My husband, Kim Goodell, and I have recently joined a team from Smyrna First United Methodist Church that will be traveling to Obaga, Kenya on a mission trip from April 3 through 17, 2024.
A lay person from Kenya, Thomas Agutu, visited our church last spring to share with us the ministry he has organized in his home village. He saw the needs of the widows and children when the husbands passed away and decided to act. In Kenya, when a man dies, the wife not only loses her husband, but she loses her home. The community looks down on her and her children as a burden to society. Thomas is helping widows in his village learn skills to support their families, and we are joining with him. You can read more about Thomas’ work on his Facebook page (Thomas Agutu) or the web site for Global Hope (https://globalhope.org/about-us/global-hope-partners/).
First, please pray for health, protection, wisdom, and direction as our team moves forward. Second, it takes money to go on a mission trip. Thomas recommended several projects for us to consider completing during our visit. We have set a goal of raising $10,000 to support these projects. We are already personally committed to this mission. If you would like to partner with us, it is our belief you will be greatly blessed.
Our mission team will focus on three main projects. One project is installing a floor in the medical dispensary where we are hosting a free medical clinic. The dispensary, which includes a maternity birthing center, currently has only a dirt floor. The cost of the underfloor and tile flooring materials is $4000. We will provide the labor. The second project will be making repairs to the walls and ceilings of the dispensary. The cost for those materials is $3000. The third project will be adding a science laboratory to the village school. The school cannot be accredited without a lab. The cost for materials to complete the lab is $3000. We will purchase the necessary building materials and tools in Kenya. Any funds we raise above these goals will be used to purchase athletic equipment for the school.
Please prayerfully consider partnering with us to bless the widows and their children in Obaga. Since this ministry has begun, over 100 widows have become self-sufficient and hundreds of their children have received an education. Your gift in any amount would be greatly appreciated.
If you feel led to give, please make your check payable to Smyrna First United Methodist Church and send it with the completed coupon below to: Smyrna First UMC, P.O. Box 2817, Smyrna, Georgia 30081. You may also give online through the Smyrna First UMC web page (https://smyrnafumc.org) by selecting “Give,” then “Give Online,” choosing “OTHER” for the fund, and adding “Kenya 2024” in the optional note. Thank you for your prayers and for prayerfully considering donating to this project. We hope to have all our funds collected by the end of January 2024.
Blessings!
Kim Goodell and Beverly Marshall-Goodell
