February 2022
We send greetings to our friends from afar.
To our pleasure, we are glad for God giving us life. We pray for God to bless the work of your hands.
We are joyous to say that The Shelter is not just a place but a place to belong. We get everything that we need through you. Before we were brought to Oasis, we were on an island where we knew nothing about our future. We wandered with no hope, but Oasis has taught us what we were meant for. Through Oasis, we can speak in English, read, have fun, interact with new people, and have hope for our futures.
We have finished primary school all the way to grade 8, and now we are on our toes preparing for high school. I know we will excel through your support and God’s help. We thank you for your effort in every task.
November 2016
The Shelter is nearly finished, and Bob and Deb Ruzga can finally offer help to the families in need from that area. One of the very first families they went to meet was also one of the most dire situations. With mentally challenged parents and three children, they lacked basic needs and were vulnerable to people who would take advantage of them.
Not long after that visit, Bob and Deb went to the next situation. This group of three siblings was grieving their mother, who passed away, as well as their father, who was in prison. When Bob and Deb arrived at the grandmother’s house to discuss the children, the oldest boy wasn’t even there. He was already well on his way to living on the streets. As they all discussed the situation, Deb began to feel like she might be about to pass out. The floor was swimming before her eyes. Then she realized it wasn’t her. The floor was literally a sea of ants. They knew they had to help both of these families right away.
The six children from these families, including the two oldest, who were both boys, were some of the very first children to move into The Shelter. Similar in age and having never attended school, the oldest boys became almost inseparable. They soaked up the encouragement from house parents, were well behaved, and began to try their best at school despite how far behind they were.
Staff transitions can be hard for children. A few years later, Bob and Deb were returning to the States for a season just when these two boys were hitting their teenage years. But at the same time, Matt and Mary Patch were stepping in. The two boys built a deep relationship with Matt, and when Bob and Deb returned, they’d grown into strong young men.
Today
Now, these two are known for being men of character and integrity. They’ll be the first to step out of the food line and say, “Here, you go first.” While many Kenyan men avoid the kitchen and cooking, one of these young men once spent the day helping Deb make chapati. Both of them have stepped up in their roles as big brothers. They look out for their siblings and dream of having careers where they can also provide for their families.
Those careers are a little bit closer now. These young men, despite starting school late in life at a seeming disadvantage, have both scored over 300 points on their national exams. They’ll be attending excellent high schools. We’re proud of their accomplishments but even more proud of who they are as men. They have both come so far.
The Class of 2026 is on their way. There are 22 students headed to high school, ready to do their part for the futures they are dreaming about. Our dream is to have a full scholarship for every one of those students, but we need 9 more. Will you help us see their dreams come true?
