Pauline Nyambura’s birthday party was on the 5th of May, 2010. The party was held on a Tuesday night and the children were very excited as usual at the mention of a party. Pauline (Nyambu) as her nickname goes was dressed up and to her everyone seemed to be dragging their feet either to prepare the food, snacks, balloons, etc. She was so eager to cut her cake and the other children were envious of her. She looked so pretty in her orange dress; normally Nyambu is a well known tom boy!

When everything was laid in place every one gathered and singing and dancing for the Lord ensued, then the delicious food was shared and finally she blew the candles.
The magic candles relit every time she blew them off!
While everyone wished her happy birthday, she cut the cake with the help of her dear mum Ann. Then the snacks were shared among the children, joyful noises came from the house that night. It was really a magical moment for Nyambu.

On the night of June the 13th, Josephine Kaveza, was rushed to the hospital as she was in labour. On the 14th of June at around 12.00 noon, little angel, Stephanie Musimbi was born to the 3:16 family. She was welcomed by some of our mission team members from the USA, who were also with her in the delivery room. That evening they were brought home the doctor having confirmed that they were ok.

On Wednesday night, the matron realized that the baby was not breathing normally, she was rushed to the General Hospital where she was checked and some drugs were prescribed and the mother too was examined since she was in great pain. The drugs were bought and they were taken back home. The drugs were administered immediately and the baby slept. At around 3.00 am, when the matron checked on them, she had passed away.

There was confusion, fear and loud screams from the house that night. Everyone went on their knees in prayer and tears. We could not get anyone on phone then. In the early morning we called Evangelist Ngugi from PCEA Nakuru West, Suburb church, who came to our rescue. He immediately gathered a committee which organized for the burial, a service, buying of casket, flowers, transportation, etc. Some of our girls were picked from school to attend the burial. All this was done in a period of one and a half hours. By 11.00 am the burial was on going and it was a beautiful service for the 2 days old Stephanie. At around 1.30pm, she was laid to rest at the cemetery. The mother was left in great pain, she cried for days! She is recuperating progressively. Everyone was so supportive towards her.

On the 19th of June, 2010, Sean Njuguna and Virginia Wangare were celebrating their 4th and 7th birthdays respectively. There was a big party for them that weekend, so many

people attended the party. Preparation started in the morning, all the kids wore their Sunday best and were excited to see the event unfold. The goat was slaughtered and food prepared and cleaning

of the house. The guests started arriving at 2.00pm. The children sang and danced as everyone else joined in. The food and snacks were shared. Candles were blown and cakes were cut as songs and words of encouragement lingered on and on.

It was Virginia’s 1st birthday party and it was special!

School time

The 26th of June, 2010, came and the boarding school girls at the Jitegemea Schools were eagerly waiting to be visited. We woke up very early to prepare their favorite delicacies; chapati, fried chicken, stew, etc. Everyone got ready and we left in the Directors vehicle which had to take two trips. They were excited to be with the whole family once again. We sat and prayed and we shared the food and drinks while catching up. The picnic was perfect though there will never be enough time to chat. Time came for academic follow up; class by class, one teacher to the other, they commented on the positive progress of the girls. From the previous exam compared to the current one (mid term), four of them had greatly improved but two had dropped in marks. They were advised accordingly by the teachers and we also chipped in our suggestions. The progress made by the two class seven girls is impressive, Margaret Njeri is highly motivated by our new girl Joyce Mwikali, the competition is totally positive as they continue working hand in hand.

Mission Trip

The mission trip from the USA to Kenya was a success at 3:16, for the week that the team spent here was a blessing to women and their children especially little Stephanie and the mother who gave birth as they held her hand, strengthening her. The little time was so much fun.

New Friends

Nellius Wairimu, who was from Elburgon, had come in as a volunteer but she was depressed because of the terrible things that the stepfather was taking her through. She was allowed to stay at the centre as she heals. Staying with the women there as she continued to volunteer, really helped her to realize that her problems were only minute. She came out of her depression and stepped up to making the other women’s pain bearable. She has gained enough strength and realized she can make it at this point without concentrating on the father. It was time for her to go back home and set out in search of a job so that she can strengthen and empower her mother and her other seven younger siblings. We released her confident that she is ready to move on.

Jane Murugi, 15 years old, is an orphan who lived with the grandmother who stopped Jane from going to school 2 years ago. Later on she sent her out in search of a job claiming that she was old

enough to fend for them. She was lucky to get a job as a house help in Nairobi. She went there and worked for 6 months even though her employer was not paying her regularly as agreed, she persevered. One day she was all alone in the house as her employer had travelled, a male visitor came in the house and locked himself in. He raped her and left the house in a hurry. When the employer came back in the evening she told her what had happened. She was threatened that if she told anyone, she would suffer the consequences. From the description, the woman knew who the visitor was and started urging Jane that he is a good man and would marry her if she agreed. She was scared and did not know who to talk to. When this woman realized that she was showing signs of pregnancy, she sent her away.

She went back to the grandmother and narrated the story; the grandma was furious and told her that she cannot accept her back unless she came back without the pregnancy. She even suggested that it was least risky if she aborted in her 7th month. Even worse she told her that she will not be the first to do that since she had aborted two pregnancies. She threw Jane’s clothes outside and drove her away. She walked for miles looking a job or someone who could help her, evening came and she was still walking without food or water. She was at the verge of breaking and contemplating suicide. The last homestead she entered, the woman felt pity on her, gave her food and water. Since her house was full, she looked for a place in a neighbor’s house for her to sleep.

The next day she narrated her story and they decided to help. They got her a job but when the pregnancy was almost due, she came back. She gave birth at the good Samaritans place, who bought her everything she required. When the woman tried to take her and the baby back to the grandma’s, they were all thrown out like dogs, saying that Jane refused to take her advise now she never wanted to see her again.

The woman sought so many places for help until she met someone from PCEA Nakuru West, Suburb church, who told her about Nakuru 3:16. Since w e took Jane like two weeks now, she seemed not to like the baby much, dint even flinch when her baby cried. She is learning a lot from the other mothers, she even spending time now staring at her baby, Joshua Jonathan who is 6 weeks old.

Gladys Njeri, 14 years old, comes from a family of four, 2 brothers and 1 sister. Their father passed away and their mother went into serious depression, actually mad. She goes round picking up garbage while talking to herself. The community around has been helpful in their well being. Her

sister and one of her brothers were taken in by children’s home and she was left at home with the mother and the eldest brother. She was going to a nearby school, Our Lady of Mercy Primary School. Her counseling and guidance teacher noticed that she had missed school a couple of times. She was a bit distant when she came back. It became regular for her to miss school. One day she confided that the brother had been visiting her room every night trying to rape her. After a few days when we were called in, she was not in school but in the office of the District Education Officer who she confided in that her brother had been raping her on a regular basis and she had fled from home. They kept her in a Good Samaritan’s house for a few days until we took her in.

She has been at the centre for only a week, she came with no clothes to change in and bear foot. We have gathered a few for her and she is excited about her new home. Lately she has been very moody due to her periods which she could not control and the matron has been teaching her to use sanitary towels. The embarrassment and consciousness are killing her since she has no friends her age around, who are going through the same issues as she is. All in all we are giving her enough school work before she faces her interview while we continue building relationships.

Cynthia Muthoni, 24 years old, is from Thika Town. When her mother died, the dad was left with her and her younger sister. The dad tried his best to take care of them but he wasn’t able to keep up with the girls as they grew into young women. He was old and struggling with his shoe shinning business. Most of the time, he was out fending for them. The girls started going to the streets to help their look for a livelihood as they felt they were becoming a burden to the dad. After one year, they both had gotten children and seriously addicted to glue. Cynthia has a 14 months old baby, David. The dad was very worried about the daughters and he often sought help from the District Children’s Officer and the social worker around Thika. They were stuck since they did not know any home that rehabilitated girls in the country. They met Rev. Nehemiah Kamau, former Rev. of PCEA Nakuru West Suburb Church, who informed and connected them to us.

We went and met Cynthia and she was really in bad shape, very weak and high with the baby dangling from her back with barely any clothes on him and it was freezing. When she was brought

at the centre all the girls thought that she was mad. She was extremely dirty, smelly, bare foot, and shaking like a leaf from not sniffing glue the whole day. The other women were scared of her at first. Immediately they washed her baby and gave her clean clothes and to the mother they put water and she bathed and given clean clothes, what a transformation in minutes. We saw a big change at that time. She slept most of the time after that and we took her for check up. She and the baby are on medication for malaria and chest infection. She is also on special diet while we stop the breast feeding as it is making her weaker and an excuse not to feed the baby. For the few days, she is recovering and learning the hard way on cleanliness.

This girl has a very strong will to change, one time we teased her that we had some glue hidden away and would let her sniff a little, she said firmly that no matter how much she suffers, she is willing to turn around her life completely. That was very encouraging; furthermore I have never heard someone pray as well as she does. She is actively participating in devotions unlike the other new women. As we were sharing on ways we could show others that we loved them, she said that if someone took a look at her in the streets, in the terrible state she was in and loved her unconditionally and want to give her a second chance, then she owed love to herself and believed that God exists and works through people. She said that she will always be thankful and pray for them. Cynthia has great potential and a great future ahead of her and her son. She will inspire and empower many if well equipped.

Cynthia, David and her Dad.

Team 3:16 Home Page

Thanks for your support!

Their performance in school was encouraging; those kids are realizing their potential with time. They opened school and Jane Moraa, the class four girl joined the boarders because her performance was not so good. She now has enough time to study and promised to improve her grades.

Joyce Mwikali, Josephine Kanyiva’s sister was admitted to the centre on the 27th of March, 2010. When we went for the home visit to Kitui, we met her there, the primary school teachers who were taking care of the grandmother told us that she was being sexually abused by the men around that place, even the relatives sometimes for small money for food for the family. Even if the grandmother was aware, according to their customs and her generation, she is proud if the grand daughter can get a man no matter the age. We later on decided that she joined us. She was in class eight but she had to repeat classes back to seven when she was admitted at Jitegemea Schools. Now she is in the same class with Margaret Njeri. She has fit in so well in school and looks very settled.

The day scholars have also opened school. Usual routine, waking up at six o’clock in the morning for preparation to school, they leave at 6:45am. The children are always smartly dressed to start the day. In the evening they are brought back at around 5.30pm, take a bath, take some porridge, and enter into class to do their homework with the help of the women. They later eat their food and go for evening devotion then they retire to bed at 8.00pm.

Transport has been troublesome during the current heavy rains. The road gets too muddy for the vehicles to pass. Most of them get stuck at some point, so the children have to walk for some distance sometimes.

The counselors who were volunteering at the former home have expressed interest in continuing and following upon the girls at the home and in school. They had their first visit to school recently and the talked to all the girls but time was really short but they were able to solve and sort some of the difficulties the girls were going through. They are scheduled to visit the women at the centre on the 22nd of April, 2010. We hope for their continued support and commitment.

Back at the center, our kitchen garden is coming up very well, the maize, potatoes, beans, spinach, amaranth (terere), Kales, onions, beetroots. However Kales and other vegetables are not doing so well in the area, we have replanted a couple of times but in vain, the neighbors are also complaining of the same. Luckily, our next plot neighbor plants vegetable for export and his are doing well but in a greenhouse and those outside are covered by nets to avoid infections. One of the workers there is to volunteer to teach us the technology.

Bead Art, there is a group that is willing to teach the women how to make quality necklaces, bracelets, key chains, earrings, etc. we will have a display of the necklaces during the June mission trip so that it can help us sort for market locally and internationally. This business will be beneficial to the girls and their children directly and indirectly.

We have received a generous donation of furniture from two families locally, we are grateful to them that our sitting room is not that empty anymore and the women and the children and our visitors have some where they can rest and chat.

The general physical health of the women and children is good, apart from the clinics they attend, serious illnesses are rare. Since we acquired mosquito nets, and the house is warm enough, hygiene level is high; the environment is conducive for healthy growth.

Generally, the program has been going on positively.

We have had two new admissions, Josephine Kaveza, 21 year old female, once a student at the PCEA Training Centre, was tricked into a relationship by a man who promised to marry her. On the realization that she was pregnant, the guy forced her into abortion but she resisted. The guy disappeared with no where to be found. She was left stranded on her on. When she turned to the mum, who is a farmer for help, she turned her down because she is also struggling. This girl had come from home in search of a job, she took jobs as a house help for sometime while paying for her training fee in tailoring and dressmaking. As she struggled on is when she met the guy she thought was Mr. Right. She has just finished her training and is seven months pregnant, no job, no one to help. We came in and took her in; in turn she is to volunteer to teach the other girls tailoring and dressmaking once we acquire sewing machines.She is very grateful that her child will be born in a safe environment before she stabilizes herself.

Nelius Wairimu, 22 year old girl, came into the home as a volunteer; a friend of the home had referred her to us. She was to stay for a week; she was very dull at first, she was reluctant to leave after the one week and when we followed up the mother told us that when she came to us she was at her breaking point, torn, depressed, name them. The stepfather had frustrated her so much for the four years of high school education, refusing to pay her school fees, he was in and out of school, mistreating them at home, going hungry most of the time. When she was through with high school, there was no hope of going on to college, she tried odd jobs and teaching in a school which was closed down. Since she is the only child born out of wedlock, she thought maybe she was the reason the step father mistreated her and the mum. She felt neglected and not loved cared for. That is why she was referred to us, away from home to unwind and think.

Here she met other young women with bigger problems than hers and that naturally heals her wounds slowly and she has been an asset to the women and the children since she has been a teacher to the adults and tuition and Sunday school for the kids. She is very hard working all rounds, very helpful to the matron and some one to be emulated by the other women.

The women at the centre have grown and healed just by sharing and learning with one another through support groups, devotions, responsibilities and duties. The integration of street women and vulnerable women is a great idea since the balance strikes in behavior and character. The way they relate to each other in meaningful relationships, strengthening each other in their own way is amazing to witness. All the women participate in different chores like cooking, washing, wiping, etc. The young woman in the picture below is preparing food for her baby and the child insisted to help the mum in gardening, she practically was crying to be let to take up the digging, it was actually a funny sight to watch her struggle with the Hoe twice her size, she digs too well for her age though!

We’ve had an eventful few months at Nakuru 3:16, a time during which we’ve been beset by challenges and presented with wonderful opportunities. It would take volumes to tell all of the stories, but I’ll do my best communicate the essence in a few paragraphs below.

The most disruptive challenge was our separation from one of our two Kenyan partners, PCEA Kiamunyeki. Despite working hard to achieve a unity of purpose and a fair balance of responsibilities over the last two years, we simply felt that the mission of the project was not being adequately supported or carried forward by Kiamunyeki. In short, inadequate financial support and project management was coming from the parish. These issues might have been addressed over time, but when conflicts of interest came to light with key leaders at Kiamunyeki, we felt we needed to act with some urgency. After repeated and unsuccessful efforts to rectify the situation, we decided that the best course of action would be to part ways with Kiamunyeki and join forces with a new partner. While we are disappointed that things did not work out in the long run with Kiamunyeki, we are thankful for their part in starting the project, and wish the parishioners only the very best

Times of change often reveal amazing opportunities. PCEA Nakuru West, another parish in Nakuru, is the “original” ROCK Bridge partner and is the driving force behind some of the most successful projects in the area: a vibrant vocational training center, a high quality health clinic (with maternity ward), and the amazing Tumaini Children’s home. Nakuru West will be our new Kenya-based partner on Nakuru 3:16 and we are very excited about the possibilities this relationship will make possible going forward.

Nakuru West "Suburb" Church

Sammy Kiige is the project manager in charge of the ROCK Bridge projects in Kenya; he’s an amazing man and we are honored to be able to work with him on Nakuru 3:16.

Zablon and Sammy

This new relationship is bearing fruit on a daily basis. For starters, Nakuru West helped us identify, secure, and move to a new facility away from the center of town and away from the temptations of the street life for the girls. The new home is truly a gift from God- it’s a large two story home on 2.5 acres just a few kilometers from the Tumaini campus.

The new Nakuru 3:16 house

Not only does the the house provide a peaceful, productive, and nourishing environment, but the proximity to Tumaini will allow us to take advantage of new education and vocational opportunities. The young children are already going to school at Tumaini, and the older girls (without chidren) are boarding there.

The children at the house heading off to school

N3:16 girls attending boarding school

The kids and families are settling into their new routine- up at 5 AM, chores, breakfast, get the kids off to school… routines that we all can relate to.

Kids making their beds before school

In the midst of this all, we need to welcome the newest addition to the Nakuru 3:16 family: little Hope Wanjiri. Whereas many of the children born to the mothers previously on the street were born in (and into) horrific conditions, Hope was born into a healthy, exciting new world of, well… Hope! Please join us in giving thanks for the blessing of Hope and the future that awaits her.

Hope Wanjiri

This time of change has also been an opportunity to consider all we’ve learned over the past few years and use those lessons to refine the program. We learned a great deal about how to transition the girls and their children off of the street, put them in a structured environment, and help them break their habits. The best of these lessons will form the core of the new program.

So we look forward to 2010 with great excitement. We have come amazingly and blessedly far- 18 months ago, the girls were living in the dump, in the cold sewage, addicted to glue and selling their bodies to survive. Today they are reborn- clean, sober, safe, healthy, and on a path to self-sufficiency. Their children are being educated and, God-willing, will escape the life in the streets that had seemingly been their destiny.

As always, this project is made possible by your generous support. We are actively seeking grants and other funding sources that will enable us to put the project on a more self-sustaining foundation, but for now nearly all of the operational funding comes from donations. Please consider giving to Nakuru 3:16 and continuing to be a part of this process of recovery and new hope.

Thanks from all of us at Nakuru 3:16!

Read excerpts from Regina’s most recent project update here: http://fpcmissions.org/2010/02/22/spring-update-from-regina/

The new Nakuru 3:16 house

On the 31st of January, 2010, the girls and their children volunteered themselves to move with us to the new premise with great hopes of change. It felt almost like Exodus, they had packed all their belongings and carried their children, waiting anxiously to see the new place. When they got there, it was a breath taking moment; they could not believe that was their new home! For a few days they were still orienting themselves to the different lifestyle; how to use the bathrooms, the instant hot shower, gas cooker, energy saving firewood/charcoal cookers, etc.

On Monday, the 1st of February, 2010, it was back to business, the children had to report to the new school; PCEA Jitegemee Schools at Tumaini Mission Centre, 4kms from the new home. The girls woke up at 5.00am to do the house chores, woke the kids at 6.00am for preparation, breakfast at 6.30am and their school van (hired by the school to pick children around that area) picks them at 6.45am. They did their interviews and were taken to their respective classes. Classes 5-7 were expected to board in the school. Their boarding requirements were bought and they reported on Tuesday, 2nd February, 2010.

The children at the house heading off to school

Currently the children have settled in their new school and they love it! They also look lovely in their school uniforms. The women at the centre have also settled to their regular routine. We look forward to getting the kitchen garden done, the Ministry of Education to give us a new teacher for Adult Basic Education in the area, starting Certificate/Diploma courses in Dressmaking and Hair dressing, vocational training, etc.
In the area there are some green houses where the women can do casual jobs on a part time basis if a good network is developed. There is also counseling to be under taken once a week by volunteer counselors from the community.

The women and children that have been officially admitted into the centre are as follows:

MONICA WANJIRU – 22 year old female, has 3 children, John, Virginia and Margaret. She is totally willing to stay in the new environment and is very happy and content. She never thought that her own children would have ever gotten a chance to attend private school. She is the hardest working woman at the centre. She hopes to get educated through the adult education and be empowered through training.

ANN NYAMBURA – 23 year old female, has one child, Pauline Nyambura. She says, “I have always appreciated what 3:16 has done for me, I have had so much patience because I want to see my life totally transformed. I want to be some one in the community. My child has now been given a chance to attend a private school; I don’t want to ever lower that standard for her. I am 9 months pregnant and I regret so much, I was afraid that I would be chased away from the centre to the point that I contemplated abortion, I thank God for the second chance I have been given, I will not waste it”.

MARGARET NJERI- 17 year old female, in class seven. Margaret was supposed to be taking her final exams this year but she opted to rewind classes since her marks were not very good. I admire her courage; her age is way much for the class but she is determined to improve on her marks to get into the best high school in Kenya. Now that she is in a boarding school, she has the time and a good environment in her favor.

ELIZABETH WANGARI – 16 year old female, in class six. She was supposed to go to class seven but she did not do well in her interviews. She first resented the idea of rewinding classes, now she is comfortable and all her teachers love her. She made a deal with the school head that if she became number one in the end term exams, she will automatically go to class seven.

ELIZABETH ANGULE – 16 year old female, in class six. She was also supposed to go to class seven but did not perform well in her interviews. She keeps to herself too much that I was worried she would find it hard to fit in. Reports from the matrons and teachers indicate that she is doing perfectly well; made lots of friends and she is open and free with her age mates.

AGNES NAPEO – 15 years old female, in class five. She was supposed to go to class six but failed in her interviews too. She is cheeky, out going and has made lots of friends. She is an orphan and enjoys the opportunity she has been given to go to a good school. She promised to work hard to help her family back at home.

JANE MORAA – 11 years old female in class four. Jane was once a quite girl who wanted to keep to her self. She has flourished into a beautiful young girl, out going, hard working, book smart, etc. She loves her new school and eager to excel.

DANIEL MBOTE – 8 year old male, in class three. Daniel is an energetic young boy growing up very fast. He loves his new school and new environment at home, He is very interested and curious in emerging technology, and his latest fascination is the installation of the energy saving charcoal/firewood cookers. He was there throughout the couple of hour’s installation and now he wants no one else to handle the lighting except him!

JOHN KAMAU – 8 year old male, in class two. John is a quiet young boy who has gone through a lot in the hands of her aunt in form of physical violence until he was rescued together with her sister Virginia by the government into a children’s custody. We were given custody of the kids and re-united them with their mother. John has started opening up and he appreciates the safe environment full of love.

JOSEPH MWANGI – 7 year old male, in class one. Joseph has been raised in the streets until we rescued him at six years. Last year the boy graduated from nursery school having been number one. He is very playful and rough; I have to mend his school uniforms every week. On the other hand, he is the brightest boy I have ever met. He learns very fast.

ANN MUTHONI – 7 year old female, in nursery school, top class. Ann is a talkative adorable little girl who likes dancing and is fearless. She loves her new school and is excited about the new place.

VIRGINIA WANGARI – 6 year old female, nursery school, top class. She is a quiet, beautiful girl who is noticed by her charm. She loves her hair long so much that she persevere the pain of braiding it, being the only girl child who keeps her hair long at the centre. She is also keen with her school work that the teachers let her skip middle class because she was too bright!

MAURINE MORIJO – 6 years old female, nursery school, middle class. She is quiet girl who loves attention. She is Agnes’s younger sister. Their elder sister was living with her, after finding out that the sister’s husband was physically abusing Maurine, we found her and took custody of her. She was very happy when we picked. She is glad that she gets to be with Agnes who loves her. She feels safe at the centre and being around her age mates.

PAULINE NYAMBURA – 3 years and 8months year old female, nursery school, middle class. Pauline is a very bright girl, energetic, busy like a bee doing all the climbing, swinging, etc, more of a tom boy. It’s had to keep track of her.

SEAN NJUGUNA – 3 years and 7 months year old male, nursery school, middle class. Regina’s son who is now staying at the centre and going to the same school and class as the rest of his age mates. He is the male version of Pauline!

MARGARET WANJIRU – 3 year old female. Margaret is a cheeky and playful little angel. She remains at home with Sophie and the other women. She is growing up fast; she talks almost like a young woman relative to her environment. She works the hardest since she has to go round the house millions of times during the day following people around. She loves the evening and weekends when the other children are not in school. She looks forward to joining the others to school.

STAFF

REGINA W. KAMOCHE – MANAGER – She stays at the centre 24 hours.

OLIVE L. ANDALA (Sophie) – MATRON – Sophie, as every one calls her, is a wonderful mother to all the children and women at the centre. They all love her very much. She is an extremely hard working woman, humble, committed, patient and open. She has been with the project for more than one year, since it started. She is a mother of one, Daniel Mbote.

WATCHMAN – We are privileged to have a maasai watchman who are known to be very good in guarding. He also stays at the centre 24 hours.”