End-of-Year 2023 Newsletter

Dear Friends and Partners in Ministry,

On behalf of the children, staff, and board members of ROCK Ministries International, Kyon and I would like to say THANK YOU for your intercession through prayer and your sacrificial giving throughout 2023. It has been a miraculous walk of faith this year for all of us, but God has again revealed His compassion, kindness and love. We would like you to hear from our director, Teresa Boyani, who selflessly leads the ministry and guides the staff on the ground there at the children’s home and school in Malava, Kenya.

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In the year 2023 we thank God for His faithfulness because, indeed, we have experienced His love and mercies and therefore can identify with the hymn, “great is thy faithfulness, morning by morning new mercies I see, all that I have needed thy hand has provided, great is thy faithfulness…”

We thank God in the year 2023 ROCK Ministries was able to support 26 children in education at different levels, four in college (inclusive of fees, accommodation, and upkeep), seven in high school (all in boarding schools; provided supplies, fees, pocket money, and transport), 12 at primary level (seven of them in the home and five in the community staying with their parents/ guardian). Then we have four at preschool level (two in the home and two staying with their grandmother because the parents died). All the children in primary and preschool we provide all the school supplies needed, uniforms and pay their full amount of school fees.

In the children home we took care of 16 children, providing them with shelter, food, medical, education, spiritual nourishment, and guidance. This number is already included in the above paragraph because besides being in the home we support them in education. In the home the kids have daily evening devotions where there is a session of praise and worship, sharing of the word of God and prayer. Then we have Sunday services held in the multipurpose hall, some Sundays we have our staff ministering and other Sundays we invite ministers from outside.

In the school (Malava Christian Academy), we enroll children from the community around. We have a total of 115 children in the school from the preschool level to Grade Three. As we purposed to grow a class per year, in 2024 we will be launching the Grade Four level and this means the population in the school is growing every year. The children in the school have daily devotions in the morning with their teachers and Wednesday lunchtime devotions with all the staff. The pupils in school pay for their stationery and supplies and Rock Ministries supports in ensuring their teachers receive their dues monthly.

In the year 2023 Rock Ministries has provided employment to 21 employees who have been able to support their families and develop themselves because of the opportunities they have at ROCK. We had a staff retreat for the first time this year where we had the staff and board members have some team building and capacity building activities besides fun and having a meal together away from the work place. Looking forward to having the same every year.

On the other hand, as an institution ROCK extended its boundaries by acquiring an additional 1.5 acres of land which we believe will be of much importance as we continue to grow and develop the school and the different projects that are already being discussed: dairy farming, poultry keeping and pigs project. Fencing around the entire property with concrete posts, barbed wire and chain link has been done except for one side which will be completed in the coming year. Renovation on the current mud hut classrooms and houses is currently being done since the children are on holiday. Ensuring there is furniture and fittings ready for the Grade Four class before the year 2024 academic calendar, which starts on the 8th of January 2024.

Touching and impacting the lives of children with God’s love is our mission and a joy, thanking God for all who have supported us to be able to count these mile stones and even more that words cannot express. When we see the children being able to accomplish and achieve what they have this year because of the opportunity that was availed to them, our hearts are filled with joy and our prayer is that these children will be able to see and recognize God working in their lives as He says, “For I know the thoughts I have for you…” We are just His vessels. May God continue to use us to fulfill His purpose and will.
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Together we rejoice, “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE!” (Is. 9:6)

Grace and peace, Kyon and Cindy