Sponsor a Student :: Change a Community

We’ve been partnering with the leaders in Kenya since 2007. More than 100 of you have been there. Tons of you have contributed to projects within that community. Here’s what I want to highlight – 160 of you are currently sponsoring students in Karogoto, Kenya!

Those sponsorships are not only helping kids go to school, but also improving the quality of those schools. Some of your sponsorship funds go towards books, desks, teaching aides, and teacher development. And it’s making a difference!

The Kenyan school year runs from January through December. So, just last month students were finishing up their school year. At the end of every school year 8^th graders take a national test that determines which high school they are able to attend. If they can score a 300 or higher, then they can go to the top high schools in the country. That’s not easy to do, though. Only 6% of the 8^th graders in all of Kenya score that well on the test.

Here’s how the 8th graders in Karogoto have done over the past five years . . .

300 or Above in Karogoto

• 2010: 8
• 2011: 13
• 2012: 28
• 2013: 31
• 2014: 43!

 That means that – if they receive the needed sponsorship – those 43 students now have the chance to go to some of the best schools in the district! One of those students, Faith Nyawira (pictured above), is great at math and wants to be a doctor. She scored a 388 on the test. (The highest score in the entire country was 420.)

Remember what I said about how hard it is to score a 300? Only 6% of the 8^th graders nationwide, score that well. Not so in Karogoto! There were only 106 eight-graders in Karogoto last year. 106 . . . and 43 of them scored 300 or higher. That’s a staggering 40.5% of the class!

Thanks to all who are or have been part of our family of sponsors!

‘To sponsor one of the students who scored 300 or above, click here:
https://www.410bridge.org/invest/parker-hill/

 

Pour It On . . . and on and on

This project began at last year’s Student KickOff Party and 30HourFast. The goal was to come alongside our partners in Haiti as they launched the first-ever school in their community of Maliarette, Haiti. Our partners there are leading the way, living in a different orbit, reshaping the next generation . . . and we want to help with that. So, we raised money to help with the school that they started. First at the 30HourFast, then church-wide in July and finally with an end-of-year push around Christmas. Here are the totals:

• 30Hour Fast: $29,490
• July: $17,245
• Christmas: $20,987

One of the stories from the Christmas campaign needs to be shared. It came from a set of triplets. Here’s what they wrote . . .

Hi Parker Hill,

Our names are Jena, Jade and Joey Lewis and we love going to EpicKidz. We are in the third grade in the Scranton School District. Recently our Mom and Dad told us how Parker Hill is raising money to build a third grade classroom in Maliarette, Haiti. Our parents also told us how they children meet outside under a tent for school. Being in the third grade this made us all realize how lucky we are. We are thankful for all the nice things we have and realize that these children need help.

 We recently turned 9. All of us agreed that instead of getting presents and toys for our birthday we would ask our family and friends to donate money to the Pour it On campaign at church. We are so happy to say that we raised $500 for these children! Please accept this donation, as we really want to help out with the new classroom!

 – Jena, Jade, Joey

 Thanks to their contribution — and so many others — the total from PHCC in 2014 is $67,722!

Three other churches who also partner in Maliarette contributed $67,410, bringing the grand total to $135,132. In one year! For the first-ever school in Maliarette, Haiti! Amazing. I have not doubt the final funds will come in to complete the project.

Total Project Cost: $159,000
Funding Gap: $23,868

Pray :: Give :: Go

Here’s your invitation to go where God is leading and join what God is doing.

PRAY: Sign up for our e-newsletter. Get updates from our partners around the world so you can pray with and for them.

GIVE: Sponsor a Student; Change a Community. Come alongside one of the 43 Karogoto students who just scored an incredible 300 (or higher) on their national test.

GO: Clear your calendar and join the Journey to either Kenya or Haiti.

Sharpening Leaders in Kenya

Parker Hill and The 410 Bridge were able to make it possible for several Kenyan leaders to attend the recent Global Leadership Summit that was held in Nairobi. Pastor James Mwangi, the community representative from Karogoto, had this to say after the Summit.

I take this opportunity to thank you for the chance to be part of this year’s Global Leadership Summit. It was a good chance for us to enhance our leadership skills. This year Pastor David and I travelled from Karogoto to participate in the event.

Some of my favorite topics were:

1.Defining leadership

2. Mastering the art of crucial conversations

3. Instigating change through personal sacrifice.

 My greatest take-aways were:

a. The highest calling of leadership is to unlock the potential in others.

b. No organization can achieve its potential unless the people in it achieve theirs.

c. What we are is Gods gift to us BUT what we make of it is our gift to God.

d. The best leaders in the world are those who didnt take the luzury of looking backwards, they stand in the gap  and courageously and breed creativity in others

e. Leadership is changing the order of things.

I hope to use this understanding to become a better leader myself and ultimately impart others around me. Pass my love to all at PHCC.

Thanks and God bless.

JAMES

Final Exams!

While we are finally getting into the swing of the new school year, our partners in Kenya are just wrapping their’s up. Their school year runs from January through December. So, this is the time of year when the 8th graders (finishing up Primary School) and the 12th graders (finishing up Secondary School) are taking their final exams. These are national tests that will determine what possibilities are available to these students in the future.

The following students are sponsored by people connected with Parker Hill. Please keep these students in your prayers as they complete their testing.

COMPLETING PRIMARY SCHOOL

Edward Kinyua Gathigia
Sharon Muriithi Wairimu
Moreen Waithiegeni Njuki
Hellen Wanjiku Murage

​COMPLETING SECONDARY SCHOOL

Esther Maina Wanjiru
Eric M Gutu
Hudson Munyi Maina
Lucy N Mwai
Patricia W Waigwa
Reagan M. Wanjiru
James W Njeri
Ann Wanjiru Kariuki
Isaac N Mwangi
Hellen W Ihuthia

Big thanks to the sponsors who’ve supported these students throughout their journey. You’ve made what used to seem like the impossible, a reality for these students! Asante Sana. Mungu aku bareki!

Daraja was here!

Here’s what a few of our host homes had to say about their time with the Daraja choir . . .

The joy, nervousness, love, obedience, and talent that has been in our house for the past 4 days is more than we have had all year!

We joked and said American kids need African camp and that African children need American love. The Daraja experience is the best camp for both American and African children and we were blessed to be a part of it!

We saw God in the smiles of the children. We felt His presence in their prayers. We enjoyed seeing their photos and learning about their families, and their life back home. We were humbled to see their pure and complete joy in worshipping God.

 Not everyone can afford to go to Africa…so God found a way to bring Africa to us.

For three days and nights our home was filled with laughter, song, prayer, fun, food, and fellowship creating lifetime memories.

Follow Daraja as they continue their U.S. tour.
http://darajachoir.org

 

Reflecting on the Journey :: Gary Spencer

My journey back to Kenya for the second time was another amazing experience. It was a great feeling to see the community of Karogoto again and our team was welcomed with open arms. Seeing the knitting facility completed and the women who worked there was one of many highlights on this journey. One of my favorite times in Karogo​to was when we were able to visit a school for three days and to interact with the children there. I was able to work with some masons parging the walls of a classroom that was just added on. Another highlight on this journey was when our team was split into three groups. We were able to do home visits with some families in the community. It was amazing to be welcomed into their homes and to hear their life stories. I will never forget praying for each other and sharing what God is doing in their lives and in our own. There are so many more stories to tell about this journey, I am so thankful that I was part of it. I hope someday I will be able to return to Karogoto again, it is a journey I recommend for everybody!

Reflecting on the Journey :: Claudia Loftis

I am very thankful I had the recent opportunity to go to Haiti! It was wonderful to feel God working in my heart and mind as I was preparing for the trip but especially during the week I was there. Also, I was excited to witness the amazing things that He has been doing in that country.

My eexperience during this journey was about loving and serving people and continually turning my eyes to the source of everything we need, Jesus, because He is enough! This trip was definitely not about my comfort and appearance but about Jesus living in me and through me. In the moments where I encountered challenges and struggles it was very important for me to pause and rest in Jesus. In those moments He showed His power and awesomeness. God is so good!

The people in Maliarette love Jesus so beautifully in spite of their circumstances! I was inspired by many people I met in the community…little children, teens, older people… beautiful people. Some of those who impacted my life were the President of the Leadership Council, Paul Appolon, and his wife, Rose Carnie. Their passion was contagious. The way they treat others, the way they serve and their vision for what appears so hopeless, just shouted Jesus! I was humbled by seeing how eager they are to change the future of that community. Oh, and the children–how responsible they are at such a young age. I will never forget two little girls named Ninise and Nanai. They taught me so much… everything from nursery rhymes in Creole to working hard in the garden like adults.

My deepest thanks to all of you who supported me financially and to everyone who prayed for me and helped Ben and the kids while I was away.

The Men of Karogoto, Kenya

It’s fitting that our next team to Kenya is made up entirely of men (well, some very young men, but men nonetheless). Since the beginning of the year, the leaders in Karogoto have made an intentional effort to reach, help and develop the men in the community. Check out these updates we’ve received . . .

•  February: The pastors and Leadership Council acknowledged the need to more intentionally engage men in the churches. They have begun to host monthly meetings where men are able to interact about community, personal and spiritual issues. These meetings have attracted good attendance and commitment. It is the first men’s group within any of 410’s partner communities.
•  May: There has been effective monthly men’s meetings. Pastor Stephen will continue to organize the program. Additionally, men in the church will be trained and encouraged to build significant friendships with others in need of similar connection and support.

The impact that Karogoto’s churches are having on the men in that community is exciting to watch. No doubt a team of 10 men from Parker Hill will add to the momentum of this men’s ministry focus.

Speaking of our team, here are the men — young and old — who will be going to ‘goto from July 31-August 10. (Click the pic to learn more.)

 

Back Row: Ed White, Brian McGuinness, Paul McGuinness, Gary Spencer, Scott Salvigsen. Front Row: Clay Salvigsen (13), Jackson McGuinness (8), Hudson (8), Dustin (11) and Drew (11) Salvigsen

Pour It On

Check out these pictures we recently received from our friends in Maliarette, Haiti.

 

Can you even guess what this is a picture of?

What about a close-up . . .

Pretty awesome, huh?

They may not look like much at first; just some index cards laying in the dirt. Actually, each of these cards contains prayers and verses of hope written by PHCC students during the 30Hour Fast. The cards were then sent to Maliarette and physically dropped into the foundation for Maliarette’s first-ever school!

The Emile Durkeim Community Christian School is literally being built on top of these prayers from our middle and high school students!

To learn more about this project and you can be part of it, click here.