ANNUAL REPORT OF GRACE Kenya JAN 2011 to Jan 2012 Dear Elizabeth, HAPPY NEW YEAR! The mission of GRACE KENYA is to empower the community by bring people together to realize their God given dignity and potential in harmony with environment and responsible freedom, peace and justice. In so doing, we provide avenues through the Resource center where community members can learn and grow to the kind of people that loves God and their neighbor. As we dwell and serve in poor environment, we strive to assist in the advocacy of poor mothers and protection and feeding of the hungry, abused, and neglected children. One of the joys of preparing an annual report is that it gives us the opportunity to look back and be thankful for all that has been accomplished. The year 2011 was filled with wonderful successes and many challenges. Some of the highlights were: Finishing my Dissertation Held leaders seminar with Pastor Held mothers talk with Pastor Julie Broderson from Centenary UMC, Lexington Kentucky Through the generosity of Men s Ministry of the Centenary UMC led by Scott Minor,we held medical camp for children whose parents could not afford hospital charges The same group from Centenary help us to hold a Men s Conference on Peace and Reconciliation Held workshops on leadership training for pastors Held seminars on Peace, Reconciliation and Reconstruction for the victims of 2007/08 violence. Thanks to Billericay Methodist Church Western Road through Elizabeth for supporting our activities GRACE Kenya January 2011 to January 2012 Page 1
Held seminars on dangers of drugs and substance abuse for young people. All these seminars and workshops were mainly supported by Global Impact Team (GIT) from Centenary UMC in Lexington, Kentucky, through the pastor of Missions Julie Broderson. Fed children and destitute families during the period of Christmas to New Year with donations from Billericay Methodist Church Western Road through Elizabeth Received a family of a theological student from Asbury seminary who stayed with us from December 29, 2011 to 2 Jan 2012. Taught a School Based class at Mount Kenya University Created new after school programs at GRACE center to help neglected and abused children Sometimes in the month on May last year at Cafeteria, I happened to meet an MDIV student by the name of Gary Lienderbach. As we made our introductions, I discovered his desire to be a missionary one day far away from America. I invited him to come to Mombasa whenever felt to visit Africa. Sometimes in November, I received his email saying that God has opened the way. His class was to visit Meru, Kenya for cultural studies in January 6 to 21, 2012. Because of that opportunity, he planned to give his family a holiday in Mombasa if I can accommodate them some few days. We were very happy to be with them as we closed and opened New Year. So they came to Mombasa early before the class and stayed with them in our house from Dec 29 to January 2. Then they moved to Milele Beach Hotel from afternoon of Jan. 2 to 6 when they left for Meru to join the class. They were a great blessing to us all. I had requested him to look for any person/student who would like to donate a laptop because I was experiencing problems with mine. When he put the request in the school web, he got FOUR laptops THREE Dell and ONE Apple. Due to this generous contribution, I moved the Resource Center from second floor to ground floor for easy access to the community. I also converted the second floor to guest room cum office. We can now happily accommodate a family of two to four who would like to spend less while having holidays in Mombasa. I also got an opportunity in the month of December to teach a School Based class at Mount Kenya University, as a part time lecturer. The next class is due in April 2012. GRACE Kenya January 2011 to January 2012 Page 2
JANUARY APRIL: Finalizing my dissertation MAY Graduation with a Doctoral degree from Beesons International Leadership Center Asbury Theological Seminary, WILMORE, Kentucky, USA. JULY : Held Church Leaders seminar and mothers talk with Pastor Julie Broderson Pastor Julia being wrapped with a leso as a sign of welcome to women s seminar GRACE Kenya January 2011 to January 2012 Page 3
Christmas 25, 2011 Community children enjoying meals at a Christmas party organized for them by GRACE Kenya. Funds for meals were contributed by Billericay Methodist Church Western Road through Elizabeth. Their parents and other adult members of the community were not left out GRACE Kenya January 2011 to January 2012 Page 4
Mrs. and Bishop Dr. Pius Kagwi, GRACE Kenya s founder, shares a meal with a destitute person Thank you for the providers of the meal Children having a Christmas fun GRACE Kenya January 2011 to January 2012 Page 5
Children having fun after the meal December 29, 2011 A young boy enjoying himself Pastor Gary Lienderbach, from UMC North Alabama Conference, and a student at Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, KY, USA, visited us with his wife Nancy and daughters Paris and Milan December 31 st 2011 Pastor Gary conducts a leadership GRACE Kenya January 2011 to January 2012 Page 6 seminar for church leaders
Dr. Kagwi and Pastor Gary closing the old year and starting the New Year with a Holy Communion Pastor Gary conducts serves Holy Communion to Pastor Charo of Calvary Community Church Pastors close the year 2011 together with a meal after the seminar GRACE Kenya January 2011 to January 2012 Page 7
Children assembled at Dr. Kagwi s residence for a night vigil during New Year s 2012 Eve Pastor Gary entertains the children with songs as the clock ticks away Mrs. Nancy Gary dances along with the children GRACE Kenya January 2011 to January 2012 Page 8 Children take refreshments at GRACE KENYA as the night wanes away
And the year 2011 ended with style New Year - January 1, 2012 Dr. Kagwi introduces the guest preacher Pastor Gary to the UMC Tazama Christ Centre, Mombasa Kenya on New Year 2012 Paris, Gary s daughter celebrates her 13 th birthday at Tazama Church GRACE Kenya January 2011 to January 2012 Page 9
Children line up for New Year Meal which was provided by GRACE KENYA through donations from Billericay Methodist Church Western Road, through Elizabeth. A girl thanks God for the New Year meal by saluting friends who donated the funds for the meal. GRACE Kenya January 2011 to January 2012 Page 10
For better access to the community, GRACE=KENYA moved the Resource Center from second floor to the ground floor. Community can now access the Library easily. Some of the funds were used to create this pace The 4 laptops that were donated by Pastor Gary are put into good use. For effective service, GRACE=KENYA is now praying for funds to employ a Secretary cum Computer instructor cum community worker who will be a full time employee of GRACE=KENYA. GRACE Kenya January 2011 to January 2012 Page 11
GRACE KENYA s Office cum Guest room for visitors who would like to stay with us any time they wish to visit us or have their holiday in Mombasa. This is where Pastor Gary and family spent four days as our guests. Our Vision of 2012 The year 2012 is a challenging year in Kenya. The General elections, though the coalition government has not yet announced the dates, are expected to be held around December 2012. For the first time in history, we have many presidential candidates who are roaming about the country soliciting for votes. In the same time, Kenyans are waiting anxiously on the outcome of cases in International Criminal Court(ICC) where two presidential candidates were accused of organizing and funding the post election violence (PEV) in 2007/08. Peace and reconciliation seminars are therefore vital for defusing tension and creating harmonious living among people of different tribes. To prepare for these eventualities, I have planned to: 1. Learn more on peace and reconciliation by attending the School of Reconciliation at Kigali Rwanda on Jan 30 March 15. Tuition and Return ticket is $1000.00 + $200 pocket money+ $1200. I thank the following people for supporting me with scholarship fund. Family and local friends $500.00 Global Impact Team from Centenary UMC, USA $ 300.00 GRACE Kenya January 2011 to January 2012 Page 12
Billericay Methodist Church Western Road $154.00 Dorothy Anderson from Nashville, USA $100.00 Deficit ( $146.00) Total $1200.00 I have high hope I will get $146.00 before I leave for Rwanda on Sunday Jan 29. 2. Plan the way forward while at Rwanda and as soon as I return back home, share my learning and experience with my pastors and likeminded leaders with the view of creating a team of Peace, Reconciliation and Reconstruction which will help in holding peace seminars and workshops in Coast Province. Other programmers will follow later. Thank you very much for partnering with me in this ministry. God bless you for your contributions. Yours in His Service, Rev. Dr. Pius N Kagwi GRACE Kenya January 2011 to January 2012 Page 13