And Then there were 7! Meet Baby Frederick!

I met this little guy today!
Super cute!

We would like to introduce you to Frederick. He is one month old, but he is very underweight. We got the call last Friday asking if we had space for him. Frederick'smother has passed away from HIV AIDS.  She was the second wife in a polygamist marriage arrangement.  Here in Kenya polygamy is a common and totally legal practice. However, in all the families we have met with multiple wives, we have not found many that are healthy! In the case of Frederick's family, it is no different. Wife number one will not take the baby of wife number 2 into her home, and it seems dad can't be bothered to fight for his son! Frederick's maternal grandmother is 65 and is unable to care for him. Someone needs to give this little guy a fighting chance. Enter Mission:180 Children's Home. With your help we are able to operate these homes and rescue these precious little lives, literally snatching them out of the jaws of death.

For us, these are the moments we are
in Kenya for.

We have many difficult days here, but our time with these little people is a harsh reminder of why we are here. And time spent with them seems to erase some of the frustration. They are precious little people. I have been thinking a lot lately about Psalm 32:8. (NLT) The Lord Says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."
It would seem in Frederick's case, and Marjorie's, Connor, Ashley, Douglas, Moses and Robert's case, Mission:180 has become a part of their pathway! Its a responsibility and trust we do not take lightly. There will be more, many many more. What a privilige to be called to care for them. We are so grateful for the help of people like you who make it possible for us to do this with your generosity!

From all of us at Mission:180,

THANK-YOU!

A long overdue Update......with some big awesome news!!

Hello Friends and Family,

This post is long overdue! Its been an incredibly busy summer, and an even busier return to Kenya!!! However, we are home in Kenya, and very happy to be here!!!

We last posted an update on July 2nd. Thanks for your patience, here is a rundown on what we have been up to!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION HERE:

Our mailing address in Canada has changed: It is now 160 Delaronde Road, 

Saskatoon Saskatchewan, S7J 3Y4. 

We landed in Saskatoon on May 9, and we left for Nairobi again on August 6. That is 89 days in Canada. Its strange for us, because when we leave Kenya, we say we are going home, and when we leave Canada, we also say we are going home.

During this time we drove approximately 20,000 Kilometers, visited 14 churches, 5 of them new to us! On our travels we stayed in 14 different homes, (thanks for your hospitality, the great meals and warm beds were greatly appreciated), we spent 23 nights in 13 different hotels, we spent time in 20 different towns and cities. We changed our location 41 times! In all this travelling we made 17 formal presentations!

The Sheppards, with our honorary Sheppard
 and much loved Jacqueline!

As many of you know, when we come to Canada, we are there to work, and work we do! This summer was incredibly busy, yet in all that we enjoyed many visits with so many wonderful people! We loved having Jacqueline Schoenfeld working with us this summer as an intern. Jacqueline continues to work with us from Canada, and she is a valued member of team Mission:180! She is also an honorary member of our family! We miss Jacqueline very much!

Our summer was very fruitful and productive. We were able to raise funds from new sources as well as to report to all you who are already regular supporters of Mission:180! We came to Canada hoping to see an increase of $2,500.00 per month in pledged giving. The kind of donations we can actually budget on. One time contributions are a major help and blessing, please don't stop giving whenever you feel like you can or should, however we really need pledged regular support! While we were there many of you made pledges and started to give as a part of our monthly support base! We were able to see about half of our goal accomplished! Thank-you everyone who signed up!  If you are still considering it, please know we need your help! Every dollar counts as we strive to make an IMPACT in the lives of the neediest Kenyan's! 

Now For Some Big News!!!

Breaking ground on houses 3&4! Very Exciting!

Thanks to the generous contributions from Concentra Family & Friends, an employee led & sponsored initiative, house #3 is under construction! And, if that isn't big enough news, house #4 is also under construction thanks to a special couple in Saskatoon who know what it means to exercise generosity! We are well on our way to being able to rescue as many as 40 babies! Canadians, you are a generous group of people! I said this at a special presentation at Concentra this past summer, and I want to repeat it again here; Canadians really do put their money where their hearts are! Jennifer and I and the whole leadership team at Mission:180 are humbled and so incredibly grateful for the outpouring of love and generosity you continue to show the people of Kenya through your support of Mission:180!

I love watching a dream become a reality! 

It was a beautiful day! I also love watching heavy
equipment at work!

From left to right, Douglas, Connor, Ashley, Robert, Moses
and our very first rescued baby, Marjorie! 

I want to close this update with some news about our little people! The babies are growing so quickly! They are healthy and happy as they receive a very high standard of care and love from our team here in Kenya! Marjorie, Connor and Ashley all have teeth! They are sitting up on their own and are very,very close to crawling. It kind of looks like an army crawl on their bellies right now.  When they want to get somewhere, they manage! 

This is our happy place!!!

THANK-YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT, WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND PRAYERS!

We cannot do this without you, and we are not going to try!!!

Jason, Jennifer and Joshua Sheppard, and all of us at Mission:180.

And Then there Were 6! Meet Baby Robert Andrew Bahati

Hello Friends and Supporters of Mission:180
On May 9, we landed in Saskatoon after a long journey that took us from Nairobi, to Istanbul Turkey, through Chicago and finally back to Mission:180's headquarters in Saskatoon. We landed to a blustery cold night of +3. That is the coldest temperature we have felt since December 2010! Since May 25 Jennifer, Joshua Jacqueline and I  have traveled more than 8000 km by mini-van, not to mention air and ferry travel! We have presented Mission:180's work in 7 churches on 7 different Sundays, hosted our semi annual Silent Auction and Info Night, presented in businesses and to informal groups in homes. We have slept in different beds almost every night. Its been pretty much non-stop travel and a routine of set-up, share, take down, and then do it again and again! It is a tough schedule, and we are far from done. We return home to Kenya on August 6. As difficult and demanding as it is, we do it all because of little guys like Robert Andrew Bahati.

Last week we got a call about a baby boy who had been abandoned in the woods. The police were called to the scene where a baby boy had been abandoned. He was found naked, bruised, and covered in ants. It is suspected that he spent his first 24 hours alone on the forest floor. He was rushed to hospital in what doctors called "rough shape". He spent seven weeks in the hospital, and then Mission:180 was asked to take him in.
This is exactly why we are in Kenya, To rescue these little ones who are completely unable to care for themselves. What an honor to be able to love these babies!

Robert Andrew Bahati

A happy little boy!

All bundled up and cozy!

Without the help of generous supporters like you, we cannot do what we do! Please accept our thanks for your support.

If you are not already a part of Mission:180's financial support base, would you consider making a commitment to help us with a monthly contribution? We are here in Canada raising funds so that we can continue our work inj Kenya, as well as grow the scope of that work. Our goal this summer is to see our pledged monthly support grow by a minimum of $2,500.00 per month.
One time, or occasional donations are always welcome, however we cannot budget on those. Our pledged support gives us the basis for setting the budget and knowing what we can do. Please consider making a pledge. No amount is too small. When many get involved, IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE!

To make a monthly pledge that comes directly out of your bank account, please email jason@mission:180.ca, and Jason will get back to you with the details about how to make that happen.
To set up recurring donations through PayPal, please see the left side of this column near the top. Enter an amount, then click Submit. It will walk you through the process.

Thanks again, for making it possible for Mission:180 to do the important work we do in Kenya!

We're Baaaack!!! Mission:180's Summer 2014 Home Assignment Schedule

Mission:180 Ministries Silent Auction Fundraiser

A few of the items available at the Auction this year.

 

Hello Canada! We want to invite all of our friends, family and supporters  in the Saskatoon area to please join us on June 5th, at Horizon College for the Mission:180 Semi Annual Silent Auction Fundraiser! Come and hear all about the progress of our work in Kenya! There will be coffee and donuts, videos and pictures, and of course a chance to support Mission:180 through purchases made at the auction! There will be beautiful Kenyan art, crafts, and a few great items donated by local businesses as well.
Horizon is located behind Sobey's on 8th street. The address is 1303 Jackson Avenue. This event is a very important part of our summer schedule. It is the best way for us to say hello to many of you, and it is a very important part of our fundraising campaign! Please make the time to join us if you can. We would love to see you there.

We are back in Canada! On May 9 we arrived in Saskatoon, 2 hours late, to a balmy  +3 windy night! It was a cold welcome.  We were up and working the morning of the 10th. On May 11 we shared about the work of Mission:180 with  Saskatoon Christian Chinese Church.
When we are on home assignment, we keep a very very busy schedule that includes a lot of road travel, and some air travel as well.

If you live in nor near one of the communities we will be visiting, we would love to see you at the church we will be speaking and sharing at. Email us for more details about the time and place, and come have a visit!

jason@mission180.ca or jennifer@mission180.ca

Here is a peak at our schedule, not all the details, but where we will be each weekend:
May 9 - Arrive in Canada
May - 11 Saskatoon
May 15-22 Los Angeles
May 29 - Saskatoon
June 1 -  Fort Nelson British Columbia (up north on the Alaska Highway, an 18 hour drive from Saskatoon)
June 2-6 Saskatoon
June 6-7 Regina
June 8 -  Beaubier, Southern Saskatchewan
June 15 - , Estevan, Southern Saskatchewan
June 22 -  Carlyle, Southern Saskatchewan.
June 29 - Pender Island British Columbia, just off of Vancouver Island, close to Victoria. This one requires air, car and ferry travel!
July 5&6 - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
July 13 - Thompson, Manitoba
July 20 ??
July 27 - Sioux Lookout, Ontario
August 3 - Winnipeg Manitoba
August 6 -  Travel to Nairobi Kenya, HOME!!!!!

And Then there Were 5!

Meet Baby Moses!
Today was a very long day. I was up at 5:00 A.M. and I did not get home till 7:30 P.M. I had to go to court with Marjorie, our very first Infant rescue. When an infant is abandoned, the courts put them in care for a 6 month period while the police do an investigation and search for the mother and or a living relative. After this 6 months, we have to go back to court to see what they want to do next, what the plan is for each child. It was a nerve wracking morning, not really knowing what would happen with Marjorie. Things did not happen at all.  We were told to come back on May 8.

On the way out of court, we were chatting with our district children's officer.  She asked us if we could take another baby. We said a resounding YES! I had no idea when I left the house today that we would be rescuing another infant.  We were introduced to Baby Moses. His mother tried to sell him!  Here is his story, a clipping from one of the national papers, called "The Nation".

When his mother met with the children's officer and undercover police, whom she thought were the buyers, she was carrying Moses in a plastic shopping bag. He is underweight, and its a miracle he survived his first 3 weeks of life spent with his birth mother.  She fed him water with added sugar and salt. 

He is soooo tiny, and very cute! What an awesome privilege to be a part of God's plan for
these precious little lives!

It's too bad you can't hear a picture! He was screaming! He is very light, because he
quite malnourished.

When you partner with Mission:180, you help us rescue and raise these precious little ones. We know what happens if they are not rescued. We thank you for helping us give them a chance to make it. We know God has a plan for each one, and your generosity is a part of the plan!

Meet Douglas! And Now There Are Four!

Recently Mission:180 was asked to look into accepting a 10 month old baby boy who had been abandoned in Western Province, Kenya. After some time and effort, young Douglas came to Kona Baridi and took up residence in Mission:180's Children's homes!

A little bit about Douglas:

That smile is contagious and its always followed by giggles!

                                 
To start with, he is not 10 months old! He is at least 2! And, I will warn you before you watch the video posted below, and look at the pictures, HE IS SUPER CUTE!!! He has immediately taken over the role as chief of the welcoming committee, and he is also the life of the party!

                                   

The thumbs up pretty much summarizes how Douglas feels about
his new life at Mission:180's Children's Homes.

Douglas was abandoned as an infant at the gate of a very poor elderly grandmother in a very rural area of Kenya near the small town of Kakamega.  His mother hoped this old grandmother would try to care for him.  The grandmother already had 4 children that she was caring for, and Douglas overwhelmed her abilities! After doing her best for 2 years, she started looking for help.  Her meager resources were stretched to the limit.  This story is all too common in Kenya. Elderly people are often found raising the children of their deceased or very, very ill children. If its not a grandparent caring for the babies, its often children living together trying to care for each other. Life is a battle for these precious little children. Out of that battle, Douglas comes to Mission:180! He is very happy!

He stole my heart with the first smile he gave me!

                         
Evidence of the struggle remains however, seen especially at meal times.  He eats with one arm around his plate or bowl, protecting his food should someone else try to steal it, and he eats very quickly. Slowly he will learn that he does not have to fight those old battles anymore.

VIEWER ALERT: THE FOLLOWING VIDEO IS VERY CUTE!!!

Thanks for making what we do here
possible! We join Douglas in giving you
this very happy thumbs up!

To make a contribution to the work of Mission:180 in Kenya, you can either click on one of the Paypal buttons on the top right hand side of this page, or send us an email. jason@mission180.ca, or jennifer@mission180.ca. We are working to expand our pledged monthly contributions. If you think you can help us by making a monthly donation, we would be very grateful. Together, we are making an IMPACT!!

And Then There Were Three.....

It is with a great deal of excitement that we announce the arrival of Ashley and Connor to Mission:180's Children's Home!

Today, Jennifer and I, with Jennifer's Mom and Dad along for the ride, picked up these precious little 4 month old fraternal twins.

Ashley and Connor after just arriving at Mission;180's
Children's Home in Kona Baridi.

Ashley and Connor were born in hospital to a very ill, HIV Positive, unemployed, homeless mother. She lapsed into a coma upon delivery of her babies, and has yet to regain her health. We are told it is highly unlikely that this single mother who resides in Kibera and sleeps wherever she can will ever get her children back. She also has other children who have been relocated to other parts of Kenya.

Ashley checking out her new digs.

Her story is a tragic one, and unfortunately easily repeated a thousand times over every day in Kenya. With the cooperation of "Doctors Without Borders" and at the request of the Government of Kenya's Children's Ministry, we have agreed to take these two precious little people into our care.

Connor slept the whole way in the
car from Nairobi, but he arrived
hungry!

While we cant know for how long, it is likely to be for a good long while. As long as they are with us, they will be loved and cared for, and treated as a part of the Mission:180 Family!

Along with Marjorie, who is now 3 months old, we have three infants in full time care. We are in the process of interviewing more staff, so that we are equipped to handle more and more of these precious little people! We currently have 3 other children waiting for us to be ready to take them in.

Marjorie is thriving and growing
under the care and love of our dedicated
staff. She is now getting to know her
new roommates!

Please keep us in your prayers as we work towards expanding our capabilities to care for more children.

Mission:180 is not able to do what we do here in Kenya without the help of people like you. To all those who support us regularly and occasionally, we want to say once again, THANK-YOU!!! If you have never made a contribution to our work, we invite you to consider becoming a part of a team that is really making an IMPACT, one life at a time! To contribute to Mission:180, you can click the "donate" button on this page to contribute through PayPal. To make a regular monthly contribution through PayPal, click on the "subscribe" button and follow the directions.  If PayPal does not appeal to you, drop us an email and we will help you get set up with direct withdrawal from your chequing account to Mission:180's.  We need the help and financial partnership of people like you to keep this important work moving forward!