A Note from Adam
Hello Friend,
In Romans 12:4–5, Paul writes, “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (NIV)
At the end of Romans 11, Paul reflects on who God is. In chapter 12, he turns to how we are called to live in response, as members of one body with different roles. But Paul goes further: “each member belongs to all the others.” I learned very quickly after starting eduKenya that the work, mission, and vision God had called me to required many “parts” beyond myself, brought together and given purpose by God. That understanding has only deepened over the last 20 years.
Nearly 80 staff in Kenya and the US. International board members. Donor partners, prayer warriors, churches, alumni, students, and families. Each plays a uniquely gifted part in providing transformational educational opportunities for children and families living in abject poverty in the Mathare Slum of Nairobi. We belong to one another.
Earlier this year, Saruni, one of our Mawewa Upper Primary School students, was diagnosed with leukemia. He spent seven months in the hospital, with only his mother and grandmother allowed direct contact. Our staff consistently visited them, encouraged the family, and joined them in speaking with his doctors. His bills reached $12,000—an unthinkable amount for his family. He could not be released until the bill was paid, or half was paid with a title deed as collateral for the balance. With our operating budget already stretched, I wondered whom to ask for help. Around that time, I was preaching at one of our partner churches. After the first service, a woman I had never met asked about pressing needs. What came to mind was Saruni and his $12,000 bill. So I told her about him. She offered to help, but I did not expect her to cover it all. Before I preached again, the senior pastor came over and said, “The woman you spoke with would like to cover the whole medical bill.” “That’s $12,000,” I said. “I know,” he replied. I had to keep it together before going up to preach.
Our team was overjoyed. But the bill had grown to $17,000. Government insurance would cover a portion, though we would not know how much until discharge. Meanwhile, eduKenya staff and families pooled $1,500, and Saruni’s mother and grandmother raised about $1,000. Insurance ultimately covered $8,000. Together, these gifts and coverage paid the bill, provided for ongoing physical therapy and treatment, and established an emergency medical fund for our students.
A mother and grandmother advocated for their boy. Staff walked alongside them in the darkness, without knowing the outcome. Families ans staff shared their resources. Doctors and nurses cared for Saruni. People prayed, shared eduKenya’s stories, and made room for those stories in their churches. A woman said “yes” to the Holy Spirit, though she had never met the family or visited the school. God brought these individuals together as one body. Like the loaves and fish in the Gospels, each person gave what they had, and God used it all to do more than we could have asked or imagined. When Saruni left the hospital, he was cancer-free. When we play our unique parts and belong to one another, God works in ways we could not have predicted. That does not guarantee a specific outcome. It simply gives us confidence that God is at work.
Through a generous couple, we have a $50,000 matching gift for our year-end campaign. From November 1 through December 31, every dollar you give will be matched, up to $50,000. Our goal is $375,000!
Year-end giving helps cover first-quarter expenses. Your gift equips staff to mentor and disciple students, provides food and a safe environment, and offers nurture, accountability, and guidance as students discover their gifts and purpose. As our team and I continue to play our parts, I invite you to prayerfully consider whether a year-end gift is part of yours. I am humbled by your generosity and grateful to partner with you to bring glory to God and provide opportunity to the children of Mathare.
Gratefully,
Adam Gould
Executive Director & Co-founder
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