These are the children picking out the 2 dairy cows North Gate paid for...                  The 2 cows they chose...

Andrew Onchiri praying to dedicate the Bibles we sent to them                                 One of the women reading the Bible to the children in the congregation.

We gave this fellowship in Kenya, Africa  --  25 Bibles in their own Ekegusii language.  They didn't have any before this last month!   As a service to the Lord, and at His request, we are partnering with this "shade-tree" congregation of people in the Rift Valley of Kenya. They live in an area that is lush and green; it is formerly rainforest, but has been developed mostly into farmland.   The capitol city of Nairobi is 600 km away (a full day journey by bus).   The congregation consists of 23 adults and 25 children (including 11 orphans).

Their pastor, Andrew Onchiri (41 years old), and his wife Yuniah Kwamboka Omanga (age 37) have four children.     He works for the government of Kenya as an intermediate, part-time teacher in lower primary grades for the last three years.  This has enabled him to have basic income to help support his family, but have enough time off to assist the work of the Lord.  They have a "center" (which is a small hut) that houses the 11 orphans which they take care of.    Andrews wife, Yuniah,  teaches the children primary education, and feeds and clothes them.   Their diet does not have much protein at this time - which is why we are fundraising to obtain 2 dairy cows for them.    Their main food source are the vegetables and fruits they grow themselves.  Andrew and his brother were deeded a farm by his grandfather, but it is not in the same area.   The farm is 200 km. away from the center, in the Trans-Mara District.    They travel to and from the farm by bus (Only one bus per day/leaves early a.m.). Andrew usually goes on Mondays and Tuesdays to farm.  They grow maize (corn), potatoes and cabbage, pawpaws and pineapples.  When they need to transport the food, a generous neighbor rents them a van for a small fee.  Andrew’s older brother lives nearby, but works full-time in Kisumu - therefore has a better income… he is generous at times and helps financially when he can.    They also help 17 other orphans whom they have placed in foster homes for the time being.in  farming and few basic necessities.

Andrew's testimony:

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.................HOW I RESPONDED TO GOD'S CALL    [MY TESTIMONY]
 
My family and i did not know God.   I worked from Monday to Monday without rest throughout the year. My wife was making local brew selling it to the locals to  enjoy and get drunk.    We did not know that making God`s people drunk is a sin in the eyes of our Almighty God.    We managed to collect a lot of money from the illegal trade, sometimes we could be arrested and jailed (both of us) and leave the children to the community to take care of for us! (Thanks to God for the same.)
I managed to buy a commercial plot out of the illegal bussiness.  I got a lot of money and lived happily.
 

One day as i was coming from my normal business of transporting the local brew to my other customers, i met a gang of seven men armed fully with dangerous weapons.  They commanded me to stop and surrender everything.   i found myself talking quietly without being awere [HOW AND WHO CAN RESCUE ME, A HELPLESS MAN?]    I tried to resist a little but within a fraction of a second i heard a bang on my head, followed with a flash of strong light. From there i could not know what happened untill after one month when i found myself in a hospital ward.  It was when i realised that i was in a coma for all that period. I stayed for another one month, and i was discharged to go home.  After selling that  plot i bought, and including donations from friends and well wishers,  contributions to settle down the bill which amounted to 3000 US DOLLARS.  From there i became bankrupt.   Many people came to comfort me since they knew me to be a rich man in our community , among the many people who came was an old grandmother of 100 years who told me that  ABOVE ALL THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT , that i should take time to discover.    In the hospital i was issued a small pocket bible  which i came home with, of which i used to be reading every evening.   One day as  i returned to hospital for final check ups, i met a servant of the Lord by name Kaleef preaching in an open air crusade.  i took time to listen to his sermon, from the book of Galatians 5:19--21 and Matthew 11:28 as indicated in my memory.  That became my encounter with Jesus Christ, and my life was changed completely!   I repented, was baptised in deep water, washed with the blood of Jesus, sanctified and filled with the Holy Spirit.  i was led spiritualy to my house the following day.  i called my friends who helped me get out of hospital to thank them for the same.   When i stood up to thank them i removed that small pocket bible and read John 3:16. when i finished reading another strong flash of light like the one i saw when i met the robbers passed over my face. I stood for a while without talking and i heard avoice in me saying I NEED YOU IN MY SERVICE..In summary, we continued cherishing together until we agreed to be meeting after every seven days, to thank God and fellowship together in the Lord.It started  with few members but now we are 23 in number, thirsty with Gods word since we had known that our God is an Amighty ,wonderful God.    We have a small fellowship project of home based care  for Orphans as one way of  demonstrating God`s love to this.    Orphans through the fellowship and some 11  others are in my care in a compassionate center under the able motherly care of my loved wife Yuniah.   As a fellowship, we are  fasting in prayer that the same God who liberated me and chose  me to work for  Him will open wide doors for us to be able to  build a church , fully furnished and a home for these orphans so as  many people will see  God`s power continuing, destroying the powerless hands of satan and join us in Christ in glorifying Him.   Amen.
I  therefore kindly request our brothers  in God`s Kingdom  to sincerely pray for us so as to be able to accomplish the work  enthrusted on me by our Mighty God .    May God  Bless you greatly as you engage in prayers.    Thanks, Andrew Onchiri
 

Names and ages of the children:

Fred Ogechi Omanga (Andrew and Yuniah's son) 12 years

Juliet Moraa Omanga (Andrew and Yuniah's daughter) 10 years

Cynthia Bosibori Omanga (Andrew and Yuniah's daughter) 7 years

Vivian Kerubo Omanga (Andrew and Yuniah's daughter) 3 years

Mercy Gesare Kefa 13 years

Lydiah Banchiri Kefa 10 years

Elastus Onsare Kefa 9 years

Dancan Mbegera Peter 12 years

Bright Moraa Nyamari 8 years

Rogers Mongoina Omboga 12 years

Boarz Oruru Omboga 10 years

Brenda Monyenche Omboga 8 years

9.Eugine Osiemo Omboga 5 years

10.Cilvia Bwari 7 years

11. Ida Kerubo 5 years