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Issue No. 14 - March 2015

Run for a Kenyan Shamrock Races - March 21, 2015

Joy Children’s Village in Kenya, a ministry of Tree of Lives, is a place where 43 of God’s most vulnerable children are, at last, safe from the evils of this world. Because God has bound our hearts to these 43, we go to visit them, we give on behalf of them, we pray for them, and we are better because of them.

It is in this spirit that the Run for a Kenyan race team was formed - to raise funds to support Joy Village by participating in the Shamrock Marathon 8k and one-miler on March 21st. As we go to print, about 100 adults and children have signed on to Run for a Kenyan. Each of them are recruiting sponsors to support this Kingdom cause and we have made a very nice dent in our goal of $25,000.

If you would like to help us reach that goal, you can make an online donation at treeoflives.org.

S t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e A f r i c a n F a m i l y A s To g e t h e r We F i g h t A i d s & P o v e r t y

And They Ran for Us!On a beautiful Saturday earlier in March, all 43 children at Joy Village ran a race to show their support for the children (and adults) here who are running on their behalf at the Run for a Kenyan Shamrock races March 21st.

Sporting lanyards with photos of our own FPC children as they ran, as well as Run for a Kenyan race shirts provided by a dear friend of Tree of Lives, they crossed the finish line with huge smiles. Each child received a medal for the great effort!

And then there was a party! Gospel music, lots of good food, dancing and playing for the rest of the day. Joy Village director Ruth Njoki reported back that this was one of the most meaningful days ever for the children and expressed her gratitude for Tree of Lives making it possible.

Thank you, Joy Village kiddos, for your support! We love you!

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S t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e A f r i c a n F a m i l y A s To g e t h e r We F i g h t A i d s & P o v e r t y

C lose Up and Pe rsona l A Beh ind-the-Scenes Look at Two of Our Young Runners

If you ever have the privilege of meeting Moses, you will never forget him. Confident and self-assured, he is a charismatic boy with a mind of his own. His outward demeanor of man about town is not far off the mark. At one time he was literally a little boy about town, abandoned by his mother and living alone on the streets. Rescued by God, Moses now calls Joy Village home.

It wasn’t the easiest of transitions for Moses, from the streets to the safety of a loving home. With no one to depend on but himself during those early years, submission to his new mom and teachers didn’t come easy. In fact, early on, Moses was known to run away from Joy Village from time to time.

Our favorite “Moses story” took place on a Friday afternoon. Knowing he was going to receive a potentially unpleasant lecture about his grades when he got home from school, Moses decided to avoid that distressing situation altogether. Instead he took off on foot for Nazareth Hospital, 45 minutes away by car. Later that evening, he appeared at the hospital with a request to “present a grievance” to Sister Clara, the hospital administrator and a great supporter of the Joy Village children. Ushered in to Sister’s office, Moses reminded her of her promise to provide a goat to the children at Joy Village. About bedtime, Moses arrived safely back at Joy Village, escorted by the hospital’s driver…and a goat. Even Sister can’t resist the charms of a boy like Moses.

It is our pleasure and privilege to Run for a Kenyan to support Moses and the other amazing children at Joy Village.

Moses Caleb, 11 years old Caroline Burton, 10 years old

Remember “Susie” in the old Verizon ads? Susie successfully develops her sidewalk lemonade stand into a full-blown business with the help of her dad’s smart phone.

Caroline Burton has a similar penchant for making things happen, but her philanthropic heart has lead her to help provide things like balls and jump ropes for the children at Joy Village versus a giant trampoline for the board room.

When Caroline learned, a few years ago, that the kids in Kenya made balls out of string and plastic from construction sites, God planted a seed of compassion for those less fortunate children in her young heart. About that time, Caroline’s school, St. Patrick Catholic School in Norfolk, was teaching their students the JOY principle – Jesus, Others and Yourself. And so began The Complete Joy Club at FPC.

Founded by Caroline, the Complete Joy Club is a place where the elementary children at our church come together to brainstorm ways they can enrich the lives of the children at Joy Village. The Club members have had school fundraisers, bake sales and this spring, they are planning a Junk for Joy yard sale.

Many of the Joy Club kids, including Caroline and her younger sister Sarah (shown in the photo with Caroline at the Tree of Lives kiosk), will be participating in the one-mile race at the Shamrock Marathon March 21st as part of the Run for a Kenyan team.

When told the story of Moses (see adjacent article) Caroline’s response? “Moses is so determined. I want to give not just 100% at the race; I want to give 110%. I am determined to run this race for Moses!”