After I got back from my recent mission trip in Kenya, I started thinking about a little story commonly called, “The Starfish Story.”  There are different versions of the story floating around, but it usually goes something like this: 
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed boy picking up and gently throwing things into the ocean.  Approaching the boy he asked, “Young man, what are you doing?”
“Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die,” the boy replied.
The man laughed and said, “Do you realize there are miles of miles of beach and countless starfish? You can’t possibly make any difference.”
After listening politely, the boy bent down to pick up another starfish and threw it into the surf. Then, he smiled at the man and said, “I made a difference to that one.”
Typically, when this story is told, the point of the storyteller is that we should aspire to be like this boy and strive to make a difference in the world, even in small ways.  That’s a really good thing to aspire to for sure.  And you might think that’s where I’m going with this blog, but I’m not.  The story does apply to me, but not the way you might think.  Even though I’d like to identify with the boy and see myself as a hero, making a difference in the world, the reality is that I’m more like a starfish, stranded on a beach:  breathless, helpless, and hopeless.  To be honest, that’s kind of how I was feeling before I went on this trip:  kind of spiritually breathless, like a poor pathetic little starfish, gasping on a beach.  The Bible says that our condition is actually worse than the poor starfish.  We aren’t just on the beach gasping for breath – we are dead.  Eph. 2:1. A dead person (or starfish) can’t do one single thing to save himself (or itself).  However, the verse right after this section in Ephesians begins with the two most beautiful and hope-inspiring words a believer can hear: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ...” Eph. 2:4-5 (emphasis added).  Thankfully, we have a Savior who breathes life into us; a Savior who pulls us out of the abyss of despair and into glory.  The beauty of it is that His light often shines through other believers.  Through the songs and laughs of the children who live at the Bethel Children’s Centre, through seeing young men and women who grew up at Bethel and are now making their way in the world and letting their light shine before others, and through sharing the love of my dear friends Andrew and Agnes Mukumbu, well, the good Lord tossed this old starfish back in the water, and I’m feeling pretty good right now. 
 

I just returned yesterday from a wonderful week in Ruiru, Kenya serving with my brother Wynn and Huruma International Ministries at the Bethel Children’s Centre. It was there that I met the most amazing people, Andrew and Agnes Mukumbu. They run the orphanage which cares for more than 60 orphans and educates them along with hundreds of other children at their school. 
Prior to our journey, I asked the Lord to give us the grace to encourage the children and workers at the Centre through the fellowship of His Spirit and through the love of Christ. While we were hoping to encourage them, I found they actually encouraged me.
 
The highlight of the week was to hear the children sing. My favorite song they sang was “I’m No Longer the Same”. Here are the words:
 
Before I gave my life unto Jesus
I was nobody to be considered
I ran away without peace in my heart
I’m no longer the same
                         
​I’m no longer the same,
I’m no longer the same               
He has changed my life and given me a new name
I’m no longer the same
                          
Let the poor say I am rich
Let the weak say I am strong
Let the strong say I am born again,
I’m no longer the same

I’m no longer the same,
I’m no longer the same
He has changed my life and given me a new name
I’m no longer the same
 
This week I was reminded of some wonderful truths:

• How can an orphan with little material resources sing with such joy? Romans 15:13:  “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  I think it’s because their true worth is defined by their true need and their Savior’s ability to fully meet that need. It’s as true for the orphan in Kenya as it is for the old guy from Watkinsville, Georgia.
• Who we are is defined by who or what we worship. If we have been reborn in Christ, we are no longer the same. It’s how we are defined. Not by our relative circumstances of weakness or poorness or even strength but by our own standing with Him. We have worth because of Him and His atoning death on the cross. Romans 5:6-8.
• No matter where you live on the earth or your station in life, we all have the same need. We all need a Savior. We are all aware of a debt that must be paid, and we innately know that we are not qualified to pay it. Colossians 2:13-14.
• Psalm 68:5 says that God is the “Father of the Fatherless”. He doesn’t need us to provide for orphans, yet He commands us to do so (James 1:27) and when we obey, we are blessed. Job 29:11-12.

 
I know I was blessed beyond measure this week, and I walked away no longer the same.
 
I’m thankful to the children at the Bethel Children’s Centre for these reminders. I am also grateful for Andrew and Agnes and their incredible life changing work at the Centre. In addition, I am thankful for my brother Wynn and his wife Angela and for their ministry, Huruma International Ministries. It was easy to see the tangible impact that is being made.
 
If you are looking for an opportunity to make an eternal investment in a ministry that is making an impact for God’s kingdom, please consider joining with Huruma International Ministries.  Of your contributions, 100% goes directly to support Bethel Children’s Centre in Ruiru, Kenya. You can make a difference. Maybe more importantly, please consider putting Andrew, Agnes, Lillian, the staff at Bethel, and the children on your prayer list. May God bless you as well as the children and staff at Bethel Children’s Centre.
 

There have been some exciting events at Bethel Children's Centre this year.  Huruma has supported the building of a second story at the Centre to house additional children.  Typically, students go to high school starting in the 9th grade, and most of them go to a boarding school, which is the largest single expense for the Centre.  When the construction is finished, this will allow Bethel to create a 9th grade at the school and keep the students for an additional year.  This will be a tremendous benefit to the children to be able to stay at Bethel for an additional year.  In addition, in the long term, it will reduce costs.  In other news, the Centre has a record number of high school students this year (21 total).  The cost for each student is approximately $250 per school term or $750 per year.  We really need sponsors for these children for this year.  If you are interested in providing support for one of these children for this year, please contact us at [email protected].  

This is a sad time at the Bethel Children's Centre.  Cecil, a 16 year old boy who has been battling cancer for over a year, just passed away.  Please pray for his brother, Kelvin, the other children at the Centre , and Andrew and Agnes Mukumbu during this very difficult time.  

Today, at God's Family Church in Ruiru, Kenya, there was a wonderful celebration.  One of Bethel Children's Centre's own, Charity, graduated from college with a Bachelor's of Science degree in soil engineering.  We are so very proud of her.  I have also included a photo of Charity that we took from our second trip to Kenya in December 2021.  

One of the boys at Bethel Children's Centre named Cecil has recently been diagnosed with cancer of the bone marrow.  He will start chemotherapy on Monday. Phase one of his treatment will be 24 rounds.  He will be doing four days at a time, with a three day break in between treatments.  Fortunately, Bethel has health insurance that will cover the majority of the cost of this first round, except for approximately $500 USD.  We will keep everyone posted of his progress and any future need for funds for his treatment.  For now, please pray for Cecil that the Lord will strengthen him during this difficult time.  

​​I was flipping the channels the other night and paused on The Hobbit, one of my favorite movies (The book is better, of course).  I came across this quote from J.R.R. Tolkien that made it into the movie:  “I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay, small acts of kindness and love.”  It is so true.  The quote made me think of two events, one recounted in Scripture, and one modern example.  In the 12th Chapter of Mark, Jesus was watching people put money in the offering box at a synagogue and saw many rich people putting in large sums and also saw a poor widow who put in two small copper coins.  Jesus was moved by this act of kindness and said:  "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”  Mark 12: 43-44.  The second example comes from the Bethel Children's Centre in Kenya.  When children at Bethel learned of a "poor" orphanage several hours away, they gathered their own clothes (most of which has been donated to the Centre by local churches in Kenya), and gave that to the children at this other orphanage.  The story still moves me today, but one thing struck me last night.  Someone likely donated the clothes to the Bethel kids, making possible the further gift of kindness of the Bethel children to this other orphanage.  We don't know the effect a kind word, a simple gift or a small act of kindness can have.  Therefore, "let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works."  Hebrews 10:24.