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OCTOBER 2021 UPDATE
It is hard to believe that it has been over 2 months since our last newsletter. It seems like just yesterday, yet so much has happened. We don't know where to start to update you all. However, as I was reading the last newsletter, we left you all with specific prayer requests. We cherish your prayers so much because our prayers, lifted up in single-mindedness, bring great results as this letter proves.
As we ended our letter, we asked for prayer for each mother and baby at the center...for their safety, healing, and their walk with God. You prayed and God has been working in miraculous ways.
We shared that the babies were struggling with being left on their own more as their mothers had now returned to school. We shared that we sent our manager out to buy different types of baby seats and we were going to try to work on getting the babies used to being more independent as the staff were struggling. Well, we bought baby devices, a stroller, a little play mat and another netted bassinet type thing for the babies to be left in. IT WORKED!!!! Slowly the babies became more content to be left in the different beds and seats and play with mobiles made by the workers and some semblance of order came. By the time we were actually in Kenya, babies were starting to try to sit alone. With four babies trying their wings, another issue arose. What do we do now? Well a trip into the nearest town brought forth baby walkers. The babies were a bit small but somehow we all made it work and by the time we left, one had learned to maneuver enough to have a bit of bumper car action with the others. It brought laughter and relief to us all! We and the staff are growing with these babies!
As for the girls, the miracle was unbelievable. When Ken, I and the Lakeside Baptist Church team left Myrtle Beach on September 30, we knew that two of the girls had accepted Christ. We were so thankful that they had heard the gospel and accepted Jesus into their lives. I asked the Pastor to make sure that this was well understood by the girls, that they knew that they were committing themselves fully to the new life that Christ had offered through His work on the cross. He assured me that they fully understood. We were so excited that we would be able to take part in the baptism ceremony while we were all in Kenya. We arrived at the center on October 3 to the news that six of the girls, including the cook at the center, were to be baptized. Oh the joy we felt. We had asked for prayer for their walk with God and He in His great love and mercy called them to Himself. It was such a joyous celebration!
We also asked for prayer for the Kenyan Staff for their loyalty to God, to the mission, and their loving care of these girls and their babies. I think the story about the girls and their walk of faith attests to the commitment of our staff, but to our surprise and the surprise of our team, the staff and the girls all came together as we arrived to hold a grand opening of the center for us. Hospitality was abundant. We could see their joy in the work they were doing and the pride they have in their parts of running this center. We were all humbled.
We, also, asked for prayer for the American board in decision making processes and God's wisdom as we go forward. We have taken in four more girls since the opening of the school. We have prayed, consulted each other, and took guidance from the Kenyan committee. The new girls are entering in and being accepted well by the original girls. Thanks to the decisions made, girls who were so desperate now have hope. There was one girl who showed up on the doorstep of our manager's home with her baby and all her belongings. We couldn't take her in at that particular time, because we can't encourage that as a way to get accepted. However, we have since brought her into the center. The hope that she now has is evident in the expression on her face. Her story is encouraging us to do more so that we can serve more girls.
Just look at the difference.
It is amazing what hope can do in just the course of a few days.
Above is a picture we received this morning of our current Promise Springs Rescue Center group minus the two girls who attend boarding school. Your prayers have been heard.
We asked for prayers for the upcoming mission trip...for safety, health, energy and the ability to share God's love with the people we serve. Oh, how God revealed Himself! We each experienced miracles. There were hardships but God was so obviously in control that we had nothing to complain about. Here is a picture of the team as we were leaving Nairobi.
Mind you, we didn't always look this fresh and rested but we were experiencing pure joy even if we got tired. We visited the center first which was a wonder as we saw God's work in the girls and babies and in the crops that were growing.
Then VBS begins. We had asked that the numbers be limited to 150 children since we were such a small team...but God...sent us 308 children. And then God....provided for each one of them. None were sent home. VBS budget was over but the hog project budget was under and God said, "I have this, just work!", and we worked:
We had fun:
Playing games:
We sweated in the heat as we taught crafts:
We taught about Jesus, His life, death, and resurrection:
We were amazed as they all were fed:
We were touched and we rejoiced as two young people accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior: and we knew that it was all GOD!
There is so much more to share about hog projects and home visits and safaris. But we will save that for next time.
We asked for one last prayer...For continued support so that we can keep our promise to see these girls through to being responsible women who can provide for themselves and their babies. And...God...answered.
We have a Thanksgiving challenge! We have dedicated people who do not feel led to travel to Kenya but they do feel led to help us to fund the center. God has led them to issue a Thanksgiving challenge. They will match every dollar donated up to $10,000 and we have until the Friday after Thanksgiving to meet the challenge. So we ask for your continued prayers in all of the above areas, but we ask that you also help us to meet this challenge. Maybe you have people who are difficult to buy Christmas gifts for.
Donate and email me and I will send you a certificate to give as a gift to that person.
You can donate through our website: https://twoburningcandles.org or send a check to Two Burning Candles, P. O. Box 7932, Ocean Isle Beach, NC. 28469.
We can't thank you enough for your prayers as you have now seen their power. Please continue to lift us and the girls up.
Blessings to you all,
Patty and Ken Carter
Founders of Two Burning Candles
PARTNERSHIP
Partnership is when people join together to complete a goal or meet a need that is greater than what they could do on their own. When you partner with Two Burning Candles, you are making a commitment to support the ministry through your giving, traveling or through prayer.
You may not have the time or ability to travel around the world, but when you support our mission you are reaching people for Christ. It’s because of people like you that we are able to help children and their families, share the message of Jesus Christ, and love people through-out the world.
OUR MISSION
Two Burning Candles is a 501c3 non-profit Christian organization dedicated to reducing poverty in Kenya through humanitarian assistance programs and teaching financial self-sufficiency.
We seek to facilitate relationship building between Christ’s believers around the world through various projects.
Two Burning Candles exists primarily to demonstrate Gods love for all people through serving the poor, oppressed, and elderly.
TWO BURNING CANDLES AT WORK
