Category: Updates

As soon as I started the ministry of En-Gedi, I was emotionally, though joyfully, shaken by the status of the children who had to find a home at En-Gedi.  Not just by neglect, but also by the children’s very limited abilities.  I prayed for extra grace, extra strength and for the ⁿth time, I asked God to walk with me along the challenging journey. 

I had told God I would be His channel of love to those unloved and unwanted children and also a channel of light to shine in the darkness of superstitions, bad omens and curses associated with disability.   My commitment to God was that I would do my best and leave Him to do the rest. 

And that is how En-Gedi

MOTTO – “We do our best and God does the rest” came into being.

Over the last 2.5 years, I have watched our children make mental and physical improvements in ways unexplainable.  Cramped up arms have opened up and out; legs that didn’t make any movements are being raised up and down trying to move; sad faces and sunken eyes are full of smiles and laughter and children who didn’t make any movements are now able to use their bodies to move from one place to another – regardless of their moving styles.  

None of our 12 children has been able to either stand or walk on their own, safe for Jeremiah who since a few months ago could use a walker to walk a bit.  In my November update, I shared about Jeremiah making his very first 3 steps on his own – despite his club feet.  From the last week of January this year, Jeremiah has been able to walk back and forth for a few minutes at a time – without any support.  This is remarkable given that when he joined En-Gedi  two years ago, he was prostrate on the floor pulling himself  slowly using his elbows.  Trying to raise his wrists to hold himself above the floor, he fell so many times that he had bumps on every part of his forehead.  God doing the rest surpasses our best all the time.  He makes impossibilities possible!  John, who is 1.5 years at En-Gedi came with no words at all; now he is able to clearly say 4 words; has learned to wave goodbye, is one of the 3 potty trained and he is not only able to wipe his drool, but also to wipe his wheelchair table.  Jessica whose both hands were cramped by her chest has one hand out and reaching out and holding things. Even Angel is now able to drink water using a straw while I hold a cup to her.

Construction of En-Gedi New Facility

Construction started early June soon after we dedicated the property to God.  I trust God that construction will not stop because of lack of finances.  We still need a little more than US$300,000 to enable us to complete this facility and move in.  My list of waitlisted children has meanwhile continued to grow and I pray that they will still be living when we are ready to take them in.  Please pray with me for resources.

In this update, we feature David Lonkututi who came to us 8 months ago.  He came looking very weak and didn’t talk.  His family said he did not know how to talk but just within a few days, he started responding to us talking Ki-Maasai – his mother tongue.  I was on the internet looking up words he was saying.  Then he started repeating every word we said to him and within a few weeks David was talking.  His family didn’t talk to him, so they assumed he couldn’t talk.  The other thing David could not do was to seat on his own or make any movements.  He learned how to move flat on the floor – slithering like a snake.  Then he learned how to raise his knees a bit, and the latest is David seating down on his own.  He builds blocks and is learning how to count and to write. 

Towards the end of February, we were privileged to have a visit from two of my friends from Colorado – Ihla and Ruthie and they both were a big blessing to us and together we enjoyed being with the En-Gedi children and staff for a week.  We also were blessed with visit by two officials from Set Free Ministries and another couple from Edmonton, Alberta. 

Taking care of these children and sharing love has brought me very close to my God as many times, I keep checking myself out regarding the call to serve.  Sometimes the children wear me out with play and exercises which is done mostly on the floor and their laughter, and the different ways they all express their joy keep humbling me and keeping me rededicating myself to His service.  Our children are the happiest – and those who have visited us can ascertain that.  The continuing improvement in their different faculties keeps affirming our motto:  “DOING OUR BEST AND GOD DOING THE REST”.