Hi! My name is Julianna and I am a part of the team that is now back home in Alaska. Because I have two other ministries I will be working with in Kenya until June, I was blessed to get to stay longer at ROCK Ministries after Cindy, Kyon and the team left mid-march. I was able to have my sister-in-law Evelina from Sweden come join me for two weeks. She came as soon as Cindy, Kyon, and the others left. They got to hug her briefly at the airport and then they were on their way back to Alaska! Evelina was exactly the morale boost me and everyone at ROCK needed as we were quite sad after the team left.

Due to a death in the Director Teresa’s family, we went with her to her family home in Kisumu and stayed with her girls while her and her husband Victor attended funeral ceremonies. Evelina and I had a true Kenyan experience, or as Teresa called it, “an adventure!” We went to the bathroom in a hole in the ground and bathed using a bucket! It was such a cool experience to see how most Kenyans do these daily things. After the weekend, we went back to Malava, preparing the whole time to be the guest speakers for the school that week. We were tasked with the theme of “Courage.” So, Evelina and I took turns teaching bible stories, playing games, and leading worship for the kids once (sometimes twice) a day.

We taught them about Daniel and the Lion’s Den, Queen Esther, Elisha and the Chariots, Joshua becoming leader of God’s people, David and Goliath, and last but not least JESUS! The children learned who courage comes from and that with God ALL things are possible. We also had the honor of teaching them new songs. One of our favorites is called, “Abba, I belong to you!” which repeats that simple phrase over and over. The children taught Evelina and I it in Swahili, “Baba, mimi ni wako!” And then Evelina brought her own culture in by teaching us it in Swedish, “Papa, jag ar din!” How memorable! I hope to never forget all of the ROCK Students, teachers, and staff singing about how we belong to God.

For Kenyans, April is a holiday month for schools. So, for the final half-week leading up to April 1st, classes were busy with sports days and getting ready to wrap up the term. During that time, Evelina and I took a few days just to be with the Lord and pray. Ministry, as many of you know, can be taxing and we all need rejuvenation from the Lord. It was so amazing to have the space to do that and to be send off in high spirits feeling refreshed.

This place and these people have become like a family to me—my heart will always be with them and already longs to return. Thank YOU for praying for us, the prayers were felt and needed. The staff on ground here in Malava are praying for you all as well. And I’ll have you know, I have never met a prayer warrior like a Kenyan.

Dear Friends, Kyon and I couldn’t be more excited that in two weeks we will be with our ROCK family in Kenya once again, and we’re taking three wonderful people with us – Kaitlyn Johnson, Kaylee King, and Wendi Revilak. All three join us with a passion for Jesus and a deep love for others.

We depart Anchorage at 7am on February 23^rd and finally arrive at Malava on the evening of the 25^th. Kenya is half-way around the world from Alaska! The first few days all the children will be home for a short holiday; so, we will have time to bond over games, chores, prayer walks in the neighborhood, kitchen duty, devotional times, and…s’mores 😊 On Saturday the 28^th, a board meeting. On Sunday, a trip to Teresa and Victor’s church in Kisumu to share with the youth and young adults. (Topics are deep, like mental health, but we’re excited to focus on the GOOD NEWS of who we are in Christ Jesus!)

Monday through Friday, March 2-6, school will be in session so we will have the joy of participating in assemblies and classroom devotionals as well as aiding the teachers. I’ve been pondering the Malava Christian Academy theme this year, “Realigning with the Mindset of Christ”. The beauty of our relationship with Jesus is that it is about abiding, not striving. Love, joy, peace… are fruit of the Spirit that is produced in us as we cling to Jesus! Please pray that we can be an encouragement to the 180 children and 21 staff members/families, along with our ROCK children, as we share our personal testimonies of where we have witnessed God at work in our lives and the lives of others.

Saturday the 7^th will be a Children’s Rally where about nine different schools from the local area will be invited to share a day with us of hearing the Gospel. Last year about 400 children attended this rally, breaking out into small groups in the afternoon for a time of discussion. Our team will be paired up with staff and teachers.

The second, and last, Sunday we are in Malava, all the staff and their families will come to worship, and fellowship, together in the multi-purpose hall. Kyon will teach a Bible study regarding the grace of God. This will be such a sweet way to end our time before starting the long trip back on Monday the 9^th. We arrive back in Anchorage on the 10^th and will be hosting three potlucks to share our testimonies! We are so grateful for your prayers. Please pray for Teresa’s family as well as they grieve the loss of Victor’s dear mother. The memorial service was on the 7^th and a meaningful time for all who attended. What a beautiful legacy she has left behind! Grace and peace, Kyon and Cindy

Love, blessings and peace in this new season, another year that the Lord has given to us. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We are just settling down in the new year, all schools have reopened and all our kids at different levels are back to school. It is a year that we intend to align with the mindset of Christ (Philippians 2:5) by responding to the calling to learn from Christ and align to his will and purpose, to walk in obedience to His instructions, and to influence the world as the salt and the light.

Our pupils in Malava Christian Academy are back excited in their new classes and ready to learn. Looking forward to a great year ahead. The school population has grown to 180 students! Our beginners’ class in preschool has an enrollment of 30 pupils. All the other classes have received new comers as well, and we thank God for this enlargement as we continue trusting him to nurture and empower the gifts in these children academically, socially, and spiritually.

We have two more students that ROCK Ministries is sponsoring to attend Malava Christian Academy (Mitchelle, Grade One and Emmanuel Grade One). We also have two new teachers (Nancy, teaching Kiswahili and English, and Maclaud, teaching social studies and math) joining us. Grade Six was launched this year. I normally refer to this pioneer class as our EBENEZER class, “this far the Lord has brought us.” They will be sitting for their national assessment exams at the end of this year to proceed to Junior Secondary School in the coming year. (Praying for the school building to launch Grade Seven 2027.)

We have three students we are supporting in college (Moses, Joshua, and Molly) and three more will be joining this group in September (Cynthia, Samuel, and Gideon).  We continue sponsoring all of the children from the children’s home, as well as those who have transitioned to their family/foster homes, with their school tuitions along with other children from the community: seven students in Junior and Senior Secondary School, eleven in public primary schools, and seven at Malava Christian Academy. We settled seven of our ROCK children back with their families and, so far, we thank God for the smooth, gradual transition. All these children are being visited by Beatrice Anupi, ROCK’s social worker. (All donations to ROCK pay staff salaries, tuition fees for sponsored children, and needs for children still in the home and those being fostered, as well as pay for projects that will eventually help the school and sponsorship program be self-funded minus large construction.)

So grateful to God for what He has already done this January and looking forward to a visit from Kyon, Cindy, and team February 23 – March 10! Yours faithfully, Teresa Boyani

Another blessed time to send our special greetings to you with such grateful hearts to God and to you, to let you know of the faithfulness and blessings of God so as to sing together “Oh come let us adore Him Christ the King”, for He alone is worthy of our praise and thanksgiving. We can confidently say the year has been good, not that there were no challenges, but because in His presence we have peace and joy, and the fact that we are assured God holds all things together and brings us to triumph.

We are so happy this year has been a year of increase: our school increased in population, we were blessed with two calves, our milk yield increased, one of the staff was blessed with a baby, the warmth and joy of family increased. We also experienced an increase in maize harvest, not forgetting expansion in the population of the children and families being impacted by Rock Ministries in the home, Malava Christian Academy, and in the Malava, Machemo community.

Believing God is able to do just what He says He will do. He will continue to guide us even in the areas we are venturing in for the first time especially when thinking of the childcare reforms that are currently taking place and the emphasis on family-based care compared to the institutionalized care that has been there. We take it positively understanding the approach (how we do it) may change but the vision and mission of ROCK Ministries is compact and intact (to impact children and families with the love of God). We will continue to nurture children and empower them through education (school), spiritually (the Word of God), and also ensuring they are trained in basic life skills needed in the day-to-day life. Thumbs up to our staff who have been very dedicated to ensure this is achieved.

Psalm 107:4 Indeed the Lord has lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased their families like flocks through ROCK Ministries. This year we were able to support children in the home and community (a radius of 6km), 17 in primary and junior school, seven in high

school, and three in colleges, not forgetting the population of 146 pupils in the Malava Christian School. This is the doing of the Lord, it is marvelous in our eyes, we lay every crown at his feet, we give Him all the glory! A big thanks to all our supporters and the Yi family that have coordinated the team.

We thank God for the monthly staff fellowships that we managed to have, this helped us grow spiritually as we were nourished through Bible study sessions and teachings in the devotions too. This helped in equipping the staff for the mission.

What then lies ahead of us in 2026? Jeremiah 29:11 We are trusting God who crowns our year with bounty to take us to another level in faith, where we can take care of more children and families as the needy children are many. We will now be supporting them from home and not actually bringing them into the ROCK home. We look forward to integrating the children in the ROCK home currently back to their extended families and some to foster care, the emphasis being the best interest of each child. We will continue supporting their education and care while in these various homes.

We are looking forward to launching grade six in the new year, at the same time receiving the beginners in preschool. Looking forward to the new year with thoughts that are pure, noble, praiseworthy, lovely, right ....... Our minds are filled with such good things.

O come let us adore Him, His love endures forever! Wishing you all the best, happy holidays. Merry Christmas, a blessed and prosperous new year.

With love and blessings,

Teresa

Please pour a cup of coffee, settle down in a comfortable chair, and “lean in” because this is going to be the most raw, real, and transparent newsletter you have ever received from us and the pattern for the future. We know who our support team is now and, truly, you are all family. Some of you began with supporting Mom 25-30 years ago. You are her dear friends who have been willing to continue with us praying, giving, and loving “the least of these”. And some of you have joined us more recently since Kyon and I had to step into this role of raising prayer and financial support for the ministry so the orphanage and school could continue to thrive. This was a responsibility we had not anticipated, or felt called to, but is now ours. As God has often done with us, He places an opportunity in front of us that we know the only answer is “Yes Lord”, but our hearts take a while to follow. This has been the case with these three examples: 1) ROCK Ministries since we first received the call of Mom’s dementia diagnosis, 2) our adopted son Mason who we received at 2 ½ years old, and 3) Taiden our foster daughter (Mason’s biological sister) who very tragically ended her life on September 11, 2024. This has not been an easy journey. The only way to keep from drowning has been to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2).” But we see what God is doing in our hearts –softening, humbling, growing our TOTAL dependency, and… preparing us!

Now we face a new challenge mandated by the Kenyan government, but overseen by our Sovereign God (Rom. 13:1). We walk boldly into this new season unafraid knowing that God has His plans for ROCK Ministries, and His ways are far above our ways (Isaiah 55:9). Kenya is adopting the Foster Care model and closing down Charitable Children’s Institutes, transition to happen in the next five years. Does this change ROCK’s vision of “becoming a source of hope, healing, and restoration for families through the knowledge of Christ’s deep love and the empowerment of education”? Absolutely not! In fact, we see that our reach is expanding now as the Children’s Department is asking us to FIND HOMES for the 16 children currently in our care, PROVIDE for the needs of the children until they graduate, and CARE FOR the foster families receiving our children into their homes. Currently six children will already be transitioned back into the care of family members by the end of December but will remain under the watch and supervision of ROCK’s fulltime social worker, Beatrice Anupi. Not only these opportunities, but ROCK Ministries has already been sponsoring children from the community whose families have come to the attention of Beatrice that are not even students at Malava Christian Academy nor in the guardianship of our children’s home. And, by the way, Beatrice was herself an orphan who cried out to God that if He would help her through university, she would dedicate her career to helping other vulnerable children. What a blessing she is!

Teresa Boyani, ROCK’s director, has been tasked by the Children’s Department to inform people about the foster care system and seek out families for the rest of the children. She has gone to local churches and found 12 families who are ready and willing to go through the training to receive our precious children. Some of these families are from among our own staff members! Praise the Lord!!

Through Malava Christian Academy we have the amazing opportunity of changing the lives of 148+ students (sixth grade being added January 2026), and their families. We continue to raise funds for the school because we want to offer this Christian education to EVERY child in the community regardless of tribe or socioeconomic status. Our prayer is that over time our projects (cows, chickens, bakery, farm…) will be able to provide enough financial support to sustain the monthly budget of the school and child sponsorship programs. We will also be developing a strategic Family Strengthening Program that will utilize these projects as educational tools. The dream would be to offer parenting, marriage, and small business classes in the future as well.

Kyon and I are inviting you to remain on this great adventure of faith with us and share this opportunity with others! Our monthly budget requires about $10,000 to meet expenses including staff salaries, and we are about half-way there thanks to many of you! Also, we desperately need a school building and have $21,000 towards the $110,000 needed to build. Will you help us get all the way to these financial goals by praying, giving, and sharing our story with others? We are so grateful for each of you!

Grace and peace, Kyon and Cindy

(Teresa Boyani, the director of ROCK Ministries and the one on the ground at Malava, is graciously helping to write the monthly newsletters. Any comments of mine will be italicized.) Thank God it's been a month since schools opened and all our children have settled back well. Very soon, on October 22^nd, the learners will be going on a long holiday until January 2026 when schools reopen. This is the shortest but busiest term, especially considering that final exams for candidates at different levels will be undertaken in November.

So grateful to God for yet another opportunity to be in training on the alternative child-care options since we are looking forward to phasing out children's institutions in six years' time. (Last week Teresa met with two other Charitable Children Institutes, the Children’s Department, and various government entities to discuss the upcoming foster care system the Kenyan government wants to implement.) Trusting God to roll out programs that will care for the children as they stay within families, and to develop an approach that is embracing the family as a unit to improve on the optimum care of the child. For now, we are expected to do a community sensitization concerning foster care and parenting which will be followed by recruitment of prospective foster parents for training. (Teresa will be reaching out to various churches. Please pray that Christian families will see the opportunity that lies before them. It seems that the cost of placing these children, and of providing a stipend to the families, will come through these ministries such as ours.) Thank you for partnering with us to ensure that the children are supported and nurtured in the right way that will benefit them in the future.

Currently preparing for our annual graduation ceremony for the Kindergarten class who will be joining Grade one in January. The children are very excited and looking forward to the transition. We thank God for all the teachers and other staff who are working as a team to ensure the success of the day and, at the same time, praying for God's favor and blessings. We are hopeful and trusting God that we will be able to accommodate another new class (Grade 6) next year, committing all our plans to God whom we believe is faithful to establish the plans for the sake of His name and for His glory. (Currently $21,000 of the $110,000 needed for the new classrooms has come in. Thank you so much! Please pray with us for the remainder of these funds and share about this need with friends and family. Here is the specific link for the School Building Project: www.newhorizonsfoundation.com/project/single-project/2713/. All donations for both the general needs and the school building can also be given through www.rockministriesinternational.com.

"For I know the plans I have for you.... plans to give you a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).” Keep trusting and waiting, hold onto faith, and know that the Lord is able. Shalom. Teresa (and Cindy)

Teresa just informed me that on August 12^th the loving staff at ROCK Ministries welcomed Jayden Lewis into the home. He is four years old and was brought to the children’s home by the Children’s Department as his mom was caught stealing and taken to jail. Please pray for his quick adjustment and for his heart. Also pray for his mother the she would come to know the love of Jesus.

It’s our harvest time here and this brings to my mind the Bible verse, "The harvest is plenty but the laborers are few (Matt.9:35-38).” We thank God the teachers joined in the harvesting, and this made the work load lighter. The maize is already shelled, but we have to dry it for a few days before storing it. This year we harvested 24 sacks of maize which is up from last year’s 16 sacks and eight sacks the year before that!! We praise God for the steady improvement of the soil in large part due to the blessing of the cow manure. (Last summer a donation was made for cows and a stable. Teresa was able to purchase three cows, two of which have already given birth to healthy calves - one male and one female! The males will be sold and the females kept until ROCK Ministries has eight milking cows. Only two are needed to provide milk for the children’s home and school, so the ministry will be able to sell the rest to bless the community and bring in income. This is our first project towards financial independence for the ministry!)

Looking forward to the final term in the year, all schools reopening on the 25th this August after a month break. A good number of our children in the home are quite excited as this is the term that determines their next level. We have candidates at different levels: those in their final year in high school (Cynthia, Gideon, and Samuel), some joining senior school next year (Glorious and Jonathan), and some moving up into junior school (Violet and Joseph). Uphold them in prayer as they look forward to these exams in the month of October and November. (Grades 1-6 primary school, 7-9 junior school, 10-12 senior school. This is a new school system for Kenya!)

Malava Christian Academy will be resuming on the August 25^th and closing on October 22^nd with a graduation ceremony for the preschool final class expected to join Grade 1 next year. (When the new school year begins in January of 2026, Malava Christian Academy will be adding Grade 6, thus the urgent need for the school building. Funds have been raised this summer bringing us to $30,000 of the $100,000 needed. We are so grateful! Please let friends and family know of this amazing opportunity to help build a school in Kenya whose mission is to train children in the wisdom and knowledge of the Lord! Please consider sharing this link or enclosed postcard with friends and family!) www.newhorizonsfoundation.com/project/single-project/2713/

Thanking God for the staff that are there to ensure the smooth running of all planned activities in the school and the home. May God continue to bless them abundantly. Requesting prayers for all the staff, especially two who lost their mothers recently (Anne Keseli and Beatrice Ambuso). Also, prayer for continued healing for Ephraim’s son, Sifa, who recently had minor surgery to remove a small growth in his nose that was causing challenges to his breathing. (Anne teaches the baby class, Beatrice cleans the classrooms, and Ephraim is the bookkeeper for the ministry.)

The fence installation surrounding all ten acres of the property is in its final stages so now everyone entering or exiting the premises will have to go through the guarded gate. Your contributions have made this possible! Also, the multi-purpose hall is currently being painted for the first time since its original paint job when it was built over 15 years ago. Thanking all of you for your prayers and every kind of support invested in ROCK! May God continue to bless you and use you in a very special way to reach children and families with Christ's love and win souls for Christ. “Except the Lord build the house and watch over the city, the builders and watchmen watch in vain (Psalm 127:1).” Thanking God for all he has done, is doing, and has yet to do in ROCK and through ROCK.

Yes! Kyon and I are so grateful for each one of you! Several anonymous donations have come in this summer. We thank you for your generosity which has allowed us to reach the $30,000. Others of you have taken on the challenge of sponsorship for the $100/month along with the opportunity to communicate with an individual child and develop a relationship. Thank you! Still others of you have prayed and your faith in our generous God has made all this possible! We are so touched by the $10 gift and the $10,000 because every gift we receive is a generous, sacrificial gift that requires a deep trust in our Almighty God. Together we are maturing, growing, and being used for His Kingdom to change lives for His glory! Our need for regular monthly support is an opportunity to team with us in prayer and finances. Over time as we add other projects, like chickens and a bakery, we will see the monthly financial need diminish; but until then we are so very grateful for our amazing donors and excited to have new ones join this ROCK family. Please contact us if you would like to hear more about sponsoring a child or staff member, or go to www.rockministriesinternational.com to donate.

Dear Friends, Partners, and ROCK Ministries Family!

As ROCK Ministries continues forward with the vision of becoming “a source of hope, healing, and restoration for families through the knowledge of Christ’s deep love and the empowerment of education”, let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the “author and perfecter” of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Thank you for joining us on this faith adventure! God has provided such wonderful, God-fearing staff for Malava Christian Academy. This was a big concern when Teresa presented the idea five years ago of expanding the school one grade at a time. How can we find people with a missional heart? Through a combination of good networking, a positive reputation in the community, and a good interviewing process guided by the Holy Spirit, God has brought us amazing teachers! Teresa got the school connected with ACSI, Association of Christian Schools International, and this organization has provided training and accountability to a high standard of excellence that glorifies God. The teachers and staff are meeting on Wednesday afternoons for Bible study and joining together once a month on Sundays with their families to worship together with the ROCK Ministries children. They are becoming a dynamic team to which a 6th grade teacher will be added for the 2026 school year. If you
would like to sponsor one of the 23 staff for $220/month (or any monthly donation is a blessing), we have made up a prayer card for each staff member and would love to mail one to you! Set up your monthly donations up on the donation page of this website!

Speaking of 6th grade, we are out of room in the multi-purpose hall if we are to maintain space for its intended purpose as an assembly hall. It is now time for building the five-room structure to accommodate four classrooms and a staff lounge. $110,000 is needed by November so the structure can be completed for the start of the school year in January. You will find more information regarding the building project, and the ability to donate, at this link: www.newhorizonsfoundation.com/project/single-project/2713/. Just recently, Malava Christian Academy hosted a Children’s Rally for eight other schools in the area packing out the multi-purpose hall. 404 children were ministered to during a time of sharing the Gospel, praise and worship, small groups, sports, and snacks!

We are also very excited about starting back up the child sponsorship program, and we’ve made a prayer card for each one of the 16 children still under the care of ROCK Ministries. These children range in age from Levine, seven-years-old, to Moses, 24-years-old. $100/month covers every need including food, clothing, medical care, and tuition. The young adults are helped through trade school or university. We have enclosed a list of all the children under ROCK’s guardianship. Please pray about the possibility of sponsoring, praying for, and corresponding with a child or young adult. Please contact me through this website if God is calling you to this or if you have questions! Thank you so much!

Gratefully, Cindy

Dear Friends and Partners in Ministry,

How thankful we are for each of you and your partnership in this ministry through prayer and sacrificial giving! God continues to provide just what we need in His amazing timing. The first stanza of a hymn that has become my daily prayer says, “Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.” How we praise God for this amazing privilege of serving with you and growing together in our faith!

I recently turned 59 years old, the age Elaine was when she sold everything and left for Kenya with all her earthly possessions in two suitcases. Kyon and I are carrying on Mom’s calling to care for the orphan, widow, and broken-hearted by supporting the team on location in Malava, Kenya, through sharing the story of ROCK Ministries and inviting others to join us in this faith adventure. Teresa Boyani, leading the way as director, and our 23 staff members, are the hands and feet caring for the 16 orphans in the children’s home, the five young adults in trade schools, the 148 students at Malava Christian Academy, the 20 plus children from the community supported by the paying of their school fees, and countless families impacted. All of this is accomplished with a budget of $10,600/month. Because of your generosity and faith, we have met about 50% of this budget goal. Thank you so much!! Please help us share this opportunity with others by giving out this link to your friends and family: www.rockministriesinternational.com. We are also raising $110,000 for the school building which is needed by January 2026 to accommodate the addition of Class 6. This link shares about the need for a dedicated school building: www.newhorizonsfoundation.com/project/single-project/2713/. We have raised $4200 so far.

On May 8^th six of us will be flying from Alaska to Kenya to spend about two weeks at Malava. Beth Demick, Julianna Elam, Michael Sliwa, and Josh Hughes have been attending a young adult Bible study that we host in our home. Kyon and I are so excited to have these four join us on this trip!! We have prepared testimonies, devotionals, teachings, and worship to share during chapels, assemblies, evening devotional times in the dorms, and on Sunday mornings. Sports equipment, including soccer balls, has been purchased to use during recesses and physical education classes. A few of us will be assisting in the classrooms. All of us will be taking pictures, conducting interviews, and finding ways to share the beautiful stories of the staff and children!  Please join us in praying that there will be unity, that the love of Jesus will shine, that the joy of the Lord will be our strength, and that we will be a blessing. Our church here in Alaska, Church on the Rock, is donating the funds to purchase 50 Bibles for Malava Christian Academy. For local friends, mark your calendars for June 27^th at Band of Brothers, 6-9pm, to hear the stories gathered!

We have begun to create prayer cards for all the staff of ROCK Ministries International and for the children residing in the home. The staff were asked to give their job description, say what they enjoyed about the ministry, list the members of their family, and give their favorite Bible verse. Josephat George, overseeing animal husbandry, stated, “Working in a Christian ministry is a great privilege, as it allows me to: Be part of a supportive culture where people genuinely care for one another. Serve alongside team members who share faith-based values and moral principles. Know that my work aligns with my faith and serves a greater purpose. Experience a work environment that fosters trust, accountability, and encouragement. Receive spiritual support through prayer, counseling, and guidance during personal challenges.” So grateful to see what the Lord is doing not only in the lives of the children but in the lives of our staff as well!!

Thank you, dear friends! We are so grateful for your love, support, and prayers! Grace and peace, Kyon and Cindy