January Newsletter

Okoth Family Update

Wow! It's already 2023, and we have SO much to fill you in on! If you don't follow us on social media, you SHOULD! I have a personal Facebook account "Holly Camalieri Okoth" where I post personal and ministry updates. Unfortunately, we've gotten very behind on our monthly newsletters. We will try to be brief this month, but SO MUCH has happened! 

Church Events

As previously mentioned, December was filled with conferences, camps, and events at Good News Fellowship. We had a Women's Outing at a local restaurant where we enjoyed a meal together, had a devotion, and played games. This was a special outing for our women and most of them have never had the chance to go to restaurant before. The men gathered at a members home and made BBQ goat together. Both events were special events that encouraged unity and fellowship. 

Our kids and youth gathered for a 4 day camp. The climax of the camp was on Sunday when all of our Sunday school kids lead the Sunday service -from ushers, to bible study, to worship team, and even preaching. These young children are on fire for Christ! The church was so vibrant as we saw the talent and desire to serve in our Sunday school kids. 

First Annual Convention

Good News Fellowship has 2 other sister branches in rural communities. For our first annual convention, we invited our sister branches to our main church in Kisumu for a 3 day conference. This was a HUGE event with extensive programming morning, afternoon, and night. On December 31st, we gathered until 2:00am celebrating the new year. Our last day was on January 1st. This Convention was in partnership with Good News Community Centre Founders, James & Vangie Odongo, who are departing the mission field, and commissioning Fred and I to lead the ministry. There was a mix of feelings as we said farewell to our ministry partners and also joy as we enter into a new season of leadership and ministry. We appreciate your prayers more than ever as depend more on God for his direction and wisdom. 

Good News Migwena Academy

At the end of November, we had our third annual graduation at GNMA with 34 little graduates going into 1st grade. Our dining hall was 90% done, and we were able to hold the event in this great HUGE space! We fed over 300 adults and almost 200 children. It was a great celebration to end the school year. 

GNMA Phase III

We have awesome partners! We are so thankful for the end of year gifts that we received to help make sure all of our construction finished in time. The dining hall and kitchen is done, our 4th grade classroom is finished, we've added 2 extra water tanks, and purchased a second school van! Kids are happy, parents are thankful, and we are humbled by God's perfect provision. On the first day of school, it was so special to have the students eat in their very own dining hall! 

Among our partners are some pretty cool kids who helped us fundraise! Over $9000 was raised by VBS, Sunday school, and Youth Groups to help us buy a second school van! I am so proud of all of you! 

Christmas Food Baskets

We are so grateful for all those who gave Christmas food baskets! We have distributed 80 food baskets to widows in Ouya Village, GNMA staff, and families in need! What was in this basket? Baking flour, rice, sugar, oil, beans, maize, lentils, sugar, tea leaves, soap, spices, meat, and juice all packed in a basin! We had a team from the Philippines visiting, and they joined us as we distributed these gifts. 

We have been giving food baskets for 8 years. Each year is so memorable and has become part of our family Christmas traditions. Thank you to everyone who partnered with us for this project! 

Sponsorship Program @ Christmas

We had a special Christmas gathering for our sponsored students just before Christmas. From 1st grade to college age, we gathered and they wrote letters to sponsors. We met each student individually to check their report books and see how they are doing.

Students received new school shoes, new backpacks, pillow case dresses, and washable sanitary pads. We enjoyed a delicious lunch together. It was a day to remember. We are so thankful to all our sponsors who make this ministry possible! We are also so grateful for those who donated pillow case dresses and washable sanitary pads!

Okoth's Holiday

Lucy & Eliana had all of December off from school. Most of our time off from school and ministry is spent with family in the U.S., so it is very rare that we get to grab more than a night away as a family. Kenya is about the size of Texas, and it is BEAUTIFUL - from Africa's best beach, to safaris in Maasai Mara, to a beautiful rainforest, Mt. Kenya, and so much more. Unfortuanley, we've hardly seen some of these corners in Kenya. Just before the conferences started in December, we decided to surprise the girls for Christmas with a road trip to the beach. A 17 hour road trip through Tsavo National Park, where we passed so much wild life along the way! It was one of the most memorable things we have done as a family, and we are so thankful we got to experience the beach together. Eliana's first time seeing the ocean (and Josiah's too!). We hope this portion of the newsletter will encourage you to come visit Kenya! Haha! Alternatively, you can choose to avoid the 17 hour road trip, and fly to the beach! Come visit Kenya!!!

We are coming back...

Furlough Details

Weren't we just in the U.S.?

Yes, but you get to see us AGAIN!

Lucy's immigration appointment was approved and scheduled for August 1st. We are so grateful for those of you who have helped us financially with Lucy's adoption. After this interview she will be a U.S. Citizen. God is good! 

Please pray for Fred's visa renewal. It expired a few months ago! We are submitting the paperwork this week! 

This may be the most notice we have had on a planned trip to the U.S.! 

If you are an early planner and want to schedule us in for a visit at your church, group, or organization this summer, please get in touch!

Video Highlight

As you can tell this newsletter is filled with pictures! We have so much great footage of the past two months, we couldn't not share! Check out this quick 3 minute video that highlights some of our favorite moments from the school graduation, to beginning a new school year! From all of our conferences to our time at the beach! Just for you! 

In our next newsletter...

In our next newsletter, I'll share with you our vision for 2023, as well as how you can help us pray and support GNK and our projects.  

Praises & Prayer Requests

Good News Kenya is a 501(C)3 non-profit corporation, so your donations are tax-deductible. All GNK projects and missionary support is funded by churches, friends, and family who have decided to partner with us in bringing the Gospel to Kenya. Thank you for being co-laborers in bringing the hope of Christ to Kenyan communities.