In Memory of Ziggy

I am very sad to report that one of our Kenya brothers, David Musyoki (Ziggy) was recently killed in Nairobi. Please pray for our Kenya family as their hearts are heavy. David was involved in the ministry of Kenya Evangelical Mission and United African Evangelical Ministries.

Keep on Truckin for the Lord!

MANY ARE STILL GETTING SAVED.

THIS YEAR HAS REALLY BEEN A STRUGGLE, BUT THE PEOPLE GETTING SAVED ARE REALLY WORTH IT. AS YOU KNOW, ROTARY BOUGHT US A NEW 9 TON TRUCK LAST YEAR. WELL THE GUYS NOW CALL IT A MOVING CHURCH. UP AND DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEREVER THEY STOP THEY JUST START WITNESSING TO PEOPLE AND MANY HAVE BEEN SAVED.

TWO WEEKS AGO THERE WAS A TEACHERS MEETING IN NAIROBI AND ONE OF OUR PASTORS WAS INVITED TO PREACH. AFTER THE MESSAGE 2 TEACHERS RECEIVED THE LORD AS THEIR PERSONAL SAVIOR.

OUR PASTORS FROM KISII WERE HERE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, AND ONE PASTOR TOLD THIS STORY. HE HAD GONE TO A SHOP TO BUY SOMETHING AND MET A MAN 79 YEARS OLD SITTING IN FRONT OF THE SHOP. HE ASKED HIM WHERE HE WENT TO CHURCH AND HE THOUGHT A MINUTE AND SAID THAT HE HAD GONE TO CHURCH ONCE WHEN HE WAS 12 YEARS OLD. HE HAD NEVER BEEN BACK. OUR PASTOR TOLD HIM ABOUT JESUS AND HOW TO BE SAVED AND INVITED HIM TO CHURCH. THAT SUNDAY HE CAME TO CHURCH, GOT SAVED, AND SINCE MARCH HE HAS NEVER MISSED A SUNDAY.

HOYT CONTINUES TO MAKE SLOW PROGRESS. THIS WEEK HE WALKED FROM THE BEDROOM TO HIS ROCKING CHAIR IN OUR HOME OFFICE, HE HAS ALSO WALKED FROM THE BEDROOM TO THE LIVING ROOM ALL ON HIS OWN. WHEN HE FIRST CAME OUT OF SURGERY HIS LEFT LEG WAS MOSTLY PARALYZED SO THIS IS BIG PROGRESS.

WE THANKS GOD THAT THE MONEY TO BUY A PLOT FOR THE TALA CHURCH HAS BEEN PROMISED. WE ARE SO EXCITED. PLEASE PRAY WITH US FOR THE FOLLOWING URGENT NEEDS.

1. 
   
   MORE MONTHLY SUPPORT. WE ARE AT ABOUT 75% AND REALLY STRUGGLING. DEC. AND JAN ARE REALLY LOW MONTHS AND HARD TO PAY BILLS.


2. 
   
   FOUR PASTORS HAVE CHILDREN READY TO GO TO HIGH SCHOOL AND NEED SPONSORS AT $100. A MONTH. SOME OF OUR PASTORS ONLY GET A SALARY OF $40 A MONTH AND THESE LOVELY KIDS WILL NOT GO TO SCHOOL WITH OUT SPONSORS.


3. 
   
   HOYT DESPERATELY NEEDS A CAR. WE SOLD OUR OLD BEATER AND USED THE MONEY TO REPAIR THE VAN SO THAT WE CAN AT LEAST GET AROUND, WE HOPE. BUT, ONE VEHICLES FOR ALL OUR MINISTRIES IS REALLY A PROBLEM.

PRAISING GOD FOR ALL OF YOU,

HOYT , LOIS, AND KENYA TEAM

Compassion and Love - It's What We Should Be About!

“Jesus saw the crowds and had compassion on them....” – Matthew 9:36

When Jesus saw the crowds, He really saw them. He didn’t just see a mass of individuals, He saw individuals. And He didn’t just see their outsides, He saw their inner self, their needs, their heartache and their care. And so it is today – Jesus still sees people – individuals He longs to show His amazing compassion to. I would like to introduce you to a couple of the children that we met yesterday that Jesus has seen and had compassion on.....

Esili is a 9 year old boy from the Mathari slums of Nairobi. His father died from TB 5 years ago. Then Esili and his 6 brothers and sisters watched their mother burn to death in the post-election clashes in 2007. The children spent 2 years in a refugee camp until their aunt found them and took them to live with her, her husband, and her 6 children in this slum. There is never enough food and Esili often falls asleep in class from hunger and weakness.

Moses is another 9 year old boy from the same slum. He was abandoned by his mother when she married (tribal custom) and has moved between 2 aunts over the past 5 years. Moses is introverted, solemn and carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. I honestly have never seen a more sad looking child. Moses has had some kind of fungal (?) rash all over his face and his lips for 4 months. They are quite swollen, but he has not seen a doctor since there is no money to see one. His teacher reports that he also frequently falls asleep from lack of food. Thanks to the world food program each of the boys receive one meal a day at school – but many days that is all they get. His single aunt struggles to keep Moses and her 4 children alive on her $40 per month income.

Next Thursday we will take these two boys to the hospital for a checkup and HIV testing – and if they test negative we will be bringing them home after their exams finish at the end of the month. We are so excited that Jesus saw them and had compassion. We are thankful that He is allowing us to be His hands of love in their lives.

That is how God works – one life at a time. He sees them, He rescues them and draws them to Himself one by one. And that is how we in Grace Children’s Home ministries works too – helping children – with God’s help, transforming lives – one at a time. I truly believe that everyone can help someone. Just imagine how many lives could be changed if we all did something to change the life of another person! I believe that this world would be a very different place....

Thank you so much for joining us through your prayers – they are the power behind all that is happening here. keep it up!

seeking to see,

Diane

A Dedication to the Lord

“For (these children we) prayed and the Lord has granted (our) petition. So we have also dedicated (them) to the Lord as long as (they) live (they are) dedicated to the Lord.”

1 Samuel 1:27-28

It was the same rutted road that we traveled to church that we have travelled before – but instead of bouncing along the dusty red dirt track, today we slipped and slid in red mud! The rains continue and the Kangundo area has become a lush paradise of sprouting crops - and of course everyone is rejoicing at the goodness of God! Food is on the way!

The rain didn’t hamper the worshippers on this special Sunday... they piled into the church and sang their praises to God in their truly unique African way, and when the rain on the tin roof became deafening, they just turned up their little sound system and carried on and it was good to be there with them. The day’s focus was a child dedication – or more specific to us – the public dedication of our grace children’s home children.

I was marveling at God’s grace as the children were called forward individually and the pastors laid hands and prayed for them and their parents. These are lives completely transformed by the kindness and love of their heavenly Father. What a privilege it is to be a small part of it!

Afterwards we all retired to the pastor’s house where we had a celebratory feast. Next came the gifts from their sponsors.... I honestly have never seen kids more thankful and excited about something new. It was fun to watch them open their sponsor letters and see the faces of their new uncles and aunty's for the first time. This was the initial step in building a close long-term relationship between our children and individuals on the other side of the world.

If you are interested in sponsoring a grace home child please email me (gracechildrenshome@gmail.com for those of you who receive this forwarded) and I will be happy to send you more information. I say this because we are going to be adding new children soon and some will be available for sponsorship. We have already met 2 of them – yesterday I met mutie (sadly his name means “one who is left” – a common name for children whose mothers die in childbirth), a year old boy badly in need of a loving home and there are more to come in the days ahead.

Please continue to pray for us. The pace since I have arrived has been so busy that there is barely time to do the necessary things each day and satan has been working overtime here – a common occurrence when God is about to do something good. The testings and trials are almost too numerous to relate here - but here are a few of our prayer requests I can share:

• Lois’s health – she has been sick since I arrived a week and a half ago. God has given strength to do the necessary things each day but the load that she carries – especially as Hoyt is still recovering from his back surgery – is astonishing. I really admire her determination to press on and her sweet spirit as she does so in spite of how she feels.


• For Fitz (president of the Bible college) his mother just passed away – and she was not a Christian. To make it more difficult he is away on business and will miss the funeral.


• For Francis – the first Christian the Osborne's met in Kenya – who is dying of cancer. Apart from a miracle, the doctors do not give him much time.
  
• For the various ministry challenges they are facing – in a variety of areas.


• For Catherine Munyiva – one of our children who is seriously ill with typhoid, pneumonia and amoebas. She went to the doctor yesterday and today – and received drugs thru an IV - she is improving but needs our prayers. We will go back again tomorrow.
  
• For wisdom as we continue to visit children and interview new foster families throughout this week.
  
• For everything in God’s plans to be accomplished in my remaining time here.

Thank you for praying – our loving God hears and answers!

In awe of His mercy,

Diane

God is So Good!

I received a report from our Treasurer that we received a very generous donation from one of our supporters and these additional funds will help us in paying for Hoyt's recent surgery and other expenses that have been challenging in recent days! This is such a huge answer to prayer!We continue to be amazed at all that God is doing in the ministry of Kenya Evangelical Mission.

We are just thrilled with all that God has blessed us with and we also recognize the faithfulness of His people in sharing out of their abundance so that the Gospel may be spread to all regions of the earth! Join with us in celebrating the blessings of the Lord on our friends in Kenya. We are also grateful in that the Lord has seen fit to provide some much needed rain for that region and we trust it will continue in the days ahead!

One special need and prayer request is that our Treasurer (Joan Choi) who has faithfully served the Lord in this capacity for several years, needs to spend more time with her family and she will be stepping down from her duties as treasurer for KEM. Please join all of us in thanking her for all of her efforts and also for the Lord to send someone to fill her shoes. We pray for God's richest blessings on Joan and her family and trust for His provision for someone to come along side and take over this needed position.

For the souls of Kenya,

Mike & Carol Southwick

Alive and Well in Kenya

“The people whom I formed for Myself will declare My praise.” – Isaiah 43:21

A thousand apologies for not communicating any sooner – and more apologies to those of you who didn’t receive my previous emails about returning to Kenya. I hit the ground here running and have not stopped since! (except for a few occasional hours of sleep) The week since my arrival has been blessed beyond measure and I want to take this opportunity to praise the Lord for it! The remainder of my flights went well (tho interminably long!) – I was so glad to sweep thru customs into the arms of my Kenyan brothers waiting for me with hugs! Nice to be so welcomed back “home”.

I praise God for Friday which brought all but the two oldest children (who were at school till late) skipping down the path with giant smiles on their faces! How good it was to see them again – healthy, happy and some much taller! I gladly received their loving embraces – no hug or kiss could ever be sweeter! What an awesome day! They sang and recited Scripture passages they had learned. They have even memorized almost all of the books of the Bible (in just 4 months!) I am so grateful for our parents who are doing such wonderful jobs and for the incredible progress in the children in such a short span of time!

The weekend brought Chris and Musembi (our two oldest boys) by for a visit – they are delightful! There were also hours and hours of Lois and I catching up on 4 months of events and business. Sunday was truly a day of praise - we got up early for an hour-long walk to church with the boys– it was so great to be back worshipping with these dear people! The day was perfect – blue sky, red dirt and new little green bean and maize plants sprouting up everywhere– because the rains have come after such a long time of drought! hallelujah! Please pray that they continue until the harvest – but for now there is sooo much to thank God for.

I wish there was more time for me to write – but already it is late and we are leaving at 3:45am to take the two boys’ families to the Nairobi game park for a “safari” and day of fun. I will try to get another installment sent soon to catch you up on what has been happening – There has been so much. It has all been good and we are praising the Lord together.

In the meantime please continue to pray for:

• Meetings with prospective foster families


• The writing of the foster program agreement and set up of structure and supervision


• For the children that we will be taking in this time – we have already met one of them – can’t wait to tell you all about him! – his name is Dannis!


• For us to accomplish all that God has planned for us in the short time that we have left (it will go fast!)

Thank you for your prayers – you are an absolutely vital part of all that God is doing here.... I wish you could be here to see it in person! until then, let us keep praising the One who has formed us for Himself – for He alone is worthy.

In awe of His goodness,

Diane

God Answers Prayer!

“ask and it shall be given unto you....” – Matthew 7:7

Now I am not proposing that verse means you can ask for anything and God will give it – but in matters where He will be glorified by granting our requests it is definitely a promise. Well, we asked, God granted, and now I want to glorify Him for it!

As we wheeled my 4 bags to the check-in counter I was praying. I explained to the agent that the contents of the bags were for orphaned children in Kenya and asked for mercy. She hesitated, spoke to a supervisor, and returned with a big smile on her face. She waived the $400-500 in fees and ignored the fact that all of the bags were up to 4 lbs overweight! Praise the Lord! I was rejoicing and my angel was happy that she could do that for the kids. I almost cried....

Getting all my carry ons onto the plane was a greater challenge. They are guarding zealously against “overhead bin hogs” these days, but again God intervened. An old friend was working at my gate and he allowed it to all go on board with me. Hopefully no one labeled me a bin hog – but, oh well it is all for a good cause. Do you have any idea how much a bag of tootsie rolls or bubble gum weighs?? God also sent a kind man to lift my heavy bags up into the bin for me so my heart is overflowing with gratefulness!

Now only 5 more airports and 4 more flights left before my arrival in Nairobi! Can’t wait! Anyway, just wanted to check in and let you know how much I appreciate your prayers and to share how they make a difference! You make a difference. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Lovingly,

Diane

Diane Clements - Ready Set Go!

"And You know the way where I am going...." - John 14:4

I'm pretty much ready to go. My bags are packed for my return to Kangundo, Kenya tomorrow morning - but for me even as it is time for expectation of what is ahead, it is also a time for retrospection and remembering what God has done on similar journeys in the past. What I have learned without question is that God knows the way I am going. I may have my ideas and expectations of what will take place in the next month, however my Father is in control and is so often full of complete surprises! But what freedom and peace there is in knowing this and being able to just let go and give Him the reins! His will be done! amen!

Bags are a matter of concern for me... I am allowed 2 - 50lb. bags - and I have 4 (not to mention my 50+ lb carry on - ugh - and an almost as heavy briefcase!). The fees to take the extras to Africa are prohibitive but United Airlines told me to take them and the person checking me in has the ability to reduce or totally waive the fees. So this is your first prayer "assignment" - pray for the luggage "angel" to check me in. Not at all hard for God - so let's ask! I have had the luggage "nazi" before (making me take my bags down to 49 lbs!) so we know which one to ask for. I could not come up with 50lbs. of things for the children that I was willing to leave behind so I just decided to step out on faith - and I am asking you to join me!

And I ask you once again to join me on my travels to Kenya, a wonderful far away land, through your prayers. I will be sending updates as frequently as I'm able to keep you informed. I know I will enjoy writing about being reunited with our beautiful children - about introducing them to their American sponsors and the giving of gifts and chocolates (of course!) - about the outings being planned. But perhaps even more joyful will be the homecoming of up to 12 new children! What an awesome God we serve! I can't wait to report it all to you...

Please keep us in your prayers for:

• The check in at 5am (pacific) tomorrow (wed) and related luggage fees


• The choosing and welcoming home of the new children


• That we will accomplish all of the Lord's will in my time there


• The administrative tasks that Lois and i have to work through


• The housing/parent situation for the boys in Nepal - still no solution found - still in limbo (time is getting short tho!)

If you would like, you can also pray that I get a little sleep on my almost 2 full day journey - I honestly can sleep anywhere at all as long as I can lay down - but I find it impossible to sleep in an upright position! I know, it sounds ridiculous for someone that travels as much as I do, yet it is as it is. But I always have the faint hope that maybe this time things will be different.....

Thank you so much for your prayers for our Grace Children's Home ministry - you are the greatest blessing that God could bestow on us! Truly if people are praying, then all will be just as it should be! Blessings!

With anticipation of great things,

Diane

Diane Clements (Grace Children's Home) is on the move again!

“’Cease striving and know that I AM God! I WILL be exalted among the nations, I WILL be exalted in the earth’ the Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.” – psalm 46:10-11

The Sweet and Uncertain

This is an email with a mixture of difficult things and exciting things - an odd combination – and yet we can face both with peaceful hearts because of the One who is holding us!

In Nepal, the situation remains unchanged. The landlord is showing a little grace and giving us a few more weeks to move out. Arjun is still trying to find a home for the boys and parents to care for them but so far no success. He is also looking for Christian couples who might want to foster one boy per home – or even other children’s homes that might take them in. In any case, even if they go back to their villages, we will continue to provide monetary support for them. This will give us a chance to continue to have contact and input into their lives. It will also give us the ability to make sure they stay in school and finish their education. I will keep you posted as information comes to me. Please please continue to pray for our 10 precious boys.... that God’s will be done in each of their lives – whatever our good God has chosen for them. He WILL be exalted in their lives – I am confident of that.....

On the other hand, my excitement builds as I prepare to leave for Kenya in one week (Wed. Oct. 21). The mission this time will be to iron out any wrinkles in the existing homes, (there are hardly any – they are doing sooo well!) hammer out agreements and supervision for the foster homes, and then God willing we will be adding children. Lois says that the two family homes are ready to add two boys each – and there are possibly enough foster families ready to add 8 more children – for a possible total of 12 new lives! That would double our size! Incredible... now that is exciting! There also may be opportunity to move our two families to larger homes.... we also hope to take the children on a special outing – possibly to the game park. We would have to do it in 2 batches (girls, then boys) since there are already too many to fit into the van at once. but that will just give us twice the fun! Can’t wait! Add to that the usual playing and eating chocolates.... well, it will be a busy 3 weeks!

Anyway, we are counting on your prayers –for both our Asian and our African ministries. Please pray for Lois and I to work through all the many things we have to talk about and figure out in our time we will have together. Pray for the new children and financial provision for them – I will be needing new sponsors (let me know if you are interested). We will also need the Omnipotent guiding hand of God on all we do! What a joy to be building the foundation of a ministry that I am confident will just continue to grow and change more and more lives – one life at a time!

God is good – even in our trials and uncertainties we can trust Him. May your day be one of peace – as you cease striving and rest peacefully in the palm of His hand – no matter what you are facing in your life today. He WILL be exalted!

Anticipating great things,

Diane

Sewing Center Update

Ilowee Owens (pictured to the left) one of our KEM board members and faithful servant to the ministry in Kenya has taken on the monumental task of opening our Sewing Center in Kangundo. She has a passion for the people of Kenya and it really shows in her diligent efforts - check out this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0ZbKg37hO4 to get the full picture.

Lois Letters #1

WE ARE REALLY PRAISING THE LORD THAT HOYT SEEMS TO GET A LITTLE STRONGER EVERY DAY. 2 DAYS AGO HE WAS ABLE TO GET UP, WALK (WITH THE WALKER) TO HIS OFFICE CHAIR AND SIT DOWN WITHOUT HELP!

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN HERE AND KNOW OUR GARDENER FRANCIS, HE IS VERY ILL WITH CANCER, AND PRETTY MUCH BED RIDDEN. THIS IS VERY HARD ON ALL OF US AS WE LOVE HIM SO MUCH. HE WAS THE FIRST KENYAN WE KNEW, AND THE ONE WHO BROUGHT US TO THIS AREA. ALSO THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW PASTOR JAMES MULIE, WHO ALSO WORKS HERE, HIS BROTHER DIED SAT. AND HAD NOT BEEN SICK AT ALL SO WAS REALLY HARD. THIS IS ALSO THE 4TH SIBLING HE HAS LOST IN 4 YEARS. 2 SISTERS, AND NOW 2 BROTHERS ALL MIDDLE AGED.

MONTHLY GIVING HAS ALSO BEEN WAY DOWN IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, BUT THEY SAY THE ECONOMY IS ON THE WAY UP, SO WE PRAY THAT WILL HELP. WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE GIVING TO SPECIAL PROJECTS, BUT WE NEED MORE MONTHLY SUPPORT. ALSO PRAY WITH US AS THE MEDICAL BILLS ARE $13,000 AND WE TRUST THE LORD TO SUPPLY.

A MAN CAME HERE LAST WEEK ASKING US TO HELP HIM START CHURCHES IN MASII LAND WHERE HE COMES FROM (THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WEAR RED BLANKETS AND JUMP). WE HAVE KNOW HIM FOR 15 YEARS AND HE IS A VERY GODLY MAN AND PLANS TO JOIN THE BIBLE COLLEGE NEXT TERM. BOTH THE BIBLE COLLEGE AND MECHANIC SCHOOL ARE DOING WELL, BUT WE NEED MORE STUDENTS FOR THE BIBLE COLLEGE. THE COMPUTER SCHOOL HAS SEVERAL STUDENTS, BUT I’M NOT SURE HOW MANY. WE NEED PRAYER FOR WISDOM AS PEOPLE ARE STILL ASKING FOR CHURCHES ALL THE TIME. LAST WEEK ONE OF THE BIBLE STUDENTS FROM KISII SAID THEY HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE MEETING IN SEVERAL HOMES, JUST WAITING FOR US TO OPEN A CHURCH FOR THEM.

OUR HOME IS A BUSY PLACE SINCE HOYT DOESN’T GO TO THE OFFICE YET; THE OFFICE COMES TO HIM AND THE BOARD MEETS HERE ALMOST DAILY. WE ARE ALSO STRUGGLING AS WE ARE MISSING FRANCIS AND JAMES SO HAVE LESS WORKERS.

ANOTHER GREAT BLESSING IS THAT WE JUST HAD A VISITOR FROM THE STATES WHO IS A FARMER AND HE AND A FRIEND PURCHASED A DRIP SYSTEM FOR THE FARM, A GENERATOR FOR THE COLLEGE, A WELDING MACHINE AND OTHER THINGS FOR THE WORKSHOP. PRAY WE CAN USE THE DRIP SYSTEM TO GROW A LOT MORE AS WATER IS A PROBLEM IN KENYA AS YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN ON THE NEWS. WE HAVE NOT HAD RAIN IN MOST OF KENYA FOR OVER A YEAR. THEY ARE PREDICTING ANOTHER EL NINO, SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO REPLENISH OUR NATIONAL WATER SUPPLY.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LOVE, PRAYERS AND SUPPORT.

LOIS AND HOYT

Hoyt and Lois are home

I received a call from Hoyt this morning (it was evening in Kenya) and he let me know that he and Lois are now home. His words to me are that he is now not feeling any pain in his back and it appears that the surgery was successful. They appreciate everyones prayers and Praise the Lord for the results. Please pass this news on to those who are interested.
Please continue to pray for the overall ministry, the drought in Kenya continues to be an issue and there are always unmet needs....but God manages to provide just when it is needed.

Craig and Lynn Conley Crash Kenya

Craig and Lynn Conley

Our Kenya brothers arriving at the airport to pick up Craig and Lynn

Our guys getting to work on cables and wiring for the new computer school

The long awaited container arrived and ready to unload

Some of the trench work preparing for cable and wiring between the buildings

A small glimpse of our Bible College and vocational training facilities

One of Craig's projects was to prepare our computer training center and these are some of the desks/workstations that the students will use.

Our new tractor compliments of Rotary International. The buildings in the back are our auto shop and carpentry classrooms.

Our people hard at work preparing desks for the computer training center

Our new truck compliments of Rotary International

What would a trip to Kenya be like without a few pictures of the animal kingdom....just think, one day we will get to play with these beautiful creatures and no harm will come to either of us!

Leo

They say we are related.....but somehow I just don't think so!

Some of our Kenya children

Our mission field!

Better than a trip to Macy's

Students hard at work

Our Missionaries - Hoyt and Lois Osborne

Some of our staff

A time of fellowship

Church time

Hoyt Osborne no doubt issuing words of wisdom

Hoyt and Lois Osborne

Recently Craig and Lynn Conley visited our mission in Kenya to oversee and complete the container project, and to set up our vocational training centers. These pictures reflect just a small portion of the total of what was completed. Although the container arrived just as Craig and Lynn were leaving, our Kenya brothers were able to secure the container and unload its contents. We praise the Lord for all that was provided and accomplished!