I’m designing some cards in an attempt to raise funds for The World Awaits. Trying to go with the theme of ‘what is the world waiting for?’.  Here’s TRUTH…

As some may know, we are partnered with an organization in Kenya called Huruma Children’s Home. It’s an orphanage that warmly opened their doors to me during my time in Kenya. It was started many years ago by a vibrant woman named Mama Zipporah. She felt a calling from God to take one orphan into her home.. and roughly 10 years later.. she is the Mama to over 150 orphaned children!

It’s a unique home, because all the children live under the same roof as Mama and her family. It was built on the land of her husband Isaac, who gave her the land so she could pursue her calling. This is quite unheard of in Kenya.. but he was a man who believed in her vision. He has supported her all along the way, and has been instrumental in bringing them to where they are today.

Recently, I got an email from Mama. ‘Papa Isaac’ as he was affectionately called by children and friends alike, passed away about two weeks ago. He died of a heart attack while running errands for the home.

The following is an excerpt from an email that Mama sent me:

All that week before he was taken by the Lord we were together. We talked alot about our life and our children. We took breakfast together and then he told me to be seeing our son as a man, for men do not give up. We later parted and he left with our pick up to go to Nairobi to pick up food donation. He came back and met me with friends from bank and he prayed even with them. together we escorted them and waved them bye. From their he got the attack and never made it to hospital. We shall miss him so much but God also needs people to make him happy in heaven. we laid him to rest on Saturday the eighth. Lots of friends of Huruma turned up even though it was raining all the day.

Please keep them in your prayers as they struggle with the loss of a man that brought much joy, strength and balance to their home. If you’d like to support Huruma Children’s Home during this time of need, there’s a few things you can do.

1. Visit their website and make a donation.  Papa Isaac was a huge source of fundraising for the home, and this next chapter will be very challenging for Huruma.
2. Send your thoughts, prayers and encouragement directly to Mama Zipporah at mamazipporah@yahoo.com, or their daughter Caroline naisy80@yahoo.com
3. Give of your time and energies to the children of Huruma directly, by volunteering in June 2009.

I got into Grand Rapids, Michigan last night.  I had my first experience with bad weather on the motorcycle. The rain was pretty soaking and the wind was very unnerving at times, but I was really lucky.  There were tornado warnings in Kalamazoo (just to the east of my route) and thunderstorms all around me.  Yet somehow I seemed to avoid anything too serious.  I arrived at my friend Sara’s place as the rain was still coming down, apparently looking, as she described later.. “like a wet, soaking orphan”. =)

But God has been faithful.. so faithful.  Not only did I arrive safely to my destination but God has been moving powerfully in other ways this week.  The fundraising goals which have for so long.. seemed so daunting.. were finally reached last night!  The last pledge came in just before midnight… and the full amounts of both funds were raised.  Thank you so much to everybody who contributed.  Your support really does mean the world to me!  Thanks also to those who encouraged me along the way… helping to quell my many doubts and to believe that it was really possible.  It wouldn’t have happened without you.

So I’m on my way to Mars Hill here in Grand Rapids.  I had planned to leave this afternoon and cross into Canada but there are severe weather alerts all through Michigan.  I’ll likely stay here for another day and leave early tomorrow morning.  The weather is looking really good for Monday.. so now Toronto is just over the horizon.  I can’t believe I’m almost home.  =)

Made a few changes to the site since arriving in Fort Wayne.  I’ll be handing out flyers today at church and hope to raise awareness through other avenues as well.  I’m doing my best to stay positive even though the thought of raising the remaining $1850 in a week is fairly overwhelming. I still believe that God put this on my heart for a reason though.  I’m not sure what will happen… but the Scriptures continue to encourage me to press forward.  At this point it’s in God’s hands…

“Everything is possible for him who believes.” (Mark 9:23)

The Rhino Fund is an attempt to raise $2000 for Kenyan children through the organizations of ANPPCAN and Huruma Children’s Home.  I had initially planned to just send money over to support some of their various programs.  After discussing with Dr. Onyango (ANPPCAN) and Mama Zipporah (Huruma) though, we decided this would not be the most fruitful way to invest this fund.

One of the goals of The World Awaits is to partner and empower as opposed to just sending money.  Therefore, the money raised through the Rhino Fund will go towards sending the first team of volunteers to Kenya.  This team will work directly with ANPPCAN and Huruma to help meet their needs and achieve some of their long-term goals.  If you think you might be interested in joining this team, please click here.

The window of opportunity to raise these funds is quickly closing.  We have until September 15th 2008 to raise the remaining $1370!  If you would like to support this fund, please make a pledge!  I’m confident that it will contribute to changed lives.  Not only to the children involved, but to the volunteers as well.