Leaving for Kenya in one week!!

Hello StoneWater and Open Arms Friends! I am boarding a plane in one week heading to Eldoret, Kenya, Africa where Open Arms Village is located. I will be there for the summer. My commitment to you is to post information and pictures of our beautiful children at least once a week. Currently we have 96 children in the Village and roughly 170 children enrolled in Open Arms Academy. I will be cooking for the summer teams, the first one arriving on Monday, June 10. Their goal is to build an Early Childhood Development school in an area called Kambi Teso, where we have our feeding program and mentoring ministry.  I will also be loving on the children during my non-cooking time! Pray for me and all the people ministering in Open Arms Village this summer - for supernatural strength and for wisdom to love the Kenyans well.  Thanks, Laura Garrett

Open Arms Has 93 Children

Open Arms Village has grown to 93 children! Here are a few pictures that were taken in February:

Children with new shirts from Butch May

1st generation of Babies - moved into Family Units

2nd generation of Babies

Pajamas donated from StoneWater

Scrubbing Shoes

6 from StoneWater Visit Open Arms Village in November 2012

Six people from StoneWater visited the Open Arms Village in November. Kim Wenrich met her sponsored child, Collins. Becky Crum helped hold children while they received immunizations. Sarah Crum got to share her testimony/preach and Grace Crum played with the children. All loved on the children and participated in the feeding program, some were very recreational with the children and some even got to milk a cow.

News from StoneWater Team in Kenya

Cindy at the slum feeding program

Tuesday we completed day 1 of the medical clinic in Mlango, near Open Arms Village. It was a long and tiring, but tremendously rewarding day.  Our team and the Open Arms Village staff set up tents as use for prayer, medical examination, and a pharmacy.  It is a very well structured system allowing for efficient flow of patients and maximum attention with minimum waiting time.  Patients lined up, then passed through a prayer tent where local pastors and members of our team prayed with them, and then went on to the triage tent for vitals.  From there, patients proceeded to one of 12 doctors and/or Kenyan medical students. Our team of volunteer doctors, medical students and nurses were able to provide care for over 200 people.  Diagnosis ranged from stomach pain to meningitis. David (Founder, David Gallagher) preached to the gathered crowd at a revival prior to the clinic.  I am told that there were 8 adults and as many as 15 children who prayed to receive Christ! Salvation is the best medicine of all!! Praising God for a blessed day of safety and care for our team!

                  

FOUR FROM STONEWATER TRAVELLING TO KENYA TOMORROW

Bob and Earnestine Potts, Cindy Rogers and Marla Percifull are leaving Granbury tomorrow and are heading to Open Arms Village in Kenya for two weeks! They will arrive in the Village on Saturday morning with suitcases full of medical supplies, blankets and letters from sponsors to the children.  Please pray for them as they participate in a medical clinic and children's ministry. They will be joining Emily Keese, who arrived at the Village yesterday. Emily is staying at the Village for the summer.

Tragedy at Open Arms Village

As some of you are aware, Open Arms Village accepted two abandoned babies early last week. Babies Ian and Obadia (both approx. 3 months) joined our family in dire condition.  Both boys were malnourished and extremely ill.  

The babies received the utmost care and love while at the Village and at the local hospital in Eldoret under the supervision of Co-Founder, Rachel Gallagher.  

Baby Ian

It is with deep regret that we inform you that despite the best efforts of our Village staff and medical staff, Baby Obadia passed away on Saturday.  Tragically, Baby Ian lost the battle for his short life on Monday morning.  Both babies are now with the Lord, free of pain and suffering.

  To read Rachel Gulden's heart-wrenching story about Baby Ian, go to http://wishyouwerehereinkenya.blogspot.com/2012/03/baby-ian.html

MISSION TRIPS PLANNED FOR 2012

There are three trips planned to go to Open Arms Village in Kenya during the summer of 2012:

June 23-July 7: Outreach Team #1  emphasis on Medical Clinics and Children's Ministry (ALREADY FULL)

July 21-August 4: Outreach Team #2, emphasis on Medical Clinics and Children's Ministry

August 11-25: Outreach Team #3, emphasis on Work Team/Children's Ministry

For more information email laura_garrett@charter.net or call Laura 817-559-9086.   To fill out an application click the MISSION TRIP APPLICATION FORM link on the right.

March 2011 Team: Drakes, Eisenriches,
Steins, Regina, Melba, Garretts

June 2011 Team: Potts, Cindy R, Cindy H,
Brian, Stacey, Meagan

                    

Part of July 2011 Team: Rebecca 

Part of July 2011 Team: Rachel & Jonathan 

                                                                                                                   
                                                                                     

Aug 2011 Team: Emily & Brent