AGAPE DEVELOPMENT MINISTRIES

part one

Agape Development Ministries (ADM) has received little publicity over the years. They are involved in a major work in our Kisumu unit in Kenya. Let us give you a brief review.

After Amish Mennonite Aid entered Kenya in the early 90's, Ivan Peachey began supporting the needs in a small way. Christian Aid Ministries stepped in around 2002 and began operating ADM under the umbrella of AMA. AMA now brings in a director with his family to work in this branch of the mission. He does not pastor a church, although he's commissioned to preach. First it was Ivan Peachey, then Ellis Helmuth, Tommy Wagler and now Jonathan Martin. The program continues growing and is becoming more challenging.

Jonathan and Lavonna Martin, Jackson-4 and Kaiden-1

The current ADM director is Jonathan and Lavonna Martin. Jonathan is the youngest child of Raymond and Esther Martin from Ephrata, PA. Lavonna is the daughter of Reuben and Mary Ann Yoder of Free Union, VA. Jonathan and Lavonna met at Faith Mission Home and married October 10, 2003. When Jackson was 3 months old, they answered the call to Kenya and have stayed almost 4 years. Kaiden was born here and they are now expecting their 3rd child in June. They are, however, planning to terminate here in April to work in the position of being assistant administrator at FMH. Jonathans will be replaced by my brother, the Martin and Kristy Bender family from LaMonte, MO. They are expected to arrive in 2 weeks.

ADM operates in many different facets. There is the ORPHANAGE PROGRAM. There are approx. 1500 orphans in the system. CAM supports them in ways of food, which they get every 2 weeks. They get a dress/shirt/sweater/school uniform/shoes twice a year. The school tuition is paid. In every church area there is one administrator, 4 supervisors and one matron. Each child has a sponsor and each sponsor is provided with a photo of the child.

REACHING OUT MINISTRIES (ROM)- also operates under ADM. They do not only supply the medicals needs for HIV+ victims but also food twice a month and special nourishment.

The WIDOWS PROGRAM is just beginning. The pastor chooses widows in need of assistance.

WATER PROGRAM-Wells are dug with approx. each church getting 2 wells per year. Each pastor helps decide who will be the next member in his church who needs it the most. This is a well celebrated project.

SPECIAL NEEDS FUNDS- caters to housing, medical and school assistance.

DISABILITY- This program helps the crippled with wheelchairs, helps the blind and deaf go to school, or will assist with a cobbler project, etc. You can't hand them everything.....remember the slogan: Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach him HOW to fish, he can eat for a lifetime.

FAMINE RELIEF- this is food assistance for crop failures.

SEED PROGRAM- Every spring supervisors will measure plots of interested members and they can buy seeds and fertilizers at subsidized prices.

Sarah Anna Esh

Also working for Agape is Sarah Anna Esh. She has served in Kenya almost 4 years. She makes Greenville, TN, her home and is the daughter of Dan and Caroline Esh. Sarah initially taught school for the compound children but has in the past couple years been a domestic floater. You will find her cleaning a house, doing laundry for a busy mother, visiting the widows or teaching a sewing class. However, most of her time is spent overseeing the orphan's clothing in the Agape Program.

Goretti Awino cutting dresses

Every week Sarah has ladies come in to cut out dresses. Those of us that sew know it's important to do an accurate cutting job to make a nice dress. Each orphan girl gets a dress twice a year. The sizes vary from infant to 18 years old. Once the church ladies graduate from their sewing classes, they will qualify to start sewing these dresses. This brings in extra income for their families for which they are very grateful. Sarah will supply the sewers with dresses and have them taken out and brought back in. She will then iron all these dresses. I check for quality workmanship and pay the ladies at the end of each month. Approximately 800 dresses are given to girls twice a year.

The many dresses in the Agape store room. There is no way we can picture them all. In all our church areas, we will recognize orphan girls by these dresses. You should see their large smiles when they are given a new one. It's the best reward for all the hard work behind it.

to be continued in part two....