Saturday, October 18, 2014

Progress for Widowed Women!


Progress for Widowed Women!

By Dawn Brown


Some of the women at their midweek Bible study.
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. 

Child Arise widowed women sing praises.

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 she began to look at the other widowed women around her, she felt the Lord leading her to start a ministry for them; to encourage them from the Bible, to pray together, and to reach out to widowed women who didn’t yet know the Lord in a saving way.   


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.

Ladies prepare a meal to share.
When Elizabeth Mativo came to visit us in the United States in 2009-2010, she attended Homewood Evangelical Free Church and participated in different grief ministries there.  She took every informational paper and booklet on grief support she could get her hands on.


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!

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.

Award ceremony for graduates of the advanced Bible studies.
 
 
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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