Dear friends and family,

Habari Yenu, (How are you?) Tunawasalimu katika jina la Yesu Kristo! (We greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.)

Christmas season is now upon us and our first term at RVA has ended. All the boarding students are now safely back home with their parents for one month and will be returning the first week of January. It’s quiet on campus as we’ve enjoyed the change in pace from non-stop work and activity to being able to enjoy some family time and rest.

This past week we set up a tall, bushy Christmas tree and twinkle lights left for us by the previous occupants of our home. At the very top of our tree we have set our special cross-stitch canvas Christmas angel which Andrew’s Oma (grandma) made for us – that was the only ornament we brought. Every time we come into the living room we can see her smiling face glowing at us! Hannah and Beatrice also set up the hand sewn nativity set that my mom made for our family. The girls have been busy cutting up old Christmas cards which I brought along to make ornaments, making paper chains, snowflakes and paper-plate angels and baking spicy peppernoten (Dutch gingerbread) and sugar cookies. We’ve set up our stockings by the fireplace and in the evenings we burn gingerbread scented candles and read Christmas books that Oma sent the girls.

It’s a breath of fresh air not to be surrounded by all the Christmas commercialism we see back home. When you go to the shopping centre there are no dazzling displays or extravagant Santa castles. African Christmas does not focus on presents and fancy meals – rather a time to celebrate and focus on Jesus’ birth and share family time. We are hoping to make up hampers of food and basic supplies to give to those who are struggling. We are planning to celebrate the 23^rd with our friends Mary, Mercy, Jeddidiah and Anthony and their moms and bring a simple meal of stew and cabbages. We are also hoping to do something similar with struggling families down at Moffat Bible college, with Pastor Charles and his family in Naivasha and with our friends here in Kijabe. And the best part of all, my mom Jane Burke will be joining us for all the festivities – she arrives on December 9^th.

As we approached the village it became more and more apparent that we were driving into a place of extreme poverty. I could sum up my feelings in these words: desolation, despair, dusty, dirty, dry, depressed. And yet as we looked out the car windows – there was Pastor Charles, in a bright red Canada shirt, with a huge smile on his face, gesturing us to follow him. He guided us through the rough dirt roads, mud houses and past wandering donkey’s, goat’s and cow’s. As we came closer to his house a group of about 20 excited children started running towards our car with huge smiles on their faces shouting hello and welcome. Most of them wore torn, threadbare clothing – some had their backs exposed and several did not have shoes. But despite all the indications of suffering and poverty – there was joy, happiness and laughing. These were 20 of the 74 children that Pastor Charles feeds a hot healthy lunch each day. For most, this meal is the only one they will eat that day – this meal provides sustenance and life.

Pastor Charles led us into his home, into a simple but very clean and comfortable living room. We met his wife Beatrice and their two lovely children. He started sharing his heart and passion for the children – many who are AIDS orphans. He shared how he had grown up in poverty and difficult circumstances and how God had paved a way to prepare him for this ministry. His eyes were on fire as he articulately spoke with determination, conviction and faith. He spoke of how just two years ago he had prayed and trusted that God would help him start a feeding program and shortly thereafter, God provided for 74 kids. He said that time and time again he has seen God’s provision and providence in the most difficult of circumstances. He said that there were so many more children who needed food, clothing and shelter but there was just not enough funding for all of them. Many of these orphan children do not have a place to live or anyone to care for them – most days their home is surrounded by these children and they love and care for them as best they can. Many times he opens up the church for the orphans to sleep within the safety of the sanctuary.

He shared a story about his two year old son who has such a heart of sharing and mercy. During the evening meal this little child will not eat his food until he has shared what he has been given with the children lingering outside. As we listened to him speak we were so moved. Here was a man and his family who was giving his life to serve the Lord in an extremely difficult place and trusting fully that God would provide as the needs grew. He shared how in his ministry he feels that meeting the physical needs of the children and others in the community comes first and then they desire to hear more about why he does this, this opens the door to share the love of Christ, and meet their spiritual needs.

After this interaction with Pastor Charles we felt that God was directing us to join and support him in his vision and work. It’s amazing, as we’d mentioned in our last email, after the door was closed for us to adopt a Kenyan child, we had prayed that God would direct us into an opportunity to support orphans in some way. Within days of this prayer we met little Wiki and Charles and now we can see how God didn’t want us to just be involved in the life of one needy child but rather in the life of many.

The biggest need that has been identified is for the purchase a plot of land so that a proper feeding centre can be built. Currently they rent a small room to cook the lunch over charcoal stoves and the 74 children come to eat in a small open courtyard – standing room only. When it rains there is no shelter. There is no ability to expand the program as the limited space prohibits this. A new building would allow for a larger kitchen and food storage area, toilets, and a large multi-purpose common room for the children to eat their meals and to come to for shelter when it rains or to sleep at night. A larger space would also accommodate more children to be fed.

The first phase is to purchase the land would cost about $10,000 Cdn dollars. The second phase of the project would be to purchase the building materials and cost of labor. This cost is yet to be determined. The local community is organizing a ‘Harambe’, which is an African fundraiser – they are doing what they can to raise funds. If you are also interested in partnering with us on this specific project, we have set up a special project fund with AIM called North Naivasha Feeding Program.

You will receive tax receipts for any amount donated and only 5% will be used by AIM to cover the administration costs – the rest will go directly to this project. You can donate via our website using your credit card or by cheque. All the details are on our website under the giving section. We are working in conjunction with Pastor Paul Manyara who is a personal friend and mentor and respected leader in the Kijabe community. He will be overseeing and managing this project along with elders of the AIC church. So we are all working together on this.

Medical trip to the Maasai:

Bea and Hannah’s end of year school Celebrations:

Both Hannah and Beatrice had special end of year school celebrations. Beatrice’s preschool had a graduation ceremony for all of the children who are going into primary school next year. (The school year here ends in December and a new class starts in January). Andrew accompanied Bea for what turned out to be a four hour ceremony – YES, 4 hours! They actually came home before everything was finished because it was 2pm and they hadn’t yet eaten lunch! Bea and her classmates sang songs, counted in Swahili and danced for the parents and teachers.

Hannah sang in a special drama presentation called ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’. She dressed up as an angel along with all her other little classmates. She and her class baked cookies for children down at the hospital and went down to deliver them. She also had a special class party where all the kids had to bring snacks from their country of origin.

Well that’s all for now, it’s hard to believe that we’ve kept this to 4 pages! Thank you for sharing in our lives and to those of you who have sent donations of preschool items, gifts for various projects and for our family with my mom. She will arriving in 4 days with ten suitcases! Please pray that she will go through customs without any problem.

Everything that you have done for us is much appreciated – from letters and phone calls to emails, financial support and prayers. May God bless you and your family this Christmas season. Our love to you!

Love,

Andrew, Sue, Hannah, and Beatrice Faber

‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ Isaiah 9:6