Progress for Widowed Women!
By Dawn Brown
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Some of the women at their midweek
Bible study.
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It's always amazing to me to see what the Lord will do with the obedience of one!
Elizabeth Mativo and her husband, Pastor Onesimus Mativo, had always been kind to widowed women, even though that goes against the cultural norm in Kenya, where widows are mistreated and looked down on.
When Elizabeth Mativo’s husband died in 2008, she felt so
lonely & depressed. In addition to
losing her wonderful, kind, loving, godly husband and lifelong missionary
partner, Elizabeth was experiencing all the discriminatory hardships other
widowed women experience in Kenya.
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Child Arise widowed women sing praises.
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People were telling her that nobody cared about her
anymore, that her own family didn’t love her, and some even came to steal her
property, all of which are common for widowed women there.
As a
well-educated, widely known and respected missionary with African Inland Church
(AIC), she had never heard of any type of grief support group before.
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Ladies prepare a meal to share.
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| Elizabeth Mativo with her Homewood Grief Group friends. |
Fast
forward to Kenya 2014. The women of
Child Arise Kenya Widows and Orphans Ministry recently participated in a drama
competition with OTHER widowed women groups from ALL OVER a wide area of Kenya. They placed fifth out of thirteen! Their play was based on Dorcas, in Acts 9.
Every year, Elizabeth speaks
in Kenya, at the District and Regional level, about Child Arise Kenya Widows and
Orphans Ministry. Using Biblical
support, she calls the church to care for widows and explains their needs. Now, every church Elizabeth knows of, has
such a group! She also says that the
attitudes towards widows have improved greatly within the church!
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Widowed women take a Bible
test to qualify for
recognition after intense advanced study. |
Part
of our Statement of Purpose says, “Child Arise will endeavor to educate
communities on changing their discriminatory attitudes towards widows.” Through the hard work of Elizabeth Mativo and
those who pray and donate, the Lord is doing just that!
Elizabeth
Mativo was elected this year as Chair Person for all AIC Widow’s Programs in
the Machakos region.
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Award ceremony for graduates
of the advanced Bible studies.
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When
you partner prayerfully and financially with Child Arise Kenya Widows and
Orphans Ministry, you are participating with THE ONE, in obedience, to “look
after widows and orphans in their distress” as HE tells us in James 1:27.
Prayer Requests From Missionary Elizabeth Mativo
U Pray for spiritual growth in all the groups. We continue to testify of the Lords grace and
providence all through the year and we thank God for this.
UAs we come to close of the year, let’s pray for the candidates who will be
doing their primary school national examinations.
U For the Lords provision and favor as we
approach Christmas and the New Year.
UThe Board of Directors in Kenya asks that we
thank God for Elizabeth’s health this year!
The Board of Directors in the United States agrees!
ULet’s pray for the USA team
coming in 2016, that God will prepare them for the funds needed, the medical
preparations necessary, for them to adapt to the weather this side and mostly
that the Lord will use them to bring glory to His name.
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100% of your donation goes to Kenya!
Donations can be made to
Child Arise Kenya
Widows & Orphans
Ministry
827 5 Ave Dr W, Andalusia IL 61232
309-798-2596
dawn@ChildAriseKenya.com
ChildAriseKenya.com
Child Arise Kenya is an IRS
approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit tax-exempt ministry
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