January 24, 2008 Email from Fr. Ogacho

In early 2006, a former priest in our parish, Fr. Ogacho, teamed up with Orphan Relief Effort to open the Amazing Grace Children's Home in Awasi, Kenya. Since the beginning days of Amazing Grace, All Saints' has played a special part in helping to provide building materials, clothing, bedding, and other financial, technical, and planning support. In 2006, we sent a mission team to the orphanage and developed personal relationships with the children. We, in many ways, extended our Church family by 76 beautiful girls who are cared for there.

You may be aware that Kenya has experienced a political crisis after their elections this past December. Alleged election fraud on both sides has led to divisions down political, tribal, and socio-economic lines. Demonstrations and rioting have crippled much of the country. Fuel shortages have translated into food and water shortages, and in turn to increased prices.

For the last few weeks the girls at Amazing Grace have been living with families around the town of Awasi for their safety. This week Fr. Ogacho has received 35 of the girls back at the orphanage. The price increases are expected to deplete the funds set aside for daily operating expenses at the orphanage much more quickly than expected.

Here is where the generosity of the people of All Saints' Episcopal Church can really make a difference! To assist our orphan girls and Fr. Ogacho in this particularly vulnerable time of their need, please consider making a donation to the orphanage. Though food and supply costs are truly unpredictable until conditions stabilize, we know it will be more expensive to support the orphanage for the foreseeable future. The goal of this request is to double our support thereby seeing Amazing Grace through this crisis by raising $35,000. We appreciate the past generosity of all our parishioners and anticipate the abundance of your love for God, our neighbor, and our common mission.

Contributions may be made online through the PayPal link or by check.

If you send a check, please make it payable to All Saints' Episcopal Church with "Kenya" in the memo line and mail it to:

All Saints’ Episcopal Church
Attn: Business Office
5001 Crestline Road
Fort Worth, TX 76107

Fr. Chris Jambor, Rector

January 24, 2008 Email from Fr. Ogacho:

Dear Friends,
We are in a rather unpredictable situation. I am in Kisumu to get money for the home and to do shopping. Traveling is very difficult due to price of fuel and the people who are now capitalizing on the situation. The people around Awasi are sympathetic to our situation and they have become a source of strength and some sort of a security to the home. As I write we have 52 children. We are trying to reach the rest but some places are harder to reach than others.
Nothing out of the ordinary has happened to us even though we live amidst chaos and Gun Shots. We have increased our security personnel and also talked with the local police to keep an eye on us.
Thanks for the wire and the deep concern that we have experienced from you. I will send to you pictures as things stabilize in the area.
Thanks,
Fr. Ogacho

Amazing Grace Spring 2007 Newsletter

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