UPDATE 12/8/19
After much prayer and consideration, I have decided that there is still so much for me to do here in Kenya with Shelter, and it’s clear my time here is not yet finished. Your generous gifts have sustained me financially during my time here, and I am asking you to consider giving so that I can stay and continue supporting the very important work the Shelter is doing. My prayer is that I will be able to spend some more time in the states in 2020, fundraising and connecting with donors who support Shelter.
Please see below for my heart behind coming here and for all of the information on how to give. I am so humbled and honored to get to continue doing what I love here in Naivasha. Thanks in advance for any support you can provide.
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If you haven’t heard the news, I am moving to Kenya!!
How to keep up with me once I move:
Facebook group (request to join)
Instagram page (request to follow)
How to donate:
Tax-deductible giving – Go to https://pushpay.com/g/apostles and select “Brooklyn Missionary Support – Janell Simmons” in the drop-down menu under “Giving Type.”
* There is more info in the FAQ section on where/how to give.
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My Story (well part of it, anyway)
I’ve always had a huge passion for two things – people and adventure. When these two passions work hand in hand is really when I’ve seen myself thrive. It’s what led me to a wonderful 6 1/2 years as a social worker at a children’s home in central Texas. And in early 2011, it’s what compelled me to take a big leap and do something I’d always wanted to do – move to New York City! It remains one of the biggest adventures and best decisions of my life.
New York also meant a career change for me and I found an incredible company in One Medical within weeks of moving here. I’ve spent the last 7.5 years working for them in a variety of roles and to say I love my job and my life would be a gross understatement. One of the many ways One Medical appreciates their employees is by offering a 6-week sabbatical for anyone who has been with the company for 5 years.
I spent a lot of time thinking and praying about how I wanted to spend mine (so much so that I was almost at the 6-year mark by the time I actually took it). In the summer of 2016, some dear friends in Nairobi connected me with a woman named Kristen Lowry, the co-director of the Naivasha Children’s Shelter, and after one phone call with her, I knew I wanted to spend my sabbatical at Shelter. So in March of 2017, I packed my bags, hopped on a plane to the other side of the world, and walked onto the Shelter campus knowing absolutely no one, with no idea what the next 4-ish weeks would hold.
I don’t know how else to describe my time there but life-changing. The boys and the staff embraced me from day 1, even though it was clear they weren’t used to having a woman around full-time. They treated me like family, and went out of their way to make sure I felt loved and appreciated and that I never lifted a finger. We played and danced and every day was filled with so much laughter and joy. I got to listen to their stories and encourage them to keep moving forward from the many struggles they’ve experienced in their short lives. I had the honor to be a part of the shelter’s annual rescue day, which means that about 20 boys will always remember me as a part of their journey to a new life off the streets. One of them said to me as I was leaving, “I’ve never spent a day at Shelter without you here.” I don’t take that lightly.
I returned to NYC with fresh eyes. I got rid of a lot of frivolous things I was spending my money on, so that I could invest more in the shelter. I started serving on their Board of Trustees. I immediately started planning my next trip and I’ve now had the joy of returning three times to visit the place and the boys that I love so much. These are a few of my favorite shots from those visits.
I could give you the full story of how I went from being a frequent visitor to planning a cross-continental move (and I have given it to some of you!), but suffice it to say that I couldn’t stop thinking about these boys, the staff, and this place. They are always on my heart and mind. I knew a few months ago that I was being called there for a longer period of time, so I set out to see if that could even be a possibility. Turns out, it can, and it will be!
My Plans
There are still a lot of details to work out but I am planning on making the move in early 2019, and will likely be there 1-2 years. NCS is a program designed to rescue and rehabilitate street boys and ultimately, reintegrate them with their families and communities. So all of the projects I’ll be working on will help further that mission and vision.
Here’s a taste of what I’ll be doing:
- Helping to develop and enhance after-care programs that support the boys and their families when they return home, and helping the older boys as they transition to adulthood and independence.
- Learning more about the overall landscape of child care institutions in Kenya and seeking opportunities to train other facilities in the reintegration model that NCS has worked hard to develop and sustain.
- Lots of administrative support – helping to organize and streamline files, working with the staff to develop tools and resources that will be most helpful to them.
- Working with churches and other potential partners in the States to develop long-term relationships and support.
- Last and most importantly, I will get some dedicated time to pour love and encouragement into the boys and the staff that I love so much.
My Needs
This will not be a paid position, so I am raising support for all of my living expenses. I am asking for your help to make this dream possible. Your one-time or monthly donation would go to support all of my costs of living. The total amount I am aiming to raise is $35,000/year. My budget is still a work in progress, but this is a semi-comprehensive list of what it will entail:
One-time/Upfront Expenses – Year 1 (may change slightly should I choose to stay for a second year)
- Visa/legal fees – $3000
- Language training – $1000
- Travel – $2000
- Moving/storage costs – $1000
- Technology (laptop, phone, power converters, etc) – $3000
Monthly Expenses
- Housing/utilities – $350
- Health insurance – TBD (est $100-200)
- Medical/dental care – $75
- Transportation – $100
- Food/groceries – $200
- Toiletries/incidentals – $75
- Phone/internet service – $125
- Shelter-specific needs (staff support/training, program support for their annual rescue and medical camp, transportation for teachers/trainers coming to work with the staff and boys) – $250
- Miscellaneous/emergency fund – $300
FAQs
- Will my gift be tax-deductible?
- Yes – my church, Apostles Brooklyn, is receiving and distributing my donations. They have set up a missions fund that will be distributed to me. You can make an online donation by going to https://pushpay.com/g/apostles and selecting “Brooklyn Missionary Support – Janell Simmons” in the drop-down menu under “Giving Type.” If you prefer to send a check by mail, please write “Missionary Support – Janell Simmons” in the memo line and mail to:
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Apostles Brooklyn
300 Cadman Plaza West – 12th floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
- Are the online platforms secure/will my information be safe?
- Yes, PushPay (the service my church uses) is a highly reputable and secure online giving platform.
- Can I send you a check directly?
- Sure! Email me at janellsimmons@gmail.com and I’ll give you my address. However, if you chose to send to me directly, your gift will not be tax-deductible.
- Janell, I happen to know you are a very picky eater…what’s the food sitch like over there?
- Thank you for your concern. It was one of mine as well, but Kenyan food is actually quite tasty and very simple. I have eaten a lot more beans and corn than I typically care to (although both are growing on me), but the food game at the Shelter is strong and most of it is grown or produced right on campus – lots of veggies, eggs, chicken, rice, ugali (a Kenyan staple food you can read more about here), and special Kenyan treats like chapatis and mandazi! I also have high hopes of teaching them about some of my favorite American delicacies.
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My friend Joram with some delicious chapatis - If I want to make a recurring monthly gift, when should I start it?
- That’s completely up to you. Most likely, I will be moving around January, so feel free to delay it to start then (there is an easy option to start on any day through the online platform). If you would like to go ahead and start it now, the money I receive prior to my move will go towards some of those one-time upfront costs I listed above.
- What about your job?
- I owe the biggest debt of gratitude to One Medical, for so many reasons, and my colleagues have been among the biggest supporters of this move. I will continue in my current role up until the time for final preparations and my actual move overseas, and my hope is that when I decide it’s time to come back, they’ll have a role for me. There are no guarantees, of course, but I certainly hope to work for them again in the future.
- Can I come visit you?
- Yes! In fact, I’d encourage anyone reading this to think about whether you have a skill, talent, or trade to share with the boys or staff. I will also keep you updated on needs at the Shelter, and I’d love for you to come see the work that your generous gifts are supporting. (Also I might need you to bring Reese’s Cups and Velveeta) If this is of interest to you, please reach out to me at janellsimmons@gmail.com.
Donate
If you made it all the way here, congrats! Rather than make you scroll all the way back up, I’ve included the donation links again here for your convenience. If you would like to set up a one-time or recurring monthly gift, you can do so here:
Tax-deductible giving – You can make an online donation by going to https://pushpay.com/g/apostles and selecting “Brooklyn Missionary Support – Janell Simmons” in the drop-down menu under “Giving Type.”
Thanks in advance for your support, and all of the love you’ve already shown me. Please reach out to me with any questions! Stay tuned here at http://www.janellsimmons.com as well as my social media (linked below) as this adventure becomes a reality.
So much love,
Janell
Let Go, My Soul 