Living Hope

"Hope is something you have to demonstrate"
Famous words uttered by a humble saint, Mother Teresa continues to mentor others to trust God in loving the hopeless and the destitute.

As we seek to begin our work in Kiambu, Kenya, building a rescue center for victims of HIV/AIDS and violence, we are finding we too must first demonstrate hope.

1 Peter 1:3 says, "You have been born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ..." As our team has taken on this endeavour we have experienced several hardships for which we thank and praise God.

For it has been in the trials that we have discovered that Jesus truly is our only hope and as we learn to fully depend upon Him and trust Him, we demonstrate to the those around us the living hope of Christ.

God encouraged us with a tangible demonstration of hope against all odds by the visit of our dear friend Dr. Mamisa of Port Elizabeth, South Africa. A medical doctor whose dream it was to always have an HIV/AIDS clinic now years after trusting God for the provisions, is receiving her first shipment of medical equipment from Toledo, Ohio!

Dr. Mamisa encouraged Jody and I to be patient, wait for God's timing, and for His supply. She cautioned us about doing things in our own strength rather than in Christ alone.

A woman who had survived the persecution of Apartheid, didn't own a pair of shoes until age nine, has gone on to mother 10 children, become a well-known Doctor in her country, and now operates a hydroponics farm which feeds her entire community.

She attributes it all to a God who accomplishes all He puts on our hearts to do.

Her example gave us hope to not give up the dream and to continue trusting God. For it is our faith walk that demonstrates hope to the lost and the destitute.

Truly Jesus is our only hope!!

AIDS Awareness Day: May 17th

Hello Friends!

Thank you for joining us in praying and fasting for AIDS victims during AIDS Awareness Day. Over 1,200 community based organization in 115 countries participated in special programs designed to educate local communities about AIDS prevention and treatment. All events ended with a candlelight service to commemorate the loss of loved ones. James Waruiru, director of Fountain of Hope Kenya, as well as local volunteers hosted families who had been effected by AIDS to share the hope of Jesus Christ. They called the event, "All your burdens...bring them to Christ."

The day started with visiting households who were suffering from AIDS to pray with the sick and to donate food. The FOH team then led the community of Kiambu, Kenya in planting trees for every person who had died of AIDS this past year.

Afterward everyone got together for one of the biggest sports passions, SOCCER! When the children had played well into the evening, the entire community got together and held hands for the candlelight service.

One person shared his testimony of how Jesus brought back hope after suffering the loss of a loved one. There was prayer and giving thanks to God.

The event touched the lives of so many people and gave them hope! Thank you for lifting up your sisters and brothers in Kenya today! Thank you for praying for Fountain of Hope and their staff! And lastly, thanks for praying for Christy and I as we seek God's timing and direction for taking Streams of Mercy to Kenya to partner with FOH!

God is so good and He meets every need in Jesus Christ!

Take Care,

Jody