.
Unhealthy skin
Body oils necessary to keep the skin smooth were necessities which my family could not access due to their costs.
LIFE AFTER THE BRYCE HOME SUPPORT
A worthy testimony I can call it. My life has totally changed since:
Terry and her children when UTT and LT first met them
Improved nutrition
My entire family now feeds on a balanced diet rich in protein, carbohydrates and vitamins. At least we can now fry the food/vegetable unlike earlier on. This has made deficiency
disease a thing of the past in our lives.
Improved hygiene
The whole family can now bath, wash their clothes and utensils. Through these, skin diseases as well as water born diseases, have been kept away/prevented.
The provision of mattresses and the blankets has relieved my body and the family from a terrible fatigue of the mat. This has made the local society start viewing us as a blessed family. Glory be to God.
Quality Shelter
The house I currently owned has been plastered and I feel well protected from cold and I find life good, the wood stove chimney has been put to prevent being infected by smoke. I can now pray for other widows who are still suffering as I used to do. May God bless LT readers and UTT donors richly.
Terry standing in front of her new house – recently plastered. Pastor Achilla is standing there too.
Quality skin
The use of body oils (cosmetics) has made my skin so smooth and protect it from bacteria infection. My children too appreciate this. I do here them comment while playing. I therefore urge other widows, orphans and the less fortunate in the society to pray and pray and trust in the Lord Jesus. Sincere prayer is the key which will open a door for life.I now have FAITH in Jesus that more can be done for His glory.
May the Lord continue to favor the Roger and UTT, Deborah and Dave and LT readers to continue touching the lives of many.
Hopelessness
School drop-out in children
Yours faithfully,
TERRY – BRYCE HOME # 6
One of the new stoves with the pipe which takes the smoke outside. Eventually, all 15 Bryce Homes will have one of these.
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