In the village of Nakhosi, through the support of a generous sponsor, a 135-meter-deep water borehole was drilled with a 7-meter water tower construction, showers and washing clothes basins on the site. The project provides water for four villages with a total population of about 10,000.
Every year, for three years in a row, thanks to our sponsors, we can help a large number of children in the mountains and villages.
In this way, we were able to distribute over 2000 pairs of shoes and a large quantity of clothing for the smallest inhabitants of Mount Elgon. We mainly do this in our medical clinics. Many children are exposed to the sand flea that lives in the soil. The problem of lack of shoes is one of the big needs, as well as one of the reasons why children have problems with parasites under the skin. We met children aged 12-14 who did not know how to wear shoes. They never had it.
In 2020, we brought a large amount of warm clothes to the village of Ite on Mount Elgon. The rainy season is very cold. Temperatures can drop to 42F (4-5C) at night. Many children get sick, so warm clothes are definitely a blessing for them.
For two years now, thanks to our regular partners, we have been able to feed children on Mount Elgon. Every week in four villages we eat up to 1200 children. The way it all began was the result of the prayer of our son Samuel. He often prayed during his evening prayer that we could feed the children on Elgon. God answered. A young woman wrote to us and offered to start feeding the children. She expressed a desire to cover all feeding costs in three villages and then another sponsor was added to a fourth village. The diet here is rather poor, so we feed the kids a good portion of protein and vitamins.
In January 2020, we ran a three-day apparel design test-class. The class was attended by 2 women who had already been trained in local courses. We studied sewing several types of clothing.
By the end of the session, the participants had made the perfect base for a pleated skirt. At the initial test course, it was revealed that the tailors did not have a basic knowledge for designing and sewing clothes. I would like to continue and give a more advanced course on the basics of European sewing, so that the craftswomen can raise their level of tailoring and become the best in their area. The basic knowledge of many generations of European tailors will help them sew efficiently, quickly and economically.
“I went to Africa to teach children to draw, to introduce them to art. Why, you ask? My answer is: I think feeding and dressing is great, but it’s a one-time help. You came, fed him, and after a couple of days the child was hungry again. You bought him shoes, and after a while the shoes will have holes. But, if a child is taught to do something, it will stay with him forever. If he is educated, he can feed himself and buy himself clothes. In addition, he will have a meaning in life that he will definitely want to communicate to others. Gradually, this knowledge will spread and motivate more people to live. I went to teach children to draw and introduce them to art because I believe it will help them. It will enrich their soul, awaken their imagination, and help them live better. «
Dasha Chernousik
Within two months we completed the construction of a building in the village of John Power. A year before that, our ministry started a church here. The community gathered in the open air for a whole year. At the first services there were only a few adults and about a hundred children. Within a year, the church grew. From 60 to 70 adult parishioners attend the meeting, and the Sunday school recruits more than 200 children.
This building serves as a church and a school at the same time.
Saturday and Sunday — this building is used for church services.
We brought school desks and now during the working days children and some of the parents will learn to read and write.
This is the second project of the opening schools in church buildings.
The first project of the school was in the village of Nahosi in early 2020.
We would like to express our gratitude to all our sponsors. Without your sacrifice, these projects would be impossible.
Two years ago, in 2018, we saw a great need for Christian educational materials. A large number of urban pastors cannot read or speak English fluently, much less rural pastors and parishioners. Their language is Swahili. But the main problem is that there are no Swahili books on sale, there are no materials for the education of pastors on the Swahili.
God gave us a bold and truly desperate idea. We started translating materials, books, and sermons. During this time, in total, we have translated about 1500 thematic sermons and 14 books.
We opened the RAHISI.ORG web resource, all translated materials are posted on the RAHISI.ORG . And they are absolutely free for all users in all Swahili countries.
The next step is printing books. Not everyone has access to the Internet. People do not have smartphones and computers. This is especially evident in the villages, where the main population of these countries lives.
We need books. We need financial sponsors to make practical christian education real.
Write to us, ask questions, and become our partner to the international mission.
Mission is discipleship. Discipleship is inconceivable without education, transfer of experience and books for education.
In 2019, we opened a library in our missionary home for everyone who can read English. People from Kitale town and the surrounding villages began to come for reading. We saw a great thirst for education and a desire to read in locals.
Immediately it became apparent that this was a small part of the solution to a huge problem. Many pastors from distant villages began looking for opportunities to borrow books to begin the process of self-education. But due to the fact that they live far in the villages, it was extremely inconvenient to travel to the town. The lack of communication only made the situation worse, when someone would come to the library during the hours we are not there.
Therefore, one year later, in 2020, we began to open small libraries in different locations of our ministry in the homes of bishops. Within 3 months we opened 5 libraries, and one library in the Kitale town and one in men’s prison. More than 300 books quickly found their readers.
With help of our friends, we were able to transfer books to Somalia for the underground churches there.
