Greetings from the Equator!
My name is Natasha, and I have been serving in our mission for over seven years. Our mission is based in Kisumu. It’s very hot here right now, with rain only coming about once a week, and even then, just a little. Everything around us has dried up, and there is no grass. But we continue to serve our Lord.

The first major highlight is that, for the first time in seven years, a couple has decided to do everything right from the start—building their relationship on a strong Christian foundation. Esther, my right-hand helper at the children’s home, was part of this journey. I was happy to help with photos and videos when her fiancé proposed.

Every Wednesday, we have a meeting for pre-teens. During our last gathering, we spent a lot of time in prayer and worship, discussing the end of the Old Testament, the 400 years of silence, and how God sent His Word. We read John chapter one and discussed how one word can “break” silence, just like one matchstick can “break” darkness. We continue meeting with our pre-teen team to plan these meetings. It’s not just about preparation; it’s also about ministering to each other—discussing topics, sharing testimonies, and praying for one another.

In our most recent pre-teen gathering, everyone enjoyed donuts and tea. We showed a movie with popcorn. I’m so thankful to IMOCE for providing us with a popcorn machine, allowing us to treat our kids from the slums to something special.

We also had a small renovation at the shelter, so there was a lot of cleaning to do. This is what the office looks like now—where we store documents and important items for the home. Previously, I wrote about two boys, Rashid and Prince. We found someone in the church—Grace, who now has five children, including the two boys. We were thrilled to see her lovingly accept them.

We held a “Happy Time” program at a children’s home for children with disabilities, which is three hours away from our city. A small team of us set out at 8 am to spend two days there. We always try to bless the children’s home with necessities and, of course, treat them with something special—chicken. The kids only get to eat meat when we bring it.

We did face painting, allowing each child to pick a design, and treated them to cotton candy, which they loved. It was a fun and unforgettable day for everyone. The program also included crafts, where one of the activities was making a bracelet—not just any bracelet, but an edible one using corn puffs instead of beads. The children loved making these tasty accessories!

We had time to talk with the older children, who each have amazing and very challenging stories. One boy, for example, had been locked away for 18 years because, in Kenya, having a sick child is often seen as a curse, and such a child is not to be seen by others. At 18, he went to school for the first time. It was a great blessing for him simply to see other people and be outside. He shared that those who first visited him spoke kind words, told him about God’s love, and reassured him that he was worthy of a full life.

We also prepared sweet treats for them. There were bubble games, lots of other games, and contests. We wanted the children to remember that each of them is unique to God. Together, we made hand and footprint impressions and attached a Bible verse: “We are God’s masterpiece.” This served as a reminder to help the children realize their value in God’s eyes. We continued the creativity by making unique craft birds, with each child creating their own beautiful bird. The children were proud of their work!

We handed out gifts, and the children eagerly unwrapped them while we helped, feeding those who needed assistance. The theme of the program was “You Are Unique.” We shared the Bible story about a special young boy who, despite his young age, followed Jesus and witnessed the miraculous feeding of five thousand people. This story inspired the children to understand that each of them is unique and can contribute to great things.

Thank you so much for your financial support! May the Lord bless you abundantly.