What began as a one-time mission trip to Kenya became a life-changing experience for Michael and Andrea and their sons Nicholas and Cooper.
In 2016, their family attended a church mission day and felt that the Lord was calling them to a mission trip. There were a few different options, but when their youngest son Cooper heard that a trip with AfricaHope included tent camping, the choice was clear.
Michael, Andrea, Nicholas, and Cooper at AfricaHope
That trip to Kenya was life-changing for them. They participated in a vacation bible school, worked on projects, and shared the love of Jesus. The boys experienced their first glimpse of extreme poverty. Michael and Andrea shared that it allowed them to recognize the many needs all around them, both in Africa and back home.
After returning from this trip, they were never the same. They felt called to continue to serve children and families in Kenya.
They went on to lead their church on multiple mission trips with AfricaHope. Through those trips, they developed a deep love for the work of AfricaHope in rural Maasai communities.
Andrea, Jayson, and the pastor share how the church can transform lives in Kenya.
Through their relationship with AfricaHope, they learned about Family Partners. On the last Sunday in 2020 before the pandemic shut down the world, Jayson Simonson, the director of Family Partners, and Andrea shared the stage at Michael and Andrea’s church to talk about the impact of the partnership between Family Partners (at the time, Child Sponsorship) and AfricaHope on the Maasai communities. He shared that when individuals in North America partner with children in Kenya, research showed a 30% reduction in poverty. Entire families were being affected by the program.
This has been a way for Michael and Andrea to directly help a family. The rest of the congregation was also moved to make a difference in Kenya. That Sunday, over 200 children were sponsored.
Although the original approach was based on empowering the individual child who was being sponsored, entire families were being positively affected.
After further research, Jayson and the team realized that a family-centric approach was necessary. With that focus came the shift to Family Partners. The program continues to center on conditional monthly Direct Give transfers, which dramatically shifts the standard of living for those in extreme poverty.
The Maasai don't always smile in photos due to cultural norms that emphasize seriousness, and smiling is not connected to politeness the same way it is in American culture.
Andrea and Michael’s involvement has come full circle, and the child that they sponsored is now a mother to her own family. Their love and support are empowering her family to overcome extreme poverty.
Generosity changes lives, and Michael and Andrea’s generosity and heart for serving the poor have played a far-reaching role in diminishing the effects of poverty for families in Kenya.
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