St. James and other churches in Kenya
About 15 years ago, Anne Patrick, through missionary friends, became acquainted with the Reverend Benson Opunga, the Vicar of several churches in the Western Province of Kenya. After visiting there, she became the driving force to build a church and Primary School in the Lumakanda district. The church was consecrated St. James, Lumakanda and the school became St. Anne's school.
After several years without contact with the Reverend Opunga, Don Brainard, then Vestry representative for Outreach, resumed the correspondence with Reverend Opunga, and money was raised for a maternity clinic to be attached to an existing clinic and another primary school, both built on the grounds of St. Mark's, Nzoia, another of Benson's seven churches.
Cheryl and Don Brainard visited Reverend Opunga in September of 2002 to dedicate both the clinic and the CDB Academy and to bring medicines and medical instruments, embroidered stoles for the clergy, an electric organ for church services (powered by an automobile battery), school and dental supplies, school uniforms (T-shirts) and numerous other items.
Since then, both schools have grown in reputation and hence in size from the original two classes to four in each school. Every Christmas, as part of the "Giving Tree" money is raised and sent to provide scholarships and materials to the schools. During World Mission Weekend of 2005, parishioners and friends gave generously to "Dig Deep for Clean Water" designed to provide the means to dig wells to supply clean water, the lack of which is the single greatest cause of disease in Africa (outside of HIV). Wells also mean that women, who have had to walk miles to get dirty river water and be subject to attack and necessitating time away from vegetable gardens, and children, who didn't have time to attend school, no longer have to face those difficulties. We have, and will continue as money is available, to provide funds for more wells. There were about nine completions at last count.
In 2007 St. James began helping with the funding for an extension to the clinic, which will provide rooms for overnight care -- a hospital wing. To learn more about current work in Kenya contact the World Mission Council.
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Outreach to Community and World