Sara and I are back from our anniversary celebration in Alaska. We saw such immense beauty and thoroughly enjoyed our ten days together exploring this rich land. We saw some fantastic scenery and had some rich conversations reflecting on our journey together. We arrived home Sunday and are getting back at it around here. For those near Boise, ID, or anyone who would like to join me there, I’ll be gathering with some people there the weekend of June 27-29. You can get details here.
Also, I need to ask for your help again. Seventeen years ago, we built an orphanage to help children whose parents were killed in the tribal violence that swept that part of Kenya after a disputed election. I had traveled there to help a group of people explore what it means to live in the Father’s affection. We met with these children, who were living in a slum, and helped them procure land and build a better place for them to grow up. To help fund the ongoing needs of those children, we also built a petrol station nearby, whose profits would support the combination orphanage and school. It has worked well all these years, and now the profits from the petrol station are helping them begin their adult lives. Here’s what Michael wrote me about it:
The project has been a great blessing to hundreds of families, especially through food contributions and house rent for some families, and many are still landless. Their future is in the hands of God, and through a monthly distribution from the station. Many families are living under oppression. We provide food, medication, and even buy their burial place when needed. We believe that in the future, we will ask our well-wishers and friends to help purchase the land and build houses and toilets, so that they can stay permanently. This will help them move out of homelessness and get a place.
We are discovering that crisis is a way of life in Kenya. Last week, they discovered that they had not been paying a required tax on the petrol station. They were unaware of the tax, and the county had not been enforcing it. Due to the country’s economic needs, the government decided to crack down on numerous businesses, requiring them to pay taxes or risk losing their licenses. Many were fined $50,000 to $100,000, so they are blessed to only owe $22,000. The station has been closed by the government and will be auctioned off in two weeks if the debt is not settled. They need $22,328 to rescue the business and keep the orphanage and school functioning.
Would you please help us help them? We are trying to raise those funds by early next week to get it transferred in time. If you can help us raise this $22,328 to restore the petrol station, please see our Donation Page at Lifestream. Please designate “Kenya” in the Note section of your donation, or email us to let us know that your gift is intended for Kenya. You can also Venmo contributions to “@LifestreamMinistries” or mail a check to Lifestream Ministries • 1560 Newbury Rd Ste 1 • Newbury Park, CA 91320. Or, if you prefer, we can take your donation over the phone at (805) 498-7774.
As always, every dime you send will end up in Kenya. We do not take out any money for administrative overhead.
Thank you for your concern and prayers for these people in Kenya.
