Help Jeremiah Go To Kenya

After graduating with my bachelors in Theology last May, I decided to take a year off to figure out what I really wanted to do. I wanted to see what opportunities came my way. Unfortunately I can’t say that I prayed about it too much. I became too dependent on my skills and explored them without prayerfully asking God for direction. I was trying to figure it out myself. It’s not that I didn’t want God and His guidance, but I became selfish in what I was trying to do.

This year God has really opened up my eyes to how complacent and self dependent I was becoming. My spiritual life hadn’t gone off the deep end but it wasn’t growing very well. I knew there were changes I had to make. Some hardships also came into my life around the same time I was starting to make this decision. Seems that God wanted to allow my faith to be tested right away. And I can honestly say that through these difficult times that I’ve had, I’ve earnestly sought out God for strength and comfort. I have cried a lot of tears this year so far. I’ve realized my short comings, how I’ve let down God, how I’ve let down people, how I’ve let down myself. But God has continuously been there for me in my times of pain and confusion. I’m clinging to Him with all I have right now asking Him to make me new and guide me on His path. I’ve been giving Him the things I’ve needed to and I am now looking for ways to redirect my focus to His purpose in my life. I am saying “Wherever you want me to go, I will go, and whatever you want me to do, I will do.”

5 years ago, some of you may remember that I fundraised for a mission trip to Guyana through Maranatha and that trip had been a huge blessing and gave me a lot of confidence heading into college. I wish I had done more mission trips of some sort. But I felt impressed to check their website again for an opportunity. There was a trip to Kenya early in the summer. I have lots of friends that have gone to serve in Kenya and even have a good friend that went with Maranatha to serve in the exact same location. It felt like somewhere God was calling me to go.

The Kajiado Adventist School and Rescue center was started in 2000 with the mission to empower Maasai girls and provide a safe place for those who have escaped child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM). FGM is illegal in Kenya, but many Maasai still encourage this harmful cultural ritual because of the dowry a family receives. It mostly happens in rural areas, where the law is more difficult to enforce. Girls who do not want this future have no choice but to escape to a place like Kajiado. They essentially become orphans, because they have disgraced their families by running away and are not welcome to return. The center takes care of the girls until they graduate from secondary school or, in some cases, university. It is a sad reality for many girls in Kenya, but the Kajiado Center has provided hope and a better future for more than 2,000 girls since its inauguration. When Maranatha first visited Kajiado, the dorms and classrooms were inadequate and overcrowded. Three or four girls had to sleep in each twin bed. The boys had to use a classroom as a dormitory. Since February 2019, Maranatha volunteers have been working on the campus to build new dormitories, bathrooms, an administration building, and classrooms. Maranatha also drilled a well on the property. Maranatha is currently building a secondary school on campus so that the girls can continue their education in this safe environment. This trip will cost around $3500 maybe more in order to cover all fees such as food, accommodation, insurance, and travel. I know God will provide and so I’m grateful for each and every donation.

My desire to go on this trip is not so I can feel good about myself, and check the list on being a “good Christian”. I’m going because I have experienced Gods love and faithfulness especially in 2022 so far and desire to share that love, grace, mercy, peace, and care with others. Instead of using my skills and talents to figure out what I’m going to do with my life, I’m going to use my skills and talents to be a blessing to others. God’s plan will fall into place, I will just do my best and let Him take care of the rest.

If you are unable to donate at this time I simply ask for your earnest prayers. Please don’t just say “Be with Jeremiah and bless him.” In trying to turn my focus wholly on God this year I’ve been faced with a lot of discouragement and pain. It has been hard. God has been giving me strength and comfort but I know I’ll need more. I have cried so much this year and I’m not really a crying person. There are moments where I don’t feel like fighting, where I don’t think I can really do this. But in my weakness I am made strong through Christ. And I need that everyday, every moment. So please earnestly pray for me every chance you get. I know God will come through for me. I appreciate every single one of you that is and has been a part of my life. I look forward to sharing with you the wonderful things God will do through me on this trip.