A Hope and a Future: How Shelter of Hope’s DVBS is Transforming Kiambiu
At the very core of our mission at Shelter of Hope is a firm commitment to the next generation. We hold on to the vow in Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” But this challenge presents two significant questions: How do we engage more youth and children in our community, And how do we best prepare the next generation of world changers to bring lasting change to Kiambiu?
The response shines brightly each year through our DVBS (D้ วย Vacation Bible School) yearly program. This program is a force for change, feeding our community both physically and spiritually.
By giving children solid Bible lessons served with meals prepared with love, we are leaving a lasting mark. We provide a safe, fun environment where teens can grow individually and in a Christ-focused community, making them understand that God has a unique plan and purpose for each of their lives—a true hope and a future.
More Than a Meal: Feeding Body and Soul
For the majority of the kids in Kiambiu, a meal is a precious gift. Our DVBS program ensures no child learns on an empty stomach. Yet we also know that the hunger of the body is generally a gateway to addressing a higher hunger of the soul. Each healthy meal is an act of love, paving the way for the conversation of the ultimate sustenance that is Christ.
This holistic response—meeting both urgent physical and everlasting spiritual needs—is the cornerstone of our ministry. It’s in this environment of cared-for community that hearts become tender and open to hearing the message of the Gospel.
From Physical Need to Spiritual Calling
One came to DVBS with a simple, understandable need: he was hungry. But God, in His infinite wisdom, had a far greater plan. What began as a hunger in his belly soon grew into a ravenous hunger for Jesus.
The hobbies and abilities he thought were just for fun were revealed as God-given talents, precisely designed to give glory to their Creator. When he came looking for physical bread, he received so much more. He met the Bread of Life (John 6:35). His story is not unique; it’s a testament to the
life-transforming power of this ministry. Shelter of Hope DVBS program is actively preparing the next generation to recognize and step into their God-given abilities, so they can influence and bring glory to the name of Jesus right here in Kiambiu.
This Little Light of Mine: Joy, Fun, and Community
A Shelter of Hope DVBS is a blast of energy, laughter, and joy. We believe that learning about God is an adventure and should be fun! Something for every age, and nothing brings us greater joy than seeing the smile of a child light up the room.
From our youngest toddler to our oldest teen, we make learning together in the faith a memorable experience through:
Interactive Bible Lessons: Foundation stories are taught in creative, memorable ways. Active Worship and Dance: Music and movement make praise a physical celebration. Memory Verse Challenges: Hiding God’s word in hearts through fun recitations and games.
Creative Crafts: Tangible reminders of God’s love and lessons.
Inclusive Games: Building teamwork, friendship, and community spirit.
We discover the infectious joy of the Lord is what empowers our young people. It is this joy that allows them to go out into their world as the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
Your Invitation to Serve: Come Back Soon!
While DVBS is a life-altering experience for our children, it is also a life-altering experience for those called to serve and support. Serving with Shelter of Hope is a tangible and effective way to make a Jesus-sized impact, whether you are a part of our local fellowship or visiting us from across the globe.
Volunteering with us is more than a trip; it’s an investment in the next generation of Kingdom Builders. You’ll work alongside our dedicated Shelter of Hope staff, providing love, hope, and practical support. It’s an adventure that will change you, inspire you, and leave you with memories you will never forget—and a heart that yearns to go back soon!
Are you ready to be a part of this transformation? Give us a call today to find out how you can minister or support our upcoming DVBS program and help us bring a hope and a future to all the children in Kiambiu
A Beacon of Health: Shelter of Hope Medical Clinic’s Journey
At the heart of Kagan Ward, in Rangwe sub-county, is a lifeline to a people who were once isolated from quality healthcare. Born from a modest but audacious dream in 2013, the Shelter of Hope Medical Clinic began with a simple yet brave vision: to bring healing and hope to an area where a routine to access medical service meant a 15-kilometer walk and a sub county hospital a 50- kilometer ride.
What began as an evangelistic venture and a free medical camp has grown to become a fully licensed Level 3A facility, rightfully certified and mandated by the Government of Kenya. But its past is greater than that of bureaucracy; it is one of resilience, compassion, and an unshakable commitment to some of the most needy of Homa Bay County’s populace.
The Heartbeat of the Community: Comprehensive Care Against All Odds
Operational with a dedicated but limited team of four—an administrator, two clinical officers, and a registered community nurse—Shelter of Hope provides an incredibly broad range of services. Their track record is enough to remind us all of what the small but dedicated team can accomplish.
The clinic’s mandate is a full scope of community health:
Maternal & Child Health: Providing key services like Antenatal Care (ANC), Postnatal Care (PNC), immunization of children through Child Welfare Clinics (CWC), and safe delivery for a mother in labor.
Prevention of Disease: Their Outpatient Department (OPD) treats common and major diseases prevalent within the area, including Malaria, Typhoid, Pneumonia, and Urinary Tract Infections.
Specialized HIV/AIDS Care: The clinic is an important partner in the fight against HIV/AIDS and offers complete care, prevention, and PMTCT (Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission) services.
Prevention and Outreach: Apart from curative care, the personnel focuses on health promotion, rehabilitation, and home-based care to ensure that their interventions extend beyond the confines of the clinic.
One of the pillars of their efforts is the free medical camp every December, which serves hundreds. They also give continuous, free medical attention to orphans and vulnerable children on sponsorship programmes, eliminating the financial barriers that usually discourage the ill from being treated.
Challenges on the Front line
While it is a vital service, Shelter of Hope has to work in the midst of a constant stream of challenges. The clinic relies primarily on self-funding and donor generosity and the occasional handout from the government. This financial unreliability makes long-term planning difficult.
“The patient community we serve lives in deep poverty,” according to a staff member at one of the clinics. “Sometimes even a small fee is beyond their reach. We attempt to make it affordable, but it burdens our own funds.”
Other difficulties are the constant struggle of operating with a skeletal crew, the inflated cost of annual license renewals required to remain open, and the staggering health demands of an option- poor population.
A Call to Partnership: Securing the Shelter of Hope
The name of the clinic is no coincidence. It is a storm shelter for disease and a beacon of hope for a healthy future. But in order to continue its vital mission, it cannot do it by itself.
The clinic’s key recommendations constitute a direct call to collaboration:
Sustainable Financing: Periodic financing would facilitate expansion of services, acquisition of necessary drugs, and refurbishment of critical medical devices.
Strengthening Partnerships: Collaborations with major NGOs, worldwide health organizations, and commercial sponsors would not only provide financing, but technical expertise, capacity building, and broader support networks.
Shelter of Hope Medical Clinic is not just a building; it’s a testament to a people’s right to health. It’s a heartening evidence that it only takes grass roots initiative born of interest and commitment to fill a basic gap in the healthcare system of a nation. Through supporting this clinic, partners and donors are not so much donating to give money for a building; they’re ensuring the health, dignity, and future of a whole people.
A Message from the Administration
As we reflect on the academic year, we mark another milestone of success, celebrating our achievements and the valuable lessons learned from our challenges. We take this opportunity to first thank God for His immense blessings, guidance, and protection throughout the year.
We extend our deepest gratitude to every member of our community—staff, parents, guardians, and supporters—for their invaluable contributions. Your unwavering effort is the cornerstone of our success. We are especially grateful to our visionary bearers, Director Ishmael Okuku and Manageress Madam Molline Ochieng’, for their dedicated and continued support to the organization. Their leadership continues to steer us toward our mission.
ACADEMIC PROGRESS
Shelter of Hope School stands as a beacon of opportunity, providing a platform for all students—academicians, musicians, dancers, sportsperson, and leaders—to thrive, regardless of their background, age, or gender.
This year, our teaching and non-teaching staff have demonstrated exceptional commitment and teamwork. Their collective effort has been instrumental in ensuring our pupils not only excel academically but also grow personally and exploit their God-given talents.
We are pleased to report that the entire academic syllabus for the year has been fully covered. More importantly, we witnessed a remarkable enthusiasm for learning among our students, which is a testament to the vibrant and supportive environment fostered by our staff.
EDUCATIONAL TRIP
Learning at Shelter of Hope extends beyond the classroom walls. This year, our learners enjoyed a series of well-organized educational trips that were both highly informative and enjoyable.
These excursions were carefully selected to directly complement classroom learning, effectively bridging theoretical knowledge with real-world experiences. This approach significantly increased familiarity with the subjects and enhanced the overall learning process. We were immensely proud of the discipline, curiosity, social skills, and team spirit our students displayed throughout these trips.
GRADUATION CEREMONY
The graduation ceremony is always a highlight of our school calendar—a day filled with immense joy and pride as we celebrate and honor our young graduates. It is a moment to recognize their achievements and bless them as they transition to Grade One, a new and exciting chapter in their educational journey.
We are thrilled to report that the 2024 graduation ceremony was our most colorful and successful event to date. It was a magnificent celebration of our children’s hard work and a powerful demonstration of our school community’s spirit.
We pray for God’s abundant blessings upon our school, our graduates, and the entire management as we look forward to the future with hope and anticipation.
Amen!
John Troon
Administrator
Shelter of Hope Centre, Kiambiu School
We would love you to join us for our next prayer event, which will take place on 3rd October at 7.30pm to pray for mental health. We will hear from two projects about the work they are doing to support those recovering from abuse, addiction etc, as well as those suffering with mental conditions.
On Saturday 10th September, the conference will be running in-person and online, where we will be hearing from Jeff Watson – Brazil, Mark West – Lesotho, Jonathan Bradford – Philippines. Full details here – UPDATED Zoom details
Base camp was up and running again at the Keswick Convention this year and we had a stand there during the first week. It was really good to connect with existing supporters face-to-face and to share with many others about the work we do and the projects that we support. In the evenings the talks were on Matthew 8 where Jesus cares for the whole person and we could share real life examples of this.
Last month Grev had the opportunity to meet the founder from the Fultang Hospital and to hear the story of how the hospital came about and to hear that it is now operational and serving the community surrounding it.
Pastor B shared his story of how God brought him to faith in Christ through a difficult upbringing. When he married he and his wife opened up their home to many children and would often have up to 30 children in their home. As these children grew older they felt God calling them to open a Christian school to give them an education. This has been open for a number of years and has around 1000 students.
Following on from this God put it on their hearts to open a hospital. With great faith and in trepidation they stepped out in faith and started the project. MMN have been able to play a part in this by giving grants to help towards the building costs. So it is really exciting to hear that the building has been completed and equipped enough to open to patients. It is a 100 bed hospital with a committed staff that are already making a difference and seeing God at work through its ministry. They would love to expand the services that they can offer so are looking to God to provide what is needed.
Following the Global Track trip to Kenya in April Grev was able to stay on for a couple of days to visit our partner, Shelter of Hope. MMN have been partnering with them for 15 years but it has been a long time since anyone has visited so it was good to be able to see the ministry and spend time with the project
directors, Ishmael and Molina Ochieng, to understand the background and visit. God is using Shelter of Hope to touch many lives, both physically and spiritually, as they witness to God’s saving love. They have big plans to do more but are in need of more resources to see this come to fruition.
More details and photos of the visit can be seen by clicking here.
ChildAid – Praise God for the summer camps run by ChildAid in Ukraine to offer children some respite from the traumas of war. The children were given some time for play and art therapy, which acted as a wonderful and encouraging distraction from what was going on around them. Please pray the seeds from these camps would encourage these children to explore a relationship with the Lord.
Philadephia Trust – Support has been sent to Christian Medical Association of Ukraine for GP’s, military personnel and nurses to be trained in ultrasound equipment, as well as for pre-hospital emergency training and medication. Please continue to pray for the situation in Ukraine – that peace would prevail and for God’s hand over those who have already lost so much.
CMIAid – continue to help as much as possible with the Ukraine situation. There are still many Ukraine refugees in Moldova who need regular help. In Ukraine itself we constantly hear of the desperate situation there, particularly in areas closest to the fighting. Please pray concerning these needs as well, that the Lord will both guide and provide.
It’s a chaotic and stressful time. Poor families are in need of food and essentials to help them make it through the current crisis. During this time, Shelter of Hope (SoH) joins other relief organizations to put smile on the poor faces of Kenyans who cannot afford meal and other essential commodities. The government is overwhelmed and not all people can be reached with relief food, therefore, the interventions of SoH and other like-minded organizations can never be underestimated
As christian organisation every need in the world is an OPEN DOOR to share God’s love. That’s why, as SoH family, we’re responding to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis, not by panicking or hiding out of fear, but by serving the people who are most vulnerable.
No matter how frustrating, confusing, or scary this crisis gets, with little resources, fear doesn’t have the final say. 1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” Our hope is built on the perfect love of Jesus Christ, so we’ve been called to share that love with the world. That’s exactly the mission of SoH- restoring hope and transforming lives of Kenyan communities who live in despair by addressing their spiritual and material needs.
The relief foods were purchased and packed in food baskets for easier distribution. Total of 600 households was targeted. To date, during this Covid -19, SoH has reached out to Kagan village, Homa Bay County, Nyora village-Migori County and Kiambiu slums-Nairobi city.
