COVID-19 KENYA UPDATE - NEW LOCKDOWNS PUT IN PLACE

This just in from Machaa Samual Little Lambs National Director.

President Uhuru Kenyatta announces new Covid-19 measures :

1. Cessation of movement by road, rail and air in and out of the counties of Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu and Nakuru till further notice.

2. No in-person meetings of any kind in the counties of Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Kiambu and Nakuru till further notice.

3. Parliament asked to go on recess as well as the regional Houses mentioned above.

4. Curfew to begin at 8pm and end at 4am in the counties of Nairobi, Nakuru, Machakos, Kiambu and Kajiado.

Other counties curfew will go on as currently is, being from 10pm to 4am.

5. Government vacates all curfew passes until a review by the Ministry of Interior is done.

6. In-person worship in Nairobi, Nakuru, Machakos, Kiambu, and Kajiado suspended till further notice.

Other counties to be allowed in person religious engagements but to adhere to the one third rule of capacity of religious institutions.

7. Bars are suspended from operating in Nairobi, Nakuru, Machakos, Kiambu and Kajiado. Restaurants and eateries in the said counties shall provide takeaway services only and are banned from selling alcohol.

8. Schools, including universities closed. No further in-person learning.

9. All employees of private and government bodies are directed to have employees working from home until further notice, except those where services cannot be provided remotely.

10. All hospitals asked to limit number of visitors to patients to just one per patient.

11. All permitted gatherings to have not more than 50 people. Funerals to be conducted within 72 hours of confirmation of death with just a total of 50 people. Marriage other similar events to have a total of 30 people.

12. Those above 58 to be vaccinated in first phase.

I think it was just in order for us to close the centers. You will notice that the regions of Kiambu and Nakuru where we have our centers, are among the five most affected counties. Continue praying with for God to keep our kids, their families and all of us safe.

Blessings,

Machaa

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MORE CHALLENGES IN KENYA

This video was shot about a couple of weeks ago and was presented at Immanuel Church in Gurnee IL this past Sunday. Some information is already obsolete.

Today by government order, we have closed our learning centers during semester break due to a COVID-19 surge in the Rift Valley School region. It is import to note that this outbreak is not in the schools, but has taxed the fragile medical infrastructure of the area. This is the reason given for this order.

In response we are shifting back to our pandemic operation strategy which is outlined in this video. Please pray that public schools will reopen soon so the work of Shepherd’s Little Lambs can continue unhindered.

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SCHOOLS OPEN IN KENYA!!

The schools in Kenya reopened earlier this month. There was no such thing as e-learning for the children that Little Lambs serves so this is extremely goods news that we are grateful to God for. Our pre-schools are both operational and we have resumed daily meals at each of our education centers. 

New protocols at school include daily temperature taking and wellness checks. Social distancing and masks continue to be a part of everyday life. We are thankful to God that there have been NO confirmed cases of COVID-19 for any of our children or staff!

The economic impact on the families we serve, who struggle in the best of times, has been devastating. Your generosity has allowed Little Lambs to provide food to our “lamb” families during the pandemic. Thank you for your continued financial support. 

Washing up before lunch.

WHAT DID YOU DO THIS SUMMER?

For the second year in a row Ava, a student at Bethel Academy in Morton IL helped raise money to benefit Shepherd’s Little Lambs. 

This year with the help of friends, Luke and Avery, they held a garage sale that raised $191.50 to help poor children in Kenya. These grassroots efforts are so heart warming and appreciated. Thank you Ava, Luke and Avery!!

You can help too! 

REMEMBERING JOSEPHAT

It is with a heavy heart that we tell you that Josephat, our dear friend, grandfather to some of our “lambs” and the groundskeeper/security man at our Green Pastures development center passed away Sunday. Josephat was always quiet, but had a ready smile. He has been an integral part of the Little Lambs family for over 15 years. He was always involved in every project that came along. We will miss him greatly. Please pray for his family as they grieve this loss.

It is a cultural expectation that the employer takes on the financial responsibility for funeral cost. Our financial responsibility will be in the neighborhood of $750. Please give, if you can, to help with these costs.

Never one to miss out on the fun, here is Josephat taking a turn with the water ballon slingshot in 2018.

We will miss you! Until we meet again one day…

Josephat with one of his grandsons Zach back in 2005. Zach, now a young man, has graduated from high school and received welding training all because of Josephat’s commitment to his family and to Little Lambs.

Josephat (middle) with some of our grounds staff in 2017.

English Bibles in Every Little Lamb's Home

As Little Lambs moved to a distance learning model, due to COVID-19, we discovered that some of our Lamb’s homes did not have an English Bible. We use the Bible extensively as part of our English reading and writing lesson plans. Students usually use the English Bibles we have in our classroom.

We moved quickly and purchased and distributed English Bibles to each home. This allows the students to complete assignments at home and practice reading with their family listening in.

If you are interested in helping with this unexpected expense that would be a huge help.

COVID-19 RESPONSE UPDATE

We reported a few days ago that our learning centers have been closes in compliance with government mandates to help limit the spread of COVID-19.

We have redeployed money normally used to buy food for our lunch program to buy bulk staples that are being distributed to the families of the children we serve.

Food distribution began Monday morning. Please continue to pray for these children and people who were vulnerable long before the challenges of COVID-19

SHEPHERD'S LITTLE LAMBS RESPONDS TO COVID-19

LOADING SUPPLIES AT THE MARKET

A few days ago, Kenya’s president closed both the schools and the country’s border to limit the spread of Covid-19. Therefore, both of our learning centers are closed for an undetermined amount of time until schools reopen. 

We wanted you to know that we have been closely monitoring this situation and have taken the following steps in response:

• Money normally used to buy food for our lunch program is being used to buy bulk staples that are being distributed to the families of the children we serve.

• All staff will continue to be paid for the duration of the closure.

• Teaching staff are developing educational tools that will be distributed to the children for use at home.

• The mission trip to Kenya that was scheduled for April, has been cancelled. A new date will be set once travel bans are lifted.

If you currently support Little Lambs financially, Thank you! If you would like to begin giving or increase your giving, please CLICK HERE for ways to give. Your generosity is needed now more than ever.

We are fully aware that none of this has come as a surprise to God. He’s got this!  We do ask you to pray for our children and staff as they navigate this situation in a context that is already challenging!

Resting in God’s Grace,

Shepherd’s Little Lambs Board

UNLOADING SUPPLIES IN KIJABE

SUPPLIES STORED AND READY FOR DISTRIBUTION ON MONDAY

LET SOMEONE WALK A MILE IN YOUR SHOES

THE SHOE DRIVE IS SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

PLEASE STORE ANY ITEMS YOU HAVE COLLECTED

THANK YOU!

You can’t walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, but you can make it possible for someone to walk in your shoes.

Little Lambs is collecting new or gently used gym shoes and new packages of underwear and socks for poor children in Kenya. Sizes range from pre-school through high school.  

 

 

WITH GOD AS YOUR #1...

Seth Nyawbcha is the first “lamb” from Nakuru to graduate from college. Seth was the guest of honor at our Nakuru Christmas party, dressed in his graduation cap and gown. 

At the party, he shared his story of how he joined Little Lambs as a boy of 8 years in third grade. He expressed his gratitude for how Little Lambs helped him all the way through high school. He told how hard it was to finish high school well and passing his exams for university. He just didn’t know how that dream could become a reality. That is when God demonstrated His love through friends of Little Lambs who stepped in to make sure he could fulfill his dream of a university degree. 

He also had some encouraging words to the Little Lambs kids. He said, “with God as your number one and hard work, you can realize your dreams”.  He reminded the young ones how blessed they are to have caring people willing to mentor them in the Word of God and take care of their daily needs. 

Seth then gave his dad a chance to talk.  His father delivered his written speech but he had trouble finishing it because he was overcome by emotions. His was a speech of Thanksgiving to Little Lambs for doing what he could not have done for his boys. Seth’s dad was severely injured in a work accident that left him with two broken legs. Even now, he walks with a crutch due to those injures.  

Stories like this are why Little Lambs exists. Every story like this is made possible because of your generosity and God’s grace.

Thank you!!