He Knows Our Needs - By Linda Sheimo

"Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." Matthew 6:8

God knew our need for two unplanned opportunities for outreach in late June. A new donor sent funds that enabled us to partially support work in Kenya and a joint meeting of chaplains for training in Ukraine. St Peters Church, Toerterville, Iowa eventually covered the OBI commitment for Ukraine.

At the event in Irpin, Ukraine there were over 400 chaplains, spouses and key military leaders in attendance. Only 250 had been expected. Men and women chaplains were present as they came together to learn and encourage each other. We praise God that He provided so Olive Branch Ukraine could work with the partner organizations in holding this conference. Valentyn shared about the various programs of Olive Branch Ukraine.

Jeff and Nancy Jernigan went to Kenya in August with a team to engage with social workers, nurses, pastors, counselors, and teachers who form the front lines of healthcare. Social workers have caseloads averaging over 200 children and their families. Living in slums or poverty-stricken communities, they are faced with food insecurity, addictions, child slavery, human trafficking, polygamy for commercial purposes, family disintegration, crime, violence, and more. A plan for raising the standard of care primarily among the social workers and pastors who work hand-in-hand in these communities was submitted to Mission of Hope International (MOHI) and approved last year. MOHI educates more than 35,000 children ages K-12 and provides their families across the country with medical and mental wellness services.

Kenya August 2024 Mental Wellness Training

Their recent trip included developing a trainer-of-trainers (TOT) program to multiply basic medical and mental wellness training throughout the MOHI system. During this trip, our healthcare professionals treated 296 children, trained 117 social workers, counselors, and pastors, and helped innumerable adults with their ailments, education, and self-care. Medical, mental wellness and trauma issues are a large part of the high needs the team was honored to serve across three locations, including Nairobi and two coastal towns.

It is an encouragement when God plans and provides for what we had not expected.

PLEASE DONATE TO CHAPLAIN TRAINING IN UKRAINE AND KENYA OUTREACH!