So in the last two months, a LOT of cool things have been going on here at Belwop, here are the top 9:
First, the Van-- Belwop owns one! Let me tell you a quick story about “The Battery.” Immediately after we bought the van last month we ran into some… complications. Like, you know, it not running. We had just spent a very pretty penny on purchasing the van, insurance, a new paint job, new spark plugs, oil change, new wheel caps and tires, power steering fluid, balancing and other little fixes… then the car flat out wouldn’t start a few days later. I was upset, “A lemon,” I thought. Luckily I didn’t have to deal with it because I got to go visit my friends the Adams in Nairobi for the weekend. And Veronica, being much more patient and forgiving than me, began her work. She called the car dealer and, instead of chewing him out for selling her a shoddy vehicle, merely said, “The mechanic told us we need a new battery. We don’t have the money for it-- 6,000 Kenyan shillings. But God will provide, and when he does, I want you to help us find the right one.” The car dealer, (whom I now finally trust, Mr. Moingi) responded as shocked as anyone. He’d unwittingly sold her a less than reliable set of wheels, and yet she still treated him with kindness and camaraderie in the deal.
“Of course!” he said, “I will be happy to help however I can.”
That was Friday afternoon. Friday night, Veronica held up her cell phone (which is virtually used as a credit card here) and prayed, “God, You have this money. This is your van, and we know you are able to send this money to my phone in one instant if it is your will! God, let this van run by Monday!”
The next day….
Veronica got call from a man who had seen her interviewed on the news 3 years ago about Belwop. He was a well-wishing man from Nairobi that she’d never met in person. He asked how she was doing then said, “Does your MPESA account still work by chance?” (MPESA= Visa on your phone). Veronica told him, yes, it did. He said, “Good, I have a small gift for Belwop. It’s not much, but I hope it helps.” The end. No details asked or offered. Just a token for whatever the home may need.
The next morning, she got a notification.
6,050 Kenyan Shillings…50 for withdrawal, deposited into her account. 6,000!? The EXACT amount we needed for a new battery. And, maybe you’re a skeptic like me, but that is weird... what a random number? 6,000? Maybe 1,000, or 5 or 10, but 6? As God is my witness, and as the saved messages can attest, she NEVER told him the amount we needed.
Anyway, she went straight to Mr. Moingi with the cash and, smiling, said, “So? Did you find that battery?”
He was so stunned, he immediately dropped what he was doing and helped us get a shiny black and yellow new battery. Then Moingi said he wanted to help further, calling his friend, he hooked us up with a car painting service and got our Belwop logo painted on the side, FOR FREE! I will hold off on sharing how the sign of the “Belwop Children’s Home” saved us from several tickets another time.... but that's how the Belwop van got rolling.
A new miracle, every day.
Okay, #2, our new mini bio-intensive garden is popping! David Martinez came out for 10 days and with the help of all the kids, Veronica, her two sons Denis and Tony, in ONE DAY we dug and planted 6 ½ beds with a handi-made fence and gate. It’s got cornstalks, tomatoes, cale, cabbage, broccoli, bell peppers, peas, and cilantro (“denia”). It’s about a month old, and so far it’s flourishing! Praise God for making beautiful things out of dust. :)
Third, the Belwop Project Media Team is coming!!! YESSSS!!!! October 14 they arrive, with Extreme Response representatives Russ Cline and Kevin coming a day early. Kate Johnson and her husband Aaron, along with Colby Peck, Mike Farnham and Geoff Spencer are coming for 6 days to help make a documentary-style video to distribute to churches and get them involved. While they are here they will also be helping with renovations around the house, playing with the kids, and checking out some wild animals on the savannah. I am SO excited… more mzungus. I won’t be the only pale-skinned kid on the block J
Fourth, Mesa First Assembly of God Church raised $17, 166!! WHAT? We have been partnering with Travis and Jena Clark and their ministry called "The Well" for just over two years and what an incredible impact they have had. Their mission is clear: Build Hope a Home. For those of you who don’t know Hope, she is one of the babies at Belwop, raised since she was left at the hospital almost 5 years ago. Today she is a beautiful, vibrant, jump-rope-skippin’ girl who bears the namesake of Veronica (Vera Hope= “True Hope”) and one of the inspirations for this church way out on the other side of the world. This also spread awareness as Travis’ CD dropped and all the youth got behind this vision to “Build Hope a Home,” and are beginning to make plans to make that dream a reality with their own hands. Can't wait to come back here one day with some of them ;)
Fifth, we are planning an income farm. Long story short, we decided not to build the home way outside of town and have begun the search IN town. That being said, game plan changing, we still want to use the acre of land that Belwop owns in the fields of Mweiga. We are partnering with a biointensive growing school called “G-BIACK” and are currently in the throes of negotioations in hooking up to the community water project. Indiegogo givers are helping make that a reality, and has even sparked some sustained sponsorships for the home. INCLUDING, one anonymous couple, who has committed to $100/mo to pay for rent!! God is good, all the time.
Sixth, Operation Smile visited last week, and man it was fun. They had a blast with all of us and we made friends with them quickly. We played with balloons, learned about dental hygiene, healthy eating, and Stop-Drop-and-Roll! The coolest part was that Mary W. finally got the chance to get corrective cosmetic surgery on her ear and is healing beautifully! What a smile it truly brings to a 14 year-old when she looks in the mirror to have a growth removed and an ear magically morphed overnight!
Seventh, Facebook page and video are up! If you haven’t had a chance to see these two things, stop reading, go to File>> Open new tab>> www.Facebook.com and check out "Belwop Rescue Centre"… the vid gives you an idea of what it’s like out here… then you should immediately “Like” the page! The word is spreading, things are moving, and we’d love for you to be apart of this family.
Eighth, the girls went back to high school. Monika and Jane are attending one of the top boarding schools in Kenya, Muruguru girl’s school, and are at the TOP of their class!? You have to test into this school, and they are doing awesomely well. I don’t know that many tri-lingual high schoolers who know they want to be an engineer and a judge, but these girls have a goal and they are extremely focused. What’s also great is that all their fees and tuition paid for this semester. Sometimes it feels like, every month, it’s by the skin of our teeth that things like this are made possible, that they will return for the following term, but every time, GOD DOES IT!
Lastly, we have been searching and finding houses and properties, and we have found a potential home. Actually it is more than a home, it is an entire facility, a large 3-building property that can house and school all the children-- meaning, Veronica’s plan to one day open up a Belwop school would happen sooner than expected... Monday she and the owner are meeting with the the bank to discuss mortgage options. This is one option of several, but we are continuing the search. It could be a huge answer to prayer and leap of faith all in one, but I’ll keep you posted. All in all, we are keeping our hearts and minds open, alert, and in constant prayer. Til then, please pray that the kids remain happy and healthy, that as we move forward in faith with the Belwop Project in our quest to give more kids hope and home, we continue to be good stewards with the gifts we have been given, to spread the word, partnering with the Church body, wherever the members may be found, and that we may live a life worthy of the Gospel in all that we do.
All my love and joy,
Nakupenda sana,
Lauren Cray
