OASIS FOR ORPHANS NEWSLETTER

January 2013 

Join TEAM OASIS...

and run with Kenyans!

Run with a purpose and save lives by joining TEAM Oasis! This year, TEAM Oasis will be running races in mulitple locations, including Illinois and Michigan. For more information or to sign up for the team, go to TEAM Oasis.  

Greetings!  

As we reflect on 2012 we are overwhelmed with gratitude. Oasis has grown stronger, larger, and changed for the better over the last year and we are grateful for the way God has changed lives on both sides of the planet.

First, we want to extend a huge thank you to more than 500 of you who participated in the Oasis for Orphans EPIC Benefits in Illinois, Canada and Wisconsin. We have seen more heroes join Oasis and become passionate about the rescue and development of orphaned children in Kenya than ever before. We need each and every one of you to get involved in this critical rescue. If you missed EPIC, please don't miss the opportunity to get involved. Here is a link to the videos we showed at the EPIC events. EPIC VIDEOS

Second, we are thankful for the growth we have attained together this year. Oasis is in various processes of expansion with 5 different sites: The Hill, The Bush, The Shelter, The Valley and The Summit. To read more information about each site, please visit our newly re-designed website www.oasisfororphans.org.

Here's a look at what happened during 2012:

2012 Oasis Overview:

• Two new board members were added - Greg Haecker and Brad Beitzel.
• A governance structure was developed to guide Oasis' future.
• Oasis accounting systems were outsourced to Cedarstone Financial.
• Four child development teams were established.
• Strong support was provided to TEAM Oasis.
• A Kenyan accountant was hired to ensure financial integrity in Kenya.
• Oasis registered as a ministry in Kenya.

• 98 Children are connected to loving sponsors.
• 12 Children have high school sponsors enabling them to attend schools.
• A kitchen, bathhouse, and chicken house were built.
• Robust systems of accounting were implemented.

The Hill

The Bush - Current Partnership between TMD and Oasis

• The Saturday feeding program started in November 2011 for 36 children was maintained.
• The children were nurtured through health, spiritual and supplemental education classes.        

The Bush

The Shelter - Developing Partnership between St. Martha's Ministry and Oasis

Kibera Slum

• A relationship started between St. Martha's Ministry in Kibera and Oasis in 2010.
• Oasis participated in meetings with the St. Martha's board to formalize a partnership and clarify roles and expectations.
• St. Martha's formally appointed Caleb to lead their ministry into the development of a children's home.
• Oasis purchased 4 acres of land to begin The Shelter.

The Valley - Exploring partnership between Segera Children's Home and Oasis

The Valley

• A relationship started in February 2012 between three churches caring for 32 orphaned children and Oasis.
• In October, Oasis began contributing financially, enabling the children to eat three nutritious meals each day. (Prior to this, they were only eating twice a day.)

The Summit - Exploring partnership between St. Edwin's Children's Home and Oasis

• A group of families from the Rift Valley Academy has been supporting the essential needs of the 27 children at St. Edwins on a short term agreement.
• RVA and Oasis have decided to work together to help these children on a long term basis through sponsorship.
• Oasis has spent time fostering relationships with Edwin and Ruth.

The Summit

Finally, we are excited about the opportunity to expand our impact in 2013. As Oasis works towards growing these 5 sites in Kenya, we have tangible targets for each group. In the US, we are looking to grow awareness. If you would like to join us in this by hosting an Oasis event in your own home, please contact us at info@oasisfororphans.org.

Oasis for Orphans continues to seek heroes to join us in the life-saving mission of rescuing and developing orphaned children. With over 2.4 million orphans in Kenya, the need is enormous but we are steadfast in our commitment to help, one child at a time. We celebrate the success of 2012 and look forward with anticipation to what God will do in 2013. Thanks for being a hero!

Sincerely,

The Oasis Board

Please continue to keep these families in your thoughts and prayers as they serve in Kenya on behalf of Oasis for Orphans!   

If you would like to follow the Derse or Smith family on their adventures, please click on the links to their blogs.  The blogs are a great way to follow these families and/or to send your support. 

The Derse Family Blog

The Smith Family Blog