Pat first visited Kenya in January 1990 as part of a team from Diss
Christian Community Church to visit Bo and Geoff Ace, who were missionaries
based in Kisumu. She left Kenya with a vision to establish a home for street
children and orphans.
Pat returned in June 1990 and again in September
1991. On her return from the last visit she sold her home and went to live in
Kenya in June 1992. She attended Victory Bible College and graduated in August
1993. After graduation she returned to England for 2 months. On her return
Covenant House Family Unit was established and 8 orphans were taken by her into
her home.
Today there are 63 orphans and street children established in 3 bungalows. The children live as a family with Pat and the home is run entirely on donations and monies from sponsorship of the children. Most of the children are in nursery, primary and high school. Due to long absences from the education system for some of the street boys, it is necessary to make arrangements for them to be taught at home. As they progress, those with good academic ability will be placed back into schools to enable them to take KCPE exams. It is envisaged that any children not able to reach the required education standard will be started on suitable training programmes.
Most of the children at the home have become Christians and love to praise and worship the Lord and attend church. Some of them are actively involved in leading worship. One of the boys, once a gang leader on the streets of Kisumu, has been offered a scholarship to Christ for All Nations Bible College in Texas, USA. He leads youth ministry, plays guitar and keyboard, sings and writes poetry.
Visitors to Covenant House are very welcome and some return time after time as their hearts are touched by the ministry. Though Pat has a number of helpers and employs staff, extra hands are always appreciated and, of course, the children are delighted to meet new people who want to spend time with them.
The vision is to become self-sufficient and to establish their own nursery and primary schools, workshops and possibly a clinc. The schools, like the home, would be Christian-based with Christian teachers. Pupils who are fee-paying would be admitted and sponsorship found for the children of poorer families. Workshops would be set up to train not only the children in the home but also boys and girls from outside, who would pay a fee to train.
The aim of Covenant House Famiily Units is to give a future to needy
children and once schooling is completed, training will then start, equipping
them for the future and enabling them to be self-supporting and to become
responsible members of society.
Covenant House is registered under
Ministry of Culture and Social Services, Reg. No. SH/2272.
N.G.O.
Registration has been applied for (this is the same as Charity Registration in
the UK).
Pat has applied for missionary status with Glad Tidings
Crusade, Bura Bura, Nairobe
Address P.O. Box 73993, Nairobi, Kenya under
Rev. James Ochollo.
Spiritual oversight for Pat and her ministry is
given by:
Geoff & Bo Ace, Lee Valley Church, 1 Ashtree Cottage,
Horseshoe Hill, Upshire,
Waltham Abbey, Essex. Tel/Fax 01992 712127.
Charity Reg. 290958.