Our story:
We are the Chupp's. Rod & Kristen from White Pigeon, Michigan.  We have eight children, seven there and a ten year old we adopted here(Kenya). Plus, five grandchildren with the two soon to be additions. A little more than three years ago, we visited a Pastor and his family in Kenya. We knew them through Covenant Church, in Burr Oak, MI. (Our home church)
During our visit, Kristen and I felt God leading us to do something in Kenya. So, six months later I left my job and moved here(Kenya). We have a small auto painting shop in Ongata Rongai where Painters and Mechanics work on their customers vehicles. We charge them $5 a day to use the building, electric and tools. Besides giving them a good environment to work, we also show them proper technics, customer service and safety. The business has benefited many men, which in turn has helped their families.
Earlier this year I had the feeling that we are supposed to be doing more. After many prayers, God showed me the "more" is opening a children's home.  A woman here in Kenya said she had a vision of the same thing for me. And, then to further confirm it, when I was home(Michigan) in May, our Pastor @ Covenant Church, Matt Jones said he felt God telling him that we should open a home. I hadn't told Matt about the woman's vision, so I know when God is telling people on both sides of the globe the same thing, its something He(God) wants.
The Home:
We do not want the Children's Home to just be another orphanage. Many here in Kenya are only for profit for the owners benefit or are just places where kids are fed and sleep. The home we are going to have will be different. We will keep the number of kids lower(25), so we can be a large family. Too many kids here have no parents or only a guardian , so without having a mom and dad in their lives, don't know how to be one themselves later in life.
The need:
I have been searching for a property, either land to build or an existing building for the past six months. Land here is expensive, more per acre than land in lower Michigan. And, building materials are higher due to many being imported. For the past three weeks Kristen was here in Kenya, much of that time we had set aside to look a properties I had found.  Then God did what He does best, shows us His plan. We were on Lamu Island, a small island off the coast of Kenya, 60 miles south of Somalia. Homes there are out of the price range we are trying to stay under($100K). This is where God took over and showed us a home for 30K. Yes, its what we call a "fixer upper" (three story home built out of coral blocks with the third story needing completed), but remodeling and building are no problem as that is some of my background. The home when completed will be 3000 sq. ft. Enough to house 25 kids and staff.  The third floor completion, fixing up the exterior and first two floors will add 10K to the 30K, thats where we come up with the 40K. The third floor will have room for when you want to come and be part of our "extended family". The island is very safe for this region. Plus, you can see what the island has to offer or visit some of the other beautiful area's of Kenya since you are here. Its actually very inexpensive traveling here if you do not do it the "Touristy" way! We have placed a small deposit to hold the home until year end. That is when the 30K is needed by so the home does not go back on the market.
The Home and making a difference:
What we are going to be doing is opening a Children's Home where we teach Christian values on an island where 95% of the population is Muslim.(Another reason we know that is why God wants a home there!!) And, showing kids real "family".  The word love is very seldom used in this part of the world and even with kids that have parents, they often never feel it. We are going to make a difference in many kids lives. Yes, they will no longer worry about where they will find food or a place to sleep. But, we will also be giving them love and a Christian upbringing.

So, if you want to be part of this, please pray and do what you can.

If you want more information, please let me know or contact Pastor Matt @ Covenant Church. (Great Church if you are looking!!)

Thank you for taking the time to check out what God is doing. And, if you want to be a mum, dad, auntee, uncle, brother or sister for a week or two when we get going, please let us know and we can help with the arrangements.

Have a great CHRISTmas, Rod and Kristen Chupp