CONNECTED CHURCH Thika Umoja Project

A Sweet Opportunity February 2017

How do you approach challenges in life? Notes to leader: Use this question as a way to get people engaged in the update. Ask people to talk to the person next to them, and then feedback to you. Alternative questions: What is your attitude to life’s challenges? Are you a glass half full or half empty type of person? Have you ever tried to see a problem as an opportunity?

Daniel’s childhood was characterised by family conflict, hunger, and lack of education. Daniel’s childhood was characterised by family conflict. His mother was unmarried and his uncles did not want them to have a share of their father’s land. His mother got married and moved to Uganda, but her husband abandoned them, leaving them in total desperation in a foreign country. Daniel returned to Kenya and worked on construction sites. He brought his younger sister to Kenya, but struggled to make ends meet, and lost contact with his mother and five younger siblings living in abject poverty in Uganda.

'When I joined an Umoja session at church, my hope was restored like never before' Daniel realised that he needed to stop looking at life with desperation and to start looking at every challenge as an opportunity. Daniel joined an Umoja session at his church, where his hope ‘was restored like never before'. He realised that he needed to stop looking at life with desperation and to start looking at every challenge as an opportunity. Daniel saw an opportunity with thirsty quarry workers. He bought sugarcane from a local farmer and sold it to the workers. He grew the business and took out a loan to pay off his sister’s school fees. In seven months he saved £617 with a vision to buy a motorbike to start a milk distribution business.

A family rescued and reunited Hope, encouragement and determination A positive role model and new business ventures Daniel managed to reconnect with his mother who was living with huge debts. Daniel decided to forego his vision, and used his savings to pay off the debts and bring his family back to Kenya. He rented a house for them and pays his sibling’s school fees. He has become a source of hope and encouragement to his family, and is determined to excel in life. He has started raising ducks and sheep, and has become a youth leader in his church.

‘Umoja helped me to see that I can create work instead of waiting for it.’ ‘As I engage with scripture through Umoja, my strength and hope have been ignited and continue to grow.’ ‘Umoja helped me to see that I can create work instead of waiting for it’. ‘As I engage with scripture through Umoja, my strength and hope have been ignited and continue to grow.’

PRAYER Thank God for the transformation in Daniel’s life and for the love and commitment he has for his family Pray for his business ventures and role as a youth leader in his church Pray that others will find the same hope and transformation through Umoja Thank God for the transformation in Daniel’s life and for the love and commitment he has for his family Pray for his business ventures and role as a youth leader in his church Pray that others will find the same hope and transformation through Umoja