"Graceworks" Kenya Program
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On April 14, 2007, a delegation of at least 12 people from St. John’s will be traveling with me to Kenya, Africa to help celebrate the third anniversary of the Graceworks Kenya program and also to scout out future mission projects.
 It is difficult for me to believe that almost three years have gone by since I went to Kenya with a goal of finding out what we could do to help the many children in my village of Rwika that had been orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

That April (2004), armed with donated clothes, shoes, and school supplies from my coworkers and from members of St. John’s, I knocked on doors and asked the children and their caregivers what they needed. Time and again I heard the same request- food, clothing, school fees, and someone to talk to, someone to explain to the children what was happening. With a breaking heart, I returned to the United States with a renewed urgency, determined to help the 20 identified most needy children and their caregivers.

Upon my return, I was able to launch the Graceworks Kenya program, working under the auspices of Giving Hope International, a faith based 501 (c) (3) non- profit organization located in the city of Buena Park, that reaches out to women and children in crisis and is owned and operated by St. John’s Lutheran Church members.

Today, thanks to the generosity of the church, friends, coworkers, and other donors, the Graceworks Kenya program supports over 50 children that have lost one or both parents. Graceworks is working  to ensure the children have  the basic life needs such as emergency food, clothing, medical care, education, Christian based counseling, and emotional support.

My vision for the Graceworks program is to take many people from St. John’s on Mission trips to Kenya or have them become a sponsor or help support this program.  If interested contact me: Susan Njemanze MSW, L.C.S.W. Graceworks Kenya Director at (714) 932-5425. Donations can be made out to St. John’s Lutheran Church.

* Did you know that each day 6,000 children are orphaned by HIV/AIDS?