Do you know what our mission is here at Children of Hope?
Working together with God, we establish and support children’s homes in Kenya, caring for orphaned and vulnerable children by:
- Creating a nurturing family environment
- Providing resources to meet their diverse and holistic developmental needs through early adulthood
The reason this mission is so important to us is that it is so important to God.
He often talks about children in Scripture. Today we thought we would share some verses that show God’s heart towards children.
We seek to have this same heart as we love and serve our precious kids in Kenya.
We pray as you look at the beautiful faces of our children and staff that these verses will come to life – seeing how God is fulfilling them in our homes.
Stellah Chepkorir started working for Children of Hope in 2011. For the past fifteen years she has been a mother to the precious children in our Kitalale home. The little ones are flourishing under her kind and consistent instruction, and the teenagers are becoming strong and confident because of her dedication and love. Auntie Stellah has two of her own children, a son who is twenty-two studying Hospitality Management and a daughter who is eighteen and in her final year of high school. She was widowed shortly before joining the CoH family.
“Thank you, Stellah, for your love and commitment to the 61 children in our Kitalale home. We appreciate you so much. Our home has truly been blessed because of your love and care. Thank you again.” ~ Abraham Kiboki
In Stellah’s Words:
My day starts by arriving for my shift in the morning, after the elementary school children are off to school. I check with the overnight auntie/mom to see how the evening went. Was anyone feeling sick? Did anyone have issues in the night? How did the kids sleep?
Once I am caught up on the previous evening, I get started on my morning duties. I tidy up the home, make the beds, wash the children’s clothes, and cook porridge for the babies. Throughout the day, I care for the little ones, making sure they get playtime, meals, and naps. Once the elementary kids return home from school, I help them with homework, washing clothes, and brushing their shoes. Everyone gathers together for dinner and fellowship around 6:30pm. After dinner there is time to relax a little before prayers and bedtime. I wake up around 5:30am the following morning to prepare the children for school – making sure they are dressed in their uniforms and thanking one of our cooks for the good breakfast they prepare before the kids head off to school.
My favorite thing to do with the children is play with them. Each child is interested in different types of things, and I love being with the kids and playing with the toys or games they enjoy. Assisting them with the many things they need is also a joy. I have a passion to just be with the kids, and I love them very much.
One story that touches my heart is Darian’s story. When he and his two sisters came to us, Darian was very developmentally delayed due to malnutrition. Even though he was five years old, he was not able to even stand or walk. It took more than a year of physical therapy for Darian to take his first steps. We were all whooping and hollering when he took off across the compound that first time. (See video link below.) We also discovered that he is on the autism spectrum. Darian loves to sing and talk and is gifted at remembering things and doing math problems in his head. He is a joy and delight to everyone. He especially loves visitors. To think of him, so small and weak when he first arrived to now being transformed into the strong, engaging boy is absolutely remarkable.
When I am not working at the home, I enjoy singing during worship time at church. I also like watching gospel music on TV and dancing.
Children of Hope is very important to transform the lives of our children. We do this by loving them, caring for their basic needs, and giving them very good education opportunities. CoH also benefits the local community by providing well water and being a good neighbor. Those of us who have the privilege of working here are also blessed – blessed to love and be loved by the children, and blessed to have such a good job. We are very happy to work in this wonderful place.
~ Thank you, Auntie Stellah for the fifteen years you have loved and supported each child through their healing process. Your role in their lives is drawing them closer to the Lord and providing the security they need to thrive. We are so grateful for you!
