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Farewell Kenya, …God be with you ‘til we meet again. Tonight we bid good bye to our dear Kenyan partner and friend, Everlyne. Amidst our eagerness to return to our families, there were tears but also gratefulness for this beautiful woman who daily works so diligently serving with love and dedication caring for the widowed women and children that Voice of Hope supports. Everlyne is joined in this task by Aggrey in the Kakamega area and Cathy in the village of Yogo. Aggrey and Cathy also bring so much to the care program as they live and know their perspective communities. They all serve with the needed understanding of their people and culture. Their respect and sincere love for each and every precious individual is such a blessing. Since its beginnings, Voice of Hope has focused on strong relationships and sharing the beautiful truths of God’s Word as we befriend and serve. The Lord has provided these godly partners to carry out this mandate each and every day. In a few hours we will board our plane and head to our homes. We thank the Lord who has protected, guided and cared for us all every step of the way. “And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:17

by Elyce Galmut It feels like we just landed but our time here is already coming to an end. As we contemplate the past two weeks we are overwhelmed by how many beautiful people we have met and the connections that have grown over the years of coming here. One woman described the fear she first felt when meeting Voice of Hope for the first time. That fear has been replaced by warm hugs and the sharing of stories, she is now comfortable enough to welcome us into her home. Today we visited Shiprah Children's home. We were brought to tears when the children sang a beautiful song about being welcomed into the family of God. We enjoyed hearing them individually recite memory verses and continue to be impressed with their English skills and Bible knowledge. It was a joy to have the opportunity to bring KFC to supplement their lunch! As we prepare our hearts for leaving this place we have been blessed with the opportunity to see God's beautiful creation through a safari, we've seen so much already but we're all hoping for a glimpse of cheetah cubs in the morning! Mungu akubariki (God bless you), Elyce

by Janet Les Greetings from Siaya, Kenya!  We joined in a lively worship service this morning and later had a blessed time of praise and thanksgiving at Monica's home. Monica is not literate but knows God's Word well. Psalm 91 is especially precious to her. Monica has suffered much rejection in her life but her words and life continually praise God for His goodness. We were all touched by her humble and generous spirit. We also visited three widows in their homes in Siaya, sharing scripture and singing together.  A lovely drive to the Seje community water project and school took us past the Equator, which makes for a nice photo op.  Rain threatened much of the day but we never got wet and enjoyed beautiful cloudy skies and a rainbow.  God's grace and promises are so amazing! One of our great friends and blessings in Kenya is our driver Tom. He drives us to numerous locations each day without ever getting lost on identified trails and roads. Then he waits patiently with the van, keeping it clean and safe until we return.  Putting up with our antics and teasing is part of the job description. Tom has even learned to like Dutch licorice candy!  We thank God for this kind godly man. And so ends a wonderful Lord's Day in Kenya as our friends and family start their Sunday in Canada. May it be a blessed day for you too!

by Nicole Van Ee As we are now at a new location, we have to rely on our alarm clocks to wake us. The rooster alarm had been ousted! Today was a ‘repeat’ of our first Saturday in Kenya! We met at the Yogo Church, and welcomed 25 widows!  The joy and gratitude just pours out of their hearts as they share the testimonies of God’s graciousness to them. Once again, I learned some new tips for my garden for next summer. Sprinkling ash on the corn stalks to kill the army worm! It was interesting to hear the collective knowledge of how to care for their shambas. It was encouraging to see the ladies sign up for the Adult Education classes. After a tasty snack of freshly made samosas, each of the ladies received a new pair of Crocs . Next we went on more widow visits. It has really been a blessing to us to hear the stories of God’s providence and provision for their lives. A sweet 87 year old lady we visited had so much joy. She was joking around about her food, and we all had some good laughs. One young widow, only 28 years old, really touched our hearts. It’s is a cultural practice that once you are married, you go and live on the same yard as your husband’s family.  The land is divided between all the sons. So Elizabeth had a piece of land and once her husband passed away, the brother in law bought it, and literally knocked down her house, plowed over it, and  sent her away with her children. She returned to her ‘home’ town in the midst of adversity and shaming and mocking from the family. She lived in the market, but was able to slowly make enough money to build a little one room house for herself and her children. We saw a lot of termite hills, and the team all thought of the verse from Proverbs on the ant. Our widow ladies must be learning their lessons in life from the ant. They have worked so hard to provide for their families. The Voice of Hope has truly brought them hope that only can come from God. We are so thankful to be used by God in this way. Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6:6-8

by Lydia Langbroek Today was our first full day at our new location, Siaya. It was a busy day, but fun. Our day started with a lovely buffet at our hotel and then off to a tour of the new Siaya Boarding High School, built to accommodate 144 students, split between boys and girls. It’s a massive, extremely well built school and it was exciting to see the progress being made. After the school tour we went on to the Yogo school where we taught teen age girls and boys health and hygiene. Even though school was out they were able to get together 50 girls & 40 boys. A snack of mandazis (like a cake donut) and sodas was a hit with all the students after the presentation. Leaving the school we went off to visit 5 of our widows. What a blessing these visits were, listening to the widows share their stories of when God helped them in their lives. Our day ended with cake and coffee to celebrate Catherine’s birthday (our Siaya field partner).

by Lisa Holland Waking up on this side of the world this morning, I was greeted with the sounds of our rooster- who I am sure has no idea when he is to start his crowing. Morning, Day time, Evening- he has no preference. We were blessed with another wonderful breakfast by Julia and Maggie. I am convinced they think we don’t eat enough. We started out by visiting our widow Jennifer Akeweyu whose young 21 yr old son Brian, experienced a life changing accident, when the mine shaft he was in (8 feet deep) collapsed on him, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down . VOH has come alongside Brian & his family to help them all adjust to their new normal. Life is very hard and difficult here for an able bodied person, but much more challenging for a disabled young man just starting out on his life journey. The pathway to their home is a long narrow slippery steep path. Getting to and from the home is difficult for an able bodied person. As we entered the home we found Brian sitting in a chair with his Bible open.We spent time in worship and prayer with the family trying our best to encourage them in this difficult situation.We covet your prayers for Brian and the life he will have going forward. We pray he will find peace, comfort and a purpose going forward. With God all things are possible! As our journey continued we visited 4 other widows, encouraged by the families whose children continue to help them in their shambas, or with chores around the home when needed .We came home - treated to an unbelievable lunch. We then proceeded to pack up all the Christmas gifts bags for our widows/families. I am sure there will be many delightful surprises on Christmas Day. We left for Siaya (our 2nd leg of our journey) We were hoping to tour the new High School in Siaya. Such a wonderful opportunity for the children of this community to move from Yogo Elementary to a brand new High School with a state of the art facility, curriculum for learning & equipment to prepare them for their futures. God is so good!! As we have learnt many times on this trip- we do what we can. Plans and circumstances change - we adjust and enjoy the moments we have. No moment is wasted - our days are full. We are at our “home” in Siaya, and will be here until Monday 6th.Our remaining days are planned from morning till dark.The good Lord has seen fit to keep us all healthy, and safe - we thank him daily for the travel mercies and blessings he has given us.I pray this finds you all well and enjoying our trip with us, through our blog. You - our supporters and prayer warriors - are all a part of this team - we ask Gods Blessings and protection over you and your families. Mungo akubariki (“God Bless You”) Love in Him, Lisa

by Idelette Sommer Today was another eventful day filled with many experiences and blessings. Our day began with mudding Joyce's outside kitchen. Mudding protects the building from the elements. This is very hard work that begins with women fetching water and strong men mixing water and dirt. The mud is then slathered on the outside walls. It was such a blessing to see neighboring ladies join us in work and together we sang praises to God. After a quick cleanup we went grocery shopping in Kakamega. We took our groceries to the widow's houses where they taught us how to cook chapati, green grams and vegetables. These ladies can cook the most delicious food on an open fire! We enjoyed a lovely supper with the ladies and a wonderful time of fellowship and sharing testimonies of how God is good and praising His glory. One of my many favorite experiences so far are the kids. They follow us everywhere we go. They play and giggle just as every child at home. They have the sweetest voices when they sing "I will make you fisher's of men."

by Mary Anne Westeringh Voice of Hope team 2023 had another eventful and impactful day. Today I’d like to share a few short stories about the beautiful people we have the privilege to know. Loice: Loice is an 86 year old ‘koko’ (grandma) in one of the nearby villages we visit. Her endearing wrinkled and aged face breaks into a huge smile when she sees the team come to visit. Bent almost double, Loice insists on walking independently to join our little circle for a time of singing, prayer and sharing bible texts.  The little group of homes here house her sons, daughter in laws and grandchildren. It is a joy to meet this godly family who love and care for one another. Sadly we often find elder widowed grandmas left alone with the burden of raising grandkids.  When we leave this home, we cannot help but wonder if our dear Loice will still be with us when we return in a year. Rhoda and Yvonne: Young Yvonne hardly looks older than 8 years, but is actually 20! It is incredible and miraculous that Yvonne has reached her second decade. Yvonne was born healthy and strong. Sadly she was smitten by a serious case of malaria. She suffered life threatening complications of a brain infection. She had a stroke and was left very disabled. Her young mom, being overwhelmed, left her daughter Yvonne at Grandma Rhoda’s. As Rhoda ages, she struggles to change Yvonnes diapers, feed her and transfer her from bed to stroller. Rhoda welcomes some new bedding and pretty quilts made with love by another grandma in Chilliwack. Rhoda was shining with joy as we spent time together hearing about her joys and challenges and showering Yvonne with some beautiful but practical gifts. Brian Twenty-one year old Brian faces a prognosis and diagnosis that is shattering. Brian was trying to find a way of gaining income and entered a mining cave that proved to be dangerous and life changing. Eight feet of earth collapsed on him and his spinal cord was seriously injured. Brian’s mom, Jennifer, is one of the Voice of Hope widows. She struggles to feed her family and there is no emergency fund for such a time as this. To say she felt overwhelmed and afraid, would understate how she was feeling. The hospital bills were mounting by the day after a big surgical procedure to stabilize his spine. Her community has assisted in the best way they can. After careful consideration Voice of Hope has assisted Brian and his family with the hospital fees. Today he was brought home to a very joyful family and community. As he arrived home, the family and neighbors thanked the Lord in prayer and joyous song. Will you join us in praying for these precious souls?

by Janet Les Greetings from Kakamega!  School summer break started today for most students.  Grades 6, 8 and 12 are doing exams this week and we have had many requests for prayer for these students. A local branch of "Young Life" hosted our team for presentations this morning.  Chairs were delivered by a boda boda - the motorcycle taxi being the most common transportation here.  We met separately with teenage boys and girls at a local high school for presentations and interactive activities on health and hygiene.  Each participant received a personal gift of practical hygiene items. This afternoon we visited widows in their homes, dividing into two groups for some. Each shares unique concerns as well as praise for God's providence in her life. One mother was attending a seminar at her church so we had a lovely visit with her 17-year-old daughter who was busy doing the family laundry. One of the widows has an "artisanal gold mine" on her property. Gladys sometimes works at this operation which is largely unregulated and doesn't seem safe to us. A resourceful lady, she also sells grocery items to the workers from a kiosk near her home. This evening, we plan to organize the goods we brought and have in storage here to put together Christmas gifts for each family.  School supplies for the January start to the new school year will be included. We thank you for your prayers, support, and following along with our ministry in Kenya.

by Deb Bos Our Sunday started bright and early. We were up at 5:30am and ready to leave for church at 6:30am. What a wonderful experience that was!The singing is just amazing.  The pastor spoke on Nehemiah 1:4, and how Nehemiah had a burden for the people of Israel and took this burden to God. Nehemiah didn’t give up; he didn’t blame God but took his burdens to God. As Christians we must do the same: have burdens for others, especially other Christians, and take these to the Lord. After the service we were privileged to do some hygiene teaching with the women and Bible stories with the kids. We went to our home for a break and a delicious lunch, before visiting more of our beautiful widows. These sisters in Christ are an example of true joy and faith even in adversity. The brokenness and poverty because of sin in the world is obvious but it is beautiful to see and hear God working here. At each visit we have a small devotion, sing and pray together and leave the visit encouraging them that our sovereign God sees them and cares for them. Meanwhile, Mary Anne, Idelette, and Everlynne, went to a regional referral hospital to visit the 21 year old son of one of our widows who was involved in a mining accident. Please pray for Brian's recovery from a life-changing spinal cord injury. We ended our day worshiping together with one of the spiritual groups and it was wonderful. It is hard to describe with words. There we sat outside in Robai’s yard, sharing our testimonies, something our Kenyan friends do very well as we stumble through, reading scripture, singing and praying together. We are so thankful for each widow and how much they teach us, welcome us and love us. We look forward to heaven when we can praise and worship God and fellowship together with no translator. Our time together ended with singing this song. “You are so faithful, so faithful, so faithful. You are so faithful, so faithful, all the time. That’s why I praise you, in the morning; that’s why I praise you at the noontime; that’s why I praise you in the evening. That’s why I praise you all the time!”

written by Nicole Van Ee Here at the mission house in Kakamega, it sounds like morning ALL day! Roosters are constantly calling to each other. Good thing the roosters are so boisterous. I stumbled out of bed this morning and within 10 minutes I was joining the team to greet the widows who were EARLY. Now, if you know time in Africa, ‘on time’ is shocking! I think these dear ladies were excited to see their friends from Canada after a year. Today was a glimpse into what it may sound like in heaven. A large, colourful tent was set up, and we were blessed by the presence of about 50 ladies and a few of their children. The singing. Wow! One of the ladies, Grace, who is new to the program, led the whole group with her beautiful voice. The passion and praise to God was so uplifting. This Ladies Day was educational even for me! Gardening techniques were discussed, and the ladies brainstormed ideas how to produce a better crop the following year. To top it all off, a few of the team cooked Nasi for us all! What a treat. As much as I would like to share about each widow, a few of their stories stick out to me. Grace, our vocal lead, has a heartbreaking story. She has lost her home, her husband, and her son, and is now living in abject poverty. It is really a riches to rags story. Yet, through this all, in a group of ladies she had never met, she poured out her heart to God in worship. Tears streamed down her beautiful face as she led the group of widows in songs of praise. The devotional was on the book of Ruth with so many parallels to the lives of these dear widows in Kenya. Once the downpour of rain stopped, ladies started to trickle out towards their little mud houses. Our team had the privilege of visiting four of the homes this afternoon. Each visit had its ‘Rose and Thorn’ story, as Elyce aptly named. Pamela stood out to all of us today. Her gentle spirit and noticing others are definitely gifts from God. At the Women’s Day meeting, she was the first lady to notice Grace, our new widow friend. Pamela got up and welcomed Grace to come and sit with her and introduced her to ‘her’ group of friends. They all decided together to go visit Rose and share in her life and story. They have been on that difficult journey as well. During our visit with Pamela, she was chosen to be the test group for the crop rotation project VOH is hoping to implement. It is so encouraging to see her shine for Jesus. The last visit today touched all our emotional strings deeply. Brenda was a widow who passed away a year ago of complications from diabetes. She left behind four sons. Our hearts were so touched and encouraged by how her oldest son Peter, 19, has taken on the roles of mother and father to his younger brothers. Of course my tears flowed as I thought of my own boys.. my mother's heart was broken… yet so proud and thankful to see these boys trust in God. Please keep these boys in your prayers. There is SO MUCH MORE that I would love to share… but this post is getting a little long already. ❤️One of the verses that was on my heart to share in the visits was from Isaiah 41:10-13. God really is with these ladies. He will never leave nor forsake them. He is holding their hands through all the dark valleys they are experiencing. Thank you for joining us in prayer for these dear Kenyan sisters. With all my Love - Nicole

We've landed in Kenya. Only one more short flight remains between us and our destination. Thanks to our drivers Fran and Bert we arrived at the Seattle airport with plenty of time to spare! Although flying out of Seattle added time we did get to enjoy our last fall leaves for the year. En route we've had good conversation, some pretty good plane food, and a few naps... we won't rate the quality of the naps! We spent time wandering around the beautiful Istanbul airport and, of course, had to take a few group photos! It's been enjoyable having time to bond as a group. We landed in Nairobi praying for a smooth trip through customs and... We made it through without a hitch! Just showering and resting for a few hours before we continue this travel day. We will be reunited with Maryanne and Lisa soon! Written by Elyce