Othoro Rescue Kisumu Kenya

Othoro Rescue Center for Boys

Pictured above are the boys at the Othoro Rescue Center. Currently, there are about 58 boys housed here. The center has broken new ground to expand so that 100 boys can be housed at the center. Roger Weinlaeder speaks about the LCMS and ELCK partnership in Project 24 and 1001 Orphans.

The Othoro Center along with Udom Rescue Center are two of the model centers for orphanages in the ELCK. The Othoro Center was constructed as a partnership between LCMS World Relief and Human Care and Project 24 in 2006.

The Othoro Center was dedicated by Rev. Matthew C. Harrison in 2006, when he served as the Executive Director of LCMS World Relief and Human Care. 

As with most of the ELCK's orphan centers, there is a congregation located on site. Archbishop Obare many years ago served at the Othoro parish.

The 1001 Orphan Program is more than "human care." The orphan program run by the ELCK cares for the entire person, body and soul.

The children compete in Bible clubs to creatively learn the Catechism. The video below is a short excerpt demonstrating how the children learn the catechism.

We heard several groups of children recite the catechism in creative ways. It was amazing to see the children compete with one another over the catechism.

Boys playing the drums at the Othoro Congregation

Leaving the Othoro Rescue Center

I had hoped to post more but am currently in Amsterdam and need to run to catch my flight... more later...

Udom Rescue Center Part 2 and Lake Victoria

The children at the Udom Chepareria Rescue Center gave us a warm greeting of song when we arrived after a 2 1/2 hour drive from Eldoret. The Udom Rescue Center is in the territory of the Pokot Tribe. In Kenya, Christianity among the tribes has expressed itself primarily as Anglicanism or Roman Catholicism. In the Pokot Tribe, the majority of the Christians are Lutheran. In fact, the Anglicans and the Roman Catholics look to the Lutherans for social care, etc. Bishop William Lopeta oversees the pastors in the North West Diocese.

The singing went on for almost an hour. The children then began to sing, "I Love You Jesus."

The view from the Udom Rescue Center is gorgeous.

Here is a view of the new dinning hall.

After visiting the Udom Rescue Center, we drove for 6 hours to Kisumu. Today, we will visit sites around Kisumu including the first rescue center the LCMS assisted the ELCK in Othoro, named after Matthew Harrison. Last night, we checked into a hotel, the Sunset Hotel, on Lake Victoria. Below was the view from my window this morning.

I had hoped to share more photos today, but even with the hotel internet, the uploading of the two short video clips took well over an hour. Time to hit the road in the environs of Kisumu.

1001 Orphan and Project 24 Update

In this video, Pastor David Chuchu of the ELCK provides an update to the 1001 Orphan Project.

In the next video, Rev. Bernie Seter, chairman of the Board for International Mission, provides an update on Project 24.

Click here for more information on 1001 Orphans

To Donate to 1001 Orphans click here

More information on Project 24 can be found here

Udom Center Kenya -- LCMS Work of Mercy and Mission Continues

Dedication of the Udom Orphan Center in Kenya for 1001 Orphans

Imagine my surprise when I saw the picture above come into my email box from Kenya. Originally, I was scheduled to travel to Kenya in April 2010 to dedicate the Udom Orphan Center. However, I was unable to make the trip due to the volcano in Iceland. Although I did not have the opportunity to "open" the orphan center as the plaque indicates, I did have the privilege of working on the 1001 Orphans Project  along with many dedicated staff and caring church members throughout the LCMS during my time with LCMS WR-HC. These sorts of projects are "compeled by the love of Christ" toward our neighbor; they are also something as a church we can be proud to be a part of. In light of the restructuring of the LCMS at the 64th regular convention some people have wondered what becomes of these works of mercy, projects like 1001 Orphans, and the church's work of mission to the world? The short and simple answer, "The Work Continues!"

President-elect Matthew Harrison at the convention said, "Our vision for being merciful and being Lutheran will continue and even expand." The Reporter Online, notes how the work of both mercy and mission will continue in the midst of restructuring. The restructuring changes not the work of the church but simply how that work is carried out, primarily at the International Center. 

How many times has the Coca-Cola company restructured? (The Coca-Cola company was founded in 1886, only 40 some years younger than the LCMS.) You probably do not know (I don't). Do you care? No. Why? Because even when the Coca-Cola company restructured, you still could buy Coke at the grocery store. The internal restructuring of the company did not affect the delivery of the product. 

LCMS Restructuring is NOT Coke II

(A side note: in 1985 Coca-Cola introduced "New Coke" or "Coke II" -- a product of surveys and market research. In terms of the church, such a "new" product would be the equivalent to heresy or a different message than Christ Crucified. Coca-Cola had to repent of its sin and re-introduce "Coke Classic." Fortunately for the LCMS, the Synodical restructuring voted on in the 64th Regular Convention is NOT Coke II; it is not the changing of the "product." The proclamation of Christ Crucified and works of mercy continues.)

Be assured the LCMS' work of Mission, Mercy, and Life-Together continues. Stay tuned: the future is bright and the times are exciting.

Vine and Branches 2010 then Kenya

I'm off to the Vine and Branches Conference. More can be found out here. After Vine and Branches is over, I fly to Nairobi, Kenya. Will have an opportunity to visit with Bishop Obare and to see LCMS World Relief and Human Care's 1001 Orphans Project. Will try to blog as able from Kenya.

Bishop Walter Obare and abc3+ in South Africa August 2009

1001 Orphans Kenya and More

Children at Kisumu

One of the privileges I've had since working at LCMS World Relief and Human Care was to visit Kenya on a few occasions and to see the work of the Missouri Synod's partner church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya (ELCK). Walter Obare is the bishop of the ELCK. Way back when I was a student at Concordia Seminary Saint Louis, Walter Obare was on campus doing some study and working in the mail room. Remembering back to those days, I remember a fellow student coming up to me and saying, "Dude, you have got to meet this guy. He's a bishop of an African church working on our mail room." Little did I know years later I would have the opportunity to visit Kenya and see Bishop Obare's church. Come to think of it... how humble for a bishop to be working in the mail room.

Bishop Obare and Collver in South Africa, August 2009

One of the projects that we have been able to do in South Africa in partnership with the Lutheran Church in Kenya is 1001 Orphans. Now orphan support for the church is nothing new. In Kenya, there are a large number of children in need due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Ordinarily in Kenyan society, family members would take care of the children of their relatives who are in need, and this is still typically what occurs. However, there are instances where several brothers or sisters died of HIV/AIDS leaving no relatives left to take care of the children. The Lutheran church in Kenya has identified this as a need.

The actual name "1001 Orphans" came from working with another partner and RSO of LCMS WR-HC, Concordia Lutheran Ministries (CLM). Keith Frndak had the idea that 1000 children would be identified who could be "sponsored" by people in the United States. The "Thousand and One" indicates that there always is one more child in need of assistance. The idea was that after 1000 children were sponsored, another 1000 would be identified and the program could continue.

Jamison Hardy, Keith Frndak, Collver at CLM

From the LCMS Website:

1001 Orphans is a new opportunity to reach out with Christ’s love to orphans and disadvantaged children. The goal: to reach 1,000 children, "plus one lost sheep" – a reminder that there is always one more child who needs care, that the church’s work is never done.

In its first phase, there is a special emphasis on orphans and disadvantaged children living in Kenya. We hope the Kenya program is so successful, 1001 Orphans can expand into other regions of the world.

In Kenya, one of the main people administering 1001 Orphans is Pastor David Chuchu. He is the counterpart for Rev. Matthew Harrison for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya. He does the "mercy" projects there.

Listen to my radio interview on KFUO AM from July 1, 2009 on 1001 Orphans.

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There is much more information about 1001 Orphans on the LCMS WR-HC page and in the November 2009 Lutheran Witness.

I'm off to Pittsburgh today to meet with CLM.

Kibera Slums