NEW SHOES AND UNIFORMS AT STONEHOUSEACADEMY!

Let’s take a peek at what’s happening at 

StoneHouse Academy today.

We have noticed that some of the students need shoes and uniforms badly. These kids are so happy to be able to go to school no matter the conditions they are living in.

They came in their rags and torn up shoes and we had a big surprise for them. With the generous gifts from our L.E.A.R.N. sponsors we were able to buy new shoes and uniforms for the most needy children.

Wow! They were so happy!

Beatrice and her husband, James, are the founders of the school. She really loves these kids and wants to see them grow.

Let's take a look at our teachers and our classrooms. 

Our teachers work tirelessly every day.

As you can see not all of the children have been able to buy their 

new uniforms yet. You can help with a one time donation. 

We will give to those who are most in need and unable to get uniforms.

Only $15 will buy a complete class uniform.

And/or $15 for a sports uniform.

So be an Angel.....You can easily donate by clicking on the 

DONATE button at the top left side of this page and specify what you would like to contribute to. 

Thank you for all you do to make StoneHouse Academy and L.E.A.R.N.  a success in helping the helpless here in Nakuru, Kenya.

Your missionaries,

Cynthia and David

STONEHOUSE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL

CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE

Responsible parents know that "Children are the future of Kenya". 

After gaining it's independence from Great Britain on December 12, 1963, Kenya has become a relatively new, developing country. Thirty eight percent of it's citizens still live in absolute poverty. Everyone knows that education of the children will make a major impact on the success of this nation to pull itself out of such extreme circumstances. Here in Nakuru, one of the fastest growing cities in Africa, we are striving to help by sponsoring as many children as possible through 

L.E.A.R.N.

Letting Educational Adoption Reshape Nakuru.

Although the list of needy families is endless, we are doing what we can to help children who need assistance. 

As you read the stories and look at the pictures of just a few of these kids please consider how you can help.

Faith

Esther

Miriam

Faith Muthoni, Esther Wangare and Miriam Nyambura

These three girls are sisters. They were left orphans after their father had been burned to death in the post election violence in the year 2007-2008. Their mother, who is disabled, cannot meet the needs of her children. They live in extremely poor conditions.

John Kibaki

John Kibaki is a total orphan. The death of his parents was due to HIV/AIDS. Now he is staying with his grandparents. They were left with five kids but out of the five there are only two living – three others died. The remaining children are not affected by the disease. They are being raised by the grandparents who are not able to pay school fees.

Godfrey

Godfrey Ngugi is 7 years old and in the first grade. He is one of six children. His father is a drunkard and doesn't support the family. His mother is our cook at the school. She has tried so hard to help her husband but he is totally irresponsible. Last week it got so bad she could not stay in the house. So we gave her a room at the school to live in with her children. She is a hard working mom and wants the best for her children. 

There are many more children in similar situations. You can help sponsor a child for a donation of $80 three time a year. The school year started in January 2014. These kids are waiting for sponsors.

We are grateful for one time donations to help with our school, StoneHouse Academy. 

Please consider how you can help provide the items on this list for some of our immediate needs:

KITCHEN EQUIPMENT for 100 students and teachers - 

1 LG. POT, PLATES, SPOONS, CUPS – 
We are transitioning from plastic to metal 
for sanitary reasons.                                                                                                                                      $230

5 STUDENT DESKS –                                         $180

BLACK BOARDS                                                $60                                       

1 TEACHER’S TABLE                                          $40

1 TEACHER’S CHAIR                                          $12

SHELVES 8 CLASSROOMS and OFFICE            $90

STATIONARY AND OFFICE SUPPLIES             $45

2 DICTIONARIES                                                 $25

CURRICULUM – Grade 5                                     $65

You can donate through PayPal by clicking on the donate button on the top left column of this blog. Just write a note stating where you want your donation to go.

We are here to represent your great heart! Without your prayers and support we are nothing.

Cynthia and David

THE STORY OF STONEHOUSE ACADEMY

Pre- School students graduating to First Grade

Many exciting and wonderful things are happening here in Nakuru, Kenya. Our LEARN (Letting Educational Adoption Reshape Nakuru) program continues to grow slowly but surely. We have added 4 new sponsors this year and hope to add more. In our next post we will feature students needing help with school fees. Please look at the pictures and read their stories. So many children are in need. With the L.E.A.R.N. program you can sponsor a child for only $240 for a full year or $80 per semester.

That's Beatrice - Our Head Teacher

Our school history has been written by Beatrice, who is the head teacher of our school. James (her husband) and Beatrice founded the Grace and Mercy Center School in 2009. They are indigenous missionaries helping the people of their own country. We have greatly admired their efforts and are very happy to assist them in seeing this ministry grow.

Our current school building.

The school has grown from only pre-school level to this year being up to the fifth grade and is now known as StoneHouse Academy. Together we have been working very hard to improve our school.

Here is the history of… StoneHouse Academy:

It was the year of 2009 when I and my husband thought of starting a school in the slums of Nakuru. This is because, after the clashes (post election violence of 2007 in Kenya) in our country many children were left without parents and many women were left as widows. So there was no possibility of an education for those children.

During this time we had many sleepless nights. We love children very much. I remember when we started our school with just five children. Two of them were my children –  our little boy Caleb was 4 years old and our little girl Blessed was 2 ½ years old. Others came from my neighbors who were widows after their husbands had been murdered during the terrible tribal clashes of 2007.

We rented one room as a classroom and the same room was used as an office. The room cost us 500 kenya shillings (about $6) a month which was very hard to pay. This is because the parents were not able to pay anything for school fees. So my husband was forced to go and labor for somebody to be given money so that we can pay the rent. So many people would come and mock us asking whether we could make it. It was so discouraging because if visitors could visit me I would stand outside and ask them what they wanted because I had not enough seats or extra room. But still the vision was so big in my heart.

In the year 2010 children did very well in their exams. So their parents started to advertise to their friends. So the number of children increased and we added another room. We were very happy but it was like the starting of problems. We had no money to employ even one teacher. So I myself was the teacher, and also I was a cook. We decided to go and hire a piece of land and sow maize and beans and after harvesting we could have something to cook for the students. That was the only way we could get their food.

The new "kitchen" and our cook.

I remember one day when I was preparing porridge for the children and the rain rained on the fire because I had no kitchen and I was in an open ground. This made me lose hope and even the focus. But I thank God for two are better than one. My dear husband who was encouraging me every evening reminded me that the vision may tarry but it will come to be accomplished.

The Lord started to raise us from 2012. Although the journey was not that smooth when the school started to grow, we started to employ some teachers, but the problem was they could only stay just for a month or a few weeks and then they would go for a better place where they could get better salaries. This did not stop us to focus.

Up to the year 2012, the number of children still increased but the struggle was still there. I remember one bright morning of this year 2012 the children were very happy going to sit for their exams. I opened the classrooms as usual and I met the rooms empty. Tables and chairs were stolen and there was nothing to sit on.

I was saying, “My God why have you forsaken me?” There were about fifty questions at a time in my mind and the children were saying, “Teacher, teacher, where are we going to sit? Where are our chairs?”

So what I did I just told them to pray and have faith in God. And by the end of the day somebody called me and told me that he has seen some tables and chairs hidden somewhere in the bush. Oh my God! It was ours! The prayers and the faith of our little ones, was answered by God. Miracles and wonders are for those who have faith in Him.

The year2013 God has taken us very far. This is when God gave us the people of our own hearts from Tennessee, USA. They are our spiritual parents, David and Cynthia. They encourage this vision day and night. We have joined our hands together to raise those children for a better future. We are now called StoneHouse Academy and continue to grow. We still have many needs to improve the school but we are trusting our God to provide for us and these dear children. So our prayer is to have our own land so that we can build class rooms and accommodate more children especially the orphans, so that they can feel at home. AMEN

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog. We appreciate your support and prayers as you are a big part of the work of StoneHouse Ministries International here in Kenya, Africa.

Your faithful missionaries,

David and Cynthia

StoneHouse Ministries International

James, Beatrice, Caleb and Blessed.

Please consider how you can help provide the items on this list for some of our immediate needs at StoneHouse Academy as we start the new school year for 2014.

KITCHEN EQUIPMENT for 100 students and teachers - 1 LG. POT, PLATES, SPOONS, CUPS – We are transitioning from plastic to metal for sanitary reasons.                                      $230

5 STUDENT DESKS –                                         $180

BLACK BOARDS                                                  $60              

1 TEACHER’S TABLE                                          $40

1 TEACHER’S CHAIR                                          $12

SHELVES 8 CLASSROOMS and OFFICE            $90

STATIONARY AND OFFICE SUPPLIES             $45

2 DICTIONARIES                                                 $25

CURRICULUM – Grade 5                                     $65

You can donate through PayPal by clicking on the donate button on this blog.

THE END OF A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR FOR STONEHOUSE ACADEMY!!

Today we were honored to participate in our StoneHouse Academy's school closing program. Teachers, parents, and children gathered to celebrate this end of the school year for Kenya. After the holidays, school will resume in January 2014.

   The children waited patiently for the program 

to start.

        Each class gave us a poem, a song or a dance.

                           This is our little drummer boy:)

We awarded the best students from each class with rulers, pencils, erasers, and pencil sharpeners donated by S.M.I.L.E.S. fellowship in Selmer, Tennessee.

Some of the boys and girls are taking karate class. They gave us a demonstration. 

The 'top class', which is kindergarten class graduated to 1st grade. 

Each child received a certificate. Aren't they cute?!

All our children did well this past year. They will start the next school year in January 2014. 

Please consider adopting a child by paying their school tuition for a total of $240 a year - You can make $80 donations at each term three times a year in December, April, and August. You can make your donation on this blog by using the paypal donate button. 

We will be posting pictures of children and their stories so you can chose a child to sponsor soon. 

Many thanks to our sponsors and for all our friends and family who prayerfully support this ministry. You make a difference in the lives of many children and their families!! 

  

STONEHOUSE ACADEMY POEMS BY STUDENTS

We just had our first parent / teacher meeting for StoneHouse Academy. Here are the poems the students presented to their parents. We hope you enjoy watching these video clips. The words to each group's poems are written below the video.
 

 

SAY NO TO DRUGS – Class 4

“Hey Nick. Come take this. This is east weed”. Sniff, sniff! Wow, I like the feeling. A common conversation between two kids. But is it for real? Here’s the drill. Avoid it, it kills, impairs your judgement, creates a false impression about you.

Alcohol is not water, this liquor. Therefore it doesn’t make you better. In fact it will ruin your future. You can drink milk it’s much healthier. Embrace sober advice from your parents and teachers. Make good use of them to the latter.

Cigarette smoking will surely buy you a casket. You will never see your grandchildren. Your lungs will be like a rotten egg. They will be literally saying, “I’m on my bitter end”. Cancer will also be a close friend. Miraa chewing will lead to insomnia. You will never concentrate when the teacher is in darasa. Sleep will be consuming you like fire. Bad friends will also be a common future.

Young men shun away from drugs and alcohol. If you want to have a better tomorrow. If you want to be someone that we can follow. If you want to be a great hero! This is our motto:

Avoid drugs!! Be safe!!

 

 

UNITY FOR QUALITY EDUCATION – Class 2

[A 'jembe' is a hoe, a 'panga' is a machete. These are tools used in the 'shamba' which is a farm.]

My mother, my father, give me a jembe and a panga. My jembe and my panga is my book and my pen. Unite with our teachers for my academic excellence.

My teacher, Mr. Evans, I need quality education. But not ‘bora elimu’…

Please sir, Unite with our parents for my academic excellence.

 

EDUCATION IS THE KEY – Class 1

Education is the key. A key to many things. It’s through education that I become a doctor, that I become a pilot, that I become a teacher. Father, Mother, give me education. Education is the key. A key to many things. Thank you.

 

EDUCATION – Class 3

Oh! How meaningless it is without education. Education for my future. Education to serve others.

Life is meaningless without education. My fellow pupils, let’s aim higher. Let’s aim higher, and make it in life.

Parents, join our teachers, help us fulfill our dreams. God is on our side.         

Thank you.

[Sadly, there's no video for this one]

POEM 1 – Top class (kindergarten)

I have a little bed just for me. Dad is too big for it. Mummy is too big for it. Puppy is too small for it. It is just for me.

POEM 2 – Top Class

Thank you, God, for giving me eyes to see, ears to hear, nose to smell, mouth to talk, hands to write, legs to walk.

 

 

OH DEAR MUM – Pre school

Oh dear mum, for nine months, you have carried me. I was warm and I knew no harm. Thank you, Mama. You are so dear to me.

SONG – Pre-school

Father without you who will care for me? Mother without you who will cook for me?

Thank you Father for your care.

Thank you mother for your love.

Thank you.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our children at StoneHouse Academy and their parents are happy and doing well. If you enjoyed these video clips please help us make our school better by donating. No amount is too small.

Thank you for taking the time to see our kids.

 

 

LEARN AND STONEHOUSE ACADEMY

 Our last blog focused on a young man named Abraham. In his last year of school he found himself unable to pay his school fees. Abraham was abandoned by his parents when he was only 8 years old. His older brother has raised him and helped him as much as he could but he now has his own family and was unable to pay the school fees for this final year. So in my urgent cry for help I was pleased to get a response from 3 different single women. They each gave a part, according to their ability to give. Together we have been able to complete the school fees for Abraham. He is so grateful. I tell this story to encourage to just give what you can. You may not be able to fully support a child but small donations add up to benefit these needy children.

 

We are making progress in our desire to help children get an education. To date we are helping 13 children by sponsoring their school tuition. We firmly believe that we should help with the burden without taking away complete responsibility of the parent or guardian. So we assist with tuition, which is only part of the expense of education. They also have to buy uniforms, books, school supplies etc. We assess the need of each family and help accordingly. Many need assistance from, as they say it, 'well wishers'.

We now have our own preschool through primary grade 4 called StoneHouse Academy (was Grace and Mercy Center). This blog will tell you a little about the school and also stories about the children who need sponsors: 

                 http://kenyalearn.blogspot.com/2013_01_01_archive.html .

We desire to provide good education for these kids. We are working on expanding the facility. We have added toilet/urinal space, repaired the walkways for safety reasons, and closed in the kitchen area.

 

We have 6 teachers and 5 classrooms. That means two of our preschool classes meet in the same room. Also the 4^th grade class doubles as the only school office. We hope to be able to add another room or two soon.

 

 We also need a playground for the children’s recreation time. These improvements will attract students who can pay school fees and enable us to help more orphans and needy children who can't make it without help.

We also need workbooks, flash cards and posters. At the present the teacher has to handwrite work sheets for each child in her class. That’s a big job. No computers or even typewriters. These materials can be bought in town but we need finances.

Bible class is once a week on Friday. All the children, about 90 of them, gather in a small room/hall to learn stories in the Bible. We was given the opportunity to teach them and we really enjoy it. Our first lesson was the 7 days of Creation. We taught them a song to help them remember the story. They love to sing and they love to learn.

[song video]

Please take the time to read about these children. They need sponsors. Please consider giving to this program. For only $80 three times a year you can help education a needy child for a year. A onetime donation will help with general or specific needs. 

Will you be a "well-wisher"?