Bemm Ministry Update

Thank You for Praying

Bad Bad Corn

Bad Bad Bad Corn

First I want to apologize for taking so long for an update.  We do appreciate everyone's prayers and concerns for our orphans here.  There are always so many things that are heavy on my heart.  It is difficult at times to put it all into a BLOG or words.  Just know that everyday we feel your prayers for our orphaned children here in Kenya.  

Thank you all for praying and giving to our severe food issue.  We have now planted cassava, sweet potatoes, and sorghum. In place of maize, due to the fungus that will last for about 3 years in the ground.  Please continue to pray for our orphans as they are still very low on food for everyday needs.  We are praying that the cassava will be enjoyed by the children.  They have never eaten it before and it is harder to cook than maize.  At this I say Ughhhhhhh... when you have 300 hungry children you wonder what the right thing to do is????  Yes the easy answer is FEED THEM. That is much easier said or written than done.  We all know that it takes, prayer, patience, and the right amount of resources to do what is needed.  We have spent much time in prayer asking the Lord for answers in how to care for these special children.  

All these children mean so much to our family, please pray for them as they have so many spiritual and emotional needs.  

Baby "T" 

Mom "M" and baby "T" 

These two special people are miracles from God!  Mom "M" is now 15 and has been an orphan since the age of 7.  Baby "T" is her third child. When her sister called me and said she was in labor, I was worried she had already had two cesarean sections and I was concerned there was a problem. As did the attending OB/GYN on call that night. Abby and I were able to throw on scrubs and quickly attend the emergency cesarean.  When the doctor made the first incision baby "T's" arm was already out of the uterus.  Her uterus was ruptured and usually here when that occurs, the baby usually dies before birth.  

The mother is also in grave danger.  We are just praising the Lord for His miracle in their lives. Mom "M" is also aware that God spared her for a reason.  Would you pray with us that "M" would accept Jesus as her Saviour.  Her faith has been very weak.  Would you also pray with us that we could find "M" and her two children a home with a small garden that she would be able to support herself.  

  Unfortunately "M" has never known stability in her life.  She was raped by a neighbor and beaten repeatedly during her first and second pregnancy.  We placed her in a different home during the third pregnancy to avoid the beatings.  Thankfully we convinced her that "the man" who she thought loved her was no good for her.  He is now in jail for attacking his father with a panga.  

We know many young orphans that feel LOVE from men, and end up pregnant and no place to live or no food to eat.  Kenya does not have a system in place to help those in need.  Pray that we would have wisdom and discernment on how to best assist those in need. 

We are grateful for all of you that pray for and support. If you would like to give to assist with the famine you may donate online by clicking on the link below
 The Tenwek Orphan Fund
or copying the following link into your browser

https://www.wgm.org/tenwekorphans

Please know that all donations made through the WGM website are completely secure.

If you would prefer to send a check, please make checks payable to World Gospel Mission and specify "Tenwek Orphanage Project" in the memo line. All checks may be sent to

World Gospel Mission
P.O. Box 948
Marion, IN
46952

Famine and Fungus......NO FOOD

PLEASE PRAY

C-holding needed maize

In the past few months maize (corn) in our area has been destroyed.

  There has been a fungus that has destroyed nearly all the crops in our area.  That has hurt our orphans food supply greatly. I am sending this blog to ask for your prayers and support for food.  The government won't give out free food until many people start to die from starvation......As crazy as that sounds it is a fact.  We have had many requests at our door for food in the last month.  We are currently working with the Church to assist people in need.  Unfortunately the Church has very little financial reserves to assist all that are in need.
Please Pray that we would have wisdom and discernment in distributing food.

If you would like to give to assist with the famine you may donate online by clicking on the link below

 The Tenwek Orphan Fund

or copying the following link into your browser 

https://www.wgm.org/tenwekorphans 

Please know that all donations made through the WGM website are completely secure. 

If you would prefer to send a check, please make checks payable to World Gospel Mission and specify "Tenwek Orphanage Project" in the memo line. All checks may be sent to 

World Gospel Mission

P.O. Box 948

Marion, IN 

46952

Simple Machines Can Make a Big Difference

Admiring the new sewing machine

We are grateful for those who have the orphans around Tenwek Hospital on their hearts.  We have been praying about purchasing each of the four homes a sewing machine for clothing repair.  Thanks to a donor, we purchased the first foot operated sewing machine.  This is a blessing for the children and matrons of the orphanage Umoja.  This will save us the cost of always having to take the children's clothing to a tailor to be repaired or purchase a new outfit for school.  

As you can see by the picture below, the children's clothing is in need of some repairs. We have a ministry here at Tenwek Hospital which teaches women how to sew.  That ministry is sharing their skills with the matron at Umoja Children's Home.  The matron will learn how to do simple repairs and eventually make the school uniforms for the children.  

Learning a new skill

Director of Umoja Children's Home takes a try!

We are still in need of 3 more sewing machines and tables for the other orphanages.  If you would like to donate for us to purchase them we know that the homes would be so blessed and grateful.
It is only $300 for each home to have one.  You can donate to the Orphan Project Account and all the donation goes to the purchase of the items.

We are also grateful for all the love and support for our family here in Kenya.  

Helping Orphans Celebrate Christmas

Christmas in Kenya is somewhat paradoxical for me every year. While our family is busy celebrating the Advent season with gingerbread houses, twinkle lights and Christmas cookies, we are also so acutely aware of the many children in our region who find themselves without basic necessities and, most heartbreaking, those without parents. 

Though I won't offer many updates about the Bemm family in this post, I will share with you a cause that has been on my heart this Christmas season as it is every year at this time. 

Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these. 

Matthew 19:14

Below are some of the ways that you may help us in assisting these orphans and needy families. 

$5 can purchase a bible

$10 will buy a pair of shoes

$50 will purchase a sack of maize to feed 30 children for a month

$100 will purchase a cow for a needy family

$200 will assist orphans to build a new home

$500 will assist an orphan to attend school for a year!

If you would like to give to any of these projects you may donate online by clicking on the link below

 The Tenwek Orphan Fund

or copying the following link into your browser 

https://www.wgm.org/tenwekorphans 

Please know that all donations made through the WGM website are completely secure. 

If you would prefer to send a check, please make checks payable to World Gospel Mission and specify "Tenwek Orphanage Project" in the memo line. All checks may be sent to 

World Gospel Mission

P.O. Box 948

Marion, IN 

46952

More than anything, please pray for the many whom we encounter daily. 

Please  pray that they would know the love God has for them.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 

1 John 4:10-11

Thank you for your support and prayers. 

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas 

and a Happy New Year,

Amy and the Bemm family

WE SERVE A GREAT GOD

These past few weeks have been some of the toughest for us in a while.  We need to remember to constantly look to Jesus for our strength.  We need to remember that WE DO SERVE A GREAT GOD.

This healthy baby boy was put into a plastic bag and thrown into the pit latrine by his mother and father. We praise God that a good samaritan was suspicious of the mother's actions and knocked down the walls of the building (they were wooden), and dove into the latrine to save this precious baby.  We are grateful that the baby has no residual health issues from his sad beginning.  We are currently working with the local police and court system for the fate of the parents.  We know that Jesus is the ultimate protector and we praise HIM for this sweet boy.

Chaplin Helen sharing the love of Christ with  F 

This desperate mother (F) came to Tenwek Hospital wanting to sell her baby girl.  After much discussion with this weeping mother we found out that she was being abused by her father and brother, both alcoholics.  She needed money to find a safe home.
We also found from the mother that she believes she is cursed by her dead ancestors.  This is a very real problem in the Kipsigis culture.  We have known many people who have taken their own lives because they feel haunted by these spirits.  We would ask that you please pray for this young lady that she would know the love of Christ fully in her life.  She is currently being held at the local police station until her court date.  We plan to follow up with her at the hospital with counseling as soon as the court decides how to proceed.

The kids: L to R: Ellie, Lydia holding baby M, Esther, David holding Shadrach, Hannah, and Abby

Little M

Baby M, was born at Tenwek Hospital to a young mother.  The family had planned since the fifth month of pregnancy to give this baby up for adoption.  Baby M stayed with our family a little over a week and she was a joy to all our hearts.  Please pray that a wonderful family who loves the Lord will adopt her into their home.  She is now at a safe baby home where she is doing great.  

We are so grateful to all of you that are praying and supporting our family here in Kenya as we journey to be the Hands and Feet of Christ as HE asks us to be.  

Orphan Update

Our Ellie on the left and C on the right

I wanted to give an update on all the children that we have had in our home recently.  They were certainly a blessing to all of us and we miss them.  Little C on the right is now staying with a good Kenyan family. She is well taken care of and is now gaining some weight and talking more.  Our little Ellie and she are about the same age and played well together.

C's mother is only 14 years old and has had a rough last few weeks. After she willingly gave up her two children, she went back to the home where she was raped. The father of the children threatened her to give him the money she earned from the sale of the children.  He thought she sold the children to the "white people".  He just recently was released from jail for beating up his own parents.  Two weeks after his release he attacked his father again with a panga (machete) to the face! He is back in jail again.  We have offered to assist the mother with training in sewing.  She has refused any help from us.  Please pray  that she would seek the Lord with all her heart. That she would accept assistance for her future.

Caretaker, Claire, Lydia holding baby K. Chep in front

Baby K and Chep both went to separate children's homes about three hours away from Tenwek.  Lydia and Claire took good care of K while he was in our home and they sure miss him.  He is thriving and growing.  We pray that he is placed in a loving family soon.
Chep has had a difficult time adjusting to living in a children's home.  She continues to ask for her mother.  Just today her mother came to our home again.  When I asked her what she needed, she responded by telling me that she was ready to sign the final papers to give her child away.  I could not help but tear up that someone would so easily give their child up.  Please pray for this mother that she would know the Love of Christ.  This was difficult since Chep is about the same age as our Hannah. I can't imagine what this little girl is thinking after four years with her mother, and now she is no longer with her but in a home with many other children.  I pray that Chep would be adopted into a family soon.

Little P

Little P was abandoned in a near by town.  The police brought him to Tenwek during the night.  We often wonder what goes through a mother's mind and heart when they just leave their babies.  This mother wrapped P in all the clothes he had and even packed a little bag for him with a few more blankets.  She then left him by a church.  Often these mothers are going through abuse from the father or even their own family, forcing them to give up their child.  Little P was abandoned a day before the schools opened so we also thought this was a young mother wanting to return to school and not knowing how to care for her child and attend school at the same time.  We were blessed to have him in our home for a few days before he was admitted into a children's home.  Pray that little P would be adopted soon by a loving family.

Please continue to pray for these children and all the children that we are not even made aware of that are abandoned each day due to dire circumstances.

Yes!! The Bemm Family has a Blog!

From left to right in the back Amy, Abby (14), Chuck holding Esther (13 months), David (13) holding Elizabeth (16 months),  In Front Lydia (11), holding Shadrach (22 months), Hannah (4)

I know you all are as completely surprised as we are!!!  We are trying this blog thing out to try to keep up with those who we care about!  Another thing you all might be thinking at this point is.....weren't the Bemms a family of 6???  Well were WERE a family of 6 now we are a family of 9!  Please pray with us as we go through all the adoption proceedings for Shadrach, Elizabeth, and Esther.  We know that the Lord has placed them in our family at just the right time.  While our house is a little crazy and loud we are enjoying every minute of it.

We can't believe that we have been back in Kenya now for almost 2 years! Our children are so happy that they don't need to wear shoes anywhere! That includes Lydia forgetting to put her shoes on to go to the village! I guess she just fit right in!
To catch everyone up on our children:
Abby, now 14 and in 8th grade, still loves to read, her favorite hobby is to climb trees, very high trees. She and her friend Joel stop talking when I Amy walk by.  They don't know that I hear them shushhhhing each other! They don't want me to see how high they actually are.

Joel, Abby, David, Kayla, Peter 

David, almost 13 and in 8th grade, is growing so fast we think he grows overnight! He is a very active boy.  When he is not doing school work he is playing rugby or football (soccer) or just bothering all his sisters! We love having him around the house to brighten our day with his sense of humor.  We still need to convince him to change messy diapers.

Lydia at the AGC Baby Center doing what she does best!

Lydia, now 11 has more energy than a gazelle! She just recently had her tonsils and adnoids removed.  When the Doctor prayed with her before surgery he asked that she have more energy after the surgery! Chuck and I both simultaneously said "please be careful of what you pray for!" Lydia is our prayer warrior she always remembers the sick kids that Chuck is working with in the hospital. She prays for and frequently gives her things to those who have a need.  We look forward to see what God has planned for  her.

Hannah, now 4 is a gazelle! We her parents are trying to figure out some track program for her. She is such a delight to have around.  We frequently can't find her, she is outside playing with friends and getting into mud or picking loquats and eating them.  We often find treasures in her pockets from outside. She is starting Kindergarten this year and is so excited about it.  She has funny quotes that we all laugh at, such as when Amy had to attend a AGC Baby Center meeting, she said to our friend, " see, I told you we were getting two more babies!" this of course is after we already had the three in our home.  She thinks now every time we go to the Baby Center we are picking up more sisters and brothers for her.

Hannah with a tail!

Shadrach, almost 2 is a busy boy around the house.  We don't know his exact birthdate so we asked David to choose a date in late September! He chose September 20th.  Shadrach came to us as a toddler who had been at the baby center for about a year.  We are not sure of his exact history before he was admitted to the baby center other than he was neglected by his caregiver and had rickets when he arrived.  He is mommy's little helper, he brings me my shoes, and makes sure that we turn the lights out when we leave the room. He makes us laugh when he tries to explain something to us in his jibberish language.  We are working on his speech which is delayed but coming up quickly.

Shadrach

Elizabeth (Ellie), now 17 months old is a riot!!!! She has quite a personality! Again not knowing her exact birthdate we chose March 22, the same birthday as her Auntie Tina.  She was abandoned somewhere between 3 and 6 weeks old so we guessed at her age! When we first met Ellie at the baby center she was a quiet child. We can't say that now! We figure she will be the leader of their gang of 3 and make sure that after they get in trouble she is not held responsible! We are constantly laughing at her facial expressions and funny antics.  She loves to dance and be spoiled by big brother David. 

Ellie at the beach or should we say wearing the beach!

Esther, 13 months is our quiet one!! Although loves to be held at anytime and anywhere! She arrived at the AGC Baby Center day 2 of life, after being found by some school students on their walk to school. Her birthday is June 21st. She is now learning to walk and trying to talk some.  She has the nickname Anne of Green Gables since she cries like she is "in the depths of despair" Everyone loves her fluffy black hair and often it gets pulled by her sister and brother!! We are all waiting for her to finally get back at them for picking on her! Lydia has taught her to do the chicken dance of all things.  It is funny to watch her wiggle when Lydia sings!

Esther with her great smile