OWI Kenya Update, December 2010

Hello Friends and Family of OWI (Ordinary Women, Inc.),

 

As we reflect upon this Christmas season and all we have to be thankful for, I can't help but thank God for the OWI Orphan Program (OP) in Kenya.  Even though most of us live across the globe from this program, your sponsorships and prayers are making a difference in these precious orphans' lives.

 

I want to write this month about a fourteen year old girl named Risper.  Risper started in the OP at the beginning of the program in January, 2008.  She is HIV+.  She contracted HIV/AIDS from her mother who died from it.  Risper's mother contracted the disease from Risper's father who was a refugee from the Congo.  He returned to the Congo, and they don't know if he is alive today.  

 

Through our program, family members agreed to take Risper into their home.  Risper had not been getting medication at all for HIV/AIDS before the OP.  After being placed in the OP, she started going into Kitale (about a twenty five minute bus ride from Kiminini) to a treatment center to receive free medication from the government.  However, because of the stigma in Kenya of HIV and the lack of education on how the illness is contracted, the guardian family was treating Risper like an outcast.  She wasn't allowed to play or be around the other children in the home for fear that she would give them the illness.  And Risper continually got sick because the family didn't give her the medications as prescribed.  So, after attempted trainings with the guardians and no change for Risper in the home, the social workers of the OP found a boarding school that Risper could attend where a nurse would monitor Risper's medication and health.  Because of the OP, she was able to be placed in such a school and a positive living environment.  

 

During the school breaks, Risper returned to her guardian home, and Patrick, the Director of the OP, visited her and her guardians to work on building their relationship.  Through their hard work and diligence, and through the ongoing HIV/AIDS education provided by the OP, the guardians' attitude toward Risper has completely changed.  They no longer stigmatize her.  They accept her, they accept her illness, they allow her to play with the other children in the home.  They are taking her in as one of their own.  This is truly a miracle.  And we have been fortunate enough to watch it unfold. 

 

Risper is no longer at the boarding school.  She doesn't need to be.  She stays at her guardians' home and goes to school at the local day school.  She goes monthly to Kitale to the treatment center for her HIV medications, and she takes them as prescribed.  She recently had a rash from taking her medications, so the guardians took her to the hospital to get the proper treatment.  She received it, took her medication for the rash, and is healing from it.  

 

This is another way that the OWI Kenya Orphan Program is leading the way for cultural change in Africa.

         

If you would like to give an extra gift during this holiday season that will help us pay the orphan food bill or for boarding school tuition costs for the orphans, please send your tax-deductible donation to the address listed below or go to our website and make a donation using paypal. 

 

If you are interested in supporting one of the orphans in our Orphan Program for just $35 a month, please go to our website at www.ordinarywomen.org and you can choose your orphan from the profiles.  Or you can write to us at:

 

                                                                                     Ordinary Women, Inc

                                                                            26861 Trabuco Road, Suite E#146

                                                                                   Mission Viejo, Ca. 92691 

        

 

Joining Hands for Global Change,

 

Darla Morfin

Ordinary Women, Inc.

Executive Director- OWI Orphan Program

 

If you are no longer interested in receiving emails from OWI, please put "Unsubscribe" in the subject line and reply to this email.  Thank you.

OWI Kenya Update, November 2010

Hello family and friends of OWI (Ordinary Women Inc.),

 

Thanksgiving, what a wonderful season.  As a culture, this is a time that we stop and reflect about what we are thankful for.  And we have so much to be thankful for.   

 

I want to share a story of one of our orphans and the gratefulness she and her mother have for our program.  Her name is Rael.  Rael is number four out of seven siblings.  Rael has Marfan's Syndrome, which is a connective tissue disorder.  The connective tissue is weakened, which affects the tendons, the cartilage, and the major arteries in the body.  A person with Marfan's Syndrome is usually tall, has long legs and arms, long fingers, and poor vision.  Rael's father was a police officer and died of heart disease in 2004 because of complications from his Marfan's Syndrome.  Marfan's Syndrome is passed down generationally. 

 

The passing of Rael's father left Rael's mother in a very difficult situation.  She was struggling to provide for the basic needs of her children with her job of going to the marketplace and buying and selling vegetables.  She had to make some very difficult decisions like not sending her children to school and finding other places for her children to stay.  Two of Rael's older siblings had to drop out of school.  And with Rael's condition of Marfan's syndrome, Rael had difficulty with her eyesight.  Rael needed eye surgery, but her mother was unaware of this as she was struggling to provide the basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter for her children.  Ignorant of the symptoms of Marfan's syndrome, Rael's mother thought Rael was rude, lazy, and slow, and she blamed Rael for being a difficult child.  Rael had dropped out of school and was staying with her grandmother.  Rael's future looked very bleak until she was placed in the Kenya OWI OP (Orphan Program). 

 

Since Rael was placed in the OP two years ago, she and her siblings have returned to the safety and security of their mother's home.  Rael's mother is provided with food every month for Rael which is part of the support offered by Rael's sponsor, so Rael and her mother don't have to worry about how Rael is going to eat every day.  Through extra financial gifts, Rael has gotten the eye surgery needed so now she can read her textbooks.  Also, Rael's social worker in the OP has educated her mother on Marfan's syndrome, so she understands Rael's symptoms and behaviors better now.  Because of Rael's low self-esteem from Marfan's syndrome, her social worker has provided encouragement by reminding her that Abraham Lincoln and Mary, Queen of Scots (1542) both had Marfan's syndrome and yet did powerful things in their lives.

 

Rael has returned to school.  She is now seventeen years old and is in the eighth grade.  She is studying for her exams which she needs to pass to go on to high school.  It looks hopeful that she will enter high school next year.  Her goal in life is to become an Optometrist because she wants to help people with their eyes as she has been helped.        

 

Each month at the guardian day in the OP, Rael's mother is one of the first guardians there to show her gratitude to this program.  She is so thankful and grateful she has her children living with her again, that she can provide for their basic needs, and that Rael has gotten the eye surgery she needed.

 

I thank God for you, our sponsors, encouragers, supporters.  Without you, the OWI Orphan Program in Kenya would be non-existent.  You are making a life changing difference in these childrens' lives.  Thank you!  To you, we are very grateful!  If you would like to give an extra gift during this holiday season that will help us pay the orphan food bill or for school uniforms for the orphans, please send your tax-deductible donation to the address listed below or go to our website and make a donation using paypal. 

 

If you are interested in supporting one of the orphans in our Orphan Program for just $35 a month, please go to our website at www.ordinarywomen.org and you can choose your orphan from the profiles.  Or you can write to us at:

 

                                                                                     Ordinary Women, Inc

                                                                            26861 Trabuco Road, Suite E#146

                                                                                   Mission Viejo, Ca. 92691 

        

 

Joining Hands for Global Change,

 

Darla Morfin

Ordinary Women, Inc.

Executive Director- OWI Orphan Program

 

If you are no longer interested in receiving emails from OWI, please put "Unsubscribe" in the subject line and reply to this email.  Thank you.

BOOK & BAKE SALE UPDATE

On behalf of Ordinary Women, Inc., I would like to extend our deepest appreciation to everyone who participated in the BOOK & BAKE SALE on Saturday! 

 

We had a tremendous response to our book donation request which provided a wide variety of books to choose from.  The buyers were impressed with the volume and variety.  Thank you for your help – we could not have done it without you! 

 

The baked goods were a hit!  We have some very talented people in our group who were busy baking a beautiful array of breads, muffins, cakes, cookies and brownies!  Thank you all!

 

We made some new friends and have added you to our database so we can keep you apprised of our fundraising efforts and the progress of the Kenyan Orphan Project.

 

We will be having another BOOK SALE next year in the April – May time frame so you can start setting aside your books and we will be happy to take them off your hands.  Of course, we will keep in touch and give you more information closer to the time of this event.

 

Thank you, again, from the bottom of our hearts!

God Bless,

 

ORDINARY WOMEN, INC.

Judy McCoy

 

 

 For more information regarding Ordinary Women, Inc. and our projects, see our web site at www.ordinarywomen.org

 

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BOOK & BAKE SALE THIS SATURDAY!

What a lot of rain we have had!  If this weather makes you want to curl up with a good book then come to the BOOK & BAKE SALE on Saturday and stock up!

 

The books are priced to sell and the proceeds help support orphans in Kenya so you will be helping others as well.

 

WHERE:         28651 Rancho Maralena

                        Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

 

WHEN:           7:00 AM – 1:00 PM this Saturday

                        October 23, 2010

 

 

 

Sponsored by Ordinary Women, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

 

 

 

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OWI BOOK & BAKE SALE - October 23, 2010

Hi Friends of OWI:

 

Here is a great opportunity to help support the OWI Orphan Program by donating books to our BOOK & BAKE SALE.  Clean out your bookshelves and put those unwanted books to work!

 

I am collecting books now, so feel free to drop your books off at my house or contact me if you need them picked up.  Come and join us if you can and bring your friends and family.

 

Thank you so much for your support!

 

Judy McCoy

Ordinary Women, Inc.

 

BOOK & BAKE SALE

 

 

Proceeds support orphans in Kenya

 

 

 

Come and buy a book, eat a cookie and help support the ORDINARY WOMEN, INC. Orphan Program!  Website is www.ordinarywomen.org.

 

 

      WHAT:     BOOK AND BAKE SALE

 

      WHEN:     OCTOBER 23, 2010

                        7:00 AM

 

      WHERE:   28651 Rancho Maralena

                        Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

 

 

Email Judy McCoy at judykmccoy@cox.net for more information.

 

If you are no longer interested in receiving emails from OWI, please put "Unsubscribe" in the subject line and reply to this email.  Thank you.

OWI Kenya Update, September 2010

Hi Friends and Family of Ordinary Women, Inc, (OWI)

 

OWI had another successful trip to Kenya in August, 2010.  The four person team was led by our board member, Debbie Valverde, small but mighty.  It never ceases to amaze me what can be done in a little over a week on these trips.  The trips are usually two weeks in length, but by the time the team gets to Kiminini, Kenya (a 25-27 hour plane flight and then a 10 hour drive by van), there is just a little over a week left to be in Kiminini.  Once again, the team accomplished so much! 

 

Debbie, along with nurse Mumbi (who is Kenyan and now lives in California) put a team of doctors and nurses together in Kenya for a medical clinic.  They did a one day medical clinic for our orphans, guardians, and their families.  This is the first year that none of our orphans had to go to the hospital!  With the ongoing support you are providing as sponsors, our orphans are more healthy this year.  Only one of our orphans is having problems with her eyes.  The doctor thinks it might be allergies as they itch a lot.  She will be taken to the hospital for a follow up appointment.  A big health problem in Kenya is intestinal worms.  Our orphans are receiving de-worming medications every quarter and the medicine for malaria is administered when needed.  All of these preventative measures keep our orphans free of these problems.  Because of the ongoing support you are providing as sponsors, our orphans are healthier than ever!  

 

Debbie's team also had an Orphan Day, where all the orphans, guardians, and their families came together for a day of fun, crafts, and to celebrate their birthdays.  Many of our orphans don't know when their birthdays are, so they had one big birthday party for them all.  I spoke to Patrick today, the Director of the Orphan Program in Kenya, and he said, "It was the best birthday party ever"!  The orphans put together some presentations for the celebration, and they performed them for the group.  Happy birthday was sung, the candles were blown out, and then they cut the cake, sang, and danced in celebration.  And they can really dance!  It sounds like it was a wonderful time together!  Thank you to all the sponsors who donated a little extra for this special day!  Our orphans and their families had a great time.  Patrick also said the guardians enjoyed the day as much as the orphans did.   

 

As well as the medical clinic and the Orphan Day for our orphans, Debbie's team held a Women's Conference for the day.  This was an opportunity for the women in the community to come together and be encouraged by each other.  The women get so much out of these women's conferences.  So much so, they are asking for more than one day for the women's conference next year. 

 

As I talk with the OWI board in Kenya and with Patrick, the Director of the Orphan Program in Kenya, I am continually reminded of the impact this program is making and the lives that are being changed for the better.  And I know it is all because of you, our sponsors and friends who support the work in Kenya.  Thank you.      

 

If you are interested in supporting one of the orphans in our Orphan Program for just $35 a month, please go to our website at www.ordinarywomen.org and you can choose your orphan from the profiles.  Or you can write to us at:

 

                                         Ordinary Women, Inc

                                26861 Trabuco Road, Suite E#146

                                       Mission Viejo, Ca. 92691 

 

 

Joining Hands for Global Change,

 

Darla Morfin

Ordinary Women, Inc.

Executive Director- OWI Orphan Program

 

If you are no longer interested in receiving emails from OWI, please put "Unsubscribe" in the subject line and reply to this email.  Thank you.

Planning for OP/Med day

Today we are going shopping for the OP day, we have planned for the day and what is the greatest need for the orphans so that we can purchase it at the local store in Kitale.  We have planned a visit to Leslie's orphan but the roads there are dirt and can be very slippery if it rains and yesterday and today have been cloudy, cold with some rain. Today may be the same and so that will dictate wheither we go or not.  The trip back to our guest house yesterday was nail biting as we had to access which side of the road to use and pray that we didn't slip into the ditch on the side.  Of course we made it and we will be setting out again soon.  My bag was lost at the airport but I am to receive it today.  I really didn't need all that I thouht I needed as I have made due with sharing with Leslie.  I might have had a bit more difficulty if she hadn't been with me.....but it has not been a terrible thing.  Please pray for better weather and that all preparations are finished before dark.  Debbie

--

Debbie
"We are moved by our love for Him!"
_______________
949 280-7987
Ordinary Women, Inc.
Joining Hands for Global Change
26861 Trabuco Rd. Suite E-146
Mission Viejo, Ca  92691-3535
www.ordinarywomen.org

First moments in Kenya

The flight here and experience at the Nairobi airport was familar to me and so I didn't feel strange or out of place. I'm glad to be back, to see the friends OWI and I have made over the years and to continue to work alongside them in whatever God calls this team to do. Yes we have an agenda but I am hoping that I hold it loosely so that it is His plans not mine that are fulfilled. We arrived at Mayfield later than we hoped to as one of my bags did not show up. I reported it to baggage claim and then left to greet our very good friend Gideon who was and has been there at every trip OWI has made in the last 7 years. He has gone over and above the call of hired driver to become a trusted friend and brother to us all. It was great to see him waiting there for us. After the introductions to our new traveler, Leslie and news of family shared, we jumped into our van and he quickly got us to. The Mayfied Guest House where we will stay for one night. As I tip toed around hoping to not wake the other guests, I thanked God for a safe trip, for sleep thru the night and a suitcase in the morning BEFORE we leave for Kitale in the morning.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

First moments in Kenya

The flight here and experience at the Nairobi airport was familar to me and so I didn't feel strange or out of place. I'm glad to be back, to see the friends OWI and I have made over the years and to continue to work alongside them in whatever God calls this team to do. Yes we have an agenda but I am hoping that I hold it loosely so that it is His plans not mine that are fulfilled. We arrived at Mayfield later than we hoped to as one of my bags did not show up. I reported it to baggage claim and then left to greet our very good friend Gideon who was and has been there at every trip OWI has made in the last 7 years. He has gone over and above the call of hired driver to become a trusted friend and brother to us all. It was great to see him waiting there for us. After the introductions to our new traveler, Leslie and news of family shared, we jumped into our van and he quickly got us to. The Mayfied Guest House where we will stay for one night. As I tip toed around hoping to not wake the other guests, I thanked God for a safe trip, for sleep thru the night and a suitcase in the morning BEFORE we leave for Kitale in the morning.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

OWI Kenya update, August 2010

Hello OWI friends,

 

The Ordinary Women, Inc. (OWI) Orphan Program which began in January, 2008 continues to run smoothly thanks to your faithful support.

 

The guardians who are a part of our Orphan Program (OP) have become a family in the last two years.  Before the OP started two and a half years ago, most of these guardians didn't even know each other.  Many of our guardians are widows.  In Kenya, when the husband dies, the husband's family is expected to take over caring for the widow and her children.  Most of the time, however, the husband's family blatantly takes any land, house, or personal posessions the widow has and leaves her with nothing but the children.  Some widows brought their own children into the program.  These orphans are considered half orphans in Kenya which means that the parent is completely destitute and has no way of supporting her children.  Some widows have taken in other orphans in our program that are not their own.  

 

Without this program, our orphans would be living on the streets.  Someone asked me just the other day, "then the government would step in and take over the care of the children?"  My response was, "No, there is no government assistance for these children.  They would be turned out to live on the streets, no matter how young they are".  We cannot imagine this in the United States, but it happens in Kenya, as well as in other countries all over the world.

 

So, these guardians have come together and have become an OWI family.  They come together each month and are led by the social workers of the OP.  They receive the monthly food allowance for the orphans.  Then, they are given training on a certain area that helps them be better guardians to our orphans. 

 

About one year ago, I started hearing of a savings program that the guardians were starting for themselves.  This came out of the need when one of our orphans passed away last year.  The guardian didn't have any money to bury our 8th grade orphan, Lorna.  OWI raised the money to give Lorna a proper burial.  The guardian wanted Lorna to be buried in her yard (which is still legal in this small village), so that's where the funeral and burial took place. 

 

From this tragedy, the guardians got together and started a savings account.  Each month, they each contribute 50 ksh (about 0.65 US) to the account.  Then, if there is an emergency or if they have a project they want to do, they can borrow money from the account.  They pay it back in payments each month with 10% interest.  They now have 30,000 ksh (about $410 US) in their account.  Some have borrowed money to buy small items for their homes, while some others have started small businesses like buying and selling of cereal, and vegetable growing and then selling of their crops.  This all benefits the guardians and orphans in our program. 

 

So, not only is your support and sponsorship providing the basic needs of food, clothing, education, and medical needs to the orphans, it's also empowering our guardians by being a part of a bigger family, and getting benefits from working together. 

 

Thank you so much for your ongoing support to our program.  Without you, this program would be non-existent.

 

If you are interested in supporting one of the orphans in our Orphan Program for just $35 a month, please go to our website at www.ordinarywomen.org and you can choose your orphan from the profiles.  Or you can write to us at:

 

                                         Ordinary Women, Inc

                                26861 Trabuco Road, Suite E#146

                                       Mission Viejo, Ca. 92691 

 

If you are no longer interested in receiving emails from OWI, please put "Unsubscribe" in the subject line and reply to this email.  Thank you.

 

 

Joining Hands for Global Change,

Darla Morfin

Ordinary Women, Inc.

Executive Director- OWI Orphan Program

Here's a terrific way to support Ordinary Women, Inc. and get a spiritual lift

Support OWI and hear KIRK CAMERON speak in person!

 

 

Kirk Cameron will be the speaker at a live TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) taping on Thursday, September 30, 2010 and Ordinary Women, Inc. has secured 50 seats in the audience for which we will receive an honorarium for each seat filled.  The address is 3150 Bear Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92711.

 

If you are going to be in the area come and be inspired by this powerful speaker!  We will gather at TBN at 4:30 PM to be seated by 5:00 sharp.  Taping will be from 6:00 to 8:00.  There is a bistro at TBN that sells soups, salads, sandwiches, beverages and desserts if you would like to have a bite to eat before being seated.

 

We can only take the first 50 people so reserve your seat now by emailing Judy McCoy at judykmccoy@cox.net or call (949) 233-5340.

 

 

More about Kirk Cameron:

Do you remember the child actor Kirk Cameron?  He played Mike Seaver on the TV sitcom Growing Pains and Cameron "Buck" Williams in the Left Behind film series, as well as dozens of other television shows and films.

 

Kirk continues to be actively involved in quality family entertainment and travels throughout the country, making the most of every opportunity to further the Gospel. He speaks in schools, churches and at community events. He is also a producer and host of The Way of the Master television series and radio program.

 

What do others have to say about Kirk Cameron?

"I have never heard the gospel presented more powerfully, more correctly, or more clearly than when Kirk Cameron shared his message with us at Shadow Mountain Community Church."                                                Dr. David Jeremiah - Senior Pastor, Shadow Mountain Community Church

"Kirk Cameron gave one of the most sincere, simple, powerful statements of the Gospel I have ever heard."
                                    John Piper - Desiring God Ministries

"[Kirk's teaching] puts a perspective on evangelism that will turn any congregation 180 degrees towards the lost...I highly recommend Kirk Cameron to those pastors who have a heart and desire to see their congregation catch the fire of evangelism through yet another vehicle to reach the world for which Christ died."
                                    Bob Coy, Senior Pastor - Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale

"Kirk Cameron is a powerful communicator."
                                    Dr. Jack Graham - President of the Southern Baptist Convention and                                                                    Senior Pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, Dallas, TX

 

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