May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus. Romans 15:5

Milking cows meandered on the lawn, youthful voices filled the hall and much-needed rain pattered on the tin roof as people from across Kenya and the U.S. gathered for the sake of orphaned and vulnerable children of Kenya. Focusing on the needs of children has a way of bringing people together! In this case, for the third-annual forum on the state of Project 24.

Project 24 is an initiative started by the LCMS and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya to construct boarding centers for children who have lost one or both parents and would otherwise not receive an education. These centers provide a Christ-centered, loving and safe environment near an ELCK church and school. Children at centers can be sponsored through the LCMS Christ’s Care for Children: Kenya program. The forum offers a chance for all those involved to hear, assess, advise and rejoice in the progress of the program. It was a pleasure to interact with on-site staff, site managers and site board members who provide for children’s needs.

The LCMS program director for Program 24, John Kissinger Nyang’au, has used this last year to emphasize vocational training and team-building skills for each of the five operational children’s centers. The consistent emphasis on responsibility, ownership and accountability has resulted in team members helping each other, a better use of resources, safer environments for children and even higher academic achievements. Pride and joy were evident in the eyes of participants recounting the trials and lessons of this last year. The forum even offered an opportunity for ELCK congregations not previously involved to learn and hear how children are cared for.

During this time, John visited with children at the Program 24 centers at Rongo and Othoro. It is a blessing to be part of this effort to provide for stable, Christ-centered homes for children affected by HIV/AIDS, conflict or other calamities. May God continue to bless these children and those who care for them.

John Wolf is the Africa Region Project Manager for the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. He and his family, with the support of LCMS churches like Saint John’s, are serving in Kenya. Please keep them in your prayers! We encourage you to follow their family blog, www.hereiamsendmesendme.blogspot.com, which is also where you can sign up to their mailing list and make donations.