It was the dream to have an orphanage for children who had no family. But God, in His infinite wisdom, closed that door on several fronts. However, He opened a window. Quite by chance, while eating in a restaurant in Nyeri, Kenya, Ken and Patty were introduced to a couple who reside in Kenya for six months out of the year. They have a mission called Project Kenya, International. Their names are Teri and Tim Hudson. Their main focus is to raise support for children to go to school and complete their education. Ken and Patty were new to the missionary environment in Kenya and struggling to find their way. Tim and Teri befriended them, shared with them, and even invited them to take a Community Health Evangelism course that Teri was teaching, which they did. They learned a lot and began to see things in a more culturally-educated view.
As they discussed the challenges and the possibilities of doing something with buildings that had already been constructed but not completed, the idea came up of a home for unwed mothers. Teri works with girls in school situations. She had already encountered this problem among some of her students. She had been looking for a way that these girls could complete their education while keeping their children with them. She felt that the location of the buildings (which are out in the bush) would be the perfect site for this school. It would place the girls and their babies far enough from cities to provide safety and protection. After prayer and discussion, it was decided that would be the course.
The buildings are being completed inside now for the acceptance of girls, Lord willing, in May 2020. Much has to happen and we don’t want to write that month in stone, but with God working and our obedience, we hope to have girls at that time. These girls need to know the God of second chances. They need to know that they are loved enough to be given the chance to complete their education. They need to see that they can be accepted and live productive lives. They need to overcome the interruption in their life and find a way to see the blessing. That is the primary focus of this ministry. Along with giving education to the young mothers, there will be a rescue center aspect to this project.
Teri has young girls who are in boarding school. They live in unsafe environments when they are not in school. These girls often go to Teri stating their fear of going to their homes when their schools are on break. Staying at the boarding school is not an option because there is not staff to look after them. For these girls and other girls who may be found to be in a threatening environment, there will be shelter at the school. We plan to have activities for them to keep them occupied and they can break from their school schedule, be with other girls, but, most importantly, be safe and not fearful. Both of these projects will have a bible study/devotion time daily, so that the girls can grow in their faith and learn about Jesus while they reside at the school.