 Welcome Kelvin and Nikole!! In recent years Hope Matters has grown and expanded in ways that are only explained by God. As the ministry has grown, so has the need to grow our team. We are overjoyed to share the news that the Opiyo family are an answer to prayer, and are coming to serve with us. In just a few months they will transition from full time ministry In Mombasa, to serving with us in the highlands of Kenya. Kelvin will be assisting us with programs management, and Nikole is heading up our short-term volunteers program. We are so blessed to have them joining the team.
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  In May I traveled to Mombasa with HMI intern, Julie, to teach a first aid and CPR course to a group of football (soccer for you USA friends) coaches. There was a lot of sweat, and even more laughter, throughout the course. We ran the full introduction to first-aid and basic health information class. A few coaches asked early on why it wasn’t just sports focused. We shared that what we were teaching was useful information that could be used at any time on, or off, the soccer pitch. Just today I received an update from our hosts that a few of the coaches responded to an emergency over the weekend. They were able to help an epileptic woman who collapsed and was having a seizure on a public street. Not only were they able to safely administer first-aid, but they handled crowd-control and follow-up medical care, just as they had been trained to do. Another coach was able to identify a neighbor who was having seizures. People were saying that this neighbor was being possessed by an evil spirit. The coach was able to share the need to get medical help for this very real physical condition. What a blessing to get this report!  It was also really special to hear our hosts share that the coaches were impressed with how we showed love to them through running this course. The comment was made that it was clear what we were doing was out of love, not a requirement by our religion. I continue to be blessed at how powerful holistic ministry can be. Thanks for praying for and supporting the work we do here. Because hope really does matter!
Do you ever have days where you feel like life is just relentless in the beating it hands out? I’ve had a number of those days lately. The word relentless has been resonating in my heart and mind lately.
We have had a ridiculous amount of rain and flooding across Kenya this last month. One morning I woke up to once again hear rain pounding on the roof. I wanted to scream “It’s relentless, this rain!” A few hours later I encountered a woman in my office asking for money. She was so drunk that she didn’t notice that her naked toddler was pooping on the floor next to her. Relentless. I lost a patient. I spoke with and prayed with this young man just a few hours before he died. William drove him to the hospital for a blood transfusion. They didn’t get there in time. He died. Relentless. A few days later, I was getting ready for the day when my precious son Ryan came running through the door in his pajamas and rain boots. He hollered that I needed to come outside right away. There was a rainbow stretched out over our house. It was beautiful. I stopped in the drizzling, hazy, sunrise and drank it in. Relentless. Our heavenly father is relentless in his love for us. The rains have been so heavy that our available machinery couldn’t make it through the mud at the hospital construction site. So we called a bunch of men from the area and asked them if they wanted work. Muscles, sweat, shovels, hoes, and wheelbarrows, went into action. A Bible study outreach was planned for the team of workers. Eight people have requested prayer to help them give their lives over to the Lord. Relentless, God’s love, his compassion, his pursuit, his grace, they are all relentless. I’m reminded of how frequently we don’t see the big picture. What we saw as a delay was actually a ministry opportunity. The hospital construction timeline was pushed back. And lives were eternally impacted because of the delays. I’m pleased to share that God brought us a bulldozer to use this week. Construction progress is being made. We have a team of local workers who are gathering for weekly Bible study. Hope is being found at the medical center. Our. God. Is. Relentless. “…my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘the Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” – Lamentations 3:20-26  On April 16, 2018 we officially broke ground, kicking off construction of the Village of Hope Hospital. To view a short video clip from this special ceremony, please click here. Please pray with us for God’s hand to be over this project from start to finish. Give thanks for the way he has already provided. Pray with us for daily wisdom, and for every need to be met along the way. Right now we are facing quite a bit of rain which is making progress slow. Please pray for favorable weather and safety on the job-site. Thank you for standing with us during this exciting season!
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AuthorWilliam and Michelle Kiprop have actively put hands and feet to the vision of providing holistic care for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those living in their Kenyan community, in Jesus' Name. Here are our goals in carrying out our mission. Archives
March 2019
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