Hello, friends! Apparently this blog has just become a place for yearly updates. Hopefully, you’re following me on one of my social platforms for more frequent updates.
So what’s going on with me these days? A lot, to be sure. I would have never imagined that my time in Kenya would include navigating a global pandemic barely a year in, or that our ministry would have had to shift our gameplan/direction about a hundred times to keep doing our very important work. We’ve done mass rescues/quarantines, as well as smaller, more frequent rescues. Thanks to our wonderful staff and lots of protocols and preparation, everyone has stayed safe and healthy.
When I look back over the past 2.5 years here in Kenya, there are many things I’m proud of – here are just a few:
- We have a completely digital records system that allows our staff to more easily track the progress of the boys at Shelter and to manage follow-ups for those who have returned home. This was what I worked on most of my first year here and we’ve now worked out a lot of the kinks and it’s really helped our day-to-day operations.
- As we’ve taken a more direct approach to family reunification and community support, the number of rescues and reintegrations has increased significantly, even amidst the pandemic and all of the government restrictions. For example –
- 2018: 23 rescues and 16 reintegrations
- 2019: 41 rescues and 38 reintegrations
- 2020: 70 rescues and 43 reintegrations
- As of September 2021, we have already rescued 78 boys and reintegrated 33 boys, and we are on track to hit our goal of 100 rescues by the end of the year.
- We are considered one of the leading Kenyan childcare nonprofits when it comes to the family reunification model, and we have been recognized by such wonderful organizations as 1MILLIONHOME, and Agape Model Solutions.
- Our staff has more than doubled since I started in 2019, which allows us to rescue and reunite more boys.
- We have begun rescuing from Nairobi, Kenya’s capital and the city with the largest number of children living on the street (estimated to be ~60,000). This is something we have been trying to get the government to approve for years.
I could go on and on, but suffice it to say that I am really excited about what we’ve done and what’s in the future for Shelter.
But what about MY future?
I have said from the beginning that I would take a year-to-year approach to my time and my future here in Kenya. This year, with my visa expiration looming in February 2022, I have had to make that assessment a little earlier than usual to allow time for planning and paperwork processing (say that 3 times fast, lol). Long story short, I do want to stay in Kenya, and I have an exciting opportunity that helped me to come to that conclusion.
Something I feel strongly about, and that I have mentioned throughout my time/involvement in Kenya, is that children belong in families. Period. While almost all (most statistics estimate more than 85%) of children in institutional care have a living parent or family member who can care for them, orphanages and other child care facilities are running rampant in Kenya and throughout the world. The “orphan myth” that has been perpetuated for decades, especially in African countries, is harmful not only to the children it traumatizes, but to entire communities and people groups. I have been so grateful to Shelter for helping me to understand and educate myself on just how harmful institutional care is to children and how we can better focus our efforts on sustainable solutions for families to care for their children at home. This is a really great article from one of our partners that highlights some of the major issues.
However, there are still many organizations in Kenya functioning as “orphanages” and keeping children in care for many years without attempting to trace family or find alternative family solutions. The government has expressed its intention to shut down any homes functioning as such, which has created a great need.
I have been given an opportunity to join a new organization started by one of the leaders in the family reunification model in Kenya. It’s not yet official, so I can’t share too many details, but my role would include acting as a consultant to childcare organizations who want to make the shift to the family reunification model. Many of them understand the need but don’t know where to start, and that’s where I’ll come in. Shelter will serve as a sort of “lighthouse organization,” providing our time and resources to help others do the work we’ve spent the last 5+ years doing. I and my colleagues will travel to interested organizations and help them restructure their mission/vision/policies and train their staff to implement the new vision.
What does this mean?
I will continue to be involved at Shelter but I will also be doing a lot of traveling throughout Kenya for the consultant assignments. Basically, rather than spending all of my time focused on one entity, I will be thinking more “big picture.” I’m really excited to help scale this model that we know to be a much better and more sustainable model of care.
What about funding?
This consultant role is a missionary/volunteer position, so I will still be relying on donations to support my living expenses. This has been something that has weighed on me as I make this decision. So many of you have given to me so generously these past 2+ years, and it feels like a burden at times to ask you to continue to fund my work here. Additionally, I will be taking on a few extra expenses in 2022, namely an upgraded vehicle (mine is unreliable and not conducive to driving in some of the rural areas I will be traveling to). But I trust that this is what I am supposed to be doing, so I have to move forward in faith.
When I reflect back on these past few years in Kenya, I am overcome with gratitude. Truly. I never even thought it would be possible to pursue this because I just didn’t think I would be able to raise the funds to do so. But so many of you have stepped in with generosity beyond belief and I have always had everything I need. I am praying this will continue to be the case. I am starting fundraising for next year a little early because the truth is, if I can’t meet my targets, I will have to reconsider my decision.
This is getting a little long, so I’ll wrap it up. I need you all as much as I ever have, maybe more. Your prayers and giving have literally sustained me. If you feel so led, I would love for your financial support to help cover expenses for 2022. If you do not, or are unable to, your thoughts, prayers, words of encouragement, texts, messages, calls, etc, are much desired and appreciated.
Specific Financial Needs
As I mentioned above, the greatest financial need I have for the upcoming year is for a new vehicle. My current car has been a huge blessing but has become increasingly unreliable on long trips (overheating) and is very low to the ground, which doesn’t allow me to drive in certain rural areas where the roads are not great. Since I will be doing more traveling in this new role, sometimes by myself, I want something safe and reliable. I am hoping to raise $5,000 upfront so that I can get a car that will better support me.
My monthly needs will increase slightly since I may be on the road more, so I am hopeful with a few new monthly donors that I will be all good there.
How can I give?
If you are already giving, I will be reaching out in the coming weeks/months to see if you want to continue giving in 2022. If you already know that you will or will not continue, please feel free to shoot me an email at janellsimmons@gmail.com to let me know.
If you’d like to start giving, you can do so by going to https://pushpay.com/g/apostles and selecting “Brooklyn Missionary Support – Janell Simmons” in the drop-down menu under “Giving Type.” From there, you can set up a one-time or monthly donation. All gifts are tax-deductible.
I’ll also be in the states in September/October and will be bringing back some things for the Shelter. If you’d like to help with that, you can find my Amazon wish list here.
How can I stay connected with you?
Well certainly not here, haha. But I am much more active on my social platforms:
Private Facebook group for Kenya updates (request to follow)
Private Instagram for Kenya updates (request to follow)
Let Go, My Soul 
Hello . My name is Dr. John Pell Agolla. Director ST. John Memorial Medical Centre. I’m writing to you this email because I received an email from you. I’m very much interested in working with you guys. And I’ll like to know more about each other
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