by Courtney Kraus | Apr 26, 2021 | Kenya
When Joel was growing up, his parents struggled financially and were unable to pay his school fees. Joel shares that “a good Samaritan” came into his life and supported him through primary and secondary education. He was amazed by this generosity and made a vow to God... 
by Courtney Kraus | Mar 11, 2021 | Kenya, Updates
Braiton is a playful, pleasant 10-year-old boy who calls El Shaddai Children’s Center in Kenya home. He recently celebrated a birthday and we are so thankful that he is living in the care of our Kenyan partners, who are dedicated to seeing him thrive! Upon coming to... 
by Courtney Kraus | Jan 17, 2021 | Crossing Cultures, Kenya, Short-Term Missions
The beginning of 2021 is now upon us, and, in light of all we have faced in the past year, I know we have been waiting in anticipation for the potential of what this year could bring. For me, New Year’s has never been that significant or exciting, apart from the... 
by Courtney Kraus | Jan 3, 2021 | Kenya, Prayer
Authored by Courtney Kraus. Courtney is currently funding to come on staff as the director of Kenya ministries I was over the moon at the opportunity to visit Kenya for the first time. It was July of 2019, and I, along with a team of short-termers, was headed to... 
by April Jurgensen | Dec 27, 2020 | Kenya, Ways to Help Orphans
Imagine just for a moment that you are an orphan, grieving the loss of your parents, trying to fend for yourself, and feeling abandoned. Now imagine your struggles compounded by the fact that your culture propagates a stigma against you. Many voice—or at least think... 
by April Jurgensen | Sep 13, 2020 | Kenya, Updates
Allan was brought to El Shaddai Children’s Center by his mother and some representatives of a church who have a ministry in the Githogoro slum where he lived. His mother, a mentally-challenged and therefore illiterate former orphan, recognized she was unable to care... 
by April Jurgensen | Aug 23, 2020 | Kenya, Updates
Meet my friend, Rev. Lydia Kamau. She wouldn’t like me saying it, but she’s a modern-day saint. Really. Years ago, Lydia—faced with the tremendous needs in her Kenyan village—felt led to start a feeding program for children. She thought a few hot meals could make a... 
by April Jurgensen | Jul 20, 2020 | India, Kenya, Russia, Updates
As hotspots for Covid-19 appear to fluctuate almost daily, it’s been challenging to stay informed regarding conditions in our own state, let alone globally. Since many of you have asked for recent information on the homes in which The Boaz Project serves orphans, we... 
by April Jurgensen | Mar 9, 2020 | Kenya, Short-Term Missions
The day after Christmas, a team of eleven boarded a plane in Chicago and began a long journey to Kenya. The plan was to hold a VBS with the boys at El Shaddai Children’s Center, buy belated Christmas gifts for them and their caregivers, and to learn some culture along... 
by Guest Author | Feb 3, 2020 | Kenya, Prayer
“I Have Hidden Your Word in my Heart…” For me, short-term mission trips have always included being flooded with newness—new sights, new sounds, new tastes, new knowledge about God, others and myself. This newness can make it all so exciting—or devastating—that... 