Our Kakamega Project

As missionaries we work with Bethany International and are involved in many exciting ministries.  Our Kakamega Project, as we like to refer to it, is one such ministry endeavor.  When John's father, Peter, passed on over 10 years ago he left to his children, among other things, a half acre piece of land in Kakamega Western Kenya.  Kakamega is where both John and I grew up and where we met over 15yrs ago.  The land is located in a very strategic part of Kakamega town right in between two University campuses.  

How it all started. A humble tin shack on an undeveloped piece of land.

After many years of seeking God and feeling strongly that this land would one day be used for the glory of God, John entered a business partnership with a close Christian brother, Samora, to begin developing this land.  They began construction of student hostels to rent in July 2011.  Up to now 8 units are complete and 8 units are in progress.  As with any such endeavor we have faced our share of set backs but the conviction that God has a great plan for this land has kept us going.  We see such a great ministry opportunity to reach college age students with the Gospel and see this project as a strategic way to do so.  We eventually want to see student prayer and Bible groups begin and our hostels be the safe place for these to happen.  But our vision doesn't stop there.  As God continues to mold and shape our vision, we see a possibly of it becoming a training facility for missions and so much more.  All we know for sure is that God has given us this land for a reason and it is to advance His Kingdom and bring Him glory.  We hope that one day the finances that this place will generate will be funneled back into funding local mission endeavors and local missionaries. 

John and Samora while construction continues

John and I hard at work as well

Planting grass

So, how you may ask, does our Kakamega Project affect our daily lives and how does it fit into the overall ministry vision and with Bethany as our mission organization?  Well, practically John makes frequent trips out to Kakamega, about an 8hour drive by bus to keep tabs on how construction is going etc...As for the over all vision and Bethany, it fits perfectly.  The Bethany ministries here in Nairobi we are involved in are all to do with mobilizing the Kenyan Church for missions and reaching the unreached.   We see our Kakamega Project doing just that, mobilizing the community for missions.  

Completed units behind us

A glimpse inside a finished unit