Merry Christmas!

As we celebrate the Christmas season, we remember our Savior’s birth and the joy we have in our faith through Him.  Christmas obviously looks a bit different here than Chicago with sunny days and temps in the mid 70’s!  As we celebrated thanksgiving and moved into the Christmas season, we reflected on all we have to be thankful for in our life here.  We have enjoyed seeing all that God has done and is doing through Naomi’s Village and Cornerstone. We wanted to make sure you knew how grateful we were for your prayers and financial support that allows us to minister here in Kenya.  The pictures below detail some of the happenings over the last couple of months.

For those of you who have been following Joseph’s medical progress, he was able to receive prosthetic legs a few weeks ago.  He is so thankful and is making great progress in learning how to walk again.

Thanksgiving was celebrated with pizza and rootbeer floats…we are trying to embrace new family traditions as we seek to celebrate American holidays in Kenya.

Last month we joined the Naomi’s Village kids on their annual beach trip.  For 5 days the kids learn to swim, eat lots of new and fun foods, and experience the bigness of Gods creation on the Indian Ocean.  Our family had a great time strengthening friendships with the kids and staff and enjoying the beauty all around us.

Each morning I taught the older kids during our devotional time.  My series this year was titled “The Cross”.  We dealt with how God has created all things and we have chosen his stuff over God himself.  From there we talked about how God has responded to our sin in 2 ways.  We ended our time with focusing on what Christ accomplished on the cross.

Jaden and Josiah enjoyed interacting with the Naomi’s Village kids at the pool and during the day.

We were cheering on the Cubs all the way from Kenya!!

Mark used the Cubs winning the World Series as an opportunity to introduce baseball to the Cornerstone kids as well as the characteristic for the month which was optimism!

We hope this season bring you joy as we celebrate the birth of our savior!

Studies have shown that children that grow up in poverty lack character traits that are necessary for them to succeed and thrive in school and in the work force. Mark has started a new character program at Cornerstone Prep Academy that focuses on teaching the kids gratitude, grit, optimism, purpose, curiosity, self-control, social intelligence, growth mindset and zest. Each of these traits is rooted in scripture and is taught in various ways throughout each month. At the beginning of the month the new trait is introduced with a fun all school assembly that Mark leads followed by weekly meetings that seek to help the kids grasp and develop the new trait.

We had the teachers from Cornerstone Prep Academy over for pizza a few weeks ago to get to know them better. Mark is working more closely with the teachers this year as he develops the character trait program into each class.

In past updates we introduced you to Joseph, a father of 2 Cornerstone students. In July it was decided that a skin graft could not be done and that the bones in his legs could not be fixed. Both of his legs were amputated in July. He is now awaiting his visit to CURE Hospital this week to be fitted with 2 prosthetics. Thank you for those of you that made this possible! Joseph is a strong believer and has had an amazing attitude towards his medical situation from the start.
David and Emily Hayes from WSBC came for a few days in September and we were able to introduce them to Joseph along with Philomena, Cornerstone’s chaplain.

Liz has started a new role of Early Childhood Coordinator, in addition to her role as the Child Sponsorship Coordinator. She is helping to teach the importance of early literacy and how to implement reading to children at a young age in hopes of expanding their cognitive development. Reading to our children is semi-intuitive in middle class America, but this is a very new idea for Kenyan culture. We are excited to begin implementing these ideas with the house moms at Naomi’s Village and hopefully expand to begin a preschool for the community next year.

Liz and Anji have also recently started a reading time at Cornerstone for the primary classes. They have a weekly story time in the classes and then read with the kids during recess as well.

Jaden and Josiah had a half day of school last week and we were able to bring them down to Cornerstone to play soccer with the kids during lunch recess.

The roads around Kijabe are so bad that for the last few months I have met with the MCA (Mayor) numerous times to try and convince him to allow me access to a grader. This has been a 5 month process that has truly stretched my negotiation skills! Finally a few weeks ago the MCA allowed me to ride and direct the grader for 5 days. It felt like a huge victory as I rode up and down the hills scraping down the rough sections.

Click HERE this link to see a short video that summarizes some of what we are doing at Cornerstone Prep Academy.

Items for prayer:
The Children at Naomi’s Village: Please pray for the 69 children that are currently at Naomi’s Village, pray that they would know and follow Jesus Christ

Funds for Teenage Housing : Pray that God would raise up the remaining funds necessary to construct the teenage housing at Naomi’s Village

Community Kids that attend Cornerstone: There are still many community kids that need financial support.

Our Family: We praise God that we are all adjusting to our second year of living in Kenya well. Please pray for our family to reflect Christ in our words and actions.

Cornerstone grand opening:

On May 6, leaders, students, teachers, missionaries, local authorities, and NV stateside board members all got together to celebrate  the grand opening of Cornerstone Preparatory Academy.  What began as a dream to build a first world school in an impoverished community became a reality.  We currently have around 90 kids attending Cornerstone which plans to expand to 780 over the next few years.  It was a day to marvel at all God has done and is doing through the ministry of Cornerstone.

Cornerstone exists to educate, disciple and minister to the kids, parents and the community of Longonot.  The gospel is the central focus that drives all that we do.  Each Wednesday we gather for chapel to sing, pray and hear the word of God taught. Mark helps to lead chapel on Wednesdays at Cornerstone.

Rainy Season in Kenya creates lots of interesting experiences.

A few weeks ago we were in the middle of the rainy season and Steve and I were coming up Old KIjabe Road (the better of the two roads when roads are wet).  It had been raining the last couple of days and things were really slippery.  About half way up we came upon a pregnant lady on her way to deliver along with her in-laws.  They explained to us that their car was not going to make it up and they were in need of transport for the soon to be mother (Ann)  Ann and her mother in law got into our car and we began the slippery journey up the big hill.  It wasn’t long before we slid into a ditch.  For the next 90 minutes we attempted to get out of the ditch by going forward and backwards in 4WD high, and 4WD low.  We tried pushing the gas pedal as hard as we could and then doing the same in reverse.  I am sure to Ann this felt like she was on an amusement park ride that just would not end!  Finally a friend came and was able to pull us out of the ditch.  We were able to get her to the hospital in time for her to deliver her baby girl!

We are thankful that our transition as a family to living in Kenya has gone well as we approach our one year mark next month. The boys enjoy interacting with the Naomi’s Village kids and all the creatures that live around us.

This past rainy season brought out lots of new bugs.  Jaden enjoyed catching the large locusts that were in abundance all around!The boys were excited to find a Rhinoceros beetle next to our house.Josiah was pleased to find this chameleon in the bushes outside our house!

Upcoming trip back to the States:
We will be coming back to America in July and August.  I have listed some of the dates of where we will be so that we can see as many of you as possible.

July 14-July 23: We will be in Pennsylvania visiting Liz’s family.

July 24: Sunday Worship at Ebenezer Mennonite Church, Bluffton Ohio.

July 31: Sunday Worship at Western Springs Baptist Church (We will be presenting about our ministry during a luncheon following the 9:30am service)

August 6: Past & Present Youth group kids and parents!
Ministry presentation at Jeff and Carissa Means house.(10 S. 180 Madison St. Burr Ridge, IL)
If you were ever in youth group at WSBC you and your parents are welcome to join us at the Means house.  We will be enjoying some good food and time together and Liz and I will be talking about our time in Kenya. 5pm dinner followed by dessert and presentation.
Contact Carissa Means with any ?’s at 708-574-2285

August 7: Sunday Worship at Hinsdale Covenant Church (We will be presenting about our ministry during the sermon time at the 8:45am and 10am services)

August 14: Sunday Worship at Western Springs Baptist Church.

If these dates don’t work for you please e-mail us and it might be possible to set up another time for us to get together.

Items for prayer and praise:

Cornerstone Prep Academy: Pray that the students would learn and grow in their new school building. Pray that the teachers would demonstrate God’s love and grace as they teach.

Naomi’s Village: Two new babies recently have joined NV after having been abandoned.  Pray for their physical, emotional, and eventual spiritual health as they grow in their new home. 

Our family: Pray that our time in America would be restful and would bring glory to God as we share about our first year in Kenya.

As we reflect back on our last 8 months here we are struck by all of the need that surrounds us daily here in Kenya.  We live 100 yards from two hospitals.  CURE hospital is Africa’s first orthopedic pediatric teaching hospital for children with disabilities. The second hospital is  Kijabe Mission Hospital which is recognized for its quality and holistic treatment all over Kenya and beyond. We are grateful for our close proximity to both of these hospitals as they have helped us with Josiah’s broken foot and Jaden’s leg needing stitches over the past month. But more than just our minor repairs, every day the hospital sees hundreds of impoverished people in their multiple clinics.

Weekly we come in contact with people that have financial needs for funerals, food, medical costs and a variety of other things.  At times this can seem overwhelming as we ask God for direction in leading us to the ones he desires for us to help.  There are just simply to many people to help everyone.  We wanted to share a couple of the ways that God has led us to help so that you can understand a little bit more of some of the situations we have come across.

AIC Kijabe Hospital is a non-profit hospital located in Kijabe, Kenya. The hospital staff of over 700 now comes from all parts of Kenya and Africa, including a number of volunteer missionaries from overseas.

Weekly we come in contact with people that have financial needs for funerals, food, medical costs and a variety of other things.  At times this can seem overwhelming as we ask God for direction in leading us to the ones he desires for us to help.  There are just simply to many people to help everyone.  We wanted to share a couple of the ways that God has led us to help so that you can understand a little bit more of some of the situations we have come across.

Back in October we were introduced to a soft spoken little 7 year old girl named Michelle who lived in the Lunga Lunga Slums in Nairobi.  At the age of 3 Michelle was bit by a venomous snake on her arm and was not able to receive the proper medical attention that she needed.  As a result 4 years later she had lost most of the ability to bend her arm and her skin had become very tight almost like it was vacuum sealed to the bone.  We felt God calling us to intervene into the brokenness of this situation.  So our family and a few others decided to help her receive the proper attention she needed at CURE Hospital.

The Lunga Lunga slums in Nairobi is the neighborhood that Michelle lives in.

This picture was after her successful surgery at CURE hospital!

About a month ago the NV kids and myself (Mark) had a chance to meet Jospeh Jorogoe.  Joseph is the father of 2 of the kids that attend Cornerstone Preparatory Academy.  We decided to help him and his family by building a chicken coop that will supply his family with eggs and a small income from selling the extra eggs.  In our time there we also noticed some significant medical needs.   Both of his legs have chronic veinous stasis ulcers.  Which means that he has a 8 inch by 4 inch section on each leg that is missing skin.  He has had this problem for many years and he has some other type of disease that started over 30 years that has crippled his legs.  Through some generous donors we have raised enough money for the skin graft procedure that should take place in the next month.

Some of the Naomi’s Village kids meeting and praying with Joseph outside of his house.

New chicken coop for Joseph and his family.

Mark and Joseph.

I share all of this to give you a window into a part of our daily life which is trying to discern the people that God is calling us to help apart from Naomi’s Village.  If you would like to be a part helping people in the future please let me know and I will reach out to you as specific needs arise.

Liz is enjoying her role as child sponsorship coordinator, here she is with Josiah and Virginia.

Click above to watch the video that Liz and Anji have about  Naomi’s Village and Cornerstone Sponsorship.  Please consider sponsoring a child or passing this video along to make others aware of the sponsorship opportunities they could be a part of.

Jaden and Josiah enjoyed participating with the Naomi’s Village kids in a VBS put on by a church team from OH last weekend.

Items for prayer:

Our family:  Please pray that our family would continue to seek God’s direction as we serve here in Kenya.
 
Construction of Cornerstone school:  Pray that the new building would be completed on time for the start of the next term in May.
 
For His Name,
Mark and Liz Sisler

As we start 2016 Liz and I feel so blessed to be in Kenya ministering to the kids here.  We are continuing to adjust well to life in Africa and appreciate your prayers for us.  Know that each of you are being prayed for regularly by our family.  We hope you feel connected to the ministry here in Kenya and are grateful to you for allowing us to serve here.

On January 11 Cornerstone began a new school year by welcoming in kids from the Longmont community.  What was once a vision from God became a reality as about 45 kids from Longonot and 45 school age kids from Naomi’s Village had their first day of school.  For the next few months the school will meet at Naomi’s Village as we wait for the construction to hopefully wrap up by May 2016.  Once the new building is completed all of the kids will be bused over to the new school.  School takes place Mon-Fri 7:30-4:30 and on Saturday from 7:30-12:00.  All of the kids are fed breakfast and lunch to ensure they are getting the proper nutrition necessary to grow and learn at a high level.

This is the 3rd grade class at Cornerstone which includes both Naomi’s Village kids as well as kids from the community of Longonot.

Cornerstone is committed to the education, nutrition, medical care, and discipleship of each student.   We are so excited to begin this new adventure with so many new students.  In the years to come we will be building a high school, a gymnasium, and one day having over 700 students prek-highschool.

On January 23 we started our first Kenyan youth group!  From 10:30am-1:00pm we worshipped through song and then divided up into 3 age groups for, Biblical teaching, small groups and of course games.

Jaden and Josiah are doing well and making friends at school and at NV. Here they are with Simon during an outreach with NV kids.

Liz has been busy with her role as the sponsorship coordinator and enjoys spending time with the kids at NV.

Items for prayer:
Saturday Discipleship: Pray that the Cornerstone and NV kids would be drawn into a deep relationship with Jesus Christ through our discipleship times.

Moffat Students (new leaders):  Pray that these new leaders would be able to get to know the kids quickly and that they would be used by God in a transformational way 

 
For His Name,
Mark and Liz Sisler

Hello from Kenya,
Things are going well and our family is continuing to adjust really well.  Bob and Julie returned from their time in the states, which has allowed us to start meeting as an entire team.

Liz has started her role helping with the child sponsorship program at Naomi’s Village (NV).  She has begun to develop crafts for the children that will help to connect the sponsors with their children here at NV.  We both have begun reading to the kids at NV during the day as a way to help us get to know each of them and to facilitate their learning.

Each Sunday our family takes part in the worship service and Sunday School time with the kids.  We feel like were making progress in getting to know the kids and are excited for what God has in store for these relationships.

Cornerstone Update:
Cornerstone Preparatory Academy is the name of the school that the NV kids currently attend on the NV property.  Last year about 20 acres of land was purchased about 4 miles away from NV that will serve as the new site for Cornerstone Preparatory Academy.  Construction started back in January 2015 and is still going on.  The hope is that this school will open its doors to the students of Naomis Village and the kids from the neighboring town in January of 2016.

The vision for Cornerstone is to provide first world education, spiritual care, family counseling, nutritional education, and sustainable work for many of the children and families of the Longonot area.  We are praying that Cornerstone will eventually be a tipping point for the gospel to be spread throughout this community, bringing all kinds of change with it.  Pray that God would use this school to raise up a new generation of leaders that will fight for His cause throughout the land of Kenya.

We are hoping to have over 700 students enrolled at Cornerstone k-12 at some point in the years ahead.  Liz and I are so excited to be on the ground floor of helping to develop the building blocks that will help to support this amazing ministry to the community.

Mark’s Role:
I have been given the amazing opportunity to help develop the spiritual care side at Cornerstone.  This will include Biblical teaching, mentorship, discipleship, outreach, and so much more.  We are thrilled to join a group of Kenyans and incorporate all that we learned about teen discipleship over the years into this new school and at Naomi’s Village.

• Our boys have really enjoyed going to school at Rift Valley Academy
• Great relationships with some of the Kenyan staff at Naomi’s Village
• Growing relationships with many of the kids at Naomi’s Village
• Grateful for a wonderful mechanic for our Land cruiser!

• Pray that God would guide our team as we develop the spiritual teaching and implementation at Cornerstone Prep Academy.
• Pray that God would continue to bless our relationship with the young people at NV.  
• Please pray that we would continue to adjust well to our new life and ministry here in Kenya

For His Name,
Mark and Liz Sisler