“I Used to Kneel in the Sewer”

On March 15, 2020 by Laurie Scharp With 0 Comments - Blog

“I used to kneel in the sewer.”

That’s what one of our boys once said to me as a way of explaining his faith in God. He was essentially saying that if God can take him from living on the street, and literally having to “kneel in the sewer,” to being in school and at the top of his class…then God can surely help him again. Thank God that goes for all of us…He is eternally faithful, what He’s done for us in the past serves as a reminder of what He can do, and that He loves us and cares about us enough to show up divinely in our times of need, for the duration of our lives. No problem is too big for Him, no virus or disease, or any other challenge we may face in this world.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
Psalm 40:2

God’s Faithfulness to Street Kids

Through our program in the Kibera slum in Nairobi we currently have 17 former street boys and one former street girl in school, plus three other former street boys who we help on a regular basis along with kids who live near us in the slum who we help with food and school supplies. Three of our former street boys are at the top of their class, with two of them being number one and one number two, in high school. Two of them will finish high school this year. Two others continue to be a prefect (designated leader) in specific areas of their school. One of our older members who is no longer in school has been traveling with a company that performs the “set books,” or literary books, on stage throughout the country for schools.

All of the kids are wonderful…they continue to amaze us in so many ways. God has blessed us with a wonderful family of people who have been rejected and broken but are now becoming whole in Jesus and are accepted in the Beloved and in our family. Some of the kids have been with us for almost 8 years now. It’s all a wonder to be a part of, and we thank all of you for being a part of it too! We could never help them without you, asante sana!

I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works. Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness.
Psalm 145:5-7

A New Assignment

God has even blessed us with a whole new group of street boys to minister to and hopefully see come off of the street. We’ve been working with the previous group for about 4 years now. At least 18 of them have come off of the street (and 2 from town). Two or three of them have decided to remain on the street and have joined up with much older guys who were having them come to steal from us each time we had feeding program.

Some of the boys from our new feeding program group, before lunch.

So we stopped for a while and prayed about what to do and within a couple of weeks the Lord guided us to a place where I met a new group of street boys, who have a base not far from our Center. They are younger and most of them don’t use drugs, which usually makes them easier to help. The new group seems to have around 10 boys who stay at the base. We’ve resumed the feeding program for them twice per week. We disciple them as well as give food, clothing and medical care. Already two of them have asked if we can help them go to school. One of them manifested demons on his first visit to the Center so we did deliverance on him and he is much better now. They can use prayers for God to be able to restore them in all the ways He wants to.

Lunch time with our new feeding group.

Christmas Celebrations!

Thank you very much to all who prayed for our Christmas with the kids and donated towards gifts and school fees! We had great celebrations with food, fun and gifts for both our former and current street kids, and were able to send more kids to school this year. Thank you so much for blessing us with that! And to those who sponsor regularly!

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting.
Psalm 100:4-5

New Blessings at the New Year!

We were surprised at the new year with blessings from one of our first born and the company he works for now. Simon and his co-workers spent all day cooking for us, then came in the evening with a feast and a new mekko, or gas cooker. It’s the first one we’ve ever had at our Center. We’re so happy for him and his job and what a great surprise to receive blessings from them. Then the next week the niece of my co-worker sent a group of her co-workers to bless us too. They came on a bus with food supplies such as bags of rice, flour, cakes, biscuits, fruit, beans and oil. They cooked for us and played games with the street boys and former street kids. I got to preach to them all that day about Christ the Servant – it was a great time. 2020 is a year of double blessings for sure! I pray that all of you receive double blessings and even more this year.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:9

Return to the States

This week I returned to the States where I’ll spend time with my mom and other friends and family, and speak at churches and organizations, until May. If you would like to get together or to have me speak somewhere feel free to reach out and let me know. My new number here is 314-401-9635, and personal email is tamster1010@gmail.com.

Asante Sana!

Thank you again for all of your support! It really is a huge piece of what enables us to restore lives, families and destinies in Kenya! May the Lord continue to bless you and keep you, may the Lord cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you (Numbers 6:24).

How to Donate:

(All donations are tax-deductible for US tax payers)
By PayPal – treeoflifemilele@gmail.com
Online – https://treeoflifenations.com/donate/
Checks can be sent to:
Tree of Life
P.O. Box 640
Bridgeton, MO

63044 USA

Please feel free to contact us at treeoflifemilele@gmail.com, or visit our website at http://www.treeoflifenations.com/ if you have any questions, prayer requests or just want to get in touch. We love you! Be blessed!
With lots of love from Above,
Tammy Donahue

Donate Today

Thank You and Happy New Year!

On January 16, 2020 by Laurie Scharp With 0 Comments - Uncategorized

Thank You!

Thank you very much to those who helped us color in our Christmas tree! Our goal was to raise $1500 for Giving Tuesday. Between then and the end of the year we raised $4,579.48. Thank you so much! Because of the donations we were able to bless the kids with a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and birthday and Christmas party. We first celebrated Jesus’ birthday with our former street kids (the sponsored students). On Christmas Eve, which fell on a feeding program day, we celebrated with the current street boys – with gifts, goat and games! We also were able to send a few of our boys off to upcountry villages to visit relatives who we’ve helped them to reconcile with, so the funds have made that possible too!

After paying school fees this month, along with salaries, rent and food, we’ve used what has come in so far, so your continued financial gifts are welcomed! They do greatly help us keep the work going, and we’re very grateful for them! Year end donations can be a big boost to help keep the ball rolling into the new year. Ways to give tax-deductible gifts are listed at the bottom of the newsletter. Thank you again very much and may God richly bless you!

Our Christmas feast with our sponsored students.

Nice new shirts for every sponsored student for Christmas!

Faulu – Success

We praise God to see 2 of our guys graduate high school last month! And another graduate with a Grade 3 Electrical Worker certificate. And another boy who we help from time to time graduate high school. Now the high school grads are asking with help to take a course.

Also, our one girl, Faith is planning to return to high school in January. We’re very proud of her for making that choice. And all the others who continue to work hard to finish their schooling. Many of them remain to be prefects in their school (or assigned leaders in certain areas) and are doing great in sports too.

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. 1 Peter 2:21

The Old Made New

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, the new has come into being.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
We’re always most proud when our kids grow in their relationship and walk with Christ. That’s why we’re so happy that 9 of them were recently baptized, by my nephew Justin while he was here visiting and helping us. He led Bible studies with them and gave classes on baptism before doing so. It was a powerful time for them.

Two of our boys also recently had amazing dreams about the return of Christ. They’ve been telling their friends about them and leading them to Christ. And all of our kids have preached recently, even our youngest boy gave a powerful message out of Ezekiel. Thank you so much to everyone who has prayed with us and for us. You are making a big impact in the lives of these precious former and current street kids, and prayerfully on this nation, as well as other nations, all the way up to Jerusalem as we prepare for the return of Christ there.

2020 – a New Decade and Season!

We’ve been seeking God on what He has in store for us in the future. It’s so exciting to move into a whole new decade. Though there may be many challenges – but God is greater than them all. In Habakkuk 1:9 He says “..I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.”

One thing we are planning to do in the upcoming year is start a Bible college at our Center in the Kibera slum, the biggest slum in Africa. As we now celebrate the Word Who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), we want to make the teaching of the Word the center of our Center. Pray for us as we endeavor to see that come to pass.

1 Thessalonians 3:12
“May the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you.”
(The Amplified Bible)

I hope and pray that the Great Shepherd lead you all into the glorious future and plans that He has for you. Please let us know of any prayer requests you have. Thank you again for all of your love and support of what we’re doing with the Lord here in Kenya. I pray that you all have the most blessed and wondrous 2020!

Mungu akubariki! (God bless you!)

How to Donate:

63044 USA

Donate Today

2019, christmas, fundraiser, party, year-end

Christmas Campaign

On November 16, 2019 by Laurie Scharp With 0 Comments - Uncategorized

This year bless Jesus for His birthday by blessing street kids in Kenya!

You can help current and former street kids in Kenya be able to receive presents and a Christmas meal for Christmas… and pay for school fees at the beginning of January!

Our goal is $1500 to go towards a nice Christmas party for our students and extra to help them start off their school year on a great foot.

campaign, christmas, fundraiser, school fees, sponsorship

A Hope That Doesn’t Disappoint: Jesus

On November 7, 2019 by Laurie Scharp With 0 Comments - Uncategorized

Greetings Friends!

With “hope against hope,” we continue to trust and believe God to show up and do mighty things in our midst, as we carry on with His work, through His grace. The phrase “hope against hope” was birthed out of Romans 4:18, where it says, “Who against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations,”. It signifies a very strong hope that something the Lord has planned will come to pass.

Here, in the largest slum in Africa, we’ve not lost hope that God is doing a great work and will continue to, in spite of any adverse circumstances. This hope keeps us moving forward with Him, for Him and through Him. He is great and mighty to save (Zeph. 3:17), His name is a strong tower (Prov. 18:10), the gates of Hell will not prevail against His church, or His work (Matt. 16:18).

“…and hope does not disappoint,” Romans 5:5

Of course, the ultimate hope is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as stated in 1 Timothy 1:1 which says, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Saviour, and of Christ Jesus, Who is our hope,” The people of the Old Testament hoped for the coming of the Saviour, and today we can read about the fulfillment of that hope. Now we wait in joyful hope for His return -“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…” (Titus 2:11-13).

So be in hope! He always fulfills His promises to His people. We don’t need to despair because of the darkness in the world in this hour in which we live, He will carry out His every plan and purpose for our lives, until the great day when He comes to take home His bride.

Washington preaching and Sam interpreting during one of our feeding programs last week.

Promises of Healing Fulfilled

Here in Kenya we have seen the fulfillment of many promises since we returned almost 2 months ago now. We’ve seen people be healed of sickness and disease, as He’s promised in His Word. One such person is a girl we prayed for earlier in the year. I am very blessed to have my nephew, Justin with me again. He was here for 3 weeks at the beginning of this year. Now he’s here for 3 months. In January we prayed for a girl who was at the time very sick with HIV, and depressed to the point of suicide. Not long after we arrived in September she came to our church on a Sunday and we almost didn’t recognize her as she was so healthy and happy. She had gained weight and has started back to college. We praise God for what he’s done in her life.

We also had a chance to pray for a man who was crippled by getting hit by a car. He said that the pain went away from his leg and that he could see better out of an injured eye. Our helper, Eva, was suffering from burning feet and leg pain and has received much healing from that. Some of the street boys have also received healing for various ailments. God has been so faithful to fulfill His promise of healing in many.

More Street Boys

Our hope is always that all street boys will leave the street, and we’ve seen many of the group which we’ve been working with for the past few years leave – we thank God for that. Unfortunately, new ones have appeared. Thankfully, they’ve started to attend the feeding program, so we hope that they too will move on to what the Lord has in store for them and leave behind the danger and hopelessness of life on the street. So, we work to get to know them, pray for them, teach them the Bible, and show them a way out of street life.

We’ve had to tend to several injuries and help them with clothing they need. At the first feeding program after returning here, our friend Peter (before and after shown above) was cut badly by another boy and has healed well. Then this past Sunday his arm was dislocated in a fight. He had recently decided to return to school this coming Jan. and the enemy seems to be working hard to impede that progress. Please pray for safety and strength for him. Many have been attending our UTWA Church and we plan to start an organized worship team with them.

A Very Happy Mama

That’s me! I’m so proud of our school boys. They continue to work so hard at school. One has received certificates for being a leader in his Christian Union at school, another is still number one in his class, others are prefects (or the leader of designated areas of their school), many are great at football (soccer) and best of all they love Jesus. Two of the boys will finish high school this month, and Simon is our first boy to finish technical school and get a great job and his own apartment (shown in the hard hat below).

We recently were blessed to attend a school that many of them attend and watch 2 of them perform acrobats and dance. One boy was Washington, who recently graduated the Teen Challenge drug rehab, so to watch him do such was amazing, as he was so sick just a little over a year ago. We also had the privilege of meeting the US Ambassador to Kenya that day. He’s a Spirit-filled believer and humble guy. Unfortunately, he had to leave before the boys performed, but it was a great day all in all. We also survived some close encounters with baboons.

Sam and Washington’s Acrobatic Performance

Prayer Request for Upcoming Election

Right now we’re hoping and believing in God for protection for our Center, kids and staff during the election about to take place tomorrow, the 7^th of Nov. Unfortunately, the former MP of Kibera passed away earlier this year so a new one must be elected. After being robbed during the presidential election in 2017 we were grateful that we had 5 years before the next election, though now this has come up. The race has been slightly heated and we’re praying for the wisest measures to take to keep everyone safe. If the favored candidate wins there will probably just be a big celebration, but if a candidate from another party wins there may be some problems. So, we’re asking for prayers for that. Also, if the favored candidate wins our area will be governed by a Muslim, and we’re not sure how that would affect the ministry. We’ve already been asking the Lord if He’d like for us to get land outside of Kibera where it would be a better environment for the boys to rehab, though we want to keep a presence in Kibera too.

Thank you very much for your prayers!

Asante Sana!

We also thank you for all of your love and support of the work the Lord is doing here and for the kids and all of us. It’s a tremendous blessing to be able to partner with the Lord and with you in His work! I pray that you are all exceedingly, abundantly blessed – above all you can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

You Can Help by Donating

You can donate through the website (https://treeoflifenations.com/) or mail to:

Tree of Life Foundation
4180 Avery Lane
Bridgeton, MO 63044

Please feel free to contact us with any questions, comments or prayer requests. We love you all very much and pray for you! Be blessed!

Jesus Changes People!

On June 17, 2019 by Laurie Scharp With 0 Comments - Uncategorized

Greetings friends!!
Some of us on Mother’s Day at the Center.

For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Romans 8:29

Because of Jesus

We continue to see the lives of street children transformed, and it’s all because of Jesus. He has taught us how to treat one another, and His ways are different from the ways of the world. When we forgive a street boy for stealing and teach him what the Lord says about it, and teach him about forgiveness – he is affected by the love of Jesus. When a street boy is welcomed in as family, rather than ostracized (as by the general public), He experiences the love of Jesus. There are many ways to reveal the heart of Jesus to the outcasts, the least of these, and everyone else, and it is what the world is still in desperate need of. One thing is for sure, no one remains the same once they’ve encountered Him.

“The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.”

-C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

A group of our boys at school!
Keep these young men in your prayers.

Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.

1 John 2:6

God loves to provide education for His children

We currently have 16 boys in school. Two of them will graduate high school this year, many of them continue to be prefects, or leaders, in there school in various departments – such as dining hall, dormitory and sports. One boy is #1 in his class and another is #4. And even better, they love the Lord and to preach and evangelize. We’re so proud of all of them and are excited to be a part of their lives and see what the Lord does in them. They’re still maturing and learning to leave a street survival mentality behind, and trust the Lord instead of those ways. They can always use lots of prayers to help them with this process.

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. 1 Peter 2:21

Washington successfully finished 1 year at Teen Challenge drug rehab and is headed back to school for the first time in 4 years! Keep him in your prayers!!

Young Men on the Path to a Better Life

Washington just completed the 1 year long Teen Challenge drug rehab program. He was addicted to glue and using marijuana and cigarettes, and was becoming very sick. He did a great job in the program and is now healthy, free and really loves to worship God and to preach. Today we took him back to primary school to continue his education. He’s been away from school for 4 years and can use prayers to adjust to that environment and complete his schooling.

A boy named Alemba also went to school today for the first time in 2 years. He was having a hard life on the street and we’ve been encouraging him to go to school so we’re so happy he did. He can use prayers too for his transition.
.

Alemba headed to school for the first time time in 2 years!!

This boy, Hans, hadn’t seen his family in Western Kenya for 4 years, so we assisted him in returning to there for a visit. He enjoyed a great reunion with them. A Kenyan sponsors him to attend high school but he doesn’t have family in town, so he spends time at our Center on the school breaks.

Hans had a great reunion with his family in Western Kenya.

Our friend, Laurie, shows the love of Jesus to our boys by spending time with them tutoring them in their courses, doing crafts projects with them and conducting the Mission for Character class for them. They are transformed by her input in their lives, and have really improved in subjects like chemistry, biology and math.

Visitors from Bethel Church in Atlanta, GA and Champion Forest Church in Houston, TX also showed the love of Jesus by coming to visit us again and bless us with their presence, prayers and donations – such as a water purifier and dog food! We love visiting with them every year and are so grateful that they come so far to shower the love of God on us!

New Wheels

Another huge blessing our Father above has blessed us with is another new vehicle! Which we were able to purchase with the funds donated to us by very generous people at my church, Twin Rivers, in St. Louis, Missouri, and the Life Groups there. With that we were able to purchase a Land Rover Defender. Since we love to see people and things rehabilitated we got a great deal on one that needed some body work and our friends did a great job on it. Now we have 2 vehicles to use to transport the kids and for outreach. The photos here show a day when we used both new vehicles to take a team on outreach to a place called Soweto on the other side of Nairobi. That day we ministered in a church, then did open air outreach with drama, singing, preaching and one on one evangelism and many people got saved. God knew that we needed 2 vehicles for the work He has prepared for us to do. We’re so grateful, and amazed, at the things the Lord is doing in our lives. Thank you Jesus!

New Tunes

Also, through Life Groups at Twin Rivers Church, we were blessed with a keyboard and mixer! That’s a huge blessing for us. Our boys have been taking keyboard lessons for a while from Pastor Mike and now they can put it to use on our own keyboard. In Kenya it’s very important to have a keyboard for church! Now our church is very official since we have one, and the kids stay after church for a while practicing on it. We’ll also use if for outreaches. Thank you Jesus and Twin Rivers!

Unfolding Treasures

The name of the church at our Center is Unfolding Treasures Watoto (children) Assembly (or UTWA), because we know that the Creator has instilled many treasures in the kids we’re helping, even if others think otherwise. One treasure we’ve seen emerge recently from one of the boys is Peter’s talent for painting and drawing. Peter was a street boy in town. He left the street last year and now spends a lot of time at our Center. I first learned of his talent when I asked him if he’d like to help paint one of the rooms in the Center. He mixed paints to make a beautiful “sunset” color, then proceeded to paint acacia trees and giraffes, and it’s so good. So I then asked him to paint a mural on a wall in our main room and it came out amazing. Since then he’s done painting work for another organization in Kenya and drawings for visitors. Since he didn’t finish school he’s hoping to make a living by using this talent.

“Go and do likewise.”
Jesus in Luke 10:37b

Thank you for doing as Jesus says in this passage in the Gospel of Luke after He tells the story of the Good Samaritan. Like the Good Samaritan, you are lifting up the abused and needy, and taking them to a safe place where they can receive healing and provision for their needs, enabling them to carry on with the journey the Lord has set for them. Thank you partnering with us in this work!

Posts By Laurie Scharp

“I Used to Kneel in the Sewer”