June 2011
Kenya, Africa

Hello Friends and Family,

I hope and pray that all is going well in your life. Everything here is going very well!
The last couple months have been very rewarding and busy. I visited my fiancé in Mozambique. Two friends of mine came here, one for a month and the other for a couple weeks. We worked on the water project; adoption issues, Operation Give Hope administration and Nora did student teaching. What a blessing that has all been in my life!

Now, I’m going through a transition as I prepare to get married and go home at the end of July. One of my prayers, before I even came to Kenya, was that whatever work I started, would continue on after I go home. As I look back, I see God has allowed a lot to be accomplished since July of last year. Here are just a few things:
Operation Give Hope (OGH) and Hope Foundation (HF) have logo’s to be identified with.
OGH set up legally as a Kenyan foundation.

OGH and HF have a newsletter and are now set up on email updates for supporters.
OGH and HF set up with an active sponsorship system connecting sponsors to students online. Over 1,500 children have profiles, pictures, and updated report cards online for their sponsors view.
OGH and HF each have a website.
OGH and HF are on facebook.

All of these connection tools are a key to keeping people involved and informed of where God is at work here in Kenya. This work needs to continue through people that live in Kenya. God has brought two wonderful Kenyan young ladies to our attention Liz and Judy. They are smart, ambitious and have a heart for this ministry which will help the children tremendously. Liz and Judy were hired on as of May. We had an official training meeting with them, as well as two key staff members at each of the 6 schools(centers) that are represented under HF and OGH. Lisa, Bobby, Jim, and I all introduced the concept of this new endeavor. We shared what the new roles, responsibilities and job descriptions from everyone there. And we discussed the main objectives, purposes of these new procedures and why they are important to each school, how it will benefit their administration for record keeping, and most importantly keep the sponsors updated and current with their students. Providing a computer for Liz and Judy, plus a printer for Liz is something that is on my heart because it is necessary for the work they are doing for OGH and HF. Please pray that God provides for that. If you’d like to contribute, just send me an email.

When I go home, I will be continuing work for OGH and HF. There’s so much to keep up on.

In addition to that I’ve had the opportunity to lead many teen bible studies throughout the year. This stretched me. I’ve never been one to talk much during a bible study, more less lead them. However, God allowed it to be an experience that helped me grow and fall in love with the teens here.

Another major project that’s been dear to my heart is a place called Tumaini. Tumaini Bapist Academy is a small school in a far off village. There are about 120 students there. The classrooms are mud huts, dirty floors, there are no bathrooms (only a very shabby and open pit latrine), no desks, minimal supplies.. and you get the picture. It’s a very poor area. On the same token, it’s a beautiful area.. there is a lush, green, small mountain in the scenery. There are beautiful trees everywhere. The people in the community and at the school are warm, welcoming, and rewarding to be around.

Behind the school is a small man created pond. This is the water source for the nearby community. The water is very dirty, making people sick… and there are about 3 crocodiles in the water. I’ve seen two of them personally! Imagine drinking water from that! We’ve been exploring ways to get a more reliable and clean water source to them. However, many unforeseen challenges have come along the way. There are two options we’re looking at now, either putting in a borehole, or tanks for rain harvesting. Both of those options have their ups and downs. Either of them would be a much better solution to the water source they currently have. Once we’ve evaluated the best solution, we’ll move forward with it, God willing. We are selling t-shirts for around $15 to raise funds for the water project.

I’m thankful to have the opportunity to work do some work there. I’ve learned a lot about community development and am still learning. I’ve been working with Kenyans that know a lot about implementing projects to help that area.

I feel like I’ve written a novel, ha ha! Maybe you made it to the end, or just caught the beginning. Either way, I’m thankful for the time you took to learn about my time in Kenya.

Ways you can help:
Purchase a t-shirt for the water project
Contribute a small amount to help us get computers and printers for the use of The Hope Foundation and Operation Give Hope.

I praise God for all that he has allowed over the past year. All that He’s set up, the people he’s provided to come along side and help, the resources He’s provided, the circumstances He’s set up and the work He’s allowed me to do. It’s an amazing journey walking with Him!
It’s hard to describe how honored and privileged I feel to have this amazing opportunity to work in Kenya for the sake of Kenyan children… and to have so much support from everyone in the process.


Thank you all for your love, support and prayers!
Please pray that the rest of my time here is blessed, and well spent!
Much love to you and your families! Can’t wait to see you all at home soon!
Kristen Missiaen (soon to be Pettigrew)

Update

I have some good news to report. Maybe you remember in a couple of my updates, I asked for prayer about packets that were mailed out with information of sponsoring a child through Operation Give Hope. Those prayers were heard. Many people responded! A generous amount of extra funding came in for the children. Thank you for the prayers!!!

There is a water project I’m working on currently, as I mentioned in the last update. A community about an hour and a half from where I stay is in desperate need for clean water. The water they use is very unsanitary. Rotary clubs are in discussion and have taken an interest in helping to drill a borehole for this area. They brought up the issue of long-term contact and community involvement. Thankfully, I had the opportunity to speak with someone that has much experience in this sort of endeavor. He has given me the steps and connections to move forward. Here’s a short briefing on what I’ve learned: I will need to involve Kenya Water for Health Organization (KWAHO-- http://www.kwaho.org/), the village pastor, and chief to start developing an action plan. The goal will be for the chief to set up a community meeting, called a baraza. The pastor & the chief informing the individuals of the water project and how they can be a part. KWAHO would introduce aspects of sanitation and hygiene. During the baraza, the community would select individuals to be on a committee. The committee would manage and operate the borehole long-term and be the voice of the people. They would be trained by professionals about group dynamics such as leadership, conflict management, basic bookkeeping, their responsibilities, and roles. These efforts are in hopes, and prayers that the funding comes through for this borehole. I believe it can happen ~ God does amazing things! Please pray with me for this community, for these steps, for funding, and for a passion from all individuals involved.

Another amazing set-up, that I believe God provided through people here in Kenya and help from back home… We’ve been seeking ways to put this together a custom designed website for Operation Give Hope. After speaking with the person who made our database system, he came up with a good solution. I could design a template in photoshop, put together content, pictures, video clips, etc. Then I give him the info, he and a friend produce it into a website and host it. Within a week or two this will be up and running!

Next week Friday, a medical team of doctors, nurses, EMT’s a dentist and other volunteers will be arriving. They will be going to three centers, giving each child a through medical exam. The blessing this will bring to the children is incredible. Community members will also have an opportunity to see the doctors. I’m anticipating their arrival!

God Bless you! Thank you for all the support, prayers and thoughts.
Love,
Kristen

You know, years ago I had a thought that many people have… if I give Christ control in my life, it will be boring, or their will be things He wants me to give up that I don’t want to give up and I’m not willing to do that, or maybe it will hurt me somehow. Looking back, 3 and a half years ago I made a choice to entrust my life to Him, to surrender it to Him and give up those things that I was previously unwilling.

He did ask me to give up a lot of things, some of them were painful, some were uncomfortable… but, God is God and He knows a path way better than I do. He’s replaced anything I ‘gave up’ with something WAY better!!!! Seriously – it’s just incredible! I’ve seen Him guide every step of the path, it’s an awesome journey, anything but boring. He’s brought me through things that have broken my heart.. but in the end shaped it and gave it purpose which has been totally priceless. He’s blessed me abundantly with a life that has been adventuresome, beautiful, healing, and creative in ways that I could have never fashioned myself. He’s writing the story. A story that I love. He shocks me, surprises me, amazes me, fills me through the good and the bad… I’ve learned to thank Him in the highs and in the lows – He deserves my praises – circumstance is irrelevant.

If you’re ever wondering, as I have so many times – “Should I really give Him full control – even in ‘that’ area ... what if this and what if that?” Please, without question, without hesitation, with a fully willing heart… Just dive in! Let Him control the results of what He’s asking you to do - even if it hurts... the end result is something you don't want to miss. God is just as much there when we say yes as when we say no – but His workings are fruitful, abundant, lasting when the answer is yes. Then we experience Him!

… I love Him. I thank Him. So many of you have been a part of the surprises, lessons, amazement and the workings God has done in my life - you've been part of me experiencing Him.

One of God’s great workings in my life was just here about one week ago. Jerry!!!!!!! He proposed within about 5 seconds of our first time seeing each other in about 5 months! We are planning a wedding here in Kenya on July 27th!! Sooo Exciting! I'm THRILLED to spend the rest of my life with such a wonderful man. Thank you, Thank you God!!

Most recently I’ve had the opportunity to work on a water project for a community that is suffering from the absence of clean water. We’re corresponding with Rotaries in the states and in Kenya to form a unity between the clubs to help bring a bore-hole (similar to a well) to this community so they can have access to good healthy water. I’m thanking God for the response of the Rotarians. So far, a Rotary club here in Kenya nearest the site location is willing to host the water project. They will help deal with the logistics. That commitment was needed for the Rotary clubs in the states to consider taking on this project. Currently Rotaries in the states are discussing the possibility of moving forward. One of the Rotary presidents said she wants to, “run with ball”! So that is really exciting news! Please pray that this progression keeps moving forward and quickly! You can see footage on the YouTube link below.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_RR7Ya2BYg

On Christmas day my fiancé (I like being able to say fiancé..haha) and I went to three of the schools! We took pictures of their Christmas party. The kids were so happy!! When we showed up to one of the centers, our friend Paul told Jerry that he informed the kids that a guest speaker was going to give them a Christmas story! Ha ha… it was funny… Jerry did not expect it, but gave a good story to a whole bunch of kids. While we were driving to the centers, I could not help but think about how many children we were passing in the villages that have no clue what Christmas is about. No Christ - No gifts – No celebration. It’s a sobering thought. But I love being able to see all the kids that would have never had that opportunity to have Christmas, having it because of supporters in America!!!





Much love to you...HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Love,
Kristen