Dear Friends, Habari Yako from Rift Valley Academy in Kijabe, Kenya!

These past two months have been very busy for us and we have more updates and stories to share with you as God continues to work in a mighty way in our midst.  We spent 3 weeks in mid-January and early February attending a new missionary orientation session called ABO (Africa Based Orientation).  We lived in a dormitory at a Bible college called Scott Theological Seminary about a two hour drive away from where we currently live.  Everyday there were sessions on a variety of things – from organizational information, safety in Africa, to African culture, world-view and traditions, African religions and spiritual warfare. 

It was wonderful to meet other new missionaries – many of whom had just arrived in Kenya days earlier.  In a way I am thankful that we attended this orientation six months into our stay here or else I think I would have been overwhelmed.  Hannah and Beatrice were involved in their own school setting and had lots of fun learning all about Africa, making wonderful crafts like an African drum, gourd shaker, homemade toy cars out of junk, beaded bracelets and so much more.  At the very end they had a little market place where all the kids laid out all their crafts to sell to the adults.  What fun!  We also had several opportunities to join the seminary students with their ministries and we ran Sunday schools, went to hospitals and visited local families.  While we were at ABO I purchased some lovely vibrant African cloth and had dresses and skirts made for the girls and I.  As time goes on, we look like we actually fit in here!

EXCITING UPDATE: Feeding Centre Land Purchase! 

We are so excited to share that we handed over a cheque for just over $7500.00 Canadian for the purchase of two plots of land in the village of Kasarani!  THANKYOU! What an incredible answer to prayer and a result of our family and friends and even people we have never met before catching on to the vision of Pastor Charles and his desire for the orphaned and needy children in his community.  At the end of April, the community of Kasarani and surrounding churches will also be having a harambe (fundraiser) to raise funds for the building materials and construction of the feeding centre.  This is a joint partnership and a true example of how the body of Christ works together even when they are oceans apart!  This simple brick building will house a new kitchen, a central dining room with tables and chairs, toilets and rooms with emergency shelter for homeless orphans.  This facility will also be usable space for after-school drop-in programs, community development seminars and possibly even a program for baby-care of mothers who work on the nearby flower farms.  Last week Pastor Charles and other church members all gathered together to pray and give thanks for these plots of land and testify to the goodness and faithfulness of God!  Their faith, vision and tenacity combined with your generosity and interest has birthed a beautiful opportunity for more children to be reached, nurtured and loved.

Acres for Agriculture:  We had shared in our last newsletter about the second phase of the Kasarani project – the purchase of acres of farmland for the purpose of growing maize, beans and other vegetables to provide home-grown food for the feeding program.  This is what sustainability is all about – so that if outside funding were to suddenly dry up that the children could still be fed and the feeding program could continue to thrive.  Shortly after we had thought of this idea of purchasing acres of land and spent time together in prayer, Pastor Charles was in contact with a lady in his congregation who had land to sell – about a 25 minute walk from the feeding centre location in Kasarani.  We have received funding for 2 acres and we are still raising funds for a third.

Farming God’s Way:  While we were at ABO we were so thankful to meet one of the presenters there who is with AIM from South Africa.  His name is August Basson and his ministry is focused on sustainable agriculture – Farming God’s Way (FGW).   He also has two boys at RVA.  We were intrigued by what he had to say, that if farmers and local villagers were to follow the simple farming techniques, that their yield could dramatically increase.  Currently in East Africa the average yield for maize = 1.2 tons per hectare (2.2 acres).  Using the sustainable agriculture technique the yield would be around 6 tons per hectare but could potentially go as high as 8. That is at least a 600% increase in food production!  So you can imagine what we were thinking and how excited we are!! 

If we could learn and then teach FGW techniques to the local pastor and individuals involved in the feeding program in Kasarani, then the acres of land that are purchased could be farmed in such a way to feed all the children currently in the program and possibly even sell an overabundance to the community.  And, even more, local villagers could also adopt these techniques to plant on the small patches of land outside their homes and have food for themselves and their families.  In Africa, food means life and it is a daily struggle to have enough.  Could these simple farming techniques feed and transform an entire community? 

A few days after we returned from ABO, Mr Basson came over to stay with us here at RVA and he took Andrew to one of the model FGW shamba’s (farms) nearby.  As they drove to this location the signs of draught were despairing – crops withering and dying because of the lack of rain, corn drooping and brown.  In fact much of rural Kenya is currently experiencing significant draught and over 10 million people are directly affected by this lack of food and even starvation.  And then they came to this shamba.  It was like the Garden of Eden in comparison to everything else around.  As you can see in the picture with Pastor Charles and Beatrice, the corn was sky high – over 10 feet in some places and thriving.  There is no irrigation for this shamba, only the use of FGW techniques and natural rainwater.

Can you believe that an IT guy and a nurse who never gardened in their lives are now absolutely ecstatic about farming and the amazing possibilities of using these techniques for feeding orphans and community transformation!  We have started our own FGW shamba behind our house here at RVA and employed a student at Moffat Bible College who is also being mentored by Pastor Charles to come and prepare the small patch land.  In a few weeks it is anticipated that the long rains will come and we pray that the crops will thrive.  This will certainly be a small-scale learning ground for us and for others locally to prepare us for whatever God has in store for us next.

The miraculous story of Winrose:   In closing we want to share about a sweet girl named Winrose (17 years) who we have now ‘adopted’ into our family. She is an orphan-both her parents have died.  Her father had died first and then her mother.  Before her mother died she had remarried a step dad who now had custody of Winrose.  She was beaten and terribly abused by her step-dad and hated by her step mom to the point of them not feeding her, calling her derogatory names and at one point the step dad beat her so badly that she was hospitalized for one week, and at one point he even said that he would kill her.  We met her in Kasarani about a month ago just after Pastor Charles and his wife had rescued her.   It is an amazing story of God’s mercy, protection and restoration and an absolute miracle because she is now attending Kijabe Girl’s School – a private girls boarding school close to where we live.  If you want to read about God’s amazing intervention and direct answer to prayer please see our blog titled ‘A Big Sister for Hannah and Bea’. (click here)

Thank you for following us in our journey as we serve the Lord here in Africa.  It is only because of His grace and POWER that we are able to work and thrive here at RVA as we support and care for the children of missionaries who are serving throughout Africa and at the same time reach out, learn from and partner with our African friends.  We truly value your prayers and support. 

P.S.  We are currently taking biweekly Kiswahili lessons – so hopefully our language abilities and communication will improve soon!

Blessings to you and your families!

Love,    Andrew, Sue, Hannah and Beatrice Faber