Grand Opening of Shining Star Sept 2016

Grand Opening of Shining Star Sept 2016

Just returned from our 6 week trip to Kenya and made some amazing memories. The 23 hr. trip over was uneventful but from the moment we touched ground in Nairobi, the adventure started.
We got in about 10 pm and midnight found us at our good friend Stella’s table eating dinner (or was it breakfast) ? Eight hours later and frantic packing/unpacking of clothes we had left in Kenya, we were on road for our 6 hr. (turned 8 hr) drive to Prayer Mt. The next 4 days were spent ministering to all peoples who came to the annual conference of Prayer Mt in Kisii where we were the main speakers. Saw many healings and people were transformed as we ministered on the renewing of our minds and the power that can come from it.

Sunday we ministered in Kisii town at our precious friend Bishop Henry Osongo’s church and then on up the mountain to our children home area, between Nyamira and Kericho, above Kisii.

We were there a few days doing ministry before Sept 10, the big anticipated grand opening day. 
We were also celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary and so the village people and our family from Nairobi came and they honored us with a celebration vow renewal. Over 300 came and people were standing outside the church. Dancing and singing was the order of the day. Our first children whom we have been supporting that were scheduled to move in to the home, were in the ceremony as well, walking us down the aisle and wearing their special new shirts I had made for them this past summer. They were thrilled as they blew bubbles on us and helped us celebrate.
After the celebration we made our way down to the home for the ribbon cutting.
When we got down the mountain to the home; the children ran ahead and met us there, their faces full of joy. They knew soon they would have a bed of their own and three meals a day. When we cut the ribbon for the home the children and the village shouted and danced their way into the home. The children all ran to claim their own bed and laid there until we made them get up, giggling and shouting to each other.

The children helped us anoint and pray over the home. 
We heard some of the children talking that they would be able to take their first shower. The newness of it all made us all joyful.
The day continued into the night with more celebration and fun.The children got moved in and have settled into their new home.

We have some very immediate needs that have surfaced as we were moving forward.
The two most prevalent are electric and fencing.
So as not to delay the opening of home we had to purchase solar flashlights for the homes lighting as when we arrived at the home we were told that when the power was to be run to the children's home that the workman who came to do it completed part of it and then stated he needed 4 more poles and would return the next day to complete. Since he had done part of the work our overseer paid him 1200.00 USD to purchase the rest of supply and for work to be completed. Unfortunately he never came back. We found that he did not work for the electric company. This we found is very common in Kenya with scam artists. So we are still needing the replacement funds to get to the correct people to be able to get the power run down the hill.

The fencing is very important to keep people from encroaching on the land and to protect the children. We need to fence the compound in and put up barbed wire around the perimeter. Although we have security guards, it is a requirement to fence in any children home in Kenya so we need to do this asap.
This was highlighted to me even more as the home we stay at while we are at the home and also the overseer of children's home had his home broken into just days after we left and he and his wife were beaten and robbed by 10 men. This was done through a gated area and so I feel very strong that we need to get fencing for children immediately. This will be about 3,000 USD to get complete fencing and gating installed.

So as we go forward we are praying for those who share this vision of providing homes for children who would otherwise be neglected, without parents, sexually and physically abused, without education and malnourished to receive all their needs met and shown the love of Jesus so that they will be able to be leaders for the Kingdom and for their own country.

Shining Star Primary School
All focus this time was on the home but as we were ministering in the school that joins the children’s home property, with our children there which has grown to 287 children from 69 children in 2014, we were again met with many needs. They have only 9 classrooms and need at least 4 more, The children are holding classes under the trees. They need laptops for the teachers; there are 12 teachers now, up from our beginning of 5 teachers. They need school supplies and books. And they need a food program that would feed the children lunch. The children get to school by walking, many far distances.

They start school at 6:30 AM and conclude at 4:30 PM. There is a lunch break but most of the children live too far to go home and they don't bring lunch because of not having enough at home. So these children do not eat all day. We want to provide a lunch for the ones who do stay at school. But when we do provide this , the number will go up so we have to be prepared to feed them all in our budget before we begin.
Thankfully now our Shining Star Children walk just minutes down the hill each day to receive lunch at the home. But there are many others who don’t.
We need funding for a daily lunch program for them to be implemented.

Both the home and school are without a playground of any sorts. SO the future plans for two playgrounds are on our wish list as well.

Thank you for all your prayers and support as we go forward doing what we think Jesus would do for the children of the world.
Pastors Rick & Debbi Milliken

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