God's Grace is providing
2009 promises to be a year of continued growth as our dream to build the community center's lecture building is realized. The lecture building will provide a place to have workshops (even when it rains) on agricultural skills, and to share cultural values. The center hopes to increase health in the community by growing plants and fruit-bearing trees to provide nutrition. In the future, we would like to have a farmers market kiosk to sell surplus produce and preserved fruits/vegetables (canned and dried). Included in our dream is a library that will provide agricultural education and information on plants that have been traditionally used to promote good health.

Lecture building cost reduced.
David and I have been praying for a way to afford the lecture building so that we can schedule more activities and workshops during the rainy seasons. The builder, Mr. Sorenson, who gave us a quote last year has offered to reduce his fees if we build in February 2009. The Lemook A.I.C. Church adjacent to the Harvest Grove Community Center has commissioned Mr. Sorenson to build a building reducing his expenses if he builds our lecture building at the same time. His quote is now $433,185.00 Kenya Shillings ($5,435.20 US Dollars); a savings of $2,500 US dollars.

Once we have a building, we can partner with groups who already have programs in Kenya, like AIDs awareness programs and mobile medical care, and we can begin to build our library.

Visiting Harvest Grove
In November of 2008, I decided to travel back to Kenya after the dry season ended. Three days after I told someone about my decision — a decision I had been wrestling with and praying about for some time — a call for short term mission volunteers was posted at Glenkirk Church. I will be traveling with this team in June and serving with them in the Nairobi area for two weeks. Then I will travel 310 Kilometers (193 miles) northeast to the Harvest Grove Center and stay there for another two weeks with Purity and David Kipkorir. I am excited about my trip. Although David and I have been in touch through telephone and email since we met, I have not seen him since 2005. I will be taking some mosquito netting with me for the Kipkorir's to fend off any more recurrences of malaria in their family.

I will have to raise my funds for this mission trip and the cost has been estimated at $3000 for each member. I actually save by traveling with their group and I feel more secure traveling with this group as most of the members have been to Kenya multiple times.

Although I will be traveling with Glenkirk's team, I will be raising the funds though Cornerstone for both the lecture building and the short-term mission funds. This is easier since Cornerstone already has record of Harvest Grove's Community Based Organization status and can validate the non-profit status for your tax benefits.

Camera replaced
A friend of the Harvest Grove Project donated his used digital camera to replace the one we lost during the violence outbreak last year. The camera will be carried over to the Empowering Lives International training center in February where David will pick it up. Then he can send more photos for our future newsletters. David and I are both very grateful for this kindness.

Time to Give
I welcome your prayers for us to raise the funds for the lecture building. If you have been considering making a donation to Harvest Grove, no matter how small, this is the time to do it. The building is the only major cost left and it is close to the cost we raised for the property.

Other than the annual CBO registration and land taxes, the Harvest Grove Community Center has no overhead costs. Your tax deductible donations are used as 'seed' money to help them realize their potential and dreams.

Please make checks payable to Cornerstone Bible Church. Be sure to write Harvest Grove Project in the menu and you can designate whether you want the funds to be for the lecture building or for the short-term mission trip travel fees in June 2009. Mail your tax deductible donations to the following address:

Cornerstone Bible Church
HG Fund
400 N. Glendora Ave.
Glendora, CA 91741

Or call Jayne at 626-643-0331 and she will pick up donations. Thank you and bless you for your interest in the Harvest Grove Project.