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SUMMER HI-LITES

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Summer Hi-lites

“I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength for my work. I thank him for considering me worthy and appointing me to serve him” (1 Timothy 1:12)This update is for all of us who have joined hands in rescuing children with disability from hostile environments, giving them love and care, educating their families and the community to accept and love such children and to keep connected with the Lord God our maker and sustainer for “…each of us will give an account of himself to God” Rom. 14:12.
Girl Lavency went back to her mother and the mother allowed me to share her testimony.  She had finished high school and had gotten some office skills training when still single she got this lovely baby who didn’t grow as a normal child.  She got help from her older sister who opened her home to her and her baby.  She however had to live there and also be a nanny to her sister’s kids and a house-help who would do all housework every single day.  When I took her child in last year in November, she had been house-bound for 3 years.  She wanted my help so that she could be free and get out and look for a job that she always dreamed for – an office job.  She got that job in mid April and she notified me with jubilation.  She was very thankful to En-Gedi and assured us that she was now able to take care of her child afford the necessary care for Lavency.    I thank God for this re-union of mother and daughter. Angel stayed with us for 3 years and her parents worked casual jobs in some factories near us and lived in some low income area.  Both lost their jobs and moved back to their villages ways away towards western Kenya.  They assured me that they had fully accepted Angel into the family and would love and care for her.  Our phone conversations since Angel left have not proved otherwise.  I miss both girls and have a tough time not seeing them every day, but like those of you who have been foster parents, a time comes when we have to let go – especially if its back to a loving and caring family Mwangi James joined us a week ago.  He is 6.5 years old, has severe Cerebral Palsy, severely malnourished and weighed only 7 kilo grams.  He is on a special diet and like all the others, he has found a loving home. Mwongela is also new at En-Gedi and has severe Cerebral Palsy.  He also has chest complications and both parents wanted children’s home where they could place their first born son.  They are expecting another baby and both told me they didn’t know what to do with Mwongela.  Hopefully, they will at one time be able to take him back home. In our on-going community awareness to disability initiatives, we went out with 3 of our kids to the village and were hosted by a family from where one of the kids comes from.  The kids love to be taken out on such visits, and people always learn something new about love for special needs children. During part of April into the beginning of May, we did some professional dental care for the kids whose milk teeth had delayed coming out and also undertook mouth and teeth cleaning. For many kids, our daily teeth brushing has been easier as they are now opening their mouths a bit better.

For new Mwangi, who is so malnourished, there is hope for change.  Compare the two children below:

Then

Now

Then

Now

Very special thanks to all of you for being part of this life changing ministry.  The Lord bless and keep you in His care.   For those of you who’ve been able to visit us, thank you for your time with us.  We always have something that you can do with the kids when you come to us.  

Praises and prayer requests:  a) Thank God with us for the two kids who have rejoined their families – that God will protect them and keep them in loving care; b) thank God for health of both the kids and the care givers.  We have not been to the hospital this year and pray that we will continue to be healthy.

Prayer needs: We need a vehicle (a Van) so that we are able to go out with more than 3 children to Church and for community visits. My vehicle that I use is able to carry 3 wheelchairs and a maximum 4 kids.  Feel free to start giving towards this goal.  For those of you in North America, you can give through Set Free Ministries and receive a tax receipt.  SFM website is currently under reconstruction, but you can give thru checks.   You can also do a direct bank wire transfer, and I would be happy to give you the instructions for that. 

To donate by check, please make your check payable to:Set Free Ministries
700 36th St. SE, Suite 108
Grand Rapids, MI 49548 US

Please indicate En-Gedi on the memo line.

For those in Kenya, you can give via M-pesa or direct bank transfer.

Warm regards to you all, 

Margaret Njuguna

En-Gedi Children’s Home  

P.O. Box 763-00204                       

Athi River, Kenya

megnjuguna@gmail.com

Tel. +254-710-395756; +254-733-972027               website: https://en-gedichildrenwithhope.org

With all my heart I try to serve you; keep me from disobeying your commandments. (Psalm 119:10)

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SPRING HI-LITES

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SPRING HIGHLIGHT

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 We started the year 2019 with blessings of good health for al the kids and the caregivers; peace and joy as we looked forward into another year full of God’s providence. the highlight of this update was the visit by Calvin College interim class on January 10. Hosting this class was an answered prayer, given that I am an old pupil of Calvin College. when I received the distinguished alumni Award in 2016, I talked to several classes at the college and I shared my desire to host those willing to come for interim, for visits and for short term volunteering with me. So this January visit was the beginning of answers to my prayers Below is what the lead professor had to say about the visit: Dear Margaret, I am writing to offer my sincere thanks for being part of our Kenya interim. the students and Peter can’t stop talking about how impactful the visit was to En-Gedi Children’s Home. in short they felt God there. They felt the Kingdom there. and they found in you a tangible role model of our central topic: a leader. you have vision and passion and that is evident in what is happening at En-Gedi. Rich blessings to you, Margaret. Thank you for allowing us to visit En-Gedi. May God continue to pour into you, even as you pour into the children of En-Gedi. Sincerely, Bob Crow, Director of Commuter Student life & Assessment, Calvin College, 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids MI 49546 USA Our children have continued to grow big and to gain new skills and abilities. They are a joy to be with; half of them are very playful and active all of it on the floor. One of the challenges is that they are gaining weight and all but one have to be lifted to sit on the wheelchairs. Then they must be lifted from wheelchairs to the bathtubs, to their beds and to anywhere we move to. While in the US last year, a friend sent me back with a few weight belts which help us quite a bit. Pray that our backs will keep strong for this, God’s noble task. Please thank God with us for His continued providence. Pray that God will send volunteers to me to help with teaching and training the children. I am also specifically asking God for a technical volunteer who can help me with small maintenance tasks in addition to helping with the kids. our caretaker helps mostly with the gardens and grounds. It has been hot and dry since December and we are praying that March rains will come as expected. Finally I thank God for all of you who are partners with me in this service to God’s special children and to the communities around us from which these children come. Margaret Njuguna, Founder/Director of en-Gedi Children’s cHome P.O.Box 763-00204, Athi River – Kenya. www.en-gedichildrenwithhope.org
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WELL DESERVED HONOR

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Well Deserved Honor

In 2016 Margaret Njuguna was awarded the prestigious “Distinguished Alumni Award” for her accomplishments in founding En-gedi Home for Disabled Children on the outskirts of Nairobi Kenya. En-gedi Children’s Home, now four years old, is a place for children with severe disabilities. “These are children that a lot of people don’t like, including their own parents,”Ms. Njuguna said. “We run a rescue ministry to help children escape from confinement and neglect and to save children who have been left in the jungle to be eaten by hyenas. It is a call God gave me.”

Under her wings, these children have freedom, love and care.  After Ms. Margaret Njuguna spent the previous 27 years in the employ of World Renew, the global relief ministry of the Christian Reformed Church. She had the desire to do something more. Thus began the inspiration of En-gedi. Njuguna was trained as a finance and administrative manager—doing office work—in World Renew’s Kenya and Uganda offices. She wanted to do something more.“I learned that all people, regardless of their backgrounds, are made by God,” she said. “Every human being is made in the image of Christ.”

After graduation, Njuguna went back to Africa for World Renew, this time in Tanzania, to continue developing communities. In time, however, the call to advocate for the disabled led her to a new ministry. “I wanted to find out why people would hide children with disabilities, why they would want to sacrifice them, why they would want to neglect such children to death,” she said. In Kenyan culture, many people believe that having a child with disabilities is a curse or related to witchcraft—the children have been bewitched. It is her challenge to diminish the hold that superstition has on families who have disabled children, to see the image of God in them rather than an evil spirit. “It is a dark world,” she said. “When I got started I told God that I want to be a channel through which he can shine his light into the world of darkness.” This is difficult work—both the daily caring for special-needs children and the quest to alter long-held beliefs and perceptions. Njuguna thinks the light is starting to penetrate. “Slowly, slowly parents who did not want to even look at their children who are disabled, are now visiting and they can even hold their children,” she said. En-Gedi is not an adoption agency. Every child Njuguna takes in will either be cared for indefinitely or—her great hope—parents and relatives will eventually want to take their children back after accepting them and after they have learned how to care for them well.

She knows this is a project for the long haul. Njuguna believes it will take generations to fully overcome current prejudices. But she is preparing for that future, expanding her own facility to take more children and creating the climate for other homes across Kenya to be established.  

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ABLED DIFFERENTLY

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Abled Differently

In Africa and elsewhere many people regard disabled children as a bad omen, a curse on their family, or just plain shameful. Often these beautiful children are hidden and isolated from other people and other children.
Here at En-gedi we have seen great transformation take place in the lives of the children. We have seen despair and despression turn into happiness, singing and playing. Parents often get tears in their eyes when they come to visit and see the change in their children.

Our children are abled differently and following are some accomplishments for us to rejoice in:

Jeremiah – this lovely boy, deaf from an ear infection immediately after birth came to us in May and his only movements were on his tummy – slithering on the floor.  Six weeks later, he bent his knees and lay on his elbows and attempted to crawl. In middle July, he lifted his elbows and attempted to crawl normally.  It did not matter how many times his wrists gave up and how many times he cried from hitting the floor with his forehead, Jeremiah wanted to crawl normally – and he soon did.  In mid-August, we taught him how to hold a spoon and soon Jeremiah started feeding himself and not just that, but we helped him to start to stand.   Though still weak at the lower back and ankles, Jeremiah is the most improved of our kids. 

The other child who has made very notable improvement is Godfrey, the only child who can talk and feed himself. He cannot walk though.    Godfrey has learned how to use blocks to make different images and he is apparently gifted in creativity.  He has also learned how to color and is enjoying it a lot.  He often brings tears to many who visit him at En-Gedi Home when he shares his dream of walking to school “when God helps him to walk” as he puts it.  I have already taken him to an orthopedic hospital, got him checked out, x-rayed and assessed for surgery to correct twisted legs.   About US$2000 will get him operated on his weak right leg and a pin to help his left knee to straighten it up a bit.  

Below re videos of some of our beloved children and the accomplishments they have made so far. “We do our best and God does the rest!


It is amazing what these children can do. One little boy has learned to walk and is pleased to show his progress to you. One little girl, born with no arms, is happy to let you know she gets around quite well. She is a leader and often leads the children in singing.  A small boy was brought to us. He could not move. He  has learned to lay on his tummy, lift his elbows up and attempt crawling. After many tries, and many little bumps on his forehead from falling foreward, he now crawls. The children are courageous and determined. There are many other examples of growth that will warm your heart and I will post them from time to time.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFF

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Founder Margaret Njuguna

Board of Directors & Staff


En-Gedi Children’s Home has a Board of 7 men and women of integrity. Background of Margaret Njuguna, the founder of En-Gedi founder: Margaret worked in missions in different countries for over 20 years and in her work with communities, learned that many people regarded disabled children as either bad omens, curses, bewitchment, or just shameful. This belief, though just a myth, led to many disabled children being hidden and isolated from other people and other children.

Some communities even wished such children dead while others sacrificed them to the witchdoctors. To many people, even in the affluent communities, having a handicapped child is not something to talk about. And with a belief that any living child bears the image of God, regardless of their physical looks, Margaret began this ministry founded on the main principal of love. En-Gedi Children’s Home cares for children with disabilities from guardians/parents who have had some challenges caring for such children.   We are mostly linked up with such children through Community Organizations, Churches, and through our linkages with the local government officials.  

We normally meet with the parents/guardians and talk about the background of the children, the challenges in raising them, and ways we can help each other raise children in a way that they have good care, are well fed and their other needs met.  We take in children from willing guardians who also agree to periodically visit  En-Gedi Home to keep their connection with their children.

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