www.ehopecentre.org

Being an Orphan

Hello.

My name is JOY and my twin sister is called PEACE (Pictured from left). We are one and half years old. We were abandoned at the police station by a Good Samaritan, after our mother was admitted to a mental hospital. The police took us many places but we were only accepted in ELSHADDAI CHILDREN HOPE CENTER.

We have lived there ever since. We have been sheltered, clothed and fed by the generosity of Pastor Stephen Njau, his wife Beatrice Wairimu and their children Newton Njau, Rosebell Wanjiru and Gibson Kanga’ra  and people like you (reading this) who have taken good care of us. We have not seen our mother since we came to Elshaddai Children Centre when we were 8 days old.  She is still in a mental hospital.

This is one of the 147 stories in Elshaddai Hope Centre in Gathanji, Kiambu District in Kenya and its heart breaking to read and listen to. These are not stories but real life experiences of our people and children back in Kenya.

My name is Brian Mukiri: My wife Alice Wambui and I were introduced to this home in 2007. We were deeply touched by the noble work and we have been supporting them ever since.

Elshaddai Children Hope centre is located near Gathanji Shopping Centre off the main Githunguri - Kiambu Road. Currently the home has rented three different premises used as follows: - 1.The main house which is used as Kitchen & dining area in one part and also serves as the girl’s dormitory on the other part.  2. Boys residence. 3. The babies and infants section which is also used as the residence for pastor Stephen Njau and his family. This is the home for the 147 Children aged from 14 months to 20 years old.

This home relies solely on donations from well wishers and friends like you and me to cater for all their needs. Due to the poverty back home, things are really difficult there. As you can imagine Food, clothing, shelter, school fees, uniforms, books, medical care, and most importantly love and emotional support are vital to every child’s growth and development.

One would be forgiven for wondering how  Pastor and his wife manage to live and look after 147 children? .Well this is why we are appealing to you, everyone of you to be kind and compassionate and  generously give whatever you are able to towards this most challenging ,noble and worthy cause.

Elshaddai children hope centre needs the following:

• FOOD.
• Clothing & shoes – jumpers, coats, shirts, tops, t-shirts, trousers, huts ,cups, socks, stockings, leggings, etc ,etc
• OTHER needs –spiritual and psychological care, Donors, sponsors, Land, Farming equipments, building materials, volunteers , beds & beddings, Vehicles, employees
• Money for the day to day running costs such as  – rent, school fees, food, medical bills, books & stationeries, uniforms, wages, gasoline, diesel, petrol, electricity, transportation, etc ,etc,  etc

You can contact PASTOR STEPHEN MIRANG'A NJAU directly on TEL: +254 735 842 546 Email elshaddaihope@yahoo.com OR Alternatively BEATRICE WAIRIMU TEL: +254 725 331 031 in Kenya.

Mr. & Mrs. Brian Mukiri (right photo) touring the home

UK ACCOUNT

NATIONWIDE BUILDING SOCIETY: ACCOUNT NAME:

EL-SHADDAI HOPE CENTRE: Sort Code 07-00-93

Acc 33333334 Ref 0243/704185030

Branch Barking, Essex

www.ehopecentre.org

FUNDRAISING EVENT ON 1St MAY 2010.

At 500 High Street North, Manor Park, London E12 6QN.  

Friends of Elshaddai in London have organised a FUND-RAISING TO BE HELD ON THE 1ST MAY 2010. To make an everlasting change in these Orphans’ Life we need to make a substantial contribution in their day to day life. We can only achieve this by first settling them at a single site location where they can call home. They are presently based on rented accommodation across two sites making it very expensive to run and serve these very needy children. We are hoping to buy them a piece of land and commence building of their own premises.

Elshaddai Centre does not want to live on hand outs forever. We will probably get tired of handing out forever and this is why they want to start income generating projects such as daily and  poultry farming, , or carpentry, masonry possible once they are settled making them self sustaining in the long run. The children at the Elshaddai centre have nowhere else to call home and hence permanent premises of their own are essential.

Most of the simple things we take for granted are to these children privileges - such as having a place to call home, having parents and brothers and sisters and relatives that we can call upon.

Please let us join hands in the spirit of our beloved mother land ‘Harambee’ to help and make a difference in the lives of these very vulnerable children-many of them orphans

Helping these children will be as God has said lending money to Him and in due course these will be repaid ten fold.
Isaiah 63:7 - “I will mention the loving kindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord.”

We appeal to everybody especially Kenyans even more so those who use Route  120- Nairobi – Kiambu -  Githunguri to join together in this challenging  but worth noble course so as we can add moral values and goodness to these poor souls.

One time a man came into a village and asked an old man living there, “Any great men born here?” The old man said, “No, just babies.” Great men are not born; great men are made, investing in the lives of others, sharing God’s love, and showing His mercies. There is not a magic formula that instantly makes us sanctified. Sanctification is a process. Our calling is to be poured out into the lives of others for His glory.

To get further details the following members of the steering committee can be contacted.

LONDON

SWINDON

COVENTRY

LUTON

MILTON KEYNES

OXFORD

NORTHAMPTON

IRELAND

USA

Being an Orphan

It is not easy to be an orphan.

Childhood is the most beautiful period of our journey here on Earth because it is the time when we get to know many things and experiences that contribute and influence our way to maturity.

Imagine what is there in an orphan's soul. A child who has always wanted to know his own family! Imagine having no Mother or Father, no brother or sister and not a place you can call home. Imagine there is no one to tell and share those intimate stories, no one to share your really deep feelings and worst fears about life no one you can call your own. To spend at least a day with loved ones. How happy must a child be when his mother hugs him or her, when the child comes back from school to find his parents in a safe and loving home? Some children will never ever experience that feeling and that is where we can help. By meeting their material needs, we lessen the pain of suffering and that way do God’s work-in thanksgiving that our circumstances were better.

Being an orphan is a reality to the overwhelming majority of children at Elshaddai Hope Centre.  We who are fortunate and well can assist these children to believe that the sun will shine bright for them and that at some point someday the world will present them with endless opportunities to change their lives permanently.

Most of us agree that growing children need close relationships with responsible adults. Besides giving emotional and physical security, such ties help the child grow, develop and learn to cope with the many challenges and difficulties that life will bring. In most societies, the child's parents are considered the optimal social arrangement for childcare and mothers are expected to play the central role.

One would imagine the challenges and the difficulties the children at Elshaddai Hope Centre have to go through-without parents and a home.

What children need the most is not necessarily material –they crave for love, for attention, they want your time spent with them in a safe and secure environment, they need you! We believe together with you we shall make a difference in the lives of these children….to give them a home, and an environment where they will be looked after in love and safety.

Being an orphan is tragic but our God shows his special favour to these and to you all who will extend their hands to them.

 God’s children are not orphans! There are no orphans of God! Do you believe this?

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Luke 18:16)

By Brian MK Mukiri

For more information visit: www.ehopecentre.org