Abandoned Babies

Abandoned babies.  

Left in hospitals, at clinics, in fields, even in pit latrines.  Sweet little ones.  Precious to God.  

Needing care, love, to be held and cuddled. 

19 babies who need families. 

If these tiny treasures don't get adopted by 18 months they are moved to another home in Nakuru. 

We visit here as a family to hold babies and pray that God bring them families.

This home also cares for children with severe disabilities. 

We feed them, play with them and pray for God's blessing.

The third DIG training is underway.  

Carolyne shares on the session "Who Is Christ In You?"  

 Pastors and Elders attend with the widowed moms. 

Learning together will help them serve the women better. 

These widowed moms need to know they have a 

place to belong and leaders who care about their futures.

Burying sins of 

unforgiveness, offense, bitterness and abandonment, 

then committing to walk in the freedom Christ provides.

Please pray for the widowed moms to embrace 

everything the Lord has for them.

The directors of Hope's Promise Kenya 

spent 3 days with us visiting 

the widowed moms businesses, 

children's ministries, and talking about God's goodness.

What a blessing to host them 

and receive heavenly encouragement!

Asante sana for your prayers and support.

hugs from the haugers. oooo

From Taleah

Taleah is home from the hospital and feeling much better. Asante sana for your prayers!  

The diagnosis was "maybe strep..." There is no quick strep test here so the lab had to draw blood and run a hemogram.  Taleah was given a fever reducer that didn't bring her fever down so the doctor became concerned - an emotion not translated well from a Kenyan accent to American understanding. Taleah was released from the hospital in time to make the long, hot trip to the Uganda to renew our visas.  Today she's a little restless so we decided to do a post with mom's help.  

Below are recent photos with captions of some special times for Taleah here in Kenya...  

It all started with an egg... or was it the chicken?

 In our case it's my pet hen named Kuku 
(Swahili word for chicken) 

who laid 15 eggs and we now have 8 baby chicks!

 Obviously, I am smitten. 

Tavin (in his school uniform) and I enjoy the 
new additions to the family.

So stink'in cute, huh?

Meet Lillian and Ruth (and their cute kiddos) - facilitators mom and Carolyne are training to take the DIG program

 into the slums of Nyallenda through a local church.

During Christmas break I watched the kiddos 
while the moms did the training.

 I really liked these kids.  I think I found a new ministry...

The local wildlife park ($1.50 for students)

where the only thing that was 

between me and these animals was a chainlink fence 

(which my hand could easily fit through!).

Some animals roamed free like impala and the zebra.

My friend, Sally and me at the wildlife park.

Lake Victoria

I love the trees here.



New shoes for my birthday (my favorite gift).



Celebrating with my family.

Tavin practicing for the Nairobi competition.

  Homework!

Which is where I have to end this cause now I have to do homework.  Yuk!  Oh well.  Thanks for praying for us and helping us do God's work in Kenya for orphans.

(I'd rather play with the kids instead of doing homework!)

Love,

Taleah

Sharing the Joy

They've pastored a church in Kisumu for 6 years and had never been to Joyland.  

"We know God wants us to go visit the children.  Will you take us?" 

George and Mary ask one Sunday evening when we saw them at the market. 

"Sure! We'd be happy to!" was our reply.  

The church that hosted our DIG training 

(you can read about the widowed moms 

stories on tiltingbalance.blogspot.com.) 

and where Lisa's been teaching on missions wanted to become

INVOLVED!

They wanted to help those who feel helpless.

They wanted to serve the poor.

They wanted to share their blessings. 

 We were sooooo excited to introduce this pastoral couple to our friends at Joyland.

Below are photos of our time together...

Taleah, Tavin, and our neighbor Sally introduce Mama Mary to the children who are more then curious to 

meet new people.

Pastor George gets right to work helping Mark blow up balloons for object lessons on Jesus filling them with His Spirit and shaping them into His design.

Mama Mary leads the children in praise and worship.

The kids nibble on their treats and hold their balloons while sharing testimonies of God's goodness.

  The smiles below tell the rest of the story...

Lisa's good friend Denis refused to look at the 
camera, although he's the one who requested the 
photo be taken of them together. Silly boy! 

Pastor George and Mary plan to bring a team from their church once a month to minister at Joyland.  They also volunteered to purchase new drinking cups for the children since there are not enough for all of them.

"Jambo to everyone!" 

 from the GREAT kids at Joyland!

Asante sana 

for all your prayers, encouragement and support.

hugs from the haugers oooo

New LIFE

Beatrice smiles warmly. She pours milky chai from a green thermos into    clear glass mugs and serves crispy-fresh mandazi.  She looks around her food kiosk with satisfaction.  Her customers appear happy.  This is a new life for Beatrice, one she’s been praying about for a long time...

Beatrice was  born the last child to a second wife in a polygamous family and not educated beyond the sixth level.  She was treated as a servant in the family compound.  Like many Kenyan girls, she married young so her father could claim the dowry. She bore two children – a boy and a girl. Then her husband became very sick and died.  Fear surrounded the man's death, and Beatrice was no longer welcomed in her husband’s homestead.  

Without resources Beatrice journeyed to her rural home and made the difficult decision to leave her children there as she begged some shillings to travel to Kisumu to find work.  While in the bustling town, Beatrice tried selling small vegetables along the road, no one would buy; no one showed her pity; no one even seemed to even see her.  She felt her life had been cursed.  

With nothing left, Beatrice waited at a church.  The pastors found her very thin and sick.  After much prayer she regained her strength and started to follow Jesus. When we met Beatrice she worked as house-help, earning the equivalent of 50 cents a day. She knew God had more for her, more for her children, more for their future.  She began praying for new life.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning from 9:00 till noon, for 9 weeks, Beatrice attended the DIG training. She learned who Christ is in her and who she is in Him.  She learned about the freedom of forgiveness and how God longed to share the beautiful woman He created her to be.  She worked hard developing a plan with a budget.  She received wise counsel committed to accountability.

Today Beatrice applies her lessons well.  She rises early to walk to the market and gather supplies for the day.  She makes her fire and cooks good food for weary workers in her community. She shares her story of redemption along side soft chapati and beans boiled with sweet onions. Ultimately, Beatrice found more than a ministry/business.  She found new life in Christ.

Please pray for Beatrice.  She’s saving money to secure a home so she can bring her children to live with her. 

Thanks for sharing our journey with these young widowed moms. With their permission we've given you a glimpse of the heartache they endured and the miracles of grace God created.  These stories are the fruit of much labor, prayer, support and encouragement.  It's not easy, but then, we've never known God to do something because it's easy.  God moves because He loves.  He loves even when it's hard.  Thank you for helping us show the Lord's love to these women.  

Next post we'll share about Benta, a young pregnant mom that didn't want to birth her child into poverty, but mercy prevailed...  Thank you for your prayers for Mildred and her son.  Franklin is recovering yet still needs dialysis. She's trusting Jesus that soon you'll be reading her story.  

Asante sana Rafikis!

hugs from the haugers oooo

Asante sana for giving.  

Your gift brings hope... and some silly smiles!

We appreciate all the prayers, support and encouragement.

hugs from the haugers  oooo