Daniel Kibarita speaks passionately of his homeland Kenya and the needs of its people. Since 1997, Daniel and his wife Anne have been leading mission teams, and finding ways to help out the people, in Kenya. Through mutual friends in Abbotsford, Daniel and Rev. John Sovereign began talking about taking young adults from St. Thomas on just such a mission trip, last fall.
That vision has come home powerfully to St. Thomas. At a service we called "Kenyan Sunday," on May 15, 2011 it was all about Africa and our Kenyan Mission with Compassion Works International.
Daniel led the morning service, along with Shiro Olson, and the St. Thomas teens and young adults. It was a great mix of freestyle, exciting African worship mixed with familiar elements from our Anglican tradition.
The offering received May 15th has been directed by Compassionate Works International to help one little boy undergoing kidney treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital. His name is Mburu Mangere and he is 6 years old. Mburu has been diagnosed with cancer of the kidney and he has lost one kidney. Currently he is undergoing chemotherapy to save the other kidney. This treatment is costing his family over $1200 every month. They do not have Universal Medical Care in Kenya so the cost of the treatment is very difficult for his family.
Cost of the St. Thomas' proposed African Mission trip will be considerable, and the May 15th service was one way of helping the congregation understand the scope of what is happening. Five or six youth are prepared to make the trip, plus a couple of leaders.
We are planning to go to Kenya in the summer of 2012. No travel arrangements have been made as yet.
Costs will be formidable - 6 or 7 people @ $5,000 (max) for a total approaching $30,000 to $35,000. The adult leaders are hoping to pay their own way.
The youth group has reached about $10,000 raised, leaving them a further $15,000 to raise.
Fund Raising Measures Include :
That vision has come home powerfully to St. Thomas. At a service we called "Kenyan Sunday," on May 15, 2011 it was all about Africa and our Kenyan Mission with Compassion Works International.
Daniel led the morning service, along with Shiro Olson, and the St. Thomas teens and young adults. It was a great mix of freestyle, exciting African worship mixed with familiar elements from our Anglican tradition.
The offering received May 15th has been directed by Compassionate Works International to help one little boy undergoing kidney treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital. His name is Mburu Mangere and he is 6 years old. Mburu has been diagnosed with cancer of the kidney and he has lost one kidney. Currently he is undergoing chemotherapy to save the other kidney. This treatment is costing his family over $1200 every month. They do not have Universal Medical Care in Kenya so the cost of the treatment is very difficult for his family.
Cost of the St. Thomas' proposed African Mission trip will be considerable, and the May 15th service was one way of helping the congregation understand the scope of what is happening. Five or six youth are prepared to make the trip, plus a couple of leaders.
We are planning to go to Kenya in the summer of 2012. No travel arrangements have been made as yet.
Costs will be formidable - 6 or 7 people @ $5,000 (max) for a total approaching $30,000 to $35,000. The adult leaders are hoping to pay their own way.
The youth group has reached about $10,000 raised, leaving them a further $15,000 to raise.
Fund Raising Measures Include :
- Ongoing bottle drive
- Neufeld Farms Fund Raisers every season shift
- Pub Nights at Corky's - most of our group are age of majority.
- Serving and cleaning up at functions
- Car washes
- A parish campaign asking for regular support through the next twelve months.
This trip is important for several reasons
• We will have an immediate effect on the lives of people in Kenya;
• We are not only going to Kenya ourselves, we hope to bring needed supplies with us, perhaps a 20 foot or 40 foot container;
• Our Youth Group will be deeply affected by what they see and do;
• All of us, as a parish family, will not only be sending our hearts with those who go, but we will be real participants, as we ourselves get involved with them;
Here is what our Youth have to say: "We are inspired and enthusiastic about having the opportunity to go on a Mission Trip to Kenya. We want to make a difference in the lives of the people we meet. Though small in size, we are big in heart. With God's help we hope to share our faith, beliefs and love for the Lord. We expect that our time will be spent in an educational setting. The opportunity to work in a school and share our skills with less fortunate young people will be challenging. We know there will be many hurdles in our path to Kenya but we are sure that we will be able to overcome them all."
Always, God calls us forward in faith to do the impossible, to be his servants and witnesses in the world - Kenya Mission is an opportunity for St. Thomas to go forward in faith and make a difference!
• We will have an immediate effect on the lives of people in Kenya;
• We are not only going to Kenya ourselves, we hope to bring needed supplies with us, perhaps a 20 foot or 40 foot container;
• Our Youth Group will be deeply affected by what they see and do;
• All of us, as a parish family, will not only be sending our hearts with those who go, but we will be real participants, as we ourselves get involved with them;
Here is what our Youth have to say: "We are inspired and enthusiastic about having the opportunity to go on a Mission Trip to Kenya. We want to make a difference in the lives of the people we meet. Though small in size, we are big in heart. With God's help we hope to share our faith, beliefs and love for the Lord. We expect that our time will be spent in an educational setting. The opportunity to work in a school and share our skills with less fortunate young people will be challenging. We know there will be many hurdles in our path to Kenya but we are sure that we will be able to overcome them all."
Always, God calls us forward in faith to do the impossible, to be his servants and witnesses in the world - Kenya Mission is an opportunity for St. Thomas to go forward in faith and make a difference!
Images: Top right, John Sovereign and Daniel Kibarita, middle right, Mburu Mangere, below, Rev. John and the youth of the parish celebrate in worship