Transforming the Lives of Orphans

In Kenya, many orphans have been totally abandoned, forced to live on the streets, where they have to dig through the garbage to survive. Kids of all ages struggle each day without any hope, feeling unwanted, unloved, without purpose in life. Pastor Calvince is well acquainted with the hopeless and lonely lives of the street children of Kenya. Pastor Calvince himself grew up as an orphan, abandoned and homeless on the streets for ten long years. Calvince's own childhood was full of rejection, pain and utter poverty. But through his amazing life story, the Lord has formed in him the compassionate, Christ-like character that makes him so effective in reaching orphans with the love of Jesus. 

Michelle’s Story: Once in Darkness... Now in Light… Michelle was once an orphan who was abandoned when she was only a baby. She had been thrown into a sewage pit, left to die a horrible death, probably by a single mother who lived in poverty. One of Independent Church in India’s ministry partners heard her desperate cries that day and pulled her out of that hideous place. Due to lying in the sewage, her eyes had been badly infected and her eyesight severely damaged. From that day on, Michelle’s eyes were always feeling a lot of pain. Michelle’s prayer and dream was to be able to get her eyesight back and also to be like other children
 so she could learn to read and write. Since Michelle could not see well enough to be accepted into school, she had no chance to study. She felt lost and lonely, not able to fit in with others. But when Michelle was eight years old, God did a wonderful thing and miraculously answered her prayers through a loving supporter of ICII! Because of her sponsor’s support, Michelle was able to go to a good eye doctor for the first time in her life. Through many months of eye treatment, medicines and better nutrition, Michelle is miraculously now able to see, and she is feeling much better than before! Now Michelle is able to go to school, where she is learning to read and write. Even though she is studying with children who are younger, her teacher shares that she is learning well. Michelle shared the following with her sponsor while she was going through her eye treatments:
 
To My Sponsor,
I am so much thankful to God, who touched your heart to reach into my life. I have lived a sorrowful life. My eyes had been growing blind and no one was able to help me. Thank you for the support you are able to give me and thank you so much for accepting to give me my sight again and give me hope in life. I can't say much, for my eyes are flowing with tears. May God Bless you! Thank you!             … Michelle
 
 
​Pastor Lawi, a missionary that ICII is supporting in Kenya, and his wife have been taking care of Michelle along with other orphan children living in their small house. We are just so amazed how Michelle’s life was once in darkness, but is now in light. Her life has been totally changed through the love of Jesus and someone who cared enough to get involved!
 

Michelle (pink dress) singing and dancing at church